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USCHO Music: From Queen to The Beatles to Lady Gaga

I'm going to put this here, even though it should probably go in either the movie or tv threads.

I really encourage music lovers to watch the two part documentary on Billy Joel, playing on HBO, Billy Joel: And So it Goes.

I can't claim to be a big lover of Joel's music. Piano Man is obviously an iconic song, and much of his work from the late '70's and early 80's was a part of the soundtrack of my college years. But the guy is an interesting guy, and he's had an interesting life. He also has a really interesting family history.

The film also has what I have to believe is a fairly unique situation. It is the story of a man who had an early band mate and collaborator from whom Joel stole his wife. He had a second band during his heyday in the 70's and 80's, that he later fired because he wanted to go in a different musical direction. He had four wives. And the crazy part is, they all appear in the movie, and they don't hate the guy. In fact, they speak fondly of him.

I think that's interesting. It could be editing on the part of the makers of the film to put Joel in a better light, but it sure doesn't feel that way.

I'd give it a watch if you get a chance.
 
I suspect they didn't interview his neighbors in Lloyd Harbor. Suffice to say he is not a popular figure among those who have to deal with him personally. Nor is it restricted to just there -- he is a local legend in my hometown, just down the street, for his irresponsibility and all around unpleasantness. And for my hometown, unpleasantness is a very high bar. I mean, you folks know that.

His epitaph should read, "A true Long Islander, in every way."

I don't hate the guy, but you can be talented and not be a POS, but he chose to go in a different direction. It is a choice. It's not fate.

As for his public image, well, you can curate anything.

If you search for tenderness
It isn't hard to find
You can have the love you need to live
But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind
It always seems to be so hard to give
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Kepler said:
I suspect they didn't interview his neighbors in Lloyd Harbor. Suffice to say he is not a popular figure among those who have to deal with him personally. Nor is it restricted to just there -- he is a local legend in my hometown, just down the street, for his irresponsibility and all around unpleasantness. And for my hometown, unpleasantness is a very high bar. I mean, you folks know that.

His epitaph should read, "A true Long Islander, in every way."

I don't hate the guy, but you can be talented and not be a POS, but he chose to go in a different direction. It is a choice. It's not fate.

As for his public image, well, you can curate anything.
Click to expand...
Just the fact that he has been married four times indicates he can be very difficult to be around. That's probably not unusual for any alcoholic.

Elton John was also a notable omission from the "talking heads" who appeared in the documentary. There is pretty clearly a strained relationship there. As for a local angle, there was really nothing. In fact Joel himself doesn't even speak too kindly about Long Island.

I just kept waiting for the part of the show where they talked about his marriage and the ex didn't sit for an interview. Again, maybe it was clever editing, but it didn't feel that way.
 
A listenable cover of the sad old twat's elevator music:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
I watched The Professor of Rock's interview with John McCrea (lead singer of Cake) about their debut album and it conjured up some memories.

I moved to Bahrain for work in May of 1996. Fortunately there was a radio station there and a music video channel (Channel V) that did a pretty good job of allowing me to stay updated on good music.

I brought with me a Sony Discman and Bose speakers and would have parties at my house, inviting over a myriad of other expats that were living and working in Manama just like I was. Single, in our 20's and 30's, and having the time of our life.

The Garbage eponymous debut (I guess released the year before), Beck Odelay, REM New Adventures in Hi-Fi, Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go, Ash 1977, Pearl Jam No Code, Rage's Evil Empire, Walt Mink El Producto and many others from that year were heavy in rotation, but Cake's Fashion Nugget was a favorite and dominated.

In fact when my Fashion Nugget CD was "borrowed" one night following a party, I drove to every record shop I could find on this island country and none of them had it. I was super bummed.

A week later a woman friend brought the CD back to me and said she was "sorry" for grabbing it without telling me. No cell phones in those days. We had similar tastes in music, she was from Bangkok and Thai was my favorite cuisine, and she just happened to be stunning.

A year later we were married and still are to this day nearly 28 years later. Fashion Nugget and many of those records bring back great memories to us both any time I play one of them. It's a year and a time I will never forget and will forever cherish, and thanks to Cake the soundtrack was one of the best ever.
 
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