Monday, March 26, 2018

Billy Joel's Places #MusicMovesMe

Today, on Music Moves Me, Ellen of "15 and Meowing" set the theme as our Spotlight Dancer.  Her theme:  Names of Places (Cities, States, places you go to...)".

But before we get to the music, what is #MusicMovesMe, and who are the 4Mers who participate?

The Head 4M'er is XmasDolly.  Her co-4Mers are:  Callie of JAmerican Spice, (who is gone temporarily due to a death in her husband's family) and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥   And last but certainly not least, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy.

Let's rock n'roll with place name songs!

I didn't intend to write this post as a tribute to legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel, but my husband immediately suggested "Zanzibar" and then the rest of the songs rolled out of my memory.
 Some of Billy Joel's songs center around bar life - one of these is Zanzibar.  It's both the name of a bar where Billy Joel will be, and an island off the coast of Zanzibar.

Next, Billy Joel again, with the song Vienna. Billy Joel ranked this #5 on an appearance on the Steven Colbert Show.

Goodnight Saigon, arguably, may be the best song that Billy Joel ever wrote.  As you can guess, Goodnight Saigon (Saigon has been called Ho Chi Minh City since 1976) is about the American experience in the Vietnam War, the defining war of my generation.  I can not listen to this song without crying - crying for the two boys who I grew up next door to who served there (they survived) and the family who moved into that apartment after that family left (the husband was a Vietnam vet), my husband's cousin, who was exposed to Agent Orange, a former boss (who served two tours there and had volunteered for both tours) and everyone, civilian or military, Vietnamese or of another nationality, who was touched in any way by that war.

I will finish with a song performed live at Shea Stadium in New York City by Billy Joel, Miami 2017 (I've Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).  This was part of a special two day concert given by Joel in 2008, when Shea Stadium, the home of the baseball New York Mets for over 40 years, closed its stadium doors.

But wait!  I was kidding.  I'm not finishing yet!  Here's one more, a special treat for Tony Bennett fans: Billy Joel and Tony Bennett performing, at Shea Stadium "New York State of Mind".

Join us through the linky if you have music to share, and visit places through music today.

Next Monday, I will be participating in "B" day in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge.  My theme: Florida Outside the Theme Parks, and I have a musical Floridian experience for you.  "B" there or "B" square! 

11 comments:

  1. Love, Love, Love Billy Joel. I would have loved to have gone to the Shea Stadium concerts. Couldn’t afford what the scalpers were asking. I’ve seen him at the Garden twice.

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  2. 2017 was when I saw Billy Joel perform for Phanatics like me. While not a phan of his, his show certainly kept my interest.
    I don't think I heard Zanzibar before (despite having frequented the location)

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  3. Billy is a great talent on any theme but especially this one. Loved it!!

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  4. Billy Joel is such an American Icon. Thanks for sharing him.

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  5. About the only Billy Joel song I care for is another place, "Allentown." Good set nonetheless.

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  6. Great choices, I can't believe I forgot NY State of Mind when I was thinking of NY songs. Have a great week!

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  7. Wow, I knew Billy Joel was good at the piano, but didn't know he was that good, and this video it's worth it's weight in gold. The two greatest entertainers together is just so awesome. Where did you find this one. Too cool. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  8. Whoa! BJ has been places! Midge Ure had a different song called Vienna. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. What an entertaining list of videos...Woohoo!

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  10. Alana,

    I'm sorry for the late visit and dance. Life has been hectic on this end with the passing of my father-in-law. I'm now trying to get caught on on many things, including things in Blogosphere.

    WOW, I had no clue Billy Joel wrote so many songs about cities! Most if not all I've heard before. He is a real talent, isn't he? I had three uncles to serve in Vietnam who returned safely from that war. One uncle was exposed to the Agent Orange which is the source of many of his health issues today. I do understand how "Goodnight Saigon" moves you to tears, though. "Billy Don't Be A Hero" is the song that causes tears to flow from my eyes thinking about that time.

    I like how you had a theme within a theme city songs by the same artist. Very cool! Have a pawsome week and thanks for the dance, my friend!

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