As much as Joel has tried desperately to attract critical acclaim, he has also been smart for other reasons to go for different sounds on each and every album.Singer-songwriter and pop superstar Billy Joel certainly had an abundance of hit songs during the 80s, but he also suffered from a significant gulf between his critical and commercial reception.That means that the quality of some hits may not be up to snuff compared to other, more complete compositions, which is why this list of top 80s songs may be shorter than expected.
Nonetheless, Joels best work has always exhibited great melodic sense, and he can be a fine, serious songwriter when he wants to be. Heres a look at the Piano Mans best tunes from the 80s, a decade of great variety for him as an artist. This deserving Top 10 pop hit from 1980 certainly sounds convincing as an up-tempo, slightly edgy rocker, but its hard to escape the feeling that Joels portrait of an unhinged first-person narrator is a bit too calculated for its own good. After all, much of 1980s Glass Houses attempted to put to rest Joels rather neutered soft rock image, and what better way to do so than spotlighting his rebellious, nihilistically carefree side. Perhaps thats overanalysis (imagine that on a music website) because at its most basic this song works remarkably well in terms of its new wave guitar rock sound and Joels clever and humorous lyrics. Im not sure exactly what alone in your electric chair means, but its nothing if not interesting. As possibly Joels finest hard-hitting rocker, this underrated 80s classic delivers a number of Joels specific attributes in almost flawless form. After all, this is not the first or last time the songwriter deals with unstable personalities in his narrators, even if it is one of the few occasions he delves into pop music taboos like phone sex or the possible specter of stalking that lurks within the song. Theres often uncertainty if not full-tilt paranoia behind Joels lyrics, but in this case, the application of such psychological themes creates a great dramatic effect. Whats more, the vocal performance, guitar foundation and busy instrumental break all work together brilliantly to forge an utterly singular sound all Joels own. Following the relative silliness of a smash hit like Its Still Rock and Roll to Me, Joel must have felt he needed to get serious in order to ensure his musical legacy. ![]() Of course, Joel cant touch Bruce Springsteen in the area of fighting for the disenfranchised through pop music, but he rivals John Mellencamps solid mid-80s work here. Theres courage in Joels retrospective look at Baby Boomer nostalgia that unearths the bitterness and hopelessness encountered by such figures as they aged and sometimes found their livelihoods stripped away. An empathetic protest song that deserves its continuing status as important music. As discussed, Joels synth part on this track from may be one of the greatest keyboard riffs of all time, a brilliant, frenetic instrumental accompaniment for the emotional powder keg of the songs lyrics. The tune also succeeds as an effective rock song with minimal guitar, which is a rare feat that Joel desperately wanted to accomplish back when he formed the ill-fated Attila. As in Sometimes a Fantasy, Joel takes on the persona of an addled modern man struggling to cope with his emotions. Its a territory in which the singer works capably, and with the benefit of his unfailing melodic sense (Im sure you have some cosmic rationale), Joels lyrics come off as sophisticated and insightful most of the time. Though certainly another example of an oldies throwback number from the 1983 album of the same name, this song has always felt to me like a far superior effort than the wildly popular but ultimately annoying hit singles of that time like Tell Her About It and Uptown Girl.404 Anchored by a haunting, moody bass line and a very solid melody, this tune features also some of Joels finest, expressive singing, including an impressive range. Rather typically, the title takes on a mild tack of defensiveness, as if Joel must convince someone of his innocence or at least grapple with some sort of unexplained guilt. That chip on his shoulder, both real and imagined, has always enhanced the music of one of Americas top 80s hitmakers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |