A podcast, where we as fans, explore the music of the world's most popular musicians and attempt to find out what it is that makes their music so good. With each episode, we put ourselves in the artist's shoes then write, compose, and perform an original song applying what we learned and hopefully, attempt to capture the magic and spirit of their music. After each episode, we hope to spark interest in an artist's music that inspires you to hear and appreciate their songs in a whole new way.
Join the conversation Shawn and Shawna have about classical program music, show tunes, and where Billy Joel's Scenes from an Italian Restaurant find the point of intersection. Scenes is an epic composition including rockabilly piano, New Orleans jazz, and broadway styling that follows a classical structure and outline. Inspired by the B side of Abby Road, Billy Joel set out to take the pieces of songs he'd written but not quite finished and weave them together into one theatrical song. He paints such a vivid picture, it's like you're reminiscing with him about friends you both went to high school with at your favorite spot in the neighborhood.
28 Sept 2022
22. Billy Joel - The Stranger - The Stranger
As the title track for the album, Billy Joel shows us his depth by using poetic license to explain the 'shadow self'. Perhaps the most exciting thing about Joel's music is he never limits himself by the basic structure of a pop/rock song. Breaking all the molds with The Stranger, Joel mixes up the expectation of verse chorus verse chorus, and challenges our ear and mind to accept a song structured more like something Beethoven would compose. He even uses two different voicing styles, one the 'bad boy' during the verse and the other 'a nice guy' during the chorus. Which one is the stranger to Billy Joel, we might never know. The interesting part is, much like ourselves, he's both and can probably easily toggle between the two within a matter of seconds.
If this isn't your favorite song on the album, we suggest spending a little time with it, letting each unique part grow on you. What's your favorite Billy Joel 'voice' - the bad boy or the good guy?
14 Sept 2022
Billy Joel - The Stranger - Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
Billy Joel says he's never forgiven himself for not being Beethoven, but we believe just because Billy Joel can't do what Beethoven did doesn't mean Beethoven could do what Billy Joel does. Journey with us as we dive into The Stranger, Joel's first commercially successful album, track by track. Forty-five years after its release, The Stranger has stood the test of time by resonating with grandparents, parents, and children. Why? Shawn will breakdown Joel's compositions and Shawna will talk about his ability to write lyrical stories that capture human nature at its core. When music crosses genre, has the complexity of a renowned classical piece, and tells timelessly relatable stories, it will settle deep into your heart, mind, and soul from one generation to another. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), sets up our thesis perfectly with the introduction of contrapuntal melodies reminicint of Bach. Just like Homer's epic, Ulysses, Joel writes a lyrical coming of age story that touches on the internal struggle people have as life transitions from youth to adulthood.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
11 ratings
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