Comments on: Don’t Forget Your Second Wind: Baiting Billy Joel

By: bburl

bburl — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:33:28 +0000

Why should billy shut up? Pointless arguing is the third pillar of the Internet and a good ass kicking (like Billy laid on this guy) can be fun. If Billy surfs the net and decides to comment on something, I think that’s cool. To many PR drones insert themselves between famous people and just people so it’s nice when one actually speaks his mind–assuming its him of course. And if it’s not him, the faker sure did an awesome job.

By: DocStrange

DocStrange — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:19:14 +0000

@Chris Molanphy: Actually, that was a set up for an Attila joke. I've heard the song and i'm pretty neutral about it. Attila's record is the biggest atrocity of both Joel's catalog and the 70's as a whole (and yes, i'm counting Love Beach and Having Fun With Elvis On Stage in that remark).

By: GhostOfDuane

GhostOfDuane — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:14:42 +0000

…is how he sang it…

By: GhostOfDuane

GhostOfDuane — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:13:31 +0000

@Chris N.: One... Two... ONE TWO THREE FOUR

By: Chris N.

Chris N. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:25:07 +0000

The coolest thing about “A Matter of Trust” is the way he sings the count-off.

By: baconfat

baconfat — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:15:46 +0000

Has everybody forgotten the world's greatest one-song Billy Joel tribute band from Germany ever?

[www.myspace.com]

With any luck they'll be opening for Yo La Tengo again this Hanukkah.

By: Chris Molanphy

Chris Molanphy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:46:31 +0000

@DocStrange: Oh, please. "Matter of Trust" isn't an atrocity.

Not remotely! Despite its typical gated '80s production, I'd say that song's held up remarkably well -- unlike, say, the Top 10 hit that came just before it, "Modern Woman," which plays like an unironic American Psycho tune a half-decade before American Psycho.

Actually, no, wait: the true atrocity in Joel's mid-'80s catalog is the song alluded to in the title of this post, "You're Only Human (Second Wind)." The bouncy Casio-style keyboards! The Stuart Smalley-esque lyrics! The whooping backing vocals! ("Ya OWN-ly hyoo-MAHN! WOO! WOO!") Uuuuuuuuuuugggh. If the shit-stirring blogger had attacked that one, I might have leaned toward him.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:39:28 +0000

I think that his irrational and ineffectual anger is one of Billy Joel’s more endearing traits. Throughout his entire career, he’s always been so stupidly angry about nothing/anything.

By: Nicolars

Nicolars — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:36:59 +0000

@dippinkind: I'm with you there. There's something kind of simple-minded about accusing Billy Joel of "selling out" -- it's not like he was ever Ian Mackaye.

By: Thierry

Thierry — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:17:06 +0000

Didn't we all agree a few short months ago that "A Matter of Trust" had a strangely awesome video? And yes, the Robert Palmer comment also seals it for me.

Joel FTW!