"Piano Man" is a song written and performed by
American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. His first single in North America, it
was included on Joel's 1973 album of the same name and later released as a
single on November 2, 1973. The song is sung from Joel's point-of-view as a
piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there and the people
he encountered. "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences
as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972–73, which he had decided to pursue
in an effort to escape his contracted New York-based record company at the
time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of the
album “Cold Spring Harbor”. Joel describes various characters, including a
bartender named John and a "real-estate novelist" named Paul, all based
on real-life individuals.
Joel's first major hit and his signature song, "Piano Man" peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1974. Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of “The Stranger”, it became one of his most well-known songs. It is now a highlight of Joel's live shows, where he usually allows the audience to sing the chorus. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance.
Joel's first major hit and his signature song, "Piano Man" peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1974. Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of “The Stranger”, it became one of his most well-known songs. It is now a highlight of Joel's live shows, where he usually allows the audience to sing the chorus. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance.
“Piano Man” este un cantec scris si interpretat de
cantautorul american Billy Joel. A fost primul lui single in America de Nord,
fiind inclus in albumul lui Joel cu acelasi nume din 1973 si lansat ca single,
mai tarziu, la 2 noiembrie 1973. Cantecul e cantat din perspectiva lui Joel, ca
pianist intr-un bar, amintind despre experientele lui cu oamenii intalniti
acolo. “Piano Man” este bazat pe reala experienta de viata a lui Joel ca muzician
de salon in Los Angeles in perioada 1972-1973, cand el decisese, intr-un tarziu,
sa scape de contractul cu compania sa din New York, Family Productions, datorita
slabelor performante comerciale ale albumului “Cold Spring Harbor”. Joel
descrie diferite personaje, inclusiv un barman numit John si un agent imobiliar
romancier, numit Paul, toti fiind oameni din viata reala.
Primul lui slagar major si un cantec de autograf, “Piano Man” a atins locul 25 in Billboard Hot 100 in aprilie 1974. Urmand loviturii de succes ca muzician popular cu lansarea “The Stranger”, a devenit unul dintre cele mai cunoscute cantece ale lui. Este acum punctul de atractie al spectacolelor live ale lui Joel, unde, de obicei, el permite audientei sa cante ca un cor. In 2016 Biblioteca Congresului a selectat “Piano Man” pentru conservare in Registrul National de Inregistrari, pentru semnificatia sa culturala, istorica si artistica.
Primul lui slagar major si un cantec de autograf, “Piano Man” a atins locul 25 in Billboard Hot 100 in aprilie 1974. Urmand loviturii de succes ca muzician popular cu lansarea “The Stranger”, a devenit unul dintre cele mai cunoscute cantece ale lui. Este acum punctul de atractie al spectacolelor live ale lui Joel, unde, de obicei, el permite audientei sa cante ca un cor. In 2016 Biblioteca Congresului a selectat “Piano Man” pentru conservare in Registrul National de Inregistrari, pentru semnificatia sa culturala, istorica si artistica.
Billy Joel & Guests - Piano Man (Gershwin Prize -
November 19, 2014)
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