I used to love Billy Joel and then my sister told me he is ārock music for musical theater peopleā which is so funny and accurate, but made me embarrassed to listen to him for a long time. I put on The Stranger album in the car for the first time in years and all these memories came back of listening to it on vinyl, going to see him in Wisconsin with my college best friends, and playing this album through my shitty computer speakers on my first date with my husband. It makes me so sad that I was denying myself something I love because of the fear of cringe š¢
listened to this album for the first time on a road trip with my dad when i was in high school, itās his favorite & therefore mine. gonna invert your sisterās claim and say heās āmusical theater for rock music peopleā which feels much more true to my lived reality
My mom used to always shit on Billy Joel when I was little if he was playing on the radio. I think it was just a thing where all the momās in the area I grew up in New Jersey stanned Billy Joel and my mom, in a reactionary sort of way, was like āfuuuck that music.ā But I'm going through a phase right now where I'm listening to a lot of pop rock from the late 70ās and early 80ās and was listening to āThe Strangerā and it clicked so hard for me. I think Movinā Out (Anthonyās Song) is like a near-perfect song.
My parents played them religiously growing up and I couldnāt get into it for the longest time. I couldnāt rock with Michael Stipeās vocals. Until one day in college it just clicked. So beautiful how music works like that. One of my all time favs now. Murmur, Reckoning and Fables of the Reconstruction are all albums Iāll play front to back at work.
I am here to tell a cute story from my childhood: When I was little and I first saw shrek, I was utterly moved by the cover of hallelujah that plays in the movie. I was so moved in fact that my tiny pea sized brain tried to make whatever sense of the lyrics that I could, and made an art piece based off of that. I was completely misinterpreting the lyrics too which is so funny to me. I had no idea who sang it but I was obsessed!
What makes this story even better is that when I was in college I heard Rufus Wainwrightās original music for the first time and immediately fell in love. It was really full circle because he sang that cover in shrek. And I first heard his album poses while I was making art too. It just seems like a really cool coincidence or some kind of fate. Music finds you in very mysterious and meaningful ways. <3
ive been coming to this little spot down the hill from the house we always rent the summer for as long as i can remember. it is where i would scale rocks with my sister, investigate tide pools with my brother and sprawl out with my book. it is my favorite place on earth.
Phil Collins is a genius. This is the perfect album to put on when youāre on a long car ride with your dad.
bonus: the best songs are on there twice (radio versions).
Job interview? Thank u card. Holiday time? Xmas card. Had a really meaningful time with someone? Write them a letter. Bonus points if u send in the mail. Everyone loves getting handwritten notes. Everyone.