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"Don’t
go changing to try and please me. You never let me down before. I
don’t imagine you’re too familiar and I don’t see you
anymore.” –Just The Way You Are
If
Billy Joel had not taken writing credits for those lyrics, I would
have sworn my mother wrote them. Most see the aforementioned lyrical
sample as a sincere love declaration from a man to his woman, to take
the good or the bad, whatever she had to offer. I, on the other hand,
see it as a mother giving a guilt trip to her son. Is it such a
preposterous analysis, a completely off-target interpretation?
“I just want someone I can talk to you…” But Mom, you
might say back, I’m in middle of watching something on TV. OK, she
says back, “I love you just the way you are” and then she hangs
up.
After
much thought, I conclude that it’s no weird coincidence that the
Jewish people, en masse, relate so much to Billy Joel. His songs
encapsulate just about every character trait of our stereotypical
portrayals. From the paranoia that everyone is Anti-Semitic and out to
get us (“…everyone is so untrue…all I want is someone to
believe”) to the self-consciousness of being accepted and
assimilating successfully (“whattsa’ matter with the clothes I’m
wearing? …whattsa’ matter with the car I’m driving?”). If
there was anyone who could understand what it was like to be an
adolescent Yeshiva student (“Pressure”), it was Mister William
Martin Joel. As I used to sit in the backseat of my father’s car on
the way to school, I sang “should I try to be a straight “A”
student? If you are, then you think too much” with such full
intensity, actualizing this song as a primal scream, a rebel call for
the burdens of excelling in Yeshiva. No, I would not think too much
and yes, that means that I might not get an “A.” Deal with it.
Singing
along with Joel empowered me in a way that Bon Jovi or Bruce
Springsteen could never accomplish. They were too goyish.
Bon Jovi sang about people like “Tina” and “Johnny,” who I did
not know or relate to (“Tina” is such a shiksa
name
- and working on a dock? Are you kidding? Who do I know that works on
a dock?).
Bruce Springsteen was indeed the all-American minstrel and everyone
loved him for that. Myself included. But as hard as I tried, I also
found it too difficult to identify with this other Jersey rocker.
After being born with asthma, I awoke to the harsh reality that I was
not “born to run.”
I would have to stay home and practice piano for my weekly
lessons.
…………………….
Like
the Wu Tang Clan, Joel has always kept it real, never alienating his
fans with an cutting-edge experimental album along the lines of Britney by Britney Spears (by the way, that was a joke). Throughout
my life’s experiences, I have found Billy Joel’s music always
appropriate regardless of the scenario. Yes, there was a time where I
thought I was “too cool” to listen to the
Stranger or rock out – yes, rock out - to Glass
Houses (see above). But
I realize the error of my ways. In high school, when frustrated with
family members, I reveled in my angst along with “My Life,” not
with my thrash heavy Iron Maiden tapes. “I don’t care what you say
anymore, this is my life” – how many of you have felt the need to
say that to your parents? It’s no wonder Braid covered this song
because it truly is a punk song in its sentiments.
How
uncanny does the lyrical content of “Only the Good Die Young”
capture the complacency in Jewish education: “well, they showed you
a statue and told you to pray, built you a temple and locked you
away…they didn’t give you quite enough information.” Right on!
Now this guy really understands you.
Even
on occasion, Billy will resolve global issues, standing up and
defending the Jews against the finger pointing of Anti-Semitism. As
Jonathan Rosen astutely pointed out in a recent New York Times
Magazine article, the subtle persecution is coming around again. Once
again, we are being accused for the world’s woes and nobody is
standing up publicly. Well, “we didn’t start the fire. It was
always burning as the world was turning.” And in response to all the
other untruths, Joel, once again steps up to the podium, and responds
on the behalf of our nation: “I am an innocent man. Oh, yes I am.”
But
don’t take my word for it. It’s just my opinion and my opinion is
good for nothing. When I approached observant Jewish identical twin
brothers, Isaac and Seth, separately, about our love for the Joel,
they both gave me identical answers. “It’s very simple. He is an
underdog like the Jews,” said Isaac/Seth. “He is short and not
very good looking but he still gets the hot, tall girls every Jewish
guy is dreaming of.” And one of those hot, tall girls was model,
Christie Brinkley who Joel had almost a ten year marriage to. In fact,
many of the songs on An Innocent
Man were dedicated to her, including the song “Christie
Lee” which I remember bringing me great disappointment.
In the past, he had sung about “Laura” and “Brenda,”
two nice girls that I probably went to high school with. Now he had
written a paean to a woman, who could never be confused for being
Jewish, even if she wore a yarmulke. Had the epitome of shleppers let
me down and confirmed that the Semitic persuasion needed to look
outside of our tribe for Ms. Right?
Before all hope was lost, Joel had redeemed himself and did
what a typical Jewish parent from Long Island would have done: he gave
his daughter a WASPy name - Alexis.
“The
reason I love Billy Joel so much,” explained Sarah, a closet Billy
Joel listener, “is that he isn’t pretentious. I never heard him
complain about Napster when everyone else was. This was a way to get
free music and he was into that. Free music. How can a Jewish person
not relate to that?” Billy Joel was the anti-Lars Ulrich. He’s a pushitah
yid, a simple Jew, with messages we can all understand.
With tremendous flair, Joel could play both sides of the coin,
identifying with the rebellious child while simultaneously, play the
role of the sage parent. He, like the patriarchs and matriarchs,
dispensed his knowledge but wasted no time on explanations. “Don’t
wait for answers, don’t talk to strangers. Don’t ask me why.”
With Joel, it was nothing more that “a matter of trust” and if I
know a Jewish parent (which I do), they pine for the trust of their
children. How many times have you heard your parents say, trust me
here because “I’ve lived long enough to have learned…”
“His
songs emit a nostalgic feeling…this homey type feeling that most
artists strive for but rarely accomplish,” said Rabbi Dworken,
Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America and
also, my dad, “It’s a personal relationship he develops with the
listener. Much like a rabbi who makes his speech in synagogue. He
hopes the congregation can relate to it. And they do because a Billy
Joel concert, I assume, is a lot like shul.”
If you’ve been listening to the soft music stations (and my parents
have) or visiting the dentist regularly, you’ll hear “New York
State of Mind” quite often. The song conjures up those nostalgic
feeling Rabbi Dworken referred to. A time when New York City was a
haven from your troubles, a sanctuary for the troubled soul. Some
might even say it’s Billy Joel’s finest vocal performance, ranking
somewhere along the lines of reciting a Psalm. An affection for that
song (and others) in times like these lies along the same reasoning
most seek solace in a Cantorial performance. It’s all about soul.
Not
to say that Billy Joel is Jew-sclusive.
He does appeal to the other nations, hence the incredible record
sales. But through many discussions with those outside the Jewish
faith, I realized that the relationship existed on a different level.
The affection, if there is any, is purely romantic and nostalgic.
“Man, when I was a kid, Billy Joel was on the radio all the time. I
think “Goodnight Saigon” was playing when I got my first kiss,”
Mike, a Christian, told me, “but would I buy an album now? Probably
not.” When I asked Mike what he listened to now, he told me Creed,
Live and Fatboy Slim. Any opinion he had was now devaluated. “I
love, love, love him. No matter what he puts out,” enthused Maura,
an Irish Catholic, “His songs are just so nice to listen to.” When
I asked her about the lyrical content, she said she paid very little
attention to lyrics. “If I thought lyrics were important, would I
have an ‘NSYNC CD on my desk?”
Although in contrast, for some non-Jews, Joel’s lyrics are the only
appeal to the piano man’s catalogue. “I know who he is. But I’m
not a huge Billy Joel fan,” said Chad, a blonde blue-eyed southern
boy that likes white bread, “I’m just not into it. I mean, I have
to admit that I do like him lyrically more than musically. He’s a
great storyteller, so yeah, I would read his lyrics but not listen to
those piano songs.”
…………………….
Through
a multitude of phone calls, I found Billy Joel’s representative at
Sony, Claire Mercuri. I did not ask for a great deal. I did not need
Mr. Joel for an in-person interview or even a conference call. I
merely wanted her to forward to him a list of questions via email that
would give me the insight I needed for this piece. Her assistant,
Amanda, who was as helpful as a flashlight in mid-day, kept on
forgetting who I was (and here I thought I was unforgettable). But
then after much persistence (translation: stalking) I was given
Claire’s email address to which I would email a list of questions
and she would then forward them to Joel. There are the questions I
sent:
1.
After living on the Upper West Side in a very prominent Jewish
community, I’ve found that just about every apartment that I’ve
visited has had a Billy Joel CD. How do you explain the connection the
Jewish people have to your music and your lyrics?
2.
Is there one song or one lyric that you feel epitomizes the
Jewish experience? Also, do the good only die young in the Catholic
religion or was that applicable to all religions?
3.
What is your current level of affiliation? In your day-to-day
life, do you identify with the religion? Would you like to come for a
Friday night dinner at my place? – please call by Wednesday, as
preparations are required.
4.
My dad is an Orthodox Rabbi and loves your music (besides your
songs, he will only listen to Billy Ocean’s “Get Out Of My
Dreams”). In fact, you are the only rock performer we can agree on
listening to. He still gets teary when he hears “Goodnight,
Saigon.” How do you explain this cross-generation bond? How do you
explain my dad’s love for Billy Ocean?
5.
While researching this article, I was overwhelmed with the
participants - my Jewish friends - who were willing to go on the
record as having a story or two about them and your music. Where you
aware that every Jew at one point or another was a Billy Joel fan? Do
you think that loving you is a commandment hidden somewhere in the
Torah?
6.
To be honest, your music has introduced millions (including
myself) into a life-long love affair with music – it was The
Stranger that seduced me into rock ‘n’ roll. I cannot imagine
where I would be without your albums. And on that note, what’s with
the beard? Do you find it irritating? Is there a latent Rabbinic phase
we should know about?
7.
What was your Bar Mitzvah parsha?
 After
my list of questions, I expressed gratitude to him profusely for being
an inspiration and a role model to me and countless others. But thanks
to the uncooperative nature of the Sony staff, Mr. Joel will never see
those questions until he read this article (hi, Billy). I truly felt
rejected as a fellow member of the tribe. After buying all his tapes
and then replacing those tapes with CD’s, I felt I knew Billy well.
And knowing him well, I was certain that he would have wanted to
participate in this article.
And have Friday night dinner with me.
I spoke to Amanda one last time and she assured me she “would leave
another message.” And I said back, “but I’ve already called five
times.” And she said back, “well, add one more to that number.”
Oh, Amanda, if I had sung for you the first few lines of the titular
Boston hit would you have been more cooperative? But still the phone
does not ring. So, I’m sorry to you, the reader,
that you couldn’t hear what Mr. Joel had to say. And I’m
sorry to you, Mr. Joel that you were not given the chance to be heard.
But it’s not my fault. I tried. Blame it on Claire when you see
her….she must be an anti-Semite.
(This
article was originally to appear in HEEB MAGAZINE but it isn’t.)
send us comments immediately? Email
arye
Readers Comments:
Yidy1@hotmail.com:
Hi,
I don’t really got the time, so I’ll make it short. Your Billy Joel article was beautiful and so,,, to the point. I’m Jewish, Chasidic actually, Satmar if you really want to know. Unlike other Satmar Chasidim I grew up in a litvish nationhood and therefore sport a fine English, being an avid reader helped a lot to.
I have not become a Billy Joel fan thru any of my litvisheh friend’s, if fact it was a Skvereh chusid from Williamsburg who first introduced me to Billy Joel. As a man who enjoys a wide range of music, from Yosselle Rosenblatt to Shlome carlebach, from (l’havdil) Yanni to Michael Bolton, I must say that out of all goisheh singers, Billy really strikes a chord within me.
Some of his songs I enjoy most are; you may be right I might be crazy, piano man, New York State of mind, its still rock and roll to me, for the longest time, to make you feel my love, baby grand, tell her about it, and only the good dye young, etc.
Respectfully yours,
A Billy Joel fan.
Yosi Golberstein:
Holy Reb Arye! I am a complete stranger (Yosi Golberstein), but the bond
you created between us is unbreakable. Kudos on your wonderful piece
about Billy. I would like to specifically commend you on your deep and
well thought out questions for Billy. Claire Mercuri is a wench. I hope
you aren't too down about it. It is so great hearing about fellow Jewish
hardcore Billy fans.
I feel deeply commited and grateful to Billy because he is my family
therapist...
It is Billy that has kept my family together. Thank God...
I can imagine since you write for bangitout.com you are cool and love
getting zany, out-of-the-blue emails like this.
Please feel free to share my inspirational Billy story with all those
that you meet, and again--fantastic article!
Kol tuv and have a wonderful day!
Yosi Golberstein
Aliza Fischman:
Great article -- just one correction. His daughter's name is Alexa (Alexa Ray to be exact) not Alexis.
Eli:
Subj: Great piece on Billy Joel
I laughed out loud a couple of times. Nice work.
Eli
From Rebecca Rome:
i just read your article on billy joel. i really enjoyed it. thank you for
making it available on bangitout. so, i once read that his mother was
catholic and father was jewish. i was very disappointed when i learned of
this, feeling let down. i still love his music but feel a little distant,
you know?!
anyway, thanks again. glad to see there are some b.j. fans around who are
open with their obsession!!!
From Shlomo Mayer:
Subj: enjoyed the article
Thanks--keep 'em coming.
BTW-did you ever go to yeshiva toras moshe?
From Michael Steinhart
Arye, nice piece on Billy Joel and his deep meaning for us
Jew-types. I would like to submit my name for nomination as "Bangitout's
Most Seriously Disturbed Geek" with the following trivia:
You asked what BJ's bar mitzvah parsha was. Well, you don't need
anything more complicated than a Web connection and a Jewish calendar
program to find out yourself. I did this on my lunchbreak, see, which
qualifies me for the BMSDG award.
Billy Joel was born (in the Bronx, same as me) on May 9, 1949. That was
Iyar 10, 5709, the Monday before Parshas Emor. Thirteen years later, May
9, 1962 came out on Iyar 5--the Wednesday of Parshas Emor and also Yom
Haatzma'ut. Iyar 10 (his Hebrew birthday) was the following Monday --
and Behar and Bechukosai weren't together that year -- so his parents
probably gave him the easier parsha (Behar) to do that Shabbos.
Incidentally, 10 Iyar is the 25th day of the Omer -- so they probably
didn't have any music at his bar mitzva (yeah right). Also, because it's
a Monday in both years ('49 and '62), it's the first Monday of
post-Pesach B'h'b fasting. So basically, the Joels wouldn't have had to
pay for a band or for a caterer had they held little BJ's BM on the
Monday of his Hebrew birthday.
All this has been brought to you by the Kaluach (TM) Hebrew calendar and
my idle brain.
Good luck getting into Heeb -- -- michael
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