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Rating: Before describing the content of this umpteenth live publication by the New York artist, we must immediately clarify an important aspect. Billy Joel is not the American version of Elton John. Too often, a hasty critique has grossly defined him this way, considering him a musical clone of the "Rocket Man" author. Even more comical is the situation in Italy where this great interpreter of the American song is often remembered as the author of themes for TV soap operas.
In reality, Billy Joel is a refined composer and an impeccable performer who, over the course of his career, has been able to gift his audience with dozens of successful and evocative songs. Not many artists can boast a musical catalog like his. Alongside many beloved tracks, there are a series of unforgettable albums: from the classics "Turnstiles" and "The Stranger" to the ambitious "The Nylon Curtain" up to the entertaining r’n’b of "An Innocent Man". Joel is also a very talented showman, and his concerts are always unforgettable experiences. Someone even described him as a "country" Bruce Springsteen. Personally, I prefer to consider him a great entertainer and a skilled pianist able to draw inspiration in his compositions from the likes of the Beatles and Ray Charles, as well as Beethoven. What he shares with Bruce is a preference for telling urban stories with an epic tone.
"12 Gardens Live" is taken from a series of triumphant concerts held at Madison Square Garden in New York. The album offers a great explosion of energy and interpretative emphasis. Billy Joel lets his songs glide into the hands of a prepared and precise band, capable of chewing both vintage rock 'n' roll and executing jazz-influenced surges. The ecstatic audience is an integral part of the show and, captivated, it’s as if they are flipping through a photo album full of fond memories. The album is, after all, a camouflaged greatest hits collection wherein the musician unexpectedly retrieves past pearls like the Lennon-inspired "Laura", the sweet "Vienna", and the incredible "Zanzibar". Naturally, the classics from a career like "Angry Young Man" to "Allentown" are not missing. However, it's the stories narrated in "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant", the common characters populating "Piano Man", and the descriptions in "Miami 2017" that remain in the heart, taking us directly along the illuminated streets of Broadway, in Billy Joel's Big Apple. A great city where many small human stories intersect, inhabited by Italian-Americans and losers dreaming of victory, all regulars of 52nd Street or the neighborhoods of Little Italy. While the presence of "Big Shot" in the setlist seems obvious, the same cannot be said for the relaxed "Keeping The Faith" or the story of "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid". "We Didn't Start The Fire" is a bit routine, but the strength of "You May Be Right", the folk ballad dedicated to his daughter "The Downeaster Alexa", and the sad memories of "Goodnight Saigon" are indispensable.
A special mention goes to the waltz of "She's Always A Woman", an immense love song describing a cruel and beautiful woman. Finally, the hidden gem "And So It Goes" has the duty of bringing down the curtain in a nostalgic tone on the show. A unique, accomplished, and emotional show thanks to the live dimension that enhances the attributes of a Billy Joel in top form, supported by a thrilling band. There’s nothing left but to wait for him with a new studio release that has been missing since the distant 1993.
Since then, Billy Joel has preferred to live artistically by taking the content described in the bitter reflection of the song "Piano Man" literally, continuing to sing for those who go to see him in the evening with the intent of forgetting their own life for a moment.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 My Life (04:59)
Got a call from an old friend we used to be real close
said he couldn’t go on the American way
closed the shop sold a house bought a ticket to the west coast
now he gives them a stand-up routine in L. A.
I don’t need you to worry for me ’cos I'm alright
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home
I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life
go ahead with your own life leave me alone
I never said you had to offer me a second chance
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
I still belong, don’t get me wrong
you can speak your mind but not on my time
They will tell you you can’t sleep alone in a strange place
then they’ll tell you you can’t sleep with somebody else
oh but sooner or later you sleep in your own space
either way it’s okay you wake up with yourself
I don’t need you to worry for me ’cos I'm alright
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home
I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life
go ahead with your own life leave me alone
I never said you had to offer me a second chance
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
I still belong, don’t get me wrong
you can speak your mind but not on my time
I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life
go ahead with your own life leave me alone
04 The Ballad of Billy the Kid (05:31)
From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia
Rode a boy with a six-gun in his hand
And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and West of the Rio Grande
Well he started with a bank in Colorado
In the pocket of his vest a Colt he hid
And his age and his size
Took the teller by surprise
And the word spread of Billy the Kid
Well he never travelled heavy
Yes, he always rode alone
And he soon put many older guns to shame
Well he never had a sweetheart
And he never had a home
But the cowboys and the ranchers knew his name
Well he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma
And the law just could not seem to track him down
And it served his legend well
For the folks they love to tell
'Bout when Billy the Kid came to town
One cold day a posse captured Billy
And the judge said, "String 'im up for what he did."
And the cowboys and their kin
Like the sea came pourin' in
To watch the hangin' of Billy the Kid
Well he never travelled heavy
Yes, he always rode alone
And he soon put many older guns to shame
Well he never had a sweetheart
Tho' he finally found a home
Underneath the Boot Hill grave that bears his name
From a town known as Oyster Bay, Long Island
Rode a boy with a six-pack in his hand
And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and West of the Rio Grande
05 The Entertainer (04:02)
I am the entertainer, and I know just where I stand,
Another serenader and another long-haired band
Today I am your champion, I may have won your hearts
But I know the game you'll forget my name
And I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts
I am the entertainer and I've had to pay my price,
The things I did not know at first I learned by doing twice
But still they come to haunt me,
Still they want their say,
So I've learned to dance with a hand in my pants
I let 'em rub my neck and I write 'em a check
And they go their merry way
I am the entertainer, been all around the world,
I've played all kinds of palaces and laid all kinds of girls
I can't remember faces, I don't remember names,
But what the hell, you know it's just as well
'Cause after a while and a thousand miles
It all becomes the same
I am the entertainer, I bring to you my songs,
I'd like to spend a day or two, but I can't stay that long
I got to meet expenses, I got to stay in line,
Got to get those fees to the agencies
And I'd love to stay but there's bills to pay
So I just don't have the time
I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show,
You've heard my latest record spin on the radio
It took me years to write it, they were the best years of my life,
It was a beautiful song, but it ran too long
If you're gonna have a hit you gotta make it fit
So they cut it down to 3:05
I am the entertainer, the idol of my age,
I make all kinds of money when I go on the stage
You see me in the papers, I've been in the magazines,
But if I go cold, I won't get sold,
I get put in the back in a discount rack
Like another can of beans
I am the entertainer and I know just where I stand,
Another serenader and another long-haired band
Today I am your champion, I may have won your hearts,
But I know the game, you'll forget my name,
I won't be here in another year If I don't stay on the charts
06 Vienna (03:36)
Slow down, you crazy child.
You're so ambitious for a juvenile.
But then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?
Where's the fire? What's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out.
You got so much to do and only so many hours in a day.
But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want or you can just get old.
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through.
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you're doing fine.
You can't be everything you wanna be before your time,
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight.
Too bad, but it's the life you lead.
You're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need.
Though you can see when you're wrong,
You know, you can't always see when you're right.
You've got your passion. You've got your pride,
But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true.
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you crazy child.
Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while.
It's all right you can afford to lose a day or two.
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
You know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want or you can just get old.
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through.
Why don't you realize Vienna waits for you?
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
07 New York State of Mind (07:05)
Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach
Or to Hollywood
But I'm taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson River Line
I'm in a New York state of mind
I've seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
But I know what I'm needing
And I don't want to waste more time
I'm in a New York state of mind
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
Don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
Don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind
I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line
'Cause I'm in a New York state of mind
09 Zanzibar (05:58)
Ali dances and the audience applauds
Though he's bathed in sweat he hasn't lost his style
Ali don't you go downtown
You gave away another round for free
Me, I'm just another face at Zanzibar
But the waitress always serves a secret smile
She's waiting out in Shantytown
She's gonna pull the curtains down for me, for me
CHORUS
I've got the old man's car,
I've got a jazz guitar
I've got a tab at Zanzibar
Tonight that's where I'll be
Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game
But the Yankees grab the headlines every time
Melodrama's so much fun
In black and white for everyone to see
Me, I'm trying just to get to second base
And I'd steal it if she only gave the sign
She's gonna give the go ahead
The inning isn't over yet for me
CHORUS
Tell the waitress I'll come back to Zanzibar
I'll be hiding inthe darkness with my beer.
She's waiting out in Shantytown
She's gonna pull the curtaains down for me, for me
CHORUS
12 Allentown (03:51)
Well, we're living here in Allentown
And they're closing all the factories down
Out in Bethlehem they're killing time
Filling out forms
Standing in line
Well, our fathers fought the second World War
Spent their weekends on the Jersey shore
Met our mothers in the USO
Asked them to dance
Danced with them slow
And we're living here in Allentown
But the restlessness was handed down
And it's getting very hard to stay
Well we're waiting here in Allentown
For the Pennsylvania we never found
For the promises our teachers gave
If we worked hard
If we behaved
So the graduations hang on the wall
But they never really helped us at all
No they never taught us what was real
Iron and coke(not coal)
Chromium Steel
And we're waiting here in Allentown
But they've taken all the coal from the ground
And the union people crawled away
Every child had a pretty good shot
To get at least as far as their old man got
But something happened on the way to that place
They threw an American flag in our face
Well, I'm living here in Allentown
And it's hard to keep a good man down
But I won't be getting up today
And it's getting very hard to stay
And we're living here in Allentown
14 Don't Ask Me Why (03:10)
All the waiters in your grand cafe
Leave their tables when you blink, oohh
Every dog must have his every day
Every drunk must have his drink
Don't wait for answers, just take your chances
Don't ask me why
All your life you've had to stand in line
Still you're standing on your feet, oooh
All your choices make you change your mind
Now your calendars complete
Don't wait for answers, just take your chances
Don't ask me why
MMm You can say the human heart is only make believe
But I am only fighting fire with fire
You are still the victim of the accidents you leave
Sure as I'm a victim of desire
All the servants in your new hotel
Throw their roses at your feet, whoaa
Fool them all but baby I can tell
You're no stranger to the street
Don't ask for favors, don't talk to strangers,
Don't ask me why
Yesterday you were an only child
Now your ghosts have gone away, oooh
You can kill them in the classic style
Now you parlez vous francais
Don't look for answers, you took your chances,
Don't ask me why
Don't ask me why
15 Laura (05:19)
Laura
Calls me
In the middle of the night
Passes on her
Fateful information
Then these careless fingers
They get caught in her vise
Til they're bleeding
On my coffee table
Living alone isn't all that
It's cracked up to be
I'm on her side
Why does she push the poison on me?
Laura
Has a very hard time
All her life has
Been one long disaster
Then she tells me
She suddenly believes she's seen
A very good sign
She'll be taking
Some aggressive action
I fight her wars
While she's slamming her doors
In my face
Failure to break
Was the only mistake
That she made
Here I am
feeling like a fucking fool
Do I react the way exactly
She intends me to?
Everytime I think I'm off the hook
She makes me lose my cool
I'm her machine
And she can punch all the keys
She can push any button I was programmed through
Laura
Calls me
When she needs a good fix
All her questions
Will get sympathetic answers
I should
Be so
Immunized
To all of her tricks
She's surviving
On her second chances
Sometimes I feel like this
Godfather deal is all wrong
How can she hold an umbilical chord
For so long?
I've done everything I can
What else am I supposed to do
I'm her machine
And she can punch all the keys
She can push any button I was programmed through
Laura
Loves me
Even if I don't care
That's my problem
That's her sacred absolution
If she had to
She would put herself in my chair
Even though I
Faced electrocution
She always says
I'm the best friend that
She's ever had
How do you
Hang up on someone
Who needs you that bad?
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