# Best Billy Joel Song - Nominations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337 "2013-10-04T10:23:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/41 "2013-10-04T16:55:36Z")
One a bit out of left field - _[And So It Goes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHO6a2H-pqY)_. The link is to a beautiful performance, only slightly marred by his limited piano skills. Oh, to hear Bruce Hornsby or Tim Ray play this. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/42 "2013-10-04T16:59:31Z")
I’ll add another vote for **Scenes from an Italian Restaurant**. And another one for my personal favorite, **My Life**. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/43 "2013-10-04T16:59:33Z")
I have an emotional attachment to We didn’t start the Fire so I’ll nominate that (video of my 14 month old son dancing and babbling to it) but I have to second New York State of Mind as my real vote for his best. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/44 "2013-10-04T17:40:29Z")
Another nod to “And So It Goes.” Brilliant and heartbreaking; just thinking of the lyrics makes me weepy. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/45 "2013-10-04T17:56:11Z")
Songs with the most nominations & seconds combined so far: Scenes From An Italian Restaurant: 6 Downeaster Alexa: 4 And So It Goes: 3 Vienna: 3 My Life: 3 New York State Of Mind: 3 Angry Young Man: 2 For The Longest Time: 2 Goodnight, Saigon: 2 Leningrad: 2 Miami 2017: 2 Piano Man: 2 The Stranger: 2 All others right now only have 1, but that’s 13 songs that have been nominated at least 2 times (or nominated 1 time and seconded 1 time) (you only get one second folks, or a 3rding or a 4thing or whatevering, but no seconding multiple songs) I’m only going to include top 10 for the poll because polls with too many options are just silly, and besides, the point of this thread is to narrow it down to the 10 songs that are likely to win. Keep 'em coming! For what it’s worth, I’m going to use my second on The Stranger so now The Stranger is up to 3. Yes, I am keeping a spreadsheet of everyone’s nomination and second. And if you listed more than 2, I just took the first two you listed. If you weren’t clear which one was a nom and which one was a 2nd, then I just chose the first one you named as your nom. It really doesn’t matter much, they hold the same weight really. I don’t really care how you define best, grammy style or if it’s just one particular performance you loved. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/46 "2013-10-04T19:00:46Z")
**Scenes from an Italian Restaurant** is his _Stairway to Heaven_ **Pressure** is his _Black Dog_ **New York State of Mind** is his _Kashmir_ How’s that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/47 "2013-10-04T19:06:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Re: live versions, can we all agree that if a song appears in _Songs in the Attic_, then the version of the song on that album is the superior version? Indeed!..see Captain Jack. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/48 "2013-10-04T19:12:16Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > It’s a toss up between “Only the Good Die Young” and “You May Be Right.” I’ll second both of these. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/49 "2013-10-04T19:33:44Z")
[Subliminally suggesting that someone nominate “She’s Always a Woman”…] ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/50 "2013-10-04T19:39:34Z")
I’ll nominate “Leave A Tender Moment Alone,” because I think we’ve all been in that situation of trying to be cool and casual with someone we’re attracted to and trying not to look like a fool. But I’ll acknowledge the superiority of “New York State of Mind.” That’s a beautiful song with all of the sax accompaniment. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/51 "2013-10-04T19:55:50Z")
Just to be different: “Laura” from The Nylon Curtain. A ‘lost Beatles’ song if there ever was one! ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/52 "2013-10-04T19:59:37Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > Live version of “Summer, Highland Falls” > > If you don’t think that opening piano licks are sublime, then you officially have no soul. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyKeAcfjmn0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyKeAcfjmn0) That is lovely - I don’t think I’d heard that song before. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/53 "2013-10-04T21:25:31Z")
So many good ones…but I’d have to go with the one that makes me feel the most, so Goodnight Saigon. And honorable mention for “You’re My Home”. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/54 "2013-10-04T21:44:37Z")
Nominating “Captain Jack” with a second for “Vienna.” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/55 "2013-10-04T22:04:26Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Nomination: \*\*Scenes From An Italian Restaurant \*\* Crap, I opened this thread to say this. I’m sure it’s been seconded (and thirded, and…) by now. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/56 "2013-10-04T22:07:39Z")
**Lullaby** … and second **And so it Goes** , for sentimental reasons. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/57 "2013-10-04T22:22:14Z")
Seconded/3rded/4thed/whatevered: Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Prelude/Angry Young Man, Goodnight Saigon, Miami 2017. Nominate: Sometimes A Fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/58 "2013-10-04T22:25:55Z")
No one else will pick this, but my choice is **[Through the Long Night with You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSQTSiveZHU).** Gorgeous melody and chord changes, plus lyrics that are heartbreakingly accurate for living with depression (or loving someone with depression). If Paul McCartney’s new song “New” is the Billy Joel song Joel never wrote, “Through the Long Night…” is the McCartney song Paul never wrote. (Though “C’etait Toi/You Were the One” comes close.) Seconding **Just the Way You Are.** ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/59 "2013-10-04T23:14:05Z")
I’ll nominate “No Man’s Land” from “River of Dreams.” Probably not the one I’ll vote for in the final, but I like it. If I can have a second choice of one nobody’s nominated yet: “Code of Silence.” ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337/60 "2013-10-04T23:32:28Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Songs with the most nominations & seconds combined so far: > > Scenes From An Italian Restaurant: 6 > Downeaster Alexa: 4 > And So It Goes: 3 > Vienna: 3 > My Life: 3 > New York State Of Mind: 3 > Angry Young Man: 2 > For The Longest Time: 2 > Goodnight, Saigon: 2 > Leningrad: 2 > Miami 2017: 2 > Piano Man: 2 > The Stranger: 2 > > All others right now only have 1, Hey! (psst - post [38](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16726318&postcount=38)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-billy-joel-song-nominations/670337.md?page=4)