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Piano Man
Billy Joel
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- Album
- Piano Man (Legacy Edition)
- Released
- 1973
- Genres
- soft rock
- Length
- 5:39
- Tempo
- 178 BPM
- Label
- Columbia/Legacy
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About this song
Billy Joel wrote the song after his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, failed to chart on release. It became his first of many hits, reaching the top 30 in the US, Canada and Australia, and was a minor hit in the Netherlands and UK. In 2011, it was ranked #429 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
What it's about
The song draws on Joel's time as a bar pianist at The Executive Room in LA to portray a typical night at the bar and the loneliness that comes with it.
Fun facts
- Sampled in 4 other songs, like “Sand Man by Ontopic”.
- Covered 9 times, including “Piano Man by C-m carlsson”.
- Written by Billy Joel.
- Produced by Mike Stewart.