Word: joel
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...other current concern which Joel chooses to patronize is the plight of the Vietnam War veterans. In "Goodnight Saigon," he launches into a sappy, unoriginal tribute to motors, rotors, lost friends and chilling war memories. "Our arms were heavy, but our bellies were tight," he croons. Between the beginning and ending sounds of a helicopter, courtesy of a synthesizer, Joel shows his desperation for relevance by trying to conjure up vivid, fresh images. After commenting on how "we played our Doors tapes" which shows that he saw Apocalypse Now before creating this song. Joel dramatically declares. "And it was dark...
...Billy Joel asks a lot of questions on The Nylon Curtain. In the hit single "Pressure," he spews...
Although he is now unable to perceive and describe familiar moment in modern life, Joel apparently has perceived his own slide into sweet-sounding fluff, and on The Nylon Curtain he desperately tries to do something about it. In a last-gasp attempt to attain relevance, he sings about Issues: you know, Unemployment, Social Pressure, Viet Nam, and, of course, Sesame Street. Instead of seizing an elevated song-writing status. Joel glaringly reveals his own detachment from the emotions and situations he describes to others...
...music doesn't help matters. Joel was in a motorcycle accident last year which injured his hand, thereby hampering his piano playing. But instead of cutting back to simplistic piano and equally straightforward musical accompaniment. Joel has souped up and cluttered his songs with synthesizer zanies and special effects. The tunes are about as endearing as the cold, distant stories told...
...FORGET, though, that these are not just any poor songs. These are Important Ones confronting modern day issues. Apparently seeing the potential listening public among the growing ranks of the unemployed. Joel begins The Nylon Curtain with "Allentown," an upbeat ode to those who are out of work in the Pennsylvanian factory town. Joel sprinkles insincere comments about broken American promises in between the vacuous refrain "And we're living here in Allentown." "Iron and coke and chromium steel," Joel chirps cheerily...