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{{short description|1973 single by Billy Joel}} {{short description|1973 single by Billy Joel}}
{{for multi|the Billy Joel album|Piano Man (Billy Joel album)|other songs|Piano Man (disambiguation)}} {{For|other songs with the same title|Piano Man (disambiguation)#Music}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2018}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox song {{Infobox song
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| recorded = September 1973 | recorded = September 1973
| studio = | studio =
| venue =
| genre = | genre =
* ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment.expertscolumn.com/200-greatest-soft-rock-songs|title=200 Greatest Soft Rock Songs|website=Entertainment.expertscolumn.com}}</ref> * ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment.expertscolumn.com/200-greatest-soft-rock-songs|title=200 Greatest Soft Rock Songs|website=Entertainment.expertscolumn.com}}</ref>
* ]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9W8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA134|title=Rock in the Musical Theatre: A Guide for Singers|last=Church|first=Joseph|date=2019|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-094349-3|page=134}}</ref> * ]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9W8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA134|title=Rock in the Musical Theatre: A Guide for Singers|last=Church|first=Joseph|date=2019|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-094349-3|page=134}}</ref>
* ]<ref name= "Molanphy 2020">{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2020/04/billy-joel-was-the-ultimate-genre-hopping-musical-magpie|title=Still Billy Joel to Me Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=April 30, 2020|access-date=April 1, 2024}}
</ref>
| length = | length =
* {{duration|m=5|s=40}} (album version) * {{duration|m=5|s=40}} (album version)
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| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|gxEPV4kolz0|"Piano Man"|}}}} | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|gxEPV4kolz0|"Piano Man"|}}}}
}} }}
"'''Piano Man'''" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter ]. His first single in North America, it was included on Joel's 1973 album ] and later released as a single on November&nbsp;2, 1973. The song is sung from Joel's point of view as a piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there and the people he encountered. "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973, which he had decided to pursue in an effort to escape his contracted New York City-based record company at the time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of the album '']''. Joel describes various characters, including a bartender named John and a "real estate novelist" named Paul, all based on real-life individuals. "'''Piano Man'''" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter ]. First released as a single in the US on November&nbsp;2, 1973, it was included on Joel's 1973 album '']''. The song is sung from the point of view of a piano player at a bar, describing the patrons. "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973, which he had decided to pursue in an effort to escape his contracted New York City–based record company at the time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of his debut album, '']'' (1971).


Joel's first major hit and his ], "Piano Man" peaked at #25 on the ] chart in April 1974.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQkEAAAAMBAJ |title=Billboard |page=Front cover |via=Google Books |date=April 20, 1974 |access-date=October 8, 2016 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/284376/billy-joel/chart?page=4&sort=date&f=379 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603060820/http://www.billboard.com/artist/284376/billy-joel/chart?page=4&sort=date&f=379 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |title=Billy Joel: Chart history |magazine=Billboard |date=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=October 8, 2016}}</ref> Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of '']'', it became one of his most well-known songs. It is now a highlight of Joel's live shows, where he usually allows the audience to sing the chorus. In 2015, the ] selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the ] for its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2016/16-056.html |title="Piano Man," "I Will Survive" and Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game Receive Designation |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 23, 2016 |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref> Joel's first major hit and his ], "Piano Man" peaked at number 25 on the ] chart in April 1974.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 |title=Billboard |page=56 |via=Google Books |date=April 20, 1974 |access-date=October 8, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/284376/billy-joel/chart?page=4&sort=date&f=379 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603060820/http://www.billboard.com/artist/284376/billy-joel/chart?page=4&sort=date&f=379 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |title=Billy Joel: Chart history |magazine=Billboard |date=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=October 8, 2016}}</ref> Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of '']'', it became one of his most well-known songs.


In 2013, the song was inducted into the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame &#124; Hall of Fame Artists|website=Grammy.com}}</ref> In 2015, the ] selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the ] for its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2016/16-056.html |title="Piano Man," "I Will Survive" and Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game Receive Designation |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 23, 2016 |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref>
{{listen {{listen
| filename = Piano Man sample.ogg | filename = Piano Man sample.ogg
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==Overview== ==Overview==
===Song background=== ===Song background===
"Piano Man" is a fictionalized retelling of Joel's own experience as a piano-lounge singer for six months in 1972–73 at the now defunct Executive Room bar in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite interview |first = Billy |last = Joel |interviewer = Charlie Rose |url = https://www.youtube.com |publisher=] |work = CBS This Morning|title=Billy Joel Interview |access-date = September 9, 2016 }}</ref> In a talk on '']'', Joel said that he had to get away from New York due to a conflict with his then recording company and hence lived in Los Angeles for three years with his first wife. Since he needed work to pay the bills, but could not use his better known name, he worked at the Executive Room bar as a piano player using the name "Bill Martin" (Joel's full name is William Martin Joel).<ref>{{Cite news |title = Major 7th chords: a talk with Billy Joel |publisher = The Actors Studio, USA |date = 1999 }}</ref> "Piano Man" is a fictionalized retelling of Joel's own experience as a piano-lounge singer for six months in 1972–73 at the now defunct Executive Room bar in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite interview |first = Billy |last = Joel |interviewer = Charlie Rose |url = https://www.youtube.com |publisher=] |work = CBS This Morning|title=Billy Joel Interview |access-date = September 9, 2016 }}</ref> In a talk on '']'', Joel said that he had to get away from New York due to a conflict with his then recording company and hence lived in Los Angeles for three years with his first wife. Since he needed work to pay the bills, but could not use his common name, he worked at the Executive Room bar as a piano player using the name "Bill Martin" (Joel's full name is William Martin Joel).<ref>{{Cite news |title = Major 7th chords: a talk with Billy Joel |publisher = The Actors Studio, USA |date = 1999 }}</ref>


Joel has stated that all of the characters depicted in the song were based on real people.<ref>{{Cite book |title = Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man |page = 73 |first = Hank |last = Bordowitz|access-date=January 1, 2018|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v6oGkakXkA0C |isbn = 9781617130786 |date = 2011-03-01 }}</ref> "John at the bar" was really the bartender who worked during Joel's shift at the piano bar. "Paul is a real estate novelist" refers to a real estate agent named Paul who would sit at the bar each night working on what he believed would be the next great American novel. "The waitress is practicing politics" refers to Joel's first wife Elizabeth Weber, with whom he moved to Los Angeles from New York in 1972 and who worked at The Executive Room as a waitress while Joel played the piano.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://nypost.com/2014/01/26/how-billy-joel-became-the-piano-man/ |title = How Billy Joel Became 'The Piano Man' |website = ] |last = Getlen |first = Larry |date = January 26, 2014 |access-date = January 17, 2016 }}</ref> Joel had moved from New York to L.A. to record his first album, '']'', which was marred by a mastering error by the album's producers at Family Productions, the first label that signed Joel. After this bad experience, Joel wanted to leave his contract with Family Productions for ], but the contract that he had signed made this very difficult. So Joel stated that he was "hiding out" at the bar, performing under the name Bill Martin, while lawyers at Columbia Records tried to get him out of his first record deal.<ref>{{Cite book |title = Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man |url = https://archive.org/details/billyjoellifetim00bord |url-access = registration |first = Hank |last = Bordowitz |year = 2005 |publisher = Billboard Books |isbn = 9780823082506 }}{{full citation needed|date=January 2018}}</ref> Joel has stated that all of the characters depicted in the song were based on real people.<ref>{{Cite book |title = Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man |page = 73 |first = Hank |last = Bordowitz|access-date=January 1, 2018|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v6oGkakXkA0C |isbn = 9781617130786 |date = 2011-03-01 |publisher = Backbeat Books }}</ref> Joel had moved from New York to L.A. to record his first album, '']'', which was marred by a mastering error by the album's producers at Family Productions, the first label that signed Joel. After this bad experience, Joel wanted to leave his contract with Family Productions for ], but the contract that he had signed made this very difficult, so Joel stated that he was "hiding out" at the bar while lawyers at Columbia Records tried to get him out of his first record deal.<ref>{{Cite book |title = Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man |url = https://archive.org/details/billyjoellifetim00bord |url-access = registration |first = Hank |last = Bordowitz |year = 2005 |publisher = Billboard Books |isbn = 9780823082506 }}{{full citation needed|date=January 2018}}</ref>


=== Content === === Content ===
The verses of the song are sung from the point of view of a bar piano player who focuses mainly on the "regular crowd" that "shuffles" into the bar at nine o'clock on a Saturday: an old man, John the bartender, the waitress, businessmen, and bar regulars like "real estate novelist" Paul and navy sailor Davy. Most of these characters have broken or unfulfilled dreams, and the pianist's job is to help them "forget about life for a while", as the lyrics state. The pianist makes money when the patrons "sit at the bar, and put bread in my jar, and say, 'Man, what are you doin' here?'" The chorus, in bar-room sing-along style, comes from the bar patrons themselves, who say, "Sing us a song, / You're the piano man; / Sing us a song tonight. / Well, we're all in the mood for a melody, / And you've got us feeling all right." As for the lyrics, Joel has observed that with their five-line grouping, they were more in the form of a ] than a typical poem.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Billy Joel – Q & A with the Press Club, 2015 |url = https://www.youtube.com |publisher=] |access-date = September 9, 2016 }}</ref> The verses of the song are sung from the point of view of a bar piano player who focuses mainly on the "regular crowd" that "shuffles" into the bar at nine o'clock on a Saturday: an old man, John the bartender, the waitress, businessmen, and bar regulars like "real estate novelist" Paul and naval serviceman Davy. Most of these characters have broken or unfulfilled dreams, and the pianist's job is to help them "forget about life for a while", as the lyrics state. The pianist makes money when the patrons "sit at the bar, and put bread in my jar, and say, 'Man, what are you doin' here?'" The chorus, in bar-room sing-along style, comes from the bar patrons themselves, who say, "Sing us a song, / You're the piano man; / Sing us a song tonight. / Well, we're all in the mood for a melody, / And you've got us feeling all right." As for the lyrics, Joel has observed that with their five-line grouping, they were more in the form of a ] than a typical poem.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Billy Joel – Q & A with the Press Club, 2015 |url = https://www.youtube.com |publisher=] |access-date = September 9, 2016 }}</ref>


==Reception== ==Reception==
'']'' said that the "soft, tender narrative tune, reminiscent of that material being spun by ], is going to attract a ton of folks looking to sink their teeth into an equal blend of music and lyric".<ref>{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=November 10, 1973|page=16|accessdate=2021-12-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-11-10.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}}</ref> '']'' said that the "soft, tender narrative tune, reminiscent of that material being spun by ], is going to attract a ton of folks looking to sink their teeth into an equal blend of music and lyric".<ref>{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=November 10, 1973|page=16|accessdate=2021-12-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-11-10.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}}</ref> '']'' described it as "a lengthy (4:30) story song that is reminiscent of Harry Chapin's ']' in style and sound".<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=November 17, 1973|accessdate=2023-03-20|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-11-17.pdf}}</ref>


=== Releases === === Releases ===
It was first released as a single on November 2, 1973, and then as the second track on Joel's '']'' album and was later released on several greatest hits collections. The song was released as a single on November 2, 1973, and was the second track on Joel's '']'' album. It was later released on several greatest hits collections.

When originally issued as a single, the song was deemed too long (at 5:37) by ] executives. Two verses were cut in half and spliced together for the release (at 4:33). A promo 45 contained an even shorter edit (at 3:16), which also removed the 4th verse and final chorus. These single edits were remixed{{snd}} bringing out the acoustic guitars and harmonicas. Joel's followup "]" refers to the editing of it by commenting: "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."


== Composition == == Composition ==
Joel wrote and originally performed the song in the key of ]. It has a {{music|time|3|4}} ] ] and begins with a jazzy piano solo before moving into its piano and harmonica introduction. The verses and the chorus feature a descending ]line in C that ends with a D–G ]. Instrumentally, Joel's 1973 version features piano, ], bass guitar, acoustic guitar, ], ], and drums. The sheet music for the song is in the key of ], though in later performances Joel sings it in the key of ] because of his age and deepened voice. It has a {{music|time|3|4}} fast ] ]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0136667 |title=Piano Man |website=MusicNotes |date=July 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref> and begins with a jazzy piano solo before moving into its piano and harmonica introduction. The verses and the chorus feature a descending ]line in C that ends with a D–G ]. Instrumentally, Joel's 1973 version features piano, ], bass guitar, acoustic guitar, ], ], and drums.

Joel regretted the fact that the verses and the chorus of the song both use the same chord sequence and a similar melody, stating that the melody "doesn't go anywhere ".{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}} Nevertheless, Joel also included minor harmonic variation and a different melody in the song's bridge section.


== Track listing == == Track listing ==


=== 7" US single (1973) === === 7-inch US single (1973) ===
# "Piano Man" – 4:30 # "Piano Man" – 4:30
# "]" – 3:08 # "]" – 3:08


==Music video== == Personnel ==
Credits adapted from Allmusic<ref>{{Citation |title=Piano Man - Billy Joel {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/piano-man-mw0002012463 |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en}}</ref>
The first music video for this song was released in 1973. It features Joel portraying Bill Martin, a bar act performing the song, and shows a typical American bar as a setting. A new version of the video was shot in 1985, with new extras, and a much more crowded and upbeat bar scene. The original video used an alternate take of the song but it was at the same length as the album version, while the new video used said album version.

* ] – piano, harmonica, vocals
* ] and ] – bass
* ] – guitar
* ] – guitar
* ] – guitar
* ] – accordion
* ] – drums


== Popularity == == Popularity ==
The single broke into the ''Billboard'' Top 40 in April 1974 at #30,<ref name="45 yrs">{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-piano-man/|title=How Billy Joel Pushed Forward With 'Piano Man'|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> going on to ultimately peak at #25, making it Joel's first top 40 hit. In Canada, the song peaked at #10, and established Joel as a star there. The single broke into the ''Billboard'' Top 40 in April 1974 at number 30,<ref name="45 yrs">{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-piano-man/|title=How Billy Joel Pushed Forward With 'Piano Man'|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> going on to ultimately peak at number 25, making it Joel's first top 40 hit. In Canada, the song peaked at number 10 and established Joel as a star there.


Initially, "Piano Man" was a moderate hit in the US. However, following the 1977 release of Joel's album '']'', the song became one of his best-known and best-loved songs.<ref name="no 64">{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-piano-man-top-100-classic-rock-songs/|title=No. 63: Billy Joel, 'Piano Man' – Top 100 Classic Rock Songs|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> Initially, "Piano Man" was a moderate hit in the US. However, following the 1977 release of Joel's album '']'', the song became one of his best-known and best-loved songs.<ref name="no 64">{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-piano-man-top-100-classic-rock-songs/|title=No. 63: Billy Joel, 'Piano Man' – Top 100 Classic Rock Songs|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=April 10, 2012 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>


During the first Face to Face tour featuring ] and Joel, ads promoted the event as "] meets Piano Man".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://plantcity2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/04/pc-rocket-man-meets-piano-man |title=Rocket Man |publisher=plantcity2.tbo.com |access-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923143545/http://www2.tbo.com/news/plant-city/2009/mar/04/pc-rocket-man-meets-piano-man-ar-230489/ |archive-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> During the first Face to Face tour featuring ] and Joel, ads promoted the event as "] meets Piano Man".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://plantcity2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/04/pc-rocket-man-meets-piano-man |title=Rocket Man |publisher=plantcity2.tbo.com |access-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923143545/http://www2.tbo.com/news/plant-city/2009/mar/04/pc-rocket-man-meets-piano-man-ar-230489/ |archive-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>


"Piano Man" was ranked #421 in the ]. ] placed it at #63 in its "Top 100 Classic Rock Songs" list.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-100-classic-rock-songs/ |title=TOP 100 CLASSIC ROCK SONGS |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com |access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref> "Piano Man" was ranked number 421 in the ]. ] placed it at number 63 in its "Top 100 Classic Rock Songs" list.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-100-classic-rock-songs/ |title=TOP 100 CLASSIC ROCK SONGS |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com |access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>


"Piano Man" was selected as one of 25 sound recordings in 2015 to be preserved by the ] ] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joel-piano-man-be-inducted-library-congress-national-recording-registry |title=Billy Joel 'Piano Man' to Be Inducted in Library of Congress National Recording Registry |website=Billy Joel Official Site |date=March 23, 2016 |access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref> "Piano Man" was selected as one of 25 sound recordings in 2015 to be preserved by the ] ] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joel-piano-man-be-inducted-library-congress-national-recording-registry |title=Billy Joel 'Piano Man' to Be Inducted in Library of Congress National Recording Registry |website=Billy Joel Official Site |date=March 23, 2016 |access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref>

In addition to selling more than five million copies in America alone, "Piano Man" is Joel's most-streamed song on Spotify (933+ million<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billy Joel |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zFYqv1mOsgBRQbae3JJ9e |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref>) and YouTube (251+ million<ref>{{Citation |title=Billy Joel - Piano Man (Official HD Video) | date=December 9, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0 |access-date=2024-02-05 |language=en}}</ref>).

Americans tuning in to a Sunday, April 14, 2024 ] broadcast of Joel's 100th concert in his ] residency became enraged when local affiliates abruptly cut away in the middle of the song to air their late newscasts. CBS blamed the issue on a "timing error" (the special had been delayed 30 minutes due to ] coverage running long) and announced it would rebroadcast the entire program later in the week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/billy-joel-cbs-piano-man-1235886032/ |title=CBS To Rebroadcast Billy Joel Concert After 'Piano Man' Debacle|work=Deadline|date=April 15, 2024|author=Evans, Greg}}</ref> A rebroadcast of the entire show aired on April 19, and the error had been fixed.


==Charts== ==Charts==
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===Weekly charts=== ===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable" {|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1973–1974) !Chart (1973–2014)
!Peak<br>position !Peak<br>position
|- |-
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| style="text-align:center;"|20 | style="text-align:center;"|20
|- |-
|Canadian '']'' Top Singles<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5024a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=eh0ha1f5dpl39jtm5kjnoephm4 |title = Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website = Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date = October 8, 2016 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160110195557/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5024a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=eh0ha1f5dpl39jtm5kjnoephm4 |archive-date = January 10, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> |Canadian '']'' Top Singles<ref>{{Cite magazine |url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5024a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=eh0ha1f5dpl39jtm5kjnoephm4 |magazine=RPM Weekly|title = RPM Top Singles|date=April 27, 1974 |access-date = October 8, 2016 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160110195557/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5024a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=eh0ha1f5dpl39jtm5kjnoephm4 |archive-date = January 10, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|10
|- |-
|Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5021a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5021a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5021a |title = Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website = Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date = April 16, 2017 }}</ref> |Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{Cite magazine |url = https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.5021a.gif|magazine=RPM Weekly|title=RPM Pop Music Playlist |date = May 25, 1974 |access-date = April 16, 2017 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|14 | style="text-align:center;"|14
⚫ |-
|] ('']'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billy-joel/chart-history/asi/|title= Billy Joel Chart History – Euro Digital Songs |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 10, 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
⚫ |-
⚫ |Ireland (])<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070105062847/http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp |url-status = dead |archive-date = January 5, 2007 |title = IRMA : Irish Charts – Singles, Albums & Compilations |access-date = October 8, 2016 }}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|83
|- |-
|New Zealand ('']'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+listener&qsongid=4122#n_view_location|title=flavour of new zealand - search listener|website=Flavourofnz.co.nz|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> |New Zealand ('']'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+listener&qsongid=4122#n_view_location|title=flavour of new zealand - search listener|website=Flavourofnz.co.nz|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|14 | style="text-align:center;"|14
|- |-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|56|artist=Billy Joel|song=Piano Man}}
|Netherlands
| style="text-align:center;"|56
|- |-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|25|artist=Billy Joel|access-date=7 December 2024}}
|U.S. ''Billboard'' ]
| style="text-align:center;"|25
|- |-
{{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Billy Joel|access-date=7 December 2024}}
|U.S. ''Billboard'' ]<ref>{{Cite book |title = Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001 |last = Whitburn |first = Joel |author-link = Joel Whitburn |year = 2002 |publisher = Record Research |page = 127 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|- |-
|U.S. ] Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19740427.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 27, 1974 |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105905/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19740427.html |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |U.S. ] Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19740427.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 27, 1974 |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105905/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19740427.html |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|16 | style="text-align:center;"|16
|} |}

{|class="wikitable"
⚫ !Chart (2013)
!Peak<br>position
⚫ |-
⚫ |]<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070105062847/http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp |url-status = dead |archive-date = January 5, 2007 |title = IRMA : Irish Charts – Singles, Albums & Compilations |access-date = October 8, 2016 }}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|83
|}
{|class="wikitable"
!Chart (2014)
!Peak<br>position
⚫ |-
|]<ref>{{Cite web |author = Steffen Hung |url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Billy+Joel&titel=Piano+Man&cat=s |title = Billy Joel – Piano Man |website = Dutchcharts.nl |access-date = October 8, 2016 }}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|56
⚫ |}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts=== ===Year-end charts===
Line 139: Line 136:
!Position !Position
|- |-
⚫ |Canada <ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3893a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893a |title=1974 Wrap Up|date=December 28, 1974 |magazine=RPM Weekly|access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115152807/https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893a&URLjpg=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2Fobj%2F028020%2Ff4%2Fnlc008388.3893a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893a |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 |title = Forum – 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) |website = Australian-charts.com |access-date = December 26, 2016 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160602084720/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 |archive-date = June 2, 2016 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|93
⚫ |-
⚫ |Canada <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3893a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893a |title=Archived copy |website=] |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115152807/https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893a&URLjpg=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2Fobj%2F028020%2Ff4%2Fnlc008388.3893a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893a |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|91 | style="text-align:center;"|91
|- |-
|U.S. (]'s ''Pop Annual'')<ref>{{Cite book |last = Whitburn |first = Joel |date = 1999 |title = Pop Annual |location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher = Record Research |isbn = 978-0-89820-142-0 }}</ref> |U.S. (]'s ''Pop Annual'')<ref>{{Cite book |last = Whitburn |first = Joel |date = 1999 |title = Pop Annual |location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher = Record Research |isbn = 978-0-89820-142-0 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|178 | style="text-align:center;"|178
⚫ |-
⚫ !Chart (1976)
!Position
⚫ |-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus76">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/QxANsEK|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1976|publisher= ] |issue= 131 |via= ] |date= December 27, 1976 |access-date= January 15, 2022 }}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|93
⚫ |-
|} |}
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}
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==Certifications== ==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Piano Man|artist=Billy Joel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1973|certyear=2021|id=9994|access-date=October 1, 2021}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Piano Man|artist=Billy Joel|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1973|certyear=2024|id=9994|access-date=August 14, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=2022|access-date=December 22, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=2015|access-date=October 6, 2021}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=2015|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2020|id=13800-1999-1|access-date=May 8, 2020}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1973|access-date=December 17, 2024|certyear=2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1973|certyear=2024|access-date=October 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2023|id=13800-1999-1|access-date=January 5, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2021|relyear=1973|access-date=November 20, 2021}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Billy Joel|title=Piano Man|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2021|relyear=1973|access-date=November 20, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Piano Man (Song)}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Piano Man (Song)}}
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Latest revision as of 14:56, 27 December 2024

1973 single by Billy Joel For other songs with the same title, see Piano Man (disambiguation) § Music.

"Piano Man"
German vinyl single
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Piano Man
B-side"You're My Home"
ReleasedNovember 2, 1973 (1973-11-02)
RecordedSeptember 1973
Genre
Length
  • 5:40 (album version)
  • 4:30 (single version)
  • 3:05 (SP radio edit version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Michael Stewart
Billy Joel singles chronology
"She's Got a Way"
(1971) 		"Piano Man"
(1973) 		"Worse Comes to Worst"
(1974)
Music video
"Piano Man" on YouTube

"Piano Man" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. First released as a single in the US on November 2, 1973, it was included on Joel's 1973 album Piano Man. The song is sung from the point of view of a piano player at a bar, describing the patrons. "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973, which he had decided to pursue in an effort to escape his contracted New York City–based record company at the time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).

Joel's first major hit and his signature song, "Piano Man" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1974. Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of The Stranger, it became one of his most well-known songs.

In 2013, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2015, the Library of Congress selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance".

"Piano Man" A sample of Billy Joel's "Piano Man" from Piano Man
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Overview

Song background

"Piano Man" is a fictionalized retelling of Joel's own experience as a piano-lounge singer for six months in 1972–73 at the now defunct Executive Room bar in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles. In a talk on Inside the Actors Studio, Joel said that he had to get away from New York due to a conflict with his then recording company and hence lived in Los Angeles for three years with his first wife. Since he needed work to pay the bills, but could not use his common name, he worked at the Executive Room bar as a piano player using the name "Bill Martin" (Joel's full name is William Martin Joel).

Joel has stated that all of the characters depicted in the song were based on real people. Joel had moved from New York to L.A. to record his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, which was marred by a mastering error by the album's producers at Family Productions, the first label that signed Joel. After this bad experience, Joel wanted to leave his contract with Family Productions for Columbia Records, but the contract that he had signed made this very difficult, so Joel stated that he was "hiding out" at the bar while lawyers at Columbia Records tried to get him out of his first record deal.

Content

The verses of the song are sung from the point of view of a bar piano player who focuses mainly on the "regular crowd" that "shuffles" into the bar at nine o'clock on a Saturday: an old man, John the bartender, the waitress, businessmen, and bar regulars like "real estate novelist" Paul and naval serviceman Davy. Most of these characters have broken or unfulfilled dreams, and the pianist's job is to help them "forget about life for a while", as the lyrics state. The pianist makes money when the patrons "sit at the bar, and put bread in my jar, and say, 'Man, what are you doin' here?'" The chorus, in bar-room sing-along style, comes from the bar patrons themselves, who say, "Sing us a song, / You're the piano man; / Sing us a song tonight. / Well, we're all in the mood for a melody, / And you've got us feeling all right." As for the lyrics, Joel has observed that with their five-line grouping, they were more in the form of a limerick than a typical poem.

Reception

Cash Box said that the "soft, tender narrative tune, reminiscent of that material being spun by Harry Chapin, is going to attract a ton of folks looking to sink their teeth into an equal blend of music and lyric". Record World described it as "a lengthy (4:30) story song that is reminiscent of Harry Chapin's 'Taxi' in style and sound".

Releases

The song was released as a single on November 2, 1973, and was the second track on Joel's Piano Man album. It was later released on several greatest hits collections.

Composition

The sheet music for the song is in the key of C major, though in later performances Joel sings it in the key of Bb major because of his age and deepened voice. It has a
4 fast waltz time signature and begins with a jazzy piano solo before moving into its piano and harmonica introduction. The verses and the chorus feature a descending walking bassline in C that ends with a D–G turnaround. Instrumentally, Joel's 1973 version features piano, harmonica, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, accordion, mandolin, and drums.

Track listing

7-inch US single (1973)

  1. "Piano Man" – 4:30
  2. "You're My Home" – 3:08

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic

Popularity

The single broke into the Billboard Top 40 in April 1974 at number 30, going on to ultimately peak at number 25, making it Joel's first top 40 hit. In Canada, the song peaked at number 10 and established Joel as a star there.

Initially, "Piano Man" was a moderate hit in the US. However, following the 1977 release of Joel's album The Stranger, the song became one of his best-known and best-loved songs.

During the first Face to Face tour featuring Elton John and Joel, ads promoted the event as "Rocket Man meets Piano Man".

"Piano Man" was ranked number 421 in the 2004 list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Ultimate Classic Rock placed it at number 63 in its "Top 100 Classic Rock Songs" list.

"Piano Man" was selected as one of 25 sound recordings in 2015 to be preserved by the Library of Congress National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

In addition to selling more than five million copies in America alone, "Piano Man" is Joel's most-streamed song on Spotify (933+ million) and YouTube (251+ million).

Americans tuning in to a Sunday, April 14, 2024 CBS broadcast of Joel's 100th concert in his Madison Square Garden residency became enraged when local affiliates abruptly cut away in the middle of the song to air their late newscasts. CBS blamed the issue on a "timing error" (the special had been delayed 30 minutes due to Masters Tournament coverage running long) and announced it would rebroadcast the entire program later in the week. A rebroadcast of the entire show aired on April 19, and the error had been fixed.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1973–2014) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 20
Canadian RPM Top Singles 10
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary 14
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard) 7
Ireland (IRMA) 83
New Zealand (Listener) 14
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 56
US Billboard Hot 100 25
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 4
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 16

Year-end charts

Chart (1974) Position
Canada 91
U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) 178
Chart (1976) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 93

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Platinum 90,000
Germany (BVMI) Gold 250,000
Mexico (AMPROFON) Gold 30,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) 5× Platinum 150,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE) Platinum 60,000
United Kingdom (BPI) 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States (RIAA) 5× Platinum 5,000,000

Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. "200 Greatest Soft Rock Songs". Entertainment.expertscolumn.com.
  2. Church, Joseph (2019). Rock in the Musical Theatre: A Guide for Singers. Oxford University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-19-094349-3.
  3. Molanphy, Chris (April 30, 2020). "Still Billy Joel to Me Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  4. Billboard. April 20, 1974. p. 56. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Google Books.
  5. "Billy Joel: Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  6. "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists". Grammy.com.
  7. ""Piano Man," "I Will Survive" and Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game Receive Designation". Library of Congress. March 23, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  8. Joel, Billy. "Billy Joel Interview". CBS This Morning (Interview). Interviewed by Charlie Rose. YouTube. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  9. "Major 7th chords: a talk with Billy Joel". The Actors Studio, USA. 1999.
  10. Bordowitz, Hank (March 1, 2011). Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man. Backbeat Books. p. 73. ISBN 9781617130786. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  11. Bordowitz, Hank (2005). Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823082506.
  12. "Billy Joel – Q & A with the Press Club, 2015". YouTube. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  13. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 10, 1973. p. 16. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  14. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 17, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  15. "Piano Man". MusicNotes. July 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  16. Piano Man - Billy Joel | Album | AllMusic, retrieved May 27, 2024
  17. "How Billy Joel Pushed Forward With 'Piano Man'". Ultimate Classic Rock. November 9, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  18. "No. 63: Billy Joel, 'Piano Man' – Top 100 Classic Rock Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. April 10, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  19. "Rocket Man". plantcity2.tbo.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  20. "TOP 100 CLASSIC ROCK SONGS". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  21. "Billy Joel 'Piano Man' to Be Inducted in Library of Congress National Recording Registry". Billy Joel Official Site. March 23, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  22. "Billy Joel". Spotify. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  23. Billy Joel - Piano Man (Official HD Video), December 9, 2009, retrieved February 5, 2024
  24. Evans, Greg (April 15, 2024). "CBS To Rebroadcast Billy Joel Concert After 'Piano Man' Debacle". Deadline.
  25. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 156. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  26. "RPM Top Singles". RPM Weekly. April 27, 1974. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  27. "RPM Pop Music Playlist". RPM Weekly. May 25, 1974. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  28. "Billy Joel Chart History – Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  29. "IRMA : Irish Charts – Singles, Albums & Compilations". Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  30. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  31. "Billy Joel – Piano Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. "Billy Joel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  33. "Billy Joel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  34. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 27, 1974". Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  35. "1974 Wrap Up". RPM Weekly. December 28, 1974. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  36. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-142-0.
  37. "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. December 27, 1976. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  38. "Danish single certifications – Billy Joel – Piano Man". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  39. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Billy Joel; 'Piano Man')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  40. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved October 6, 2021. Type Billy Joel in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Piano Man in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  41. "New Zealand single certifications – Billy Joel – Piano Man". Radioscope. Retrieved December 17, 2024. Type Piano Man in the "Search:" field.
  42. "Spanish single certifications – Billy Joel – Piano Man". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  43. "British single certifications – Billy Joel – Piano Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  44. "American single certifications – Billy Joel – Piano Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

External links

Billy Joel
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
Other songs
Tours
Films
See also
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