I've written about my appreciation for singer-songwriters many times on this blog. On the surface, Billy Joel's "Piano Man" would appear to be my kind of song. It tells the story of a cast of characters who listen to the entertainer's music at a bar and mentions the challenges they face in life. I rarely listen to it all the way through when it's on the radio, though. Something about it just doesn't click with me.
Recently, however, after listening to "Betty's Diner" by Carrie Newcomer, I've been viewing "Piano Man" in a different light. Both songs capture a cross section of humanity. Maybe the people in the songs haven't always made the best decisions; still, as a human being, you can't help but root for them and hope that things will turn out alright for all of them.
"Piano Man" will never capture my attention the way "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" does. Nevertheless, I understand why it resonates with so many listeners.
