I was surprised that WSIE played Billy Joel's instrumental, "Root Beer Rag," this morning. Even for a station that has a refreshingly wide-ranging, diverse playlist, I wasn't expecting to hear a piece that could underscore scenes of chaos or wacky hijinks.
Many listeners might have heard "Root Beer Rag" in that context and thought it was generic comedic music. It was a fun romp to hear unexpectedly, and I don't mind having it stuck in my mind. After all, how could you not respect Joel's dexterity in pulling off such a challenging piano piece?
