Emily Peck

Dr. Burgess

MUS. 1121

December 11th, 2020

Listening Analysis Essay

"Vienna” by Billy Joel, Analysis

American singer- songwriter Billy Joel is known as one of the most influential pop/ rock

artist during the 1970s and 1980s. Joel is a classically trained pianist turned songwriting icon is

most known for classics such as “Piano Man” (1973), “My Life” (1978), “We Didn't Start the

Fire” (1998), as well as many other classics. But in 1977, Joel released “Vienna” on his album

titled The Stranger, and its colorful yet classic instrumentation, and its warm message of

embracing age, continually impacts those who resonate with it and encourages taking breaks

which our society often needs to hear.

Joel has said that this song is inspired by his father, who left his family when Billy was

eight, and returned to Europe, where he was originally from. Joel has said that Vienna is a

reference to old age noting that elders in Vienna are respected and cherished, and that aging is a

beautiful thing. This in contrast with Hollywood and the music industry notoriously begging the

burnout of artist, it seems in its pursuits to profit off them makes lyrics like “Where's the fire,

what's the hurry about? You'd better cool it off before you burn it out,” (Joel, 1977), seems to hit

too close to advise his peers as well as anyone to take things slow as “Vienna waits for you”.

Where many other pieces of media fear aging past the coming-of-age teen film demographic by

constantly shoving the idea that the only time people have to be happy is in their youth and while
their productive, “Vienna” acts almost as a warm hug from a big brother or sister, advising to not

rush the process of life, and that furthermore age and slowing down is beautiful. Billy Joel said

in a YouTube video from Vienna, “its a place where you close the circle, by going to Vienna,

suddenly things started to make sense in the world for me,” (Billy Joel, 2019).

The instrumentation in this song, was inspired by the titular city, including the use of the

accordion (an instrument that was created in Vienna), that almost created the feeling of being in

Vienna. The entire piece is fairly conjunct but there are some beautiful piano bits that almost

seem to reassure each other. The piano part happens to also be the same as it is in the intro that it

is in the outro proving instrumentally that Vienna is a place to ‘close the circles’.

However, the fame of this song is rather recent, as Billy didn’t start performing this song

live until the 2000s after it gained popularity after being used in 13 Going on 30, (2004), and

then most recently a rendition by Ben Platts character in The Politician (2019) was done. This

idea of burnout and needing to slow down has become increasingly relevant to the children of

Joels 1977 fanbase. As technology continues to strengthen in development day by day, we see a

rise in the ‘influencer’ fostering the same burnout culture from the industry. So, for these

younger generations this song speaks directly to sooth their fears and pressures of not living up

to the ridiculously high societal standards thrust upon them. This message has also become

relevant in the light of the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic as most of the world's population is forced

to work from home, where the balance of work and home life are at times, seamlessly blended

allowing listeners to be okay with taking breaks and acts of a reminder that there is no need to be

so hard on yourself as expressed in “Though you can see when you're wrong, you know, You

can't always see when you're right. you're right,” (Joel, 1977).
 This song is being proved timeless in many aspects, as many big modern artists such as

Mac Miller and Ariana Grande have done covers of this piece that bring this song into the late

2010s and 2020s but nothing will compare to the original artist who influenced generations of

people. Billy Joels original 1977 recording will continue to be iconic for its brilliantly vulnerable

simple instrumentation and timeless lyrics, especially through these changing times of

overworking and high societal standards. Hopefully “Vienna” by Billy Joel will continue to age

as gracefully the people of Vienna and will continue to be cherished as such. As Billy Joel said

“Slow down, look around you, have some gratitude for the things in your life, that’s what Vienna

means to me,” (Billy Joel, 2019).

 Sources

“Vienna” by Billy Joel (1977)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wccRif2DaGs

Vienna the YouTube channel interview with Billy Joel,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcmzF1GT1Qw

Billy Joel – Vienna. (1977, November 29). Retrieved December 10, 2020, from
https://genius.com/Billy-joel-vienna-lyrics
Vienna by Billy Joel. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2020, from
https://www.onefinalserenade.com/vienna.html
Ariana’s cover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cx6E5CpdnQ
Mac Miller’s Cover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoKNsw9hCOk
“Vienna” featured in The Politician feat Ben Platt (2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scPIhdZs99A
“Vienna” in 13 Going on 30 (2004)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2rWBNGliI