Leave a Tender Moment Alone/Eye of the Needle

It's a quick two for one Sundee Fundee from blog headquarters here where you get to hear about two more songs wedged in my brain from last Sunday and today.

Last week the song was from master song-writer Billy Joel.  A lot of people make fun of him, especially his lyrics, which can be a little sappy, but you can't deny the man's talent.

The song I'm featuring is from hit 1983 album "An Innocent Man."  It's the penultimate track and is called 'Leave a Tender Moment Alone.'  I'd probably summarize the song as just a nervous dood wo's riddled with self-consciousness around his girl.  I can relate!

Here's the song y'alls.  I hope you like it, or that maybe it brings back a good memory- I was surprised that it was going through my head:

The next song, from just today... comes from the man I consider to be the more underrated songwriter on the planet.  The guy is a master lyricist and amazing at making melody-- it's Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy-  The guy's amazing y'all.

Today's particular song is from THE AMAZING 2001 album "Regeneration"  It's track 6 and is called "Eye of the Needle"  The title, I believe comes from a reference in the bible, Matthew 19:24:

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

The narrator of the song is at church, puzzling to find a connection with God and struggling with those he sees at church who are wealthy.  "The cars in the churchyard are shiny and German"  It's a good song, but Hannon rarely fails in his music.

If anyone is out there (Hello?? Hello?) leave your thoughts about two great songs.

HUGS BRADY

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

Here's one for you-  I haven't heard this song in a couple of decades.  This little masterpiece of a song comes from Billy Joel, back when he rocked a piano in the seventies.

The opening lyric was in my head as I awoke this morning:  "Bottle of White, Bottle of Red"

As a kid me and my brother used to add a third line.  Boy were we clever!  "Bottle of Pink Polka dots with yellow stripes!"  Of course with our sheltered Mormon youth, we had no idea that Billy Joel was singing about wine.

It's great listening to this song with more mature ears.  People have compared this 7 1/2 minute song to the second half of The Beatles' "Abbey Road"  Please listen, I think you'll like this one.

Here's "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" from Billy Joel's 1977 album "The Stranger"

Random thoughts to go along with this post:

First, I've been thinking about Billy Joel and Elton John.  They were the kings of piano pop in the seventies, Elton John obviously had more success, and some would argue that Joel came in on Elton John's coattails.  I think of them as apples and oranges-  to use a musical cliche, Elton John is the McCartney and Billy Joel is the Lennon;  the former being an extroverted showman and the latter more of a troubled introvert.  I, myself, prefer the latter.  

Next:  Did you know that Billy Joel has not released any music in over 15 years?  His last work was a classical composition in 2001 called FANTASIES AND DELUSIONS.  I don't know where I read or heard it, but word is that when the album was panned by critics, Joel called it quits.  I can't confirm if this is true, and I'm too lazy to find a reference.  Regardless, I hope the master is enjoying his retirement- the man worked his butt off in the 70's and 80's.  

Last random thought to go along with today's song title.  I lived in Italy for a few years.  I love it there and I love authentic Italian food.  I'm giving a plug for what I consider to be the two best tasting Italian Restaurants in the Salt Lake Valley.  Make a reservation to:

CUCINA TOSCANA
282 S 300 W
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101
(801) 328-3463
INFO@TOSCANASLC.COM

and here's the other:

Michelangelo Ristorante
3005 S Highland Dr.

Salt Lake City, UT 84106

801-466-0961

Next time you're thinking of going to eat at Olive Garden, please go to one of these places instead.  You're welcome.

Yay Blogging!  Yay Billy Joel!  Yay yummy Italian food!

Pressure

Come, friends- let us travel back in time to the year 1982, when a delightful little fellow named Billy Joel proved that playing the piano was incredibly cool.  For today's song, though,  he traded the piano in for a synthesizer (so cutting edge in 1982!) and managed to come up with a very cool keyboard riff in the process.

This is "Pressure" from Joel's album THE NYLON CURTAIN.  It's the 3rd track from the album.  It's a good one.  Please listen:

This song in particular was inspired by Joel's early days as a songwriter and the pressure he felt to have to produce material, and earn a living as a starving artist.  But lyrically he manages to prove that life in general is full of all kinds of pressure. 

I'll be honest.  Adulthood not been what I had hoped or expected it would be.  In fact, I have been really disappointed by it. 

Not to be a drag, but the other day I called my Dad, exhausted by what life expects of me:  four kids, a wife, mortgage, car payments and other debts, taking care of the yard/house, callings in church, demands at the job, dieting and trying to stay in shape, trying to write a good blog post etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. 

You get the point.  It's life- it's what I signed up for, and I called my dad hoping that he could tell me that it gets better.  He was honest:  it's always tough but it's important to try and enjoy the journey. 

Holy crap though, am I tired! 

But I'm going to try harder.  The pressure will always be there and it's important to keep trying and enjoy it the best you can.  I have it pretty good:  A nice job, beautiful wife and kid and 5 bazillion reasons to be happy. 

Them's my thoughts friends. 

Have a good week.