What is the best Billy Joel song?
Bittersweet bar-room confessions, arena-filling anthems, blue-collar storytelling, and jazz-infused New York odes — the Piano Man's catalog spans five decades of musical genius. Which one is the undisputed crown jewel?
Piano Man
Billy Joel's signature song and first single, a waltz-time portrait of bar-room dreamers that became an anthem (1973).
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
An eight-minute epic from The Stranger weaving three musical styles into a bittersweet coming-of-age story (1977).
Vienna
A timeless ballad urging listeners to slow down and appreciate life, often cited as Joel's most emotionally resonant song (1977).
Just the Way You Are
The Grammy-winning love song that became his first US Top 10 hit, a saxophone-drenched serenade of unconditional devotion (1977).
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
A driving rock critique of the American Dream that later inspired a long-running Broadway musical (1977).
She's Always a Woman
A tender, piano-driven ode to a complex woman, one of Joel's most beloved ballads (1977).
Only the Good Die Young
A catchy, irreverent rock song that caused controversy for its playful jabs at Catholic conservatism (1977).
New York State of Mind
A jazz-inflected love letter to New York City that became one of the definitive songs about the metropolis (1976).
My Life
A defiant declaration of independence with an irresistible sing-along chorus and upbeat rock energy (1978).
Honesty
A vulnerable piano ballad about the rarity and importance of emotional truthfulness (1978).
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Joel's only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, a sharp commentary on changing music trends (1980).
You May Be Right
A hard-rocking opener from Glass Houses full of self-deprecating wit and raw electric energy (1980).
Pressure
A synth-driven new wave track about the crushing weight of modern-day expectations (1982).
Allentown
A blue-collar anthem mourning the collapse of America's steel industry and the broken promises of the American Dream (1982).
Uptown Girl
A joyful doo-wop homage inspired by Christie Brinkley that became a global pop hit (1983).
The Longest Time
An a cappella-influenced doo-wop love song layered with Joel's own overdubbed harmonies (1983).
We Didn't Start the Fire
A breathless tour through Cold War history spanning 40 years of headlines set to relentless rhythmic momentum (1989).
And So It Goes
A quietly devastating ballad about emotional vulnerability, written in a minor key with just piano and voice (1989).
River of Dreams
The title track of his final studio album, a gospel-tinged meditation on spiritual searching and self-discovery (1993).
A Matter of Trust
A propulsive arena-rock love song built on the difficulty of opening your heart to another person (1986).
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