Everyone needs to find someone who loves them as much as Kathleen Speir loves Billy Joel.
To borrow a phrase from the great American poet Walt Whitman, City of Orem employees contain multitudes. While they are obviously the city’s expert in their given professional field, each employee has a hidden area of expertise. This is an on-going series on Walter where our hidden experts enlighten their fellow employees in their area of previously unknown expertise. Today’s feature is from Orem Help Center veteran and Billy Joel Superfan, Kathleen Speir.
I’m not really a ‘hidden expert?’ If you know me at all, you know I am a HUGE Billy Joel fan and while maybe not quite an ‘expert’ I know quite a bit about the man and his music. And hey, my son’s name is Joel! I was able to fly to New York to see Billy in concert on his ‘home court’, Madison Square Gardens. The performance I saw was one of 12 that set a record for most sold out performances by an artist at MSG. These performances led to his ‘12 Gardens’ album, a live album featuring songs from these 12 performances. His ‘jersey’ hangs from the rafters there with a #12 on it. Subsequently, he was named a franchise of MSG, just like sports teams who call it their home court. He now plays a concert there once a month (has been going on for years now) and will do so as long as there is demand. If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for me, I’d love to go see him again! I’ve seen him several times and once during his Face to Face tour with Elton John-wow! What an amazing duo.
I’ve been asked to share what I think are his top 5 songs. Just try to resist looking these up on YouTube and giving them a listen! I bet you can’t. In a conversation with Stephen Colbert, Billy revealed what he thought were his top 5 songs and mine align pretty closely with his. Although, I’m sharing a fan’s perspective here. I’ll tell you what he thinks at the end.There are some more obscure songs that he names that I love but you won’t know them so I’ll stick with the more popular mainstream songs.
Anyway, here goes.
#1-Vienna-’Slow down you crazy child, you’re so ambitious for a juvenile…When will you realize, Vienna waits for you.’ I disappear into this song every time I hear it.
#2-Scenes From An Italian Restaurant-’Bottle of red, bottle of white, whatever kind of mood you’re in tonight…meet you anytime you want, at our Italian restaurant.’ Super nostalgic song. We all know a Brenda and Eddie.
#3-Piano Man-because it’s Piano Man, his signature song (he must be so tired of it!) ‘Sing us a song you’re the piano man…we’re all in the mood for a melody and you’ve got us feelin’ all right’
#4-Movin’ Out-’It seems such a waste of time, if that’s what it’s all about, mamma if that’s movin’ up, then I’m movin’ out.’ A great ‘stick it to the system’ anthem.
#5-The River of Dreams-’In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep…we all end in the ocean, we all start in the stream, we’re all carried along, by the river of dreams.’ This song just speaks to my soul.
Honorable mentions and there’s almost too many to mention: You May Be Right, Just the Way You Are, She’s Got A Way, A Matter of Trust, Honesty, She’s Always a Woman, Big Shot, Tell Her About, An Innocent Man, Still Rock n Roll To Me, I Go To Extremes, Rosalinda’s Eyes, She’s Right On Time, Leave a Tender Moment Alone, Pressure, New York State of Mind and Miami 2017. There’s a good playlist for you. I also love his classical piano pieces.
Here’s the link to the interview with Stephen Cobert. It’s a great interview. He tells some fun stories as well as naming his top 5. Here’s his top 5 in no particular order: Vienna, And So It Goes, You May Be Right, She’s Right On Time, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.