Billy Joel delivers an iconic efficiency dazzling the gang at one among his last MSG exhibits | Music | Entertainment | EUROtoday

Shuffling into the “the world’s most famous arena,” I felt the thrill and pleasure throughout in anticipation for one of many last Billy Joel live shows at MSG after he tearfully introduced his 10-year month-to-month residency will come to an finish in July 2024.

Surrounded by keen followers within the lobby, I observed the vary of individuals there to see the legend that’s Billy Joel.

Young children introduced alongside by their dad and mom to show all of them about ‘actual music,’ the seasoned Billy patrons prepared for his or her umpteenth present, and the {couples} of all ages forgetting about life for some time and rekindling some romance misplaced within the day-to-day milieu. And me: I grew up listening to Billy Joel’s comfortable rock and spectacular piano solos by way of the cooler members of my household.

Joel’s music feels private with lyrics so descriptive you virtually really feel transported into the melody – and with an eclectic memoir of hits, we might all be characters in his songs.

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At one level, he delivered his signature dead-pan banter hilariously doing a Mick Jagger impression whereas nailing the Rolling Stone’s hit ‘Start Me Up’. Tossing his mic stand within the air and swinging his hips all through, he ended the efficiency cracking: “I told you I’m no Mick Jagger”.

Lucky live performance goers additionally obtained to listen to his new tune Turn the Lights Back On – the primary launched in virtually twenty years – as he debuted it to a dwell viewers for the primary time moreover the Grammy’s, which he described as “just ya know, a TV audience”.

Thirteen songs into the present, in a really touching second, the 74-year-old lady dad introduced out his eldest, Alexa Ray, to accompany him in singing Say Goodbye to Hollywood and the famed New York State of Mind.

Joel’s band members additionally had their moments within the highlight with spectacular guitar, brass and vocal solos. A standout efficiency got here from a rousing rendition of Ike and Tina Turner’s River Deep Mountain High by longtime member of Joel’s band, Crystal Taliefero.

The first, and important, a part of the present ended along with his two stirring songs: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and Piano Man. The crowd sang alongside so loudly, Joel might have turned off his microphone.

With everybody standing, Joel saved them on their toes for the encore, performing his greatest rockers reminiscent of We Didn’t Start the Fire, Uptown Girl, It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me and Big Shot – closing the present with the crowd-favorite You May Be Right.

It was a fairly good crowd for a Saturday (Friday) and for Joel, after twenty years on the iconic MSG, the gang have been nonetheless coming to see him to neglect about life for some time.