Doo-wop? - Billy Joel Discussion

Doo-wop music is some of the greatest

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[–] Ripkens25 (1901) 3 years ago

Kinda corny for my tastes. I put doo-wop in a similar category as barber shop quartets: Talented...I suppose. But...kinda...square?

Ahh, but to each their own.

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[–] WuchakTheBitch (100) 3 years ago

If you’re thinking of stuff like “Jersey Boys,” then it seems
Corny now in hindsight. But doo-wop was one of the beginnings of rock n roll, and began among black American youths in inner-cities. In the early-50s it sounded dirty and subversive to a lot of young people. Groups like The Cadillacs or The Dominoes were a huge influence on a lot of soul and funk music of the 60s/70s.

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[–] BourbonKing (5612) 3 years ago

I like the Black Doo-wop from the 50s and earl 60s, as well as the White Doo-wop groups that emulate them. I take it you're referring to Billy's "The Longest Time" which to me is okay but sounds too contemporary 80s than vintage 50s/60s.

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[–] Ripkens25 (1901) 3 years ago

Yes, primarily "The Longest Time".
But then, Billy Joel has lots of other corny-sounding songs which have doo-wop influence, but don't necessarily fall into that category. For example...."Tell Her About It"......"Uptown Girl"......"Allentown", “Keeping the Faith”, etc.

These kinds of songs do absolutely nothing for me...though this is just one man's opinion, and I respect the fact that others may adore Bill Joel. Personally, I can't think of 3 songs of his I like. Possibly "NY State of Mind"...and "My Life". That's about it. "Piano Man" is played out.....to death. Just very overrated. It's one of those songs (like Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler") which gets extra (un-deserved) credit for being good....simply because it's ubiquitous, and everyone can sing along to it.

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[–] BourbonKing (5612) 3 years ago

I was neither a big fan nor a major hater of Billy's music. To me he was just a top 40 radio pop star. I agree with you about "Piano Man" though. I think most of his Doo wop stuff was his obsession with recreating or homage to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons because that's all most of those songs reminded me of in the first place. As for piano players, Elton John just had a bit more range than Billy imho.

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[–] Forky (1739) 3 years ago

Fuck yes.

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[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

Not really; and I’m still at a loss about what kind of person liked THIS Wonderbread nonentity. “The Piano Man”? Hardly.

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