Billy Joel - Q&A: Who Was Laura, What Did She Do? (Hobart & William 1996)

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Күн бұрын

Throughout the years, Billy Joel has become known for his willingness to hold Q&A sessions with fans in settings across the globe. Here Billy is asked the inspiration behind 'Laura' off the 1982 album The Nylon Curtain at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in 1996.
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Billy Joel's official KZfaq channel features music videos, live performances, interviews, TV appearances and more. Best known for his first hit song, 'Piano Man', in 1973, Billy has written and recorded thirty-three Top 40 hits in the United States. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 150 million records worldwide. Billy Joel is the sixth-best-selling recording artist and the third-best-selling solo artist in the United States.

Пікірлер: 137

@duke0219 7 жыл бұрын

You can hear the Beatles influence in this song.

@johnvargo7338 5 жыл бұрын

almost plagiarism!!

@morganwoodmusic 5 жыл бұрын

duke0219 the vocals/mic setup reminds me of John Lennon.

@thezombiecreeper 5 жыл бұрын

duke0219 ...

@PimJam 4 жыл бұрын

Similar to the modulation in the in the first eight bars of Beatles "If I Fell." Certainly not plagiarism, but reminiscent. Those two songs taught me a lot about music theory. (Tritone substitutions, pivot chords)

@thezombiecreeper 4 жыл бұрын

JimInPinoyLand the first bars sound absolutely *NOTHING* like “If I Fell” And yes I have heard that song

@hollingbourne 5 жыл бұрын

It's breathtaking how talented this man is

@esroberto1 5 жыл бұрын

As a songwriter,I can tell you flat out that this is exactly the answer I would think fans would expect, and if I don't want to derail anyone's impressions and associations with my song, this is the answer I'll give. But it was sure as fuck written about someone specific. Believe that.

@jaycee330 3 жыл бұрын

It was about his mother.

@cheri7054 2 жыл бұрын

It doesn't matter who he wrote it about. It's a topic we can all relate to. So many people in our lives push our buttons. It's relatable

@arobins 2 жыл бұрын

It was about his mother. Who else would "hold an umbilical cord?" He started admitting it after she died.

@joeyd219 2 жыл бұрын

That makes sense, but we know who a lot of his songs are about. He hasn't made a consistent effort to keep that sort of thing hidden to maintain fans' impressions and associations, right?

@srldwg Жыл бұрын

@@joeyd219Well this was a super, super sensitive topic!!!

@genedolen9166 4 жыл бұрын

The song is a masterpiece. Everyone who’s ever been in a codependent relationship can relate. You hate them and you hate yourself but they’re all you have.

@michaeltempleton7620 3 жыл бұрын

literally my college roommate

@KarenLeos91 2 жыл бұрын

Relationship with parents, significant others, best friends, siblings.

@duke0219 11 ай бұрын

I think I read somewhere that "Laura" is actually based on Billy's mom and his frustrations with her.

@Jamestele1 Жыл бұрын

Why do people think liking Billy is uncool?. I love Billy Joel

@jasonnstegall Жыл бұрын

All the dislikes are by The Clones Of Jim Rome. They all hate and make light of the "Meano Pan".

@fay-amieaspen6046 6 жыл бұрын

Laura sounds like a Lennon number instead. This definitely sounds like a Beatles track and the way he just sung this, I heard Lennon loud and clear!

@josephwilson3180 5 жыл бұрын

The Nylon Curtain came out right after Lennon was shot. Billy Joel said in an interview that he realized a lot of the album sounded like Lennon after he finished it.

@bondfool 2 жыл бұрын

Given that Laura is about Billy’s mom, I would guess that Julia is a particular influence here.

@lincbond442 2 жыл бұрын

It is reminiscent of "Sexy Sadie".

@maryk446 2 жыл бұрын

So did I! I was reading your comment as soon as Billy was playing the song. What timing!

@arobins 2 жыл бұрын

The guitar in it is all George Harrison too.

@Craig-dv3ji 4 жыл бұрын

I have a "Laura" in my life. God, did she ever push me to the edge. She's a nutcase, but I love her.

@TheFallenColumn 5 жыл бұрын

It's about his mother. He said it in an interview and said that the line "'how can she hold an umbilical cord for so long' should've really given it away." He didn't wanna talk about it for a long time cuz it's obviously very personal to him. Case closed, stop arguing about it.

@arobins 2 жыл бұрын

He didn't want to talk about it while his mother was alive. He started talking about after she died.

@joeg3741 2 жыл бұрын

His mother was named Rosalinda

@arobins 2 жыл бұрын

@@joeg3741 It was actually Rosalind. What's your point?

@joeg3741 2 жыл бұрын

@@arobins point is song is Laura. Maybe you have it confused with Rosalinda's Eyes

@arobins 2 жыл бұрын

@@joeg3741 Are you saying Billy is confused too? He says it's about his mother. When she was alive he never admitted it. If he had named it Rosalind it would have made it hard to hide the fact that it was about her while she was alive.

@stephenmahlstedt7276 3 жыл бұрын

I was already a big fan, but the more interviews and live performances of his that I watch, the more I realize what a true musical genius he was. So inspiring!

@andrewparke1764 3 жыл бұрын

This sounds like a collaboration between Jeff Lynne of ELO and John Lennon of the Beatles.

@theodorekorbos2804 6 жыл бұрын

I hear Beatles influence in that song !! that piece sounds familiar !

@LoudBreather 5 жыл бұрын

Theodore Korbos it’s mostly John I hear, and the bass and backups but yes he emulates a Beatles feel. He’s very secretive about who this is, but it’s weird I have the same name but when I hear it I cry because there’s many parallels to my own life.

@johndavies9589 8 жыл бұрын

This is a truly great song. It is so true to life! It often comes to mind when I feel manipulated by people. I find the sarcastic edge cathartic.

@kevinhutcheson1854 2 жыл бұрын

Forget Laura, what about Lenya? “All for Lenya” is a vicious song.

@kodinamsinh1267 Жыл бұрын

Do you mean Leyna?

@kevinhutcheson1854 Жыл бұрын

@@kodinamsinh1267 yes Leyna

@meyou9655 3 жыл бұрын

I was 8 when the album THE NYLON CURTAIN was released. It was my first album I bought at the local CONTINENTAL store. It was the cassette tape, I still own it. The same one I bought way back in 1982 or 1983. I was listening to this and singing along with the songs. But I was only a kid, the songs have totally different meanings now.

@joe-vz6hx 4 жыл бұрын

great song, great album, love his Q&As and when he talks music generally, so great about it

@holladaycummings7884 5 жыл бұрын

Why would you not want to hear the songwriter this way, I love it. You are amazing.

@timkramar9729 6 жыл бұрын

There are people in the world that constantly need saving. And then you don't get so much as a thank you. Until the day comes when you can't save them, and they tell you that you OWE them.

@kevinnelson66 5 жыл бұрын

The way Billy explained it here reminds me of my pain in the ass brother and nephew.

@deluge71 6 жыл бұрын

Brilliant

@bhg123ful 2 жыл бұрын

I found this song very relatable when in a relationship with a rather overbearing and suffocating Ex. We of course all have an obligation to ourselves and others to steer clear from broad misogynistic generalizations, but I think many men had a "Laura" in their life whether a girlfriend, a platonic female friend, or family member.

@glen458 Жыл бұрын

brilliant interview such a spontaneous talented guy. He is incredible

@garyandkathleenaugustine5225 3 жыл бұрын

In my home town of Geneva, NY. Wish I had gone to this once in a lifetime event!

@michaelmakesmusic4970 8 жыл бұрын

There's a lot of weird chords in this song, uhh Bb. XDDDD

@thezombiecreeper 8 жыл бұрын

And the F-word?

@georgiethumbs2438 7 жыл бұрын

Not really, he is using a cliched progression but only in Bb and then he is changing key, piano intro: Bb-Ab- F#- Eb 2x Verse: Bb- Bb(A bass) - Gm - C7 - Eb……. Bb- Bb(A bass) - Gm - C7 - F# (shouting part) B7 - F7 - Gm -F# 2x

@cosmicdrifter287 2 жыл бұрын

One of my favoriete BJ tunes ever.

@thezombiecreeper 5 жыл бұрын

“It was in D-FLAT!”- Billy, 1996

@danielmarra1555 4 жыл бұрын

thezombiecreeper , it starts with a B flat! But goes into D flat at the bridge.

@thezombiecreeper 4 жыл бұрын

Rocket Man I just like how he puts so much emphasis on “D flat”

@jakesprake 4 жыл бұрын

It also combines the Lennon and McCartney in one song if that makes sense. Mostly Lennon with a few Paul bits.

@IgnisConsumens 7 жыл бұрын

Along the lines of "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar," I find it entirely possible that he could have written this about the category of "hapless and hopeless manipulator" without specific reference. Although great art like his is so often born from specific unsavory experiences, great artists can retool that experience so that anybody can identify.

@marshallsweetwater 7 жыл бұрын

Christopher M. Zelonis no way, there is definitely a specific reference

@arobins 2 жыл бұрын

There's literally only one person on earth who ever had an umbilical cord attached to him.

@thelevisullivan Жыл бұрын

@@marshallsweetwater The specific reference is to Billy’s mother Rosalind.

@caseyw1286 Жыл бұрын

Billy revealed later that he wrote the song about his mother.

@TerryOnTuesday 5 ай бұрын

Liberty Devitto said that at the time, the name Laura was submitted in place of 'Mother'.

@riverxvi9092 4 жыл бұрын

his ex drummer liberty divetto (sorry if i spelt it wrong) later on said that this song was about his mother

@thezombiecreeper 4 жыл бұрын

RiverXVI909 I think you flip-flopped the “I” and “E” in DeVitto

@billthomas2652 3 жыл бұрын

So did Mark Rivera.

@jaycee330 3 жыл бұрын

So did Joel, he said the "umbilical cord" was the big clue.

@mattiadellamico888 3 жыл бұрын

“Laura in the Sky with Diamonds”

@Sean-wj1wu 4 жыл бұрын

" here I am , feeling like a fucking fool , do I react the way exactly she intends me to " ....

@whodathunkitwhodathunkit8532 4 ай бұрын

My favorite lyric. Beautiful rhyming scheme while also delivering a powerful message.

@dobsonata 9 жыл бұрын

I think he has mentioned that it's about his mother.

@carolynrestivo5402 8 жыл бұрын

As if one cannot write two different songs about one person. In any event, he has stated that it is about his mother. Perhaps you should do your research, sir. Dummy? Says the person who can't spell "Wikipedia."

@carolynrestivo5402 8 жыл бұрын

How old are you? 8? Grow up.

@carolynrestivo5402 8 жыл бұрын

+Eli Rah Haha. How so?

@carolynrestivo5402 8 жыл бұрын

+Eli Rah And you, sir, have the intelligence of a rock. Goodbye.

@RENTnerd87 8 жыл бұрын

I don't think Billy himself said it was about his mother. I know one of his band mates said that (probably Liberty DeVito)

@ineffabledolphin9139 Жыл бұрын

If you listen to the lyrics it becomes obvious that it's about his mother. "How can she hold an umbilical cord for so long?"

@cheri7054 2 жыл бұрын

I totally understand what he's talking about. People push your buttons all the time and can make you turn into a terrible person cuz this one person just doesn't let up.

@MrPhilliesfan18 8 жыл бұрын

in 2014 he Told Howard Stern that Its about somebody in my family who is a pain in the ass

@TheTedgraham 3 жыл бұрын

The the mother in Throw momma from the train movie?

@miltonyannis3719 4 ай бұрын

The Beatles influence just screams at you!

@bondfool 2 жыл бұрын

I wish he would do a tour of Q&A gigs.

@Dani68ABminus 4 жыл бұрын

Why is it a vicious song? It’s about the nicest way to talk about someone who is, in fact, deliberately vicious to others. So, Laura is vicious, not the song.

@TabRoss1st 2 жыл бұрын

It's about my first wife and my mom and some of my ex girlfriends! Hahaha! You just get tired of the drama at some point but you just keep answering the phone because you love them in some way or another. ???

@littleripper312 9 жыл бұрын

It was probably about someone in particular at the time and he just used a different name.

@rpwVideoInstruction 10 жыл бұрын

Bit of an awkward moment when she asked that question......

@appletree6898 3 жыл бұрын

Seriously! We don't deserve or need to know every detail of his personal life; a good lyric will be universal anyway.

@notoriousbid3169 Жыл бұрын

What Billy DIDN'T say? Laura is about Mother... Not necessarily his mother... Liberty DeVitto disclosed this fact... "How can she hold an umbilical cord for so long?"

@redemptiongoes6030 5 жыл бұрын

I forgot how “Laura” sounded like when he forgot it.

@griffin__sutek4958 4 ай бұрын

it's about his mother

@jameshudson169 6 ай бұрын

Lara's Theme? i think that was Over the Waves.

@KaristaSwiss 9 жыл бұрын

ok I accept that as a reason

@utub1473 5 жыл бұрын

I always thought it was about his ex wife

@andrewdunn49ers 2 жыл бұрын

Liberty Devitto’s book mentions Laura was his mother. Instead of saying “mother!”, “Laura!“ sounded better.

@DrOctagonapusBraaah 9 жыл бұрын

This song was about his mom. Apparently she had a bad drinking problem

@thezombiecreeper 8 жыл бұрын

Did you watch the video? "Rosalinda's Eyes" is about his mother. Here, Joel says that it is nobody in particular like a lover; "Laura" is anyone who knows how to push your emotional buttons and attempt to hurt you as BAD as you can get hurt.

@palefox 7 жыл бұрын

+thezombiecreeper he's said since this that it is about his mum. he tried to keep it a secret originally but then liberty devitto told everyone so billy joel himself admitted it. don't know about the drinking problem though.

@DustinSmith796 5 жыл бұрын

thezombiecreeper his wife said it was about his mother.

@thezombiecreeper 4 жыл бұрын

Dr. Jasontheman ah

@robertkysilka3216 3 жыл бұрын

I think it's his mom . How can she hold an umbilical cord for so long. I don't really know though what billies mom name is though

@jaycee330 3 жыл бұрын

Rosalinda, as in "Rosalinda's Eyes".

@LoudBreather 5 жыл бұрын

I think this woman was an abused and lonely girl with Complex PTSD who’s family was toxic and she sought comfort because this man was strong. In the song she would “put herself in my chair”

@candycane3739 2 жыл бұрын

That's a good analysis. I thought some of the same, especially since she seems to be getting herself into trouble a lot. She seems like an older teenager or a naïve young adult, attaching herself to him because she feels that he is reliable and trustworthy, but doesn't realize the damage she's doing to him (and really, even if she did, she might just be prioritizing her own needs and desperation over his inconvenience, however brutal it can be for him at times. There are other lyrics that imply that she has a manipulative nature, or that at least he sees it that way.) Billy can't let go or draw boundaries because he feels too pitiful for her and her situation, but near the end, his anger has festered and made him more bitter than before. It's a bad situation for both parties. It's interesting that you pointed out c-ptsd in particular; I think I have it, and when I was younger and less mentally sound I did this to a friend and it fucked us both up. I guess that's one reason I like the song so much. Glad to talk about this song. It's one of my favorites of his, and it's nice to hear him talk about it too.