by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Courtesy of The Library of Congress
In Washington, DC it’s difficult to say just what can bring out a crowd of the town’s top movers and shakers, but this week’s presentation of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song aligned all the right stars to bring out media, members of congress, dignitaries and more to celebrate the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel. The diverse crowd perfectly resembled the harmonies of Joel’s songs and the evening was a trip through time to honor the 50 year career of this music powerhouse.
Billy Joel thanks the audience and cast of performers at the conclusion of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concert at DAR Constitution Hall. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress
The evening kicked off with a medley from the Broadway show “Movin Out” – a blend of Billy Joel’s music with choreography from the acclaimed Twyla Tharp. The urban ballet uses every move connected to a song lyric to push on the narrative and got the toes tapping in the room to the tunes of Joel.
Choreographer Twyla Tharp – Photo by Amanda Reynolds
Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey welcomed the packed crowd and reminded the guest of honor that “[it’s] not just about you, but for you.” Spacey even insisted that his House of Cards character Frank Underwood would approve of the tribute and he briefly dipped into character to introduce the first tribute.
Kevin Spacey – Photo by Amanda Reynolds
The night was beaming with stars, both on hand and from afar, who wanted to celebrate The Piano Man. Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney and James Taylor all sent video messages of congratulations, Taylor calling Joel a “living legend.”
What came next was a pure showcase of how versatile Billy Joel really is as an artist. Clips of Joel discussing his own journey were interspersed with some of the best names in music taking the stage to present the music that made the man. Joel explained his humble upbringings on Long Island, leading to performances by Boyz II Men singing “The Longest Time”— a Billy Joel classic with a doo wop sound. LeAnne Rimes showed off the smooth and emotional side of Joel with “Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)” and Gavin Degraw got things swinging with “It’s Still Rock and Roll to me.”
LeAnn Rimes performs “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)” honoring the music and lyrical legacy of Billy Joel, November 19, 2014. Photo by Shawn Miller
How it is possible that one artist could have created so many different types of sound—that’s basically the magic of Billy Joel. The ballads, the toe tapping rock n’ roll, they connect with so many people and even Joel himself could be seen conducting along and tapping his hand to the beat as the stars toasted him with his songs.
Josh Groban performs “She’s Always a Woman” – Photo by John Harrington
Josh Groban showed off the silky smooth side of these songs. John Mellancamp pointed out the messages that lay beneath the music and Twyla Tharp emphasized the history that Billy brought to the world through his music. Songs like “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and “Goodnight Saigon” were the tales of men who fought for our country. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that Joel is a storyteller. His songs take you somewhere, and where Billy leads, you follow.
Tony Bennett Tony Bennett performs New York State of Mind – Photo by Amanda Reynolds
Tony Bennett wowed the crowd with his rendition of “New York State of Mind” and proved that he and the song were true classics. The audience was exploding with applause…and now it was time for Billy to take the stage.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor introduced the guest of honor, “Tonight, we celebrate Long Island’s favorite son.” He was humble. He was appreciative. He even joked about how the sheet music to his song “Just the Way You Are” is commonly wrong—but once he hit the stage, the anticipation in the room was high for him to leave the podium and get to the piano. That’s his spot. Joel blew the roof off with “Movin Out” and “You May Be Right” — but it was the encore that had people bursting from their chairs.
Members of Congress pose with Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, Billy Joel and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotamayor
It’s not often that you have multiple legendary musicians collaborating together singing “Piano Man” — while the actual Piano Man is the one tickling the ivories and two time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey is playing the harmonica part (flawlessly). Is this real life?
Boyz II Men perform – Photo by Amanda Reynolds
This is how you celebrate a music legend. Joel is the sixth top-selling artist of all time and the third top-selling solo artist of all time, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The Library of Congress was spot on with a choice of popular song artist. Billy Joel is an artist who represents range and longevity. His early work, his later work, the sold out arenas and stadiums, and the massive amounts of records sold…this night was more than a celebration of music, it was a toast to a cultural legacy. Billy Joel has certainly become a part of the American fabric of life and proves the American dream that you can go from small time Long Island boy to the inspiration of a tune that is hummed around the globe. Cheers to you Piano Man.
Don’t miss your chance to see it too. The concert will air on PBS stations nationwide at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, January 2, 2015.
