Um...here's a cover of Billy Joel's "Shameless" by a friend of mine who works as a musician on Carnival's cruise ships! Personally, I like how he plays it better than Billy's original—it sounds too overproduced in comparison in my opinion.
For some funny reason, I always thought Billy Joel would make a good Fagin in Oliver! If you watch his Q&A sessions he often engages in a bit of stand-up comedy with the audience. Plus he once played the Artful Dodger in Oliver and Company.
- has mental image of Billy singing You've Got To Pick A Pocket or Two*
I just listened to "Only The Good Die Young". It's another of those songs where a guy sings to a sheltered girl about sexual freedom and giving in to your desires. I always find those songs a bit hypocritical; not that I don't agree with the message, but it's obvious that the singer is only interested in that message because he wants to get in her pants.
Also, what the hell is the title supposed to mean? I can understand that people get confused about the song's subject, with a title that's so far removed from what the song is actually about.
EDIT: I also listened to "The River Of Dreams". It's a good song, but the arrangement really doesn't match the melody. I get the feeling I'm listening to one of Springsteen's moody ballads (say, "Something In The Night" or "Racing In The Streets") covered as an upbeat funk-pop song.
edited 22nd Nov '13 6:16:59 AM by MidnightRambler
Mache dich, mein Herze, rein...I wouldn't call "River of Dreams" an upbeat funk song. It's more of a gospel song than anything, which I'd say fits its theme of searching and spirituality.
As for "Only the Good Die Young", I've always thought the title could be looked at two ways. One way is that the singer has a "you ain't gonna live forever, so you'd might as well have fun while you're alive to do so" sort of attitude, or looking at it in the sense of "I Just Died in Your Arms" (Tonight)
.
Okay, inspired by this thread, I started listening to some more of his songs.
I've definitely warmed up to "River Of Dreams". IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! I GO WALKING IN MY SLEEP!
"Leningrad" and "The Downeaster Alexa" are very beautiful songs as well.
Mache dich, mein Herze, rein...

I always wondered that too.
edited 20th Oct '12 7:37:43 PM by MorwenEdhelwen
The road goes ever on. -Tolkien