I did not realize that I was kind of hoarse until I got to work and tried to talk. Obviously, I was screaming (well, shrieking) a lot at the concert. Which was amazing. Rome and I were on our feet the entire time, and the audience on the floor sung the entire concert.

 

I have a hangover, despite not drinking very much – cheap beer and cheap champagne are a terrible combination. As I was lying in bed (in pain!) this morning, the line in “Allentown” (which Billy did play last night, so yay for Rome) ‘So I won’t be getting up today’ was running through my brain.

 

(says CK: So wait. You’re hung over, because you partied too hard to Billy Joel? Are you 45 years old?)

 

CK has no room to talk since he is partially responsible for my hangover. Before the concert last night, me and the publishing boys went out, got way too buzzed on beer, and shared way TMI. It’s never a good sign when someone starts a sentence “Just when you think Rachel is boring and quiet you find out….”

 

A very good time was had by all; I absolutely love hanging out with the boys. 

So, already buzzed, Rome and I jumped on the 1 to Penn Station.

 The concert was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I cannot describe how awesome it was to be in floor seats. He opened with “Angry Young Man!” I haven’t seen him open with Angry Young Man since January 98! It was an amazing song to open with and I started jumping up and down, shrieking as song as I heard the first few notes.

 

“Miami 2017: Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway”, live, is the best thing ever. Rome and I were very happy to scream to the line “They said that Queens could stay” because we have borough pride, yo. The studio version of that song is nothing compared to the live version on Songs from the Attic. Local boy from Long Island, singing a song about how New York will not be beaten, to a New York audience is amazing. I am overusing the word amazing.

 

No “Uptown Girl”, because he won’t do that song live because of Christie Brinkly, but made up for it with “She’s Always A Woman,” which Rome says can be my song since I can’t be an Uptown Girl. Well, officially anyway. Can I be an Uptown Girl since I take trains Uptown to get to Queens? Man, Christie Brinkly is such a bitch. It makes me sad that the line in “That’s Not Her Style” where he talks about all the gossip he doesn’t believe ‘And gave the pilot something extra for a perfect ride’ (no, that’s not her style, my woman wouldn’t do that) AND IT WAS TOTALLY TRUE. She cheated on him with some pilot guy. 

He also played “Everybody Loves You Now” which is the best bitter song ever. I played that song non-stop September of 2004.

 

He made a cute joke, thanking people who bought the nosebleed section seats, because he has to pay for his car insurance somehow. He does look quite good – lost weight, sobered up. 

Other highlights included “Scenes From an Italian Resturant” (“That song always makes me sad. If Brenda and Eddie can’t make it, what hope is there for the rest of it?”- I don’t remember where I heard this),

Big Shot,

The Ballad of Billy the King (that song reminds me of driving around those Malta by those crazy housing developments.)

Only the Good Die Young,

We Didn’t State the Fire,

Sometimes a Fantasy 

My Life,

Don’t Ask Me Why,

River of Dreams,

Downeaster Alexa,

I Go to Extremes (no, I think THAT is actually My Song),

Stilleto,

It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me,

Movin’ Out,

New York State of Mind (of course),

Captain Jack,

The Entertainer, and I think Pressure. I think that’s it. I always forget one of two.

 

No Summer Highland Falls, Vienna, or It’s All About Soul (I’d have settled for just one of the rare three), but blissfully, no “Longest Time” which quite possibly would have reduced me to tears. 
 

I cannot wait to go see him again in March! Sooo happy I got those ticket, because they are decent seats. Speaking of March, I still have tickets. Come see Billy with me! Face value, no ticketmaster charge.

 

He closed with Piano Man, of course and it is so amazing to sing the chorus with every one else in Madison Square Garden. I love, love, love, love him.

 

Last night was just awesome and wonderful. I think few things on the planet can make me as happy as Billy Joel live.