Is Billy Joel song offensive?

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jeffreedy789:
disagree about DMB. dave is a genius, i think, in the realm of music. i don’t like his lyrics, for the most part (although the ‘i am no superman’ song is pretty cool), but his songs all rock musically - esp, as much as i hate to say it, ‘crash’.
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Honestly? He has grown on me. I now don’t cringe when I hear him. (Not everything, anyway). AND, I figure, anybody who can rock out using a violin is pretty okay. BUT, he irritated me for a while…A LONG WHILE…

AND, since I’m replying in this thread, what was wrong with the “SFAIR” lyrics?
 
I’m still trying to decipher the whole “perverse act” thing with “Uptown Girl.”
 
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jeffreedy789:
disagree about DMB. dave is a genius, i think, in the realm of music. i don’t like his lyrics, for the most part (although the ‘i am no superman’ song is pretty cool), but his songs all rock musically - esp, as much as i hate to say it, ‘crash’.
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I’m a big Dave fan myself. Did you know Crash is about suicide, not sex, like most people believe? Apparently one of his ex-girlfriends had depression problems and tried or did commit suicide. May attention to the lyrics: “You’ve got your ball, you’ve got your chain;” depression and problems. “I love it when you crash into me;” about dropping her problems on him.

“I am no superman” is a line from Where are you going?. One of his few songs that pretty much means what the lyrics say: falling for and longing for someone else.
 
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adstrinity:
  1. goes to look up lyrics to “Scene from an Italian Restaurant” . . . btw, what is “Captain Jack” about? At first my mom & I thought it was about drinking. Is it about doing crack or something?
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I think “Captain Jack” is about smoking pot and masturbating. At least it explicitly mentions those things.

I don’t think the lyrics to “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” are offensive. I just think it’s like a whole schlocky Broadway musical crammed into one song. I should have specified that it’s the music and style that I personally dislike.
 
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LoneRanger:
here are the lyrics… i don’t care much for them either…

Come out Virginia, don’t let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
aw But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one

They showed you a statue, told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
But they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done…
Only the good die young
thats what i said
only the good die young x2

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain’t too pretty we ain’t too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
aw But that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia show me a sign
Send up a signal I’ll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you’re hiding behind
Never lets in the sun
Darlin’ only the good die young
(woah x5 )
i tell ya
only the good die young x2

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul
mmmm, And a cross of gold
But Virginia they didn’t give you quite enough information
You didn’t count on me
When you were counting on your rosary
(oh woah woah)

They say there’s a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it’s better but I say it ain’t
I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
the Sinners are much more fun…

you know that only the good die young
oh woah baby
i tell ya
only the good die young, X2

You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
Aww She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me? oh woah woah

come out come out come out virgina dont let me wait,
the catholic girls start much too late
sooner or later it comes down to fate
i might as well be the one,
u know that only the good die young

im telling u baby
only the good die young X2
only the gooooooooooooooood
only the good die young
only the gooooooooooooooood
only the good die young
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooooooo…
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You notice this song does not tell the whole story. Virginia’s reaction to the narrator’s spiel is not a matter of record. For all we know, she could have told him to take a hike. Maybe this happened to Billy Joel in real life. He’s not telling.
 
I really don’t find it offensive.
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I’m sorry to hear that.

I can’t help but think that if Billy Joel had used menorah instead of rosary and bar mizvah instead of confirmation, he would be receiving all kinds of flak.

ILO
 
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Fredhn:
Recently, the Billy Joel song “Only the Good Die Young” has been getting regular play on the local radio station whose motto is “family friendly and workplace safe”. I have written to the station stating that I found the song offensive to my Catholic faith due to lyrics such as “Catholic girls start much too late” and scoffing references to Confirmation, Rosary, the cross and statues. The station manager stated that as a Catholic, he is not offended; the song is popular and so he will play it. I would like to hear your opinions on whether you find the song offensive and why. Thanks.
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I am a Billy Joel Fan. I don’t care if he is Catholic or Jewish. I just like his music.

When music comes on the radio or TV that I don’t like for what ever reason - I utilize the on / off button. Works every time.
 
Did you know Crash is about suicide, not sex, like most people believe?
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it may have suicidal elements in it, but it’s got alot of sex, too.

‘hike up your skirt a little more’?? and i won’t even quote what he says after that - it’s too much for this type forum.
 
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jeffreedy789:
it may have suicidal elements in it, but it’s got alot of sex, too.

‘hike up your skirt a little more’?? and i won’t even quote what he says after that - it’s too much for this type forum.
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As crazy and illogical as this sounds, I could swear that sex is used as an allegory.
 
Just for laughs, I went outside our CA Forums circle to ask people what they thought of this song and did they find it offensive.

One co-worker’s eyes lit up and said, “Oh, that is SUCH a cool song! Before I heard it, I was always hung up on being good and doing what’s right all the time and that song taught me that we’re all gonna die anyway and we may as well have fun and do what we want while we’re alive, before we’re too old to enjoy ourselves!”

Ohhhhkay… interesting interpretation. Apparently, living a moral life isn’t considered “having fun” (by neither the artist nor the listener in this case) and those who do try to be chaste are “dying young”. My co-worker went on to share her views on how worrying too much about “being good” takes all the fun out of life. When I tried to talk about how God expects us to try to live a moral life, she gave me this injured look and came up with the all-time dumbest rationale for sinning in the entire world (and I’m sure you’ve all heard it before): “But I’m sure God wants us to be happy.” AAAARGH! I tried to explain that God wants us to be happy with Him in Heaven and that we can’t find true happiness by going against His will… she shrugged and said, “Whatever makes you happy.”:banghead:

For the record, no one else seemed to think it was such a big deal… as one friend commented, “It’s always been open season on Catholics.”

Anyway, just thought I’d throw this into the mix and see what happens. I don’t recall anyone addressing this particular message and to be honest, that someone would interpret it this way and take it as a “life motto” really disturbs me. Please pray for this young lady!

BlueRose
 
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ILO:
I’m sorry to hear that.

I can’t help but think that if Billy Joel had used menorah instead of rosary and bar mizvah instead of confirmation, he would be receiving all kinds of flak.

ILO
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One of my points. He specifically bashed the Catholic faith under the guise of relating one of his experiences. As if that is justification.
 
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MarthaMartha:
You notice this song does not tell the whole story. Virginia’s reaction to the narrator’s spiel is not a matter of record. For all we know, she could have told him to take a hike. Maybe this happened to Billy Joel in real life. He’s not telling.
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Regardless of the outcome, the result is an offensive song.
 
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bluerose:
One co-worker’s eyes lit up and said, “Oh, that is SUCH a cool song! Before I heard it, I was always hung up on being good and doing what’s right all the time and that song taught me that we’re all gonna die anyway and we may as well have fun and do what we want while we’re alive, before we’re too old to enjoy ourselves!”
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Well, that is exactly what is conveyed by the song.
 
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