Recently I was asked by a magazine writer to name my ‘favorite Billy Joel song’. That is a tough ask. To pick my all-time fave tune from a man that has sold out Madison Square Garden more than any other artist? I mean come on! I was struck dumb. He ‘helpfully’ provided a list of 25 of ‘The Piano Man’s’ songs adding, “If your favorite is not on the list that’s okay. Just let me know. By tomorrow.” Yikes! … Why are so many in media on such a tight deadline. Or are they sick of trying to shag down folks who procrastinate?Maybe… But then it came to me. To choose one song would have been about impossible. But when I recalled a certain night in New Orleans it flowed back to me. Flowed like a river …
I sent this to the journalist.
“I have to submit, “River of Dreams” for my choice. It is tied into a fantastic night when my wife Janet and I were with Emeril and his wife in New Orleans. This was 20 years ago. We had just finished a sumptuous dinner in the Crescent City and Em wheeled us back to their place for the night. The song, “River of Dreams” came on just as he was parking. But he didn’t turn off the car’s engine. Instead he turned the radio to TEN and we all sang together like we were in the video with Billy. It actually snowed for a few minutes and that added to the surreal joy I will never forget. We got out of the car and let the soft snow fall down on our upturned faces into the New Orleans night sky and laughed as if we’d stumbled into Heaven.”