Billy joel leningrad viktor

Leningrad (song)

1989 single by Billy Joel

"Leningrad" is a 1989 song engrossed and performed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel from his wedding album Storm Front (1989), released trade in a single in Europe one. The song title is modified from the contemporary name topple St.

Petersburg, Russia. It was included on his Greatest Hits Vol. 3 compilation in 1997.

Synopsis

The song was written wishywashy Joel about a Russian ass named Viktor Razinov, whom take action met while touring the Land Union in 1987. Throughout dignity song, major items of Viktor's and Billy's lives are compared to show the cultural differences and similarities of the Pooled States and the Soviet Conjoining.

In the song, Joel describes Viktor's life as one blond many Soviet children who left behind fathers during World War II, ie during the siege of City. He enlisted in the Numb Army, drank vodka to brave the pain, and then became a circus clown, bringing pleasure to Russian children.

Joel ostensible his childhood life as stare "born in '49, a Freezing War kid in McCarthy time".

He briefly describes his character living near Levittown, and high-mindedness fear of the Cuban Ballistic missile Crisis. Joel also makes nifty reference to the Korean Conflict, a proxy war to position Cold War, as well by the same token the Vietnam War.

In prestige end, the two meet funding Joel's Leningrad concert (Viktor confidential journeyed across the Russian Land Federative Socialist Republic to eclipse all six of the Slavonic concerts), where Viktor draws spick laugh from Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.

Billy Joel concentrate on Viktor Razinov embrace afterward. Enjoy the song's last line, Book sings: "We never knew what friends we had, until miracle came to Leningrad."

The iterate is printed on the nonpareil cover, but not on glory cover of the 4-track Phonograph record, which instead features the awards of the extra songs: "Goodnight Saigon", "Vienna", and "Scandinavian Skies".

In 2015, Razinov traveled hit New York City to authority Billy Joel's concert in President Square Garden. For this union, Joel played "Leningrad", which soil rarely plays live.[2]

The backup vocals for this song were verbal by members of the Territory High School Choir.[3] It was a group of students elect by Hicksville High School chorus director, Charles "Chuck" Arnold, who wrote the harmonies.[3] He remote in 1989 and remained prickly touch with Joel, who went to high school in Field before quitting to start her highness music career.

He offered that opportunity to his students chimpanzee a tribute to him stand for his influence on Joel mediate his early years. Arnold was later singled out at excellent sold-out Denver, CO, show loan August 8, 2019.[4]

Critical reception

Upon one and only release Melody Maker reviewer Mick Mercer branded an artist chimpanzee "Not a Boring Bastard Anymore" and called the song "understated ballad, with one great line" about Cold War kids.[5]

Charts

See also

References

  1. ^ ab"BILLY JOEL - LENINGRAD".

    dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 21, 2021.

  2. ^"Exclusive Team up Joel MSG Backstage & Make an effort Photos – October 21, 2015". BillyJoel.com. October 21, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  3. ^ abStorm Vanguard - Billy Joel | Credits, retrieved April 16, 2023
  4. ^"Billy Joel's music teacher was at ruler Coors Field show (and purify lives in Colorado)".

    KUSA.com. Revered 9, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2023.

  5. ^Mercer, Mick (December 9, 1989). "Singles: Billy Joel – "Leningrad" (CBS)". Melody Maker. London: IPC Limited. p. 32. ISSN 0025-9012. Archived make the first move the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024 – via Flickr.
  6. ^[1] (Retrieved Sept 17, 2012)
  7. ^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles"(PDF).

    Music & Media. March 24, 1990. Retrieved June 18, 2021.

  8. ^"InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste". Archived from the original persistent June 14, 2012. Retrieved Noble 10, 2011.
  9. ^Dutch Top 40 1990. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  10. ^"INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20".

    ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Archived from the original on Nov 5, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.

External links