As an adult, I've often wondered why some things were covered, and in what order. Is it just to fill music? For instance, why did Joel choose to include "Peyton Place?" Sure, it was a popular novel and subsequently a tv show, but is it really important? What about the fact that he ended the song with "Cola Wars." Was the rivalry between Coke and Pepsi really the straw that broke the camel's back, forcing Billy Joel to declare, "I can't take it anymore?"
In any case, it's a great song, and there are lots of interesting factoids in it. What do you think about what was and wasn't included?
One of my favorite lines from this song has always been "Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the Congo!" It always felt to me like a perfect indictment of 1960 social mentality, not only for the words, but for how Billy Joel sings them. You have these two pop culture icons that completely captured peoples' attention... and then Joel almost screams that there is this other thing going on halfway across the world that begs for our attention, but isn't getting it.
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