“Vienna” appears on Billy Joel’s critically acclaimed fifth studio album The Stranger (1977). And despite never being a hit, as many other songs on The Stranger were, “Vienna” grew out to be an absolute fan-favorite. In fact, nowadays “Vienna” is considered one of the best songs in Billy Joel’s rich repertoire.
But what’s the story and meaning behind the song? And why is it titled after Austria’s capital? Let’s find out!
The Story Behind the Song
The inspiration behind “Vienna” lies with Billy Joel’s father Howard Joel. Billy hardly knew his father, for Howard Joel left the family when Billy was just a little boy. He only knew that his father went to Europe. And since Howard Joel was born in Germany, Billy assumed he had gone there, too.
Billy never heard from his father again, and therefore, decided to take matters into his own hands. When Billy started a European tour in 1972, he decided it was the perfect moment to visit his father. But there was a major problem. Billy had no idea where his father settled down.
Fortunately, Billy remembered which company his father worked for in America. He shared it with European record subsidiaries who proceeded to search for Billy’s father. Eventually, Dutch record distributor Phonogram found Howard Joel. And to Billy’s surprise, not in Germany, but in Vienna, Austria.
Billy quickly traveled to Vienna, where he was reunited with his father for the first time in 15 years. The reunion was initially disappointing, for Billy surprisingly discovered his father had started a new family. He even discovered he had a half-brother called Alexander.
But wonderful things happened in Vienna, too. One day, during a walk with his father, Billy’s inspiration behind the song “Vienna” originated.
“I remember seeing an old lady sweeping the street”, Billy Joel said in an interview with the Republican. “I said, ‘Dad it’s kind of sad that that poor old woman has to do that kind of work.’ He said, ‘No, she has a job, she feels useful, she has a place in our society.’ I realized they don’t throw old people away like we tend to do here in the States.”
The conversation brought a different perspective to Billy Joel’s outlook on life. Especially his outlook on the fast-paced life he lived as a musician. Joel realized he could slow down if he needed to. It’s okay, you can afford to lose a day or two.
The Meaning of Vienna
Billy Joel’s “Vienna” is a song about young ambitious people who are in an extreme hurry to achieve their dreams. Joel advises them to slow down and relax, for they’ve got enough time to fulfill their ambitions and dreams.
Read more: The 10 Best Billy Joel Songs of All Time
“You don’t have to squeeze your whole life into your 20s and 30s trying to make it, trying to achieve that American dream, getting in the rat race and killing yourself. You have a whole life to live,” Joel said in an interview with the Republican. “I kind of used ‘Vienna’ as a metaphor, there is a reason for being old, a purpose.”
Billy later admitted the song was also subconsciously written about the troubled relationship, and absence, of his father.
The Song’s Legacy
Although the idea of “Vienna” was born in 1972, Billy Joel did not release the song until 1977. The inspiration for the music came from a band called Topper. Billy heard their song Give It All Away and decided to use it for Vienna’s intro.
The song eventually appears as the opener of side two of The Stranger. “Vienna” was never released as an A-side single and never reached the charts. Nevertheless, the song grew out to be one of Billy Joel’s most popular. It especially gained popularity after the song’s usage in the 2004 movie 13 Going on 30.
Billy Joel admitted that “Vienna” is one of his favorite songs. It is often played during live shows where fans can choose between the hit-less Vienna or a Billy Joel hit. And of course, “Vienna” always wins.
Interested in more stories behind Billy Joel songs? Click here
