Vienna (Billy Joel song)

1977 song by Billy Joel

"Vienna"

Song by Billy Joel
from the album  The Stranger
A-side| "Just the Way You Are"
Released| September 29, 1977
Recorded| A & R Recording, New York City
Genre|

* Soft rock
* pop rock[1]

Length| 3:34
Label| Columbia Records
Songwriter(s)| Billy Joel
Producer(s)| Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
| "Only the Good Die Young"
(1977)  | "Just the Way You Are" / "Vienna"
(1977)  | "The Stranger"
(1978)

|
|

"Vienna" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 album The Stranger, originally released as the B-side to the single "Just the Way You Are".[2]

Despite its initial release as a B-side, the song's popularity has grown considerably in the decades since its release. As of July 2025[update], it is Joel's third most streamed song on Spotify behind "Piano Man" and "Uptown Girl", achieving more than 850 million streams on the platform alone.[3]

A video for the song was released in 2024.[4]

## Musical structure

[edit]

The song begins with a piano melody in the right hand and chords in the left, ultimately cadencing to the tonic chord of B♭. However, the first chord of the verse is a Gm, which is the relative minor chord of B♭. A change to the vi chord doesn't always indicate a change in key, but each verse ends with a V-i authentic cadence in Gm, indicating that a key change has taken place. The chorus begins with an E♭ chord, the IV chord in B♭, which is a half step up from D, giving a rising feeling going from the verse to the chorus. The end of the chorus cadences back to the tonic of B♭ with the chords C, G♭, F, B♭. G♭ is the tritone substitution of the V chord for F, and F to B♭ forms another authentic cadence.

## Composition

[edit]

Lyrically, Joel was inspired by visiting the city of Vienna and his father, who left the family when Joel was a child.[5] Joel has stated that "Vienna" is a metaphor for old age, but also may have been subconsciously about his father. Speaking more broadly about the song's message, he said in a 2008 interview that it conveys "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. I kind of used 'Vienna' as a metaphor, there is a reason for being old, a purpose".[6] He also said: "We treat old people in this country pretty badly. We put them in rest homes, we kinda kick them under the rug and make believe they don’t exist. They [the people in Vienna] don’t feel like that. In a lot of these older places in the world, they value their older people and their older people feel they can still be a part of the community and I thought 'This is a terrific idea' – that old people are useful – and that means I don’t have to worry so much about getting old because I can still have a use in this world in my old age. I thought 'Vienna waits for you…'"[7]

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[8] | Gold  | 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[9] | 2× Platinum  | 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Platinum  | 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[11] | 3× Platinum  | 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Reception and legacy

[edit]

It was played in a 1981 episode of Taxi called "Vienna Waits". Marilu Henner's character Elaine Nardo refers to the song while on vacation in Europe with Alex Reiger, played by Judd Hirsch. Due to home viewing licensing restrictions, the song has been omitted from the episode on DVD, though is intact on the Hulu versions of the episode.

In a July 2008 New York Times article, Joel cited this as one of his two favorite songs, along with "Summer, Highland Falls".[12]

Writing in 2022, Tim Grierson of MEL Magazine attributed the song's endurance to it being featured in the 2004 film 13 Going on 30, prominence on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok through the early 2020s, and its messaging, leading to a popularity that he identifies as particularly strong among younger people. He further wrote, "unlike something like 'Piano Man,' it hasn't been shoved down our throats for the entirety of our lives. 'Vienna' feels like something you get to discover on your own and then claim for yourself".[13] Joel also attributed its late popularity to the film, adding "That's a movie that was popular with girls, and girls are who most of the enthusiasm for the song comes from ... It's a coming-of-age song: 'Slow down you crazy child'. So I guess it resonates with younger people." He has also said that the lyrics reminds listeners "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".[2]

PopMatters critic David Pike rated it one of the "41 essential pop/rock songs with accordion".[14]

Britain's Far Out magazine called the song one of the most beloved ballads in history.[15]

## Cover versions

[edit]

* In 2013, Christian Borle's character sang a cover of this song on Season 2, Episode 14 of the hit TV show SMASH.
* In 2015, Mac Miller covered the song under his alias Larry Fisherman.[16]
* In the 2019 Netflix show The Politician, Ben Platt covered the song. The version was also released on the show's official soundtrack.
* In 2021, Laura Zocca released an acoustic cover of "Vienna".[17]
* In 2023, Couch released a cover recorded live during The Sweater Sessions.[18]
* In 2024, Ken Marino and David Wain's Middle Aged Dad Jam Band released a cover of the song to their official YouTube channel featuring Weird Al Yankovic playing the accordion solo.[19]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "41 Essential Pop/Rock Songs with Accordion, Page 2". May 26, 2022.
2. ^ a b Demopoulos, Alaina (July 1, 2024). "'No one understands a woman in her 20s like Billy Joel': gen z finds solace in anti-hustle anthem Vienna". The Guardian. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
3. ^ "Billy Joel - Spotify Top Songs".
4. ^ Billy Joel - Vienna (Official Video). Retrieved April 26, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
5. ^ "Vienna by Billy Joel". One Final Serenade.
6. ^ O'Hare, Kevin (July 6, 2008). "Billy Joel - The Republican interview". The Republican. Springfield, Massachusetts. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
7. ^ Wheeler, Kathryn (May 6, 2022). "10 song lyrics that get mental health right". Happiful. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
8. ^ "Danish single certifications – Billy Joel – Vienna". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
9. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Billy Joel – Vienna". Radioscope. Retrieved December 21, 2024. Type Vienna  in the "Search:" field.
10. ^ "British single certifications – Billy Joel – Vienna". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
11. ^ "American single certifications – Billy Joel – Vienna". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
12. ^ Barry, Dan (July 13, 2008). "Just the Way He Is". The New York Times.
13. ^ Grierson, Tim (April 17, 2022). "How Billy Joel's 'Vienna' Went from a Deep Cut to His Most Popular Song". MEL Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
14. ^ Pike, David (May 26, 2022). "41 Essential Pop/Rock songs with Accordion". PopMatters. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
15. ^ "What is Billy Joel song 'Vienna' about?". faroutmagazine.co.uk. March 18, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
16. ^ Robinson, Will (December 28, 2015). "Mac Miller covers Vienna by Billy Joel". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
17. ^ "Vienna - Laura Zocca". YouTube. May 20, 2022.
18. ^ "Couch - "Vienna" (Billy Joel Cover // The Sweater Sessions)". YouTube. June 30, 2023.
19. ^ "Vienna (Billy Joel) - Middle Aged Dad Jam Band w/ "Weird Al" Yankovic". YouTube. August 24, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Billy Joel

Studio albums|

* Cold Spring Harbor
* Piano Man
* Streetlife Serenade
* Turnstiles
* The Stranger
* 52nd Street
* Glass Houses
* The Nylon Curtain
* An Innocent Man
* The Bridge
* Storm Front
* River of Dreams
* Fantasies & Delusions

Live albums|

* Songs in the Attic
* Kontsert
* 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
* 12 Gardens Live
* Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
* Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection
* Greatest Hits Volume III
* The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997
* The Ultimate Collection
* The Essential Billy Joel
* Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel
* My Lives
* The Hits
* Billy Joel: Opus Collection

Singles|

* "She's Got a Way" / "Everybody Loves You Now"
* "Piano Man" / "You're My Home"
* "Worse Comes to Worst"
* "Travelin' Prayer"
* "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
* "The Entertainer"
* "James"
* "I've Loved These Days" / "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
* "Just the Way You Are" / "Vienna"
* "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
* "Only the Good Die Young"
* "She's Always a Woman"
* "The Stranger"
* "My Life"
* "Big Shot"
* "Honesty"
* "Until the Night"
* "All for Leyna"
* "You May Be Right"
* "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
* "Don't Ask Me Why"
* "Sometimes a Fantasy"
* "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live)
* "She's Got a Way" (Live)
* "Pressure"
* "Allentown"
* "Goodnight Saigon"
* "Tell Her About It"
* "Uptown Girl"
* "An Innocent Man"
* "The Longest Time"
* "Leave a Tender Moment Alone"
* "This Night"
* "Keeping the Faith"
* "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
* "The Night Is Still Young"
* "Modern Woman" / "Sleeping with the Television On"
* "A Matter of Trust"
* "This Is the Time"
* "Baby Grand"
* "Back in the U.S.S.R." (Live)
* "We Didn't Start the Fire"
* References
* "Leningrad"
* "I Go to Extremes"
* "The Downeaster 'Alexa'"
* "That's Not Her Style"
* "And So It Goes"
* "Shameless"
* "All Shook Up"
* "The River of Dreams"
* "No Man's Land"
* "All About Soul"
* "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"
* "To Make You Feel My Love"
* "All My Life"
* "Christmas in Fallujah"
* "Turn the Lights Back On"

Other songs|

* "Captain Jack"
* "Tomorrow Is Today"
* "Los Angelenos"
* "Root Beer Rag"
* "New York State of Mind"
* "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
* "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"
* "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
* "Zanzibar"
* "Laura"
* "Scandinavian Skies"
* "Big Man on Mulberry Street"

Tours|

* The Nylon Curtain Tour
* An Innocent Man Tour
* The Bridge Tour
* Storm Front Tour
* River of Dreams Tour
* Face to Face Tours
* 1994
* 1995
* 1998
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2009
* 2010
* Billy Joel in Concert

See also|

* Discography
* Billy Joel band members
* Movin' Out
* The Last Play at Shea
* The Hassles
* Attila
* Alexa Ray Joel
* Christie Brinkley
* Oliver & Company
* soundtrack
* Katie Lee
* "Movin' Out" (Glee episode)
* Billy Joel: And So It Goes

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Ben Platt

Albums|

* Sing to Me Instead
* Reverie
* Honeymind

Soundtracks|

* Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording
* The Politician: Music from the Netflix Original Series
* Dear Evan Hansen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Theater Camp: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Songs|

* "Waving Through a Window"
* "Sincerely, Me"
* "You Will Be Found"
* "Only Us"
* "Found/Tonight"
* "Everything I Did to Get to You"
* "Imagine"

Other songs|

* "Somewhere"
* "Maria"
* "River"
* "Vienna"
* "Over the Rainbow"
* "A Whole New World"
* "You and I"
* "Go Your Own Way"
* "As Long as You're Mine"
* "The Wizard and I"

Tours|

* Sing to Me Instead Tour
* Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall

Family|

* Marc Platt (father)
* Julie Platt (mother)

Related|

* Evan Hansen

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