Lyrics:
Slow down, you crazy child
You’re so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you’re so smart
Tell me why are you still so afraid? Mm
Where’s the fire, what’s the hurry about?
You’d better cool it off before you b
You’ve got so much to do
And only so many hours in a day, hey
But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want or you can just get old
You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you’re doin’ fine
You can’t be everything you wanna be before your time
Although it’s so romantic on the borderline tonight, tonight
Too bad, but it’s the life you lead
You’re so ahead of yourself, that you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you’re wrong
You know you can’t always see when you’re right
You’re right
You’ve got your passion, you’ve got your pride
But don’t you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you crazy child
And take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
And you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want or you could just get old
You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
Why don’t you realize Vienna waits for you?
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
My Criteria For A Review:
For me, there are a few key details that make a song stand out above others and become a timeless classic. Most important to me in a song is the lyrics and the word choice. For a song to be truly great, I believe it has to convey a message and tell a meaningful story. I love a song that gets you thinking about your own life and that has a meaning that anyone, no matter their lived experience, gender, or background, can resonate with. When the lyrics are beautiful and thought provoking, I remember it for much longer than just a catchy beat. The beat is still important to me though, and I enjoy a song with a rich sound behind it. A song with strong instrumentals and a sound that makes you feel good inside stands out to me. It doesn’t necessarily have to be upbeat and catchy, but it has to strike a certain chord in your brain when you hear it. I need a song that makes me want to listen to it again and again, without tiring of hearing it.
My Review of “Vienna”:
“Vienna” by Billy Joel is a timeless song that offers a deep and thought-provoking message to anyone that listens and absorbs the lyrics. Its theme revolves around the fact that in today’s society, there is an insane amount of pressure on young people to work insanely hard and stress themselves out to achieve success at a young age. Joel rebukes this stereotype and instead claims that you have your whole life ahead of you to succeed and be happy. He uses the city of Vienna as a metaphor for everything good that awaits you later on in life.
The opening piano notes strike a pang of nostalgia and the instrumentals throughout are extremely calming, matching the overall emotion and message the song hopes to convey. The song hits on my two largest criteria to be considered great; a thoughtful message and a sound that moves me. When I hear “Vienna”, it immediately calms me and reminds me
that everything is going to turn out fine in the end. No matter how many times I listen to it, I find new meaning in its words. There is a certain melancholy feel through its instrumental beat that encourages you to relax and take things slow.
The song forces you to stop and think about why we are so stressed in this world. Lyrics like, “if you’re so smart tell me why are you still so afraid?” asks listeners what they are so worried about, knowing that they are smart people who will figure everything out. Joel also states, “you can’t be everything you wanna be before your time” implying that you can’t possibly have everything you are ever going to have before you are ready. Vienna as a metaphor stands for the light at the end of the tunnel, while also acknowledging we shouldn’t be racing to get to that light. Our lives will unfold exactly how they are meant to, and we will miss a lot of beauty along the way if we are always chasing something.
“Vienna” is such a good song because it relates to human nature as a whole. Joel transcends all boundaries by breaking down human nature and the “rat race,” and focusing on enjoying the journey. It is an intelligently written song paired with a sound that matches its nostalgic vibe perfectly.