Rating: 10/10
The Stranger was Billy Joel’s breakthrough album, which makes sense because it’s a superb album. So many of the songs have great replay value, and the album as a whole is just timeless.
In this post, I’ll be ranking all the songs on Billy Joel’s fifth studio album, The Stranger, from worst to best based on my subjective opinions and personal enjoyment. It’s fine if you don’t share my opinions.
9. Everybody Has a Dream (Track 9)
I don’t like raking the album’s closing song as the worst, but unfortunately, it is my least favorite. I don’t find myself re-listening to it often, and I think it goes on a little longer than it should. However, I do like the gospel-influence, and I like how the whistling from the titular track comes back at the end to close off the album.
8. Get It Right the First Time (Track 8)
It’s not intentional for me to rank the last two songs of the album as the worst, but I’m pretty sure it’s the general opinion that the first seven tracks are the main masterpieces of The Stranger. I do like this song, I think it’s really catchy and I really like the background instrumental, but it just doesn’t stand out much compared to the rest of the songs.
7. The Stranger (Track 2)
The titular track, The Stranger opens with a moody, whistled melody that sets the tone for the album. The song describes how everyone has a “stranger” in their life, and how sometimes the stranger comes out at the worst, and the best, moments. I like this song, but I don’t listen to it as often as I listen to the others on the record. This track does feature some great lyricism from Billy, though: “Well, we all fall in love, but we disregard the danger. Though we share so many secrets, there are some we never tell. Why were you so surprised that you never saw the stranger? Did you ever let your lover see the stranger in yourself?”
6. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant (Track 4)
I know that I’m going to be hated for having this song relatively low on the list (although it should be noted that I really like all of the first seven songs on this album), but I can’t help it. It’s so long (7 and a half minutes!), and unlike other long songs that I really like (for example, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and Dear John by Taylor Swift), it doesn’t really fly by for me. I do really like the story though, and I like the format of having multiple songs in one. Overall, I really do like this song, and I jam out to it whenever I do listen to it, but I don’t actually find myself listening to it that often because it’s such a commitment of a song. Please don’t hate me.
5. Only the Good Die Young (Track 6)
As a Christian, I probably like this song more than I should. However, I just look at it as a boy encouraging a girl to live her life to the fullest, to live it the way she wants to, rather than a boy encouraging a girl to abandon the basic morals of her religion. Regardless of its controversial subject matter, you can’t deny that it’s a very fun song, and very youthful. Even though I’m still a teenager, I can tell that this will be a song that I’ll listen to when I’m older to feel young again.
4. Just the Way You Are (Track 3)
This song remains one of Billy Joel’s most popular, and it was a smash hit upon its release. I understand why, as it’s a very sweet and timeless track about loving someone exactly the way they are. It’s great to sing along to, and it’s a classic wedding dance song.
3. Vienna (Track 5)
Vienna was a song that I had always heard about in relation to Billy’s catalog, but I hesitated to listen to for a reason that I don’t know. This is a wonderful song, and though I had initially thought it was going to be a love song to a woman named Vienna, it’s actually about people (specifically young people) who rush to grow up and get out into the world. I really relate to this song, and I try to take what Billy is saying to heart, as I am somewhat ambitious, and I often find myself thinking super far into the future when I should just be enjoying the present. In summation, it’s a very wise and insightful song, and it’s beautifully sung.
2. She’s Always a Woman (Track 7)
Oh, how I adore this song. It’s very sentimental, and very waltzy, but I don’t mind. I think this is one of the most genuine-sounding love songs I’ve ever heard, and I love the melody. Plus, the humming makes it 10 times better, and I love humming along with it.
1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) (Track 1)
I know this is an uncommon choice for the top spot, but I’m sticking to it. The lyrics are so clever, the characters are super vivid, the story is enticing, and that bassline really slaps. The vocal hooks and melodies are so fun and catchy, and I probably listen to this song at least once a day. A great opener for the album, and I think as far as infectious melodies go, almost unparalleled.
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