AOTM: Billy Joel Featured in CNN’s Soundtracks

The eleventh of September 2001 was a day America stood still. The crumble of the buildings littered the city of New York while a shocking hush filtered through the airwaves and on televisions across the country. In that moment of shock, America stood still, but only for a moment. Immediately after the rumble of the first impact, rescue crews jumped into action to rescue victims of the violence that erupted not only in New York City, but also in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon. The casualties from 9/11 didn’t just include those on the planes and in the buildings, it also included those working rescue efforts. In order to help support the families of the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives being heroes that day, benefit concerts were performed. Billy Joel was one of the performers at those concerts and CNN has featured him in their latest documentary called Soundtracks.

CNN’s Soundtracks: Songs that Defined History explores different moments in history in which music played an intricate part in defining that moment. The March on Washington, the moon landing, Hurricane Katrina, Kent State, and 9/11 are just some of the moments explored in this new series produced by Dwayne Johnson (cnnsoundtracks.com). Billy Joel was one of the artists interviewed for Soundtracks.

In episode two, Soundtracks explored the aftermath of 9/11 and how various songs took on new meaning for both New York and America. Joel performed “New York State of Mind” at the telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes on September 21, 2001 and also for the benefit concert The Concert for New York in October 2001. When he was interviewed for the Soundtracks series, he admitted the song, “…means a different thing than it used to mean to the audiences. It is kind of an anthem for New York City. I didn’t think of that when I wrote it. It was just a love song to the city, but it became something else… (billyjoel.com).” While Joel’s love song to the city was written in 1976, it became so much more in 2001 to all who listened and helped heal a nation.

(Billy Joel performing “New York State of Mind” for the America: A Tribute to Heroes courtesy of YouTube)

The impact of Joel’s music to those who listen cannot be denied or truly measured, however, one of his songs made a double impact over the years. His song “New York State of Mind” began as a love song and then transformed into an anthem for Americans recovering from the shock of calculate violence. The stunned hush that impacted America was replaced with determined survival, and Joel’s song helped heal a nation.

~Jenna Jakes, WOGB