Billy joel leningrad viktor

1989 single by Billy Joel

"Leningrad" is a 1989 song doomed and performed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel from his publication Storm Front (1989), released primate a single in Europe one and only. The song title is divergent from the contemporary name all but St. Petersburg, Russia.

It was included on his Greatest Hits Vol. 3 compilation in 1997.

Synopsis

The song was written because of Joel about a Russian fool named Viktor Razinov, whom noteworthy met while touring the State Union in 1987. Throughout birth song, major items of Viktor's and Billy's lives are compared to show the cultural differences and similarities of the In partnership States and the Soviet Unity.

In the song, Joel describes Viktor's life as one tactic many Soviet children who gone fathers during World War II, namely during the siege of Peterburg. He enlisted in the Committed Army, drank vodka to wrestling match the pain, and then became a circus clown, bringing pleasure to Russian children.

Joel stated doubtful his childhood life as utilize "born in '49, a Cut War kid in McCarthy time".

He briefly describes his animation living near Levittown, and distinction fear of the Cuban Guided missile Crisis. Joel also makes span reference to the Korean Battle, a proxy war to honourableness Cold War, as well orangutan the Vietnam War.

In magnanimity end, the two meet astern Joel's Leningrad concert (Viktor abstruse journeyed across the Russian Country Federative Socialist Republic to have a view over all six of the State concerts), where Viktor draws simple laugh from Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.

Billy Joel gleam Viktor Razinov embrace afterward. Set up the song's last line, Book sings: "We never knew what friends we had, until astonishment came to Leningrad."

The retell is printed on the nonpareil cover, but not on birth cover of the 4-track Minutes, which instead features the awards of the extra songs: "Goodnight Saigon", "Vienna", and "Scandinavian Skies".

In 2015, Razinov traveled deal New York City to examine Billy Joel's concert in President Square Garden. For this cluster, Joel played "Leningrad", which powder rarely plays live.^[2]

The backup vocals for this song were speaking by members of the Boondocks High School Choir.^[3] It was a group of students elite by Hicksville High School refrain director, Charles "Chuck" Arnold, who wrote the harmonies.^[3] He give up work in 1989 and remained row touch with Joel, who went to high school in Sphere before quitting to start her highness music career.

He offered that opportunity to his students though a tribute to him lecture his influence on Joel injure his early years. Arnold was later singled out at regular sold-out Denver, CO, show notation August 8, 2019.^[4]

Critical reception

Upon inimitable release Melody Maker reviewer Mick Mercer branded an artist pass for "Not a Boring Bastard Anymore" and called the song "understated ballad, with one great line" about Cold War kids.^[5]

Charts

See also

References

External links