Comparing Rocket Man By Elton John And Billy Joel

The Rocket vs The Piano

Elton John and Billy Joel are arguably two of my favorite musical artists whose music I listen to. Two pieces by Elton John and Billy Joel are “Rocket Man” and “Piano Man” respectively. They are somewhat similar in the tone that they set, however, they differ in how they set this mood. The tone they set is one of slight depression and longing for something better.

When discussing this aurora with Elton John’s piece, “Rocket Man,” it must be said that he uses the situation of being distant from family members or those who you love to convey that sense of depression or longing. The opening chords and lyrics further enhance this feeling of wanting to be somewhere else. Tempo is one of a moderate one, not too fast, and yet not too slow. The story told from this piece of music could often be said as to be from the point of view of a father. The point of view of Billy Joel’s piece is somewhat different though.

Billy Joel uses the setting of a bar to tell the story of a lonely piano player, a waitress trying to get through college, and an old navy skipper to name a few characters.

The music starts off with, of course, piano and some harmonic to further enhance the tone that it is intending to set. This tone is once again, a longing to be somewhere else. In the case of the barkeeper in the song, it is said he wants to be a movie star. All through the song, the melody continues its sing song, back and forth swaying type of music. The tempo is comparable to that of Elton John’s song, but Billy Joel’s piece has greater variation in dynamics, becoming louder at parts, and softer in

others.
However, despite the differences in comparing the two pieces, there are, as we have seen, some similarities. As stated in the beginning, they both convey the sense of wanting something more than what the current situation is. In the case of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” this is a longing to return to family or loved ones while in Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” it is a urging to want to fulfill lost dreams. A look at both of these side by side, it's not hard to see why these songs are more mellow in both their messages and in the way those messages are presented.
Elton John’s piece “Rocket Man” was released in 1972, while Billy Joel released “Piano Man” in 1973 so it is safe to say that both artists witnessed some of the same historical events however it is interesting to reflect at the music that became of it. While they both set the same mood, they both have that special something unique to both artists respectively that sets their work apart from each other. It is this character in their work that has won many hearts to “Rocket Man” and “Piano Man”, as well as other works by both Billy Joel and Elton John.