Scenes From An Italian Restaurant Lyrics
Actually...the restaurant is located in Syosset, New York. It's called Christiano's. I've eaten there before, clearly because Billy Joel used to frequent the restaurant. Food is not so good, but they don't charge too much.
BILLY JOEL IS THE GREATEST ARTIST EVER. ...Long live Brenda and Eddie!
@Heather Surfpico Actually, it's the Fontana di Trevi at 151 West 57th Street in New York City, right across from Carnegie Hall. It apparently had great food. As reported in USA Today in 2008. It's closed, now.
@Heather Surfpico Actually, it's the Fontana di Trevi at 151 West 57th Street in New York City, right across from Carnegie Hall. It apparently had great food. As reported in USA Today in 2008. It's closed, now.
I love how multidimentional this song is. It is most probably a pair of old friends (or old flames) who meet up in this restaurant and discuss the times they shared in high school. However, it could also be three different scenes from the same restaurant happening at the same time. One would be a pair of lovers meeting in their special place. Then the music changes, and two old friends/flames see each other again for the first time in a long time and discuss their current lives. Then the music changes slightly again, and it's a flashback to Brenda and Eddie's experiences. Finally, the music slows again, tying together each of the scenes. I love the levels of this song. Billy Joel really is a master of expression.
Folks, I've got some bad news. I've conducted a latitudinal study of people who attended the Parkway Diner in the mid-60s and based my interviews and data sets, Brenda and Eddie were anything but a 'hit' at this particular establishment. For the most part, patrons found them excedingly annoying and were elated to learn of their divorce. Furthermore, it turns out than many in Billy's peer group wanted a whole shitload more outta life at that time than to hang-out at a diner all night.
I love you, Matty Dubs.
I love you, Matty Dubs.
Billy remembers how Brenda and Eddie's relationship fell apart, how they peaked in high school and were now just trying to make ends meet. Billy and a friend from high school catch up on each other's lives in their old meeting place. There's no hidden meaning for the ongoing 'reds and whites' debate. It's just wine. The whole song is sort of sweet and reminiscent, an account of his high school experience, so I doubt he would mention drugs. That's all. Great song. One of his best.
i love billy joel hes the coolest guy ever cuz hes from long island like me. this is a really great song...i wonder what resturant hes talking about....anybody know??
ACTUALLY, Heather was correct. Billy Joel did write this song about Christiano's, in Syosset New York...
Many of his songs make references to where he grew up...
Of course, his first album, "Cold Spring Harbor" is a town that borders with Syosset. In "Ballad of Billy the Kid" he references "From a town known as Oyster Bay, Long Island" (The township where Syosset, and Cold Spring Harbor are located).
"The Village Green" is on Jerusalem Road in the East Meadow area; and "The Parkway Diner" is on Hempstead Turnpike near the Wantaugh Parkway. (Also, "Are you going to cruise the miracle mile" from "Still Rock and Roll to me" refers to the same strip of Hempstead Turnpike.)
go about 6:25 into the song...reds whites
Maybe it is the way hes saying it...but the 1st two times he says red it dosent sound like reds it sounds like red but the 3rd time it sounds like reds
I never said Billy Joel was that kind of person but he probably isnt talking about himself...Good song all together...but i really wanna know what the point of Brenda and Eddie are?
@cateyes0o I believe that is definitely "reds & whites". It would make very good sense too. I'd actually be kind of disappointed if it's not his intent. Even though I can't find anything to confirm this.
@cateyes0o I believe that is definitely "reds & whites". It would make very good sense too. I'd actually be kind of disappointed if it's not his intent. Even though I can't find anything to confirm this.
It's not uncommon these days for married people over 40 who shouldn't really be married to each to get divorced. So this song is interesting in that in old takes Brenda(r) and Eddie one summer to realize it. Eddie recognizing that "he could never afford to live that kind of life" is one of the greatest moments of self-reflection in the history of pop lyrics. Bravo, Eddie. Bravo.
STOOLHARDY - you must live in a bubble and be a little naive about the world. What do you think Captain Jack is all about? The whole song is about drugs!!! Billy Joel (no stranger to drugs, and the mean streets of NYC) has plenty of drug references in his songs. Most of them are refered to in 70's or 80's slang, something most people not in the drug-scene or city socialite loop could recognize. It's defintely Bottle of REDS and WHITES, a clear drug reference.
so the guy in captain jack has a screwed up life and takes to drugs as a soulution that is how drug are involved?
so the guy in captain jack has a screwed up life and takes to drugs as a soulution that is how drug are involved?
Nope - italians are very particular about correct wines with courses.. so they were selecting fromt eh wine list.
Nope - italians are very particular about correct wines with courses.. so they were selecting fromt eh wine list.
@Gervin Sorry, but last time I checked people don't take drugs at nice Italian restaurants. Alcokell is right- the bottle of reds and bottle of whites is a reference to making a selection of wine off of a wine list. The line "It all depends upon your appetite" supports this, as wine is often paired with your meal.
@Gervin Sorry, but last time I checked people don't take drugs at nice Italian restaurants. Alcokell is right- the bottle of reds and bottle of whites is a reference to making a selection of wine off of a wine list. The line "It all depends upon your appetite" supports this, as wine is often paired with your meal.