The Entertainer (song)

Infobox Single
Name = The Entertainer


Artist = Billy Joel
from Album = Streetlife Serenade
B-side = "The Mexican Conncection"
Released = 1975 (7" single)
Format = 7"
Recorded = A & R Recording, Inc., New York City
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:48
Label = Columbia
Writer = Billy Joel
Producer = Phil Ramone
Certification =
Last single = "Travelin' Prayer"
(1974)
This single = "The Entertainer"
(1975)
Next single = "New York State of Mind"
(1976)

"The Entertainer" is a single by singer Billy Joel released as the only single from his 1974 album "Streetlife Serenade". The song peaked at #35 on the US charts, a Top 40 hit for Joel that year.cite book |title= Rock N' Roll Gold Rush |last= Dean |first= Maury |authorlink= Maury Dean |coauthors= |year= 2003 |publisher= Algora |location= |isbn= 0-87586-207-1 |pages= 8 |url= ] The song is a cynical look at the fleeting fame of a musician and fickle public tastes ("Today I am your champion / I may have won your hearts / But I know the game / You will forget my name / And I won't be here / In another year, / If I don't stay on the charts"); this theme would be examined in the later song "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". The song references the shortening of Joel's song, "Piano Man", from 5 minutes to 3 minutes and 5 seconds to fit a radio slot.

On some of the singles released for "The Entertainer" the song was b-sided with "The Mexican Connection".

References