The Entertainer (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Entertainer" is a single by singer Billy Joel
released as the only single from his 1974 album Streetlife Serenade
. The song peaked at #34 on the US charts, a Top 40 hit for Joel that year. The song is a cynical and somewhat satirical 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 and 38 seconds to 3 minutes and 5 seconds to fit a radio slot; additionally, the timing printed on the label of the 7" release was 3:05, although the actual length was 3:48.
On some of the singles released for "The Entertainer" the song was b-sided with "The Mexican Connection".
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
released as the only single from his 1974 album Streetlife Serenade
Streetlife Serenade
Streetlife Serenade is Billy Joel's third album, and his second with Columbia Records.Streetlife Serenade was released in 1974 , after the hit songs "Piano Man" and "Captain Jack" from the album Piano Man...
. The song peaked at #34 on the US charts, a Top 40 hit for Joel that year. The song is a cynical and somewhat satirical 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
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
"It's Still Rock & Roll to Me" is a hit 1980 song performed by Billy Joel, from the hit album Glass Houses. The song was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for two weeks, from July 19 through August 1, 1980...
". The song references the shortening of Joel's song, "Piano Man
Piano Man (song)
"Piano Man" was Billy Joel's first major hit and his signature song. "Piano Man" was released as a single in November 1st, 1973 and has been on several albums...
", from 5 minutes and 38 seconds to 3 minutes and 5 seconds to fit a radio slot; additionally, the timing printed on the label of the 7" release was 3:05, although the actual length was 3:48.
On some of the singles released for "The Entertainer" the song was b-sided with "The Mexican Connection".
Chart positions
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 89 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
30 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
34 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
30 |