# The best Billy Joel songs

The Piano Man's greatest songs, from Piano Man itself to Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, as ranked by critics and fans.

- 197 votes · 15 items
- Jul 28, 2025 · the_riff
- https://even.best/en/l/3644/the-best-billy-joel-songs

## Top 15

1. **My Life** (16 · ▲17 ▼1) — 1978. Living life your own way.
2. **Just the Way You Are** (15 · ▲15 ▼0) — 1977. The ballad that won two Grammys.
3. **Scenes from an Italian Restaurant** (13 · ▲17 ▼4) — 1977. A seven-minute suite; first in fan votes.
4. **Piano Man** (13 · ▲15 ▼2) — 1973. The bar story that became his nickname.
5. **New York State of Mind** (13 · ▲15 ▼2) — 1976. A love song to his city.
6. **The Longest Time** (13 · ▲14 ▼1) — 1983. A cappella doo-wop.
7. **Only the Good Die Young** (10 · ▲13 ▼3) — 1977. A cheeky rocker.
8. **Big Shot** (9 · ▲9 ▼0) — 1978. Rock with attitude.
9. **It's Still Rock and Roll to Me** (8 · ▲12 ▼4) — 1980. His first number one.
10. **Uptown Girl** (6 · ▲9 ▼3) — 1983. Doo-wop with Christie Brinkley in the video.
11. **Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)** (6 · ▲9 ▼3) — 1977. Later a Broadway musical.
12. **Sleeping with the Television On** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — 1980. The best Billy Joel song that was never a hit, according to Vulture.
13. **Vienna** (4 · ▲6 ▼2) — 1977. A deep cut that became a generational favourite.
14. **She's Always a Woman** (1 · ▲4 ▼3) — 1977. A tender ballad.
15. **We Didn't Start the Fire** (0 · ▲4 ▼4) — 1989. Forty years of history in rapid-fire lyrics.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.