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At the time of its release, Joel stated that "Laura" was not written about his own ex-wife, or about a girlfriend. He stated that it is about "the guilt you get from someone in your family who knows just how to stick the knife in and wear you down." He went on to generalize the theme by stating that
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describes Laura as being "an aggressive woman who traumatizes the singer." He can't resist taking her phone calls, even though he knows she is trouble and that his efforts to help will only lead to more problems. She calls him in the middle of the night and pushes his emotional buttons. According
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interpreted the lyrics as Laura "is slowly killing the narrator by refusing to end a relationship that is clearly over. Klosterman interpreted the song as being sung by a narrator who is not intended to be Billy Joel himself who has a life that seems to be perfect even though he harbors a dark
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eventually disclosed that "Laura" was actually written about Joel's own mother
Rosalind. DeVitto suggested that the title "Laura" was chosen because it has two syllables, just like the word "mother" does. According to Klosterman, Joel confirmed the fact that "Laura" was about his mother in an
231:, Laura appears to be a friend, as the lyrics such as "Living alone isn't all that it's cracked up to be" seem to imply that the singer is reflecting on how his "newfound bachelorhood isn't as much fun as he had hoped it to be." In his frustration with Laura, Joel inserts an
318:'s arrangements for the Beatles. Joel acknowledged the Beatle influence on the "la la's and the guitar break." He also suggested that he may not have been able to write "Laura" if he "hadn't first heard how deep John went with his song '
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that is "layered, successful, mature pop that brings Joel tantalizingly close to his ultimate goal of sophisticated pop/rock for mature audiences." Klosterman views "Laura" as a song that is as good as much of what is on the
Beatles'
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critic Dave Lifton rated "Laura" as Joel's 8th best love song, saying that it "perfectly captures the erotic torment that comes with being involved with a woman who you know is no good for you." But
370:, based on its presumed misogyny. Everett writes about how Joel uses a more "freely vernacular" tonal language than in other songs in order to express his views about the subject of the song.
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for so long" should have been a giveaway. Joel later stated that he "must have been pretty fed up with some of own mother's manipulation by the time wrote the song, as evidenced by the
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described the song as being "philosophical and dark." The lyrics of "Laura" depict the singer as being co-dependent on a woman named Laura. Musicologist
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and that "warrant a complete reinvention of how hipsters should look at Joel as a spokesman for the disaffection of success." Jazz guitarist
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The Billy Joel Essays: Essays from Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs and Chuck
Klosterman IV (Chuck Klosterman on Pop)
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interview with him, and that Joel noted in the interview that the line in the song "How can she hold an
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secret in his emotionally "exhausting" relationship with Laura, who may be an ex-wife.
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652:"33 Years Ago: Billy Joel Channels the Beatles on 'The Nylon Curtain'"
468:(2000). "The learned vs. the vernacular in the songs of Billy Joel".
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into the lyrics, surprising listeners who regarded Joel simply as a
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A live version of the song was included on the 2006 album
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regarded the "venomous" "Laura" as the "only clinker" on
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rated "Laura" as part of an opening "song suite" to
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763:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
447:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
352:rated "Laura" among his "favorite things."
682:"Bill Joel Uses Seven Fingers at the Piano"
420:Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music
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193:that was first released on his 1982 album
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1023:Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
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1814:Song recordings produced by Phil Ramone
1044:The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997
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1065:Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel
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743:. John Wiley & Sons. p. 246.
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286:, comparing the song to the Beatles' "
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800:Holden, Stephen (October 14, 1982),
622:Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography
741:World on a String: A Musical Memoir
680:Campbell, Mary (October 30, 1982).
650:Lifton, Dave (September 23, 2015).
306:'s, the drumming sounds similar to
991:2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
778:Lifton, Dave (February 13, 2013).
417:& Granata, Charles L. (2007).
14:
1558:Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
1030:Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection
1005:Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert
553:. Thunder's Mouth Press. p.
510:The Words and Music of Billy Joel
1773:
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624:. Crown/Archetype. p. 151.
1344:You're Only Human (Second Wind)
739:& Cosgriff, Joseph (2012).
1470:Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
1239:It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
780:"Top 10 Billy Joel Love Songs"
282:while the refrain sounds like
264:The music of "Laura" contains
1:
687:Daytona Beach Morning Journal
1804:Songs written by Billy Joel
1323:Leave a Tender Moment Alone
1169:Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
1133:The Ballad of Billy the Kid
1835:
1586:Big Man on Mulberry Street
268:elements. Dave Lifton of
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959:Fantasies & Delusions
550:Billy Joel: The Biography
482:10.1080/07494460000640051
470:Contemporary Music Review
1477:To Make You Feel My Love
1393:We Didn't Start the Fire
1351:The Night Is Still Young
1260:Say Goodbye to Hollywood
1151:Say Goodbye to Hollywood
1058:The Essential Billy Joel
1037:Greatest Hits Volume III
709:Erlewine, Stephen Thomas
594:. Simon & Schuster.
512:. ABC-CLIO. p. 60.
387:Erlewine, Stephen Thomas
1544:Prelude/Angry Young Man
1498:Turn the Lights Back On
1176:Only the Good Die Young
1101:Everybody Loves You Now
1051:The Ultimate Collection
782:. Ultimate Classic Rock
620:Schruers, Fred (2014).
335:Stephen Thomas Erlewine
296:Maxwell's Silver Hammer
16:1982 song by Billy Joel
1819:Songs about parenthood
1603:The Nylon Curtain Tour
1537:New York State of Mind
1414:The Downeaster 'Alexa'
802:"Music Reviews :
359:Rolling Stone Magazine
1697:The Last Play at Shea
1673:Billy Joel in Concert
1491:Christmas in Fallujah
1147:I've Loved These Days
656:Ultimate Classic Rock
354:Ultimate Classic Rock
271:Ultimate Classic Rock
189:is a song written by
1690:Oliver & Company
1623:River of Dreams Tour
1608:An Innocent Man Tour
1421:That's Not Her Style
1386:Back in the U.S.S.R.
1183:She's Always a Woman
1158:Just the Way You Are
1119:Worse Comes to Worst
508:Bielen, Ken (2011).
423:. Hyperion. p.
1627:Face to Face Tours
1449:The River of Dreams
1253:Sometimes a Fantasy
889:Streetlife Serenade
816:on 20 February 2009
713:"The Nylon Curtain"
294:" and McCartney's "
1579:Scandinavian Skies
977:Songs in the Attic
875:Cold Spring Harbor
326:Critical reception
312:string instruments
302:sounds similar to
288:I've Got a Feeling
67:September 23, 1982
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1746:Christie Brinkley
1365:A Matter of Trust
1337:Keeping the Faith
1295:Tell Her About It
924:The Nylon Curtain
804:The Nylon Curtain
588:Klosterman, Chuck
391:"12 Gardens Live"
368:The Nylon Curtain
339:The Nylon Curtain
196:The Nylon Curtain
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41:The Nylon Curtain
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1799:Billy Joel songs
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1618:Storm Front Tour
1407:I Go to Extremes
1372:This Is the Time
1316:The Longest Time
1288:Goodnight Saigon
1246:Don't Ask Me Why
1232:You May Be Right
1126:Travelin' Prayer
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476:(4): 105–129.
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1302:Uptown Girl
969:Live albums
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910:52nd Street
345:White Album
314:sound like
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300:lead guitar
280:John Lennon
278:sound like
220:Phil Ramone
179:Phil Ramone
173:Producer(s)
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1809:1982 songs
1793:Categories
1720:Movin' Out
1379:Baby Grand
1330:This Night
938:The Bridge
896:Turnstiles
860:Billy Joel
820:2016-04-16
786:2023-01-11
722:2016-04-16
694:2016-04-12
661:2016-04-16
600:B0042JSSD6
545:Bego, Mark
400:2016-04-16
374:References
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165:Billy Joel
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1751:Katie Lee
1435:Shameless
1400:Leningrad
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1108:Piano Man
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237:balladeer
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1760:episode)
1707:See also
1565:Zanzibar
1388:" (Live)
1274:Pressure
1269:" (Live)
1262:" (Live)
1204:Big Shot
1079:The Hits
1072:My Lives
984:Kontsert
717:Allmusic
590:(2010).
547:(2007).
395:Allmusic
331:Allmusic
217:Producer
151:Columbia
120:new wave
72:Recorded
64:Released
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1211:Honesty
1197:My Life
1089:Singles
362:critic
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187:"Laura"
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1682:Films
1596:Tours
1572:Laura
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1758:Glee
1666:2010
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765:link
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