First released in 1977, the track “Vienna” by singer-songwriter Billy Joel found its way into the hearts of many through the soft and melancholic piano accompanying deep yet straightforward lyrics.
Now, almost 50 years after its debut, the song continues to tug at the heartstrings of people of all demographics, and to me specifically, it has become an anthem to take things one day at a time.
With verses such as:
And take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?”
I feel as though being told not to stress about the little things, and to take breaks, as one’s life does not boil down to a certain amount of time to try and achieve all goals.
As the song transcends, Vienna becomes used as a metaphor for the rest of one’s life. Whether it be the lifelong goal of owning a home, reaching a dream career or even retiring and taking a trip to Vienna itself, Joel begs the listener not to put so much pressure into reaching said goal in a certain amount of time, as one will have the rest of their life to try and do this.
Though being for no particular group of people, as a teenage girl only months away from transitioning into an “adult,” it hits a little too close to home.
After listening to the song when re-watching the film “13 Going On 30” where after a wish, main character Jenna Rink trades her teenage years for life as a 30-year-old overnight. As the movie progresses, Rink realizes that she is not ready for a life of missing moments, and when becoming homesick she travels back to her childhood home while the track plays in the background.
When looking at the life I am about to embark on, not even a year from now, I understand that though there will be stress to come, I have time, and should not work myself to the point of exhaustion. The song accompanying the scene feels like an embrace, as if reassuring that one does not have to “grow up” as fast as one might think.
Songs like “Vienna” by Joel, “Let It Be” by the Beatles and “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers remind me that no matter what may be going on during one’s day, there is a tomorrow.
And though it’s understandable that it may not be as simple as saying ‘it’s going to be okay’ and ‘don’t stress,’ I like to think that we cannot control a lot of things, but we can control our attitude and our mindset, therefore why not try to make it as positive as possible?
“You don’t have to squeeze your whole life into your 20s and 30s trying to make it, trying to achieve that American dream, getting in the rat race and killing yourself. You have a whole life to live,” explained Joel in an interview with Genius, which I believe to be the perfect statement to encompass this song.
