As an American, this was the first time I saw Billy Joel live in another country. The day was very rainy and gloomy, but I arrived two hours early and walked around a local park nearby. Even though the sky was grey and the ground light brown, I felt invigorated and on top of the world.

The stadium itself was cold, but that was no problem because Billy warmed it up quickly. He played many of his usual songs, the big hits like "Just the Way You Are" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", of which the Korean women sitting next to me had no problem singing along to. I had tried to start a simple conversation with them in English before the concert, but they seemed to have a hard time understanding me. Since I had very limited Korean, we didn't get very far. Later, when I heard them singing along, I was quite impressed that these two Koreans knew nearly every word to Billy's songs but couldn't get through a conversation. I think that says a lot about how Billy Joel has impacted the world with his music, and I "bonded" somewhat with the women as we sang many of his songs together.

This was the 5th concert that I've seen of Billy Joel. I have to say that at every concert he provides something steady and something new. He usually plays a similar routine of the same hits, but there are always surprises and witty, sarcastic and dry comments that strike me as hilarious. Always, I witness something I've never seen or heard before.

At this concert, the parts that were "new" for me were the following. One of Billy Joel's guitar technicians, Chainsaw, came out and did a gospel rendition (a-hem) of "Highway to Hell" (AC/DC). What can I say? It redeemed me (snicker, snicker).

This was also the first time I heard "Zanzibar" live. Carl Fischer's trumpet solo brought me to some super-conscious level that left praying to the priests.

Many of his old band members, including Mark Rivera, looked exceptionally good and played top notch solos and performances. Any time that time may have had on these guys and gals certainly didn't hold any of them back.

At one point, I thought he was yelling at the audience. My seat was on the floor to stage left, about 100 feet from his piano. It seems "security" was, at one point, trying to keep people harnessed where people started leaving the front of stage right (after they had rushed there). Billy's response? "Where are you going? Get back here!" (paraphrasing). Fans came running and screaming back.

For those who are thinking of going to see Billy Joel, don't think about it, just do it. Every concert of his is fantastic, uplifting, energizing, and redeeming. I was so impressed that after all these years, he and his band still know how to get the people in an entire stadium on their feet!

The only thing different from 1982, the first concert I saw, was that he wasn't jumping all over the top of his piano and he didn't play three encores. After hearing his "usuals" being played with the same precision and class, and being given drops like "Zanzibar," I can live with that.