"You're Only Human (Second Wind)" by Billy Joel

For a while after this video was released in 1986 it was a terrific solace to me. Those final years of high school really took their toll, and many were the times I wanted to find myself a bridge and be done with it. Fortunately, I was living in Saskatchewan at the time - the highest point in the province is about ten feet, so the worst I could have done was broken my legs.

Plus, the guy Billy Joel saves is hella cute... Come to think of it, that was around the time that it occurred to me if I were to kill myself I'd never get any more of that sweet, sweet eye candy. Hey, whatever works, I say.

You can bet that when this song comes up in his set list (did I mention I got free tickets to see Billy Joel at GM Place on Tuesday?) I'll be singing along.

"We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel

This is easily the most pop culture of Billy Joel's videos, making it the ideal fit for inclusion here at the Pop Culture Institute.

Did I mention I got free tickets to see his concert tomorrow at GM Place in Vancouver? True, the seats are in the nosebleed section, but then it's not like he's John Mayer, so I don't need to see him.

"Allentown" by Billy Joel

No it's not his birthday or anything; it's just that tomorrow I get to go see Billy Joel in concert at Vancouver's General Motors Place, and I'm starting to get psyched. Partly because I've never been to GM Place (hey, it's only been there 12 years), but mainly because I've always been a huge fan of Billy Joel.

A talented singer-songwriter and incisive social critic, he's also a homely guy who married a top model, which gives me yet another reason to admire him.