| has gloss | eng: "The Entertainer" is a single by singer Billy Joel released as the only single from his 1974 album Streetlife Serenade. The song peaked at #34 on the US charts, a Top 40 hit for Joel that year. The song is a cynical and somewhat satirical look at the fleeting fame of a musician and fickle public tastes ("Today I am your champion / I may have won your hearts / But I know the game / You will forget my name / And I wont be here / In another year, / If I dont stay on the charts"); this theme would be examined in the later song "Its Still Rock and Roll to Me". The song references the shortening of Joels song, "Piano Man", from 5 minutes and 38 seconds to 3 minutes and 5 seconds to fit a radio slot; additionally, the timing printed on the label of the 7" release was 3:05, although the actual length was 3:48. |