Flashback Five - Billy Joel Can’t Hold On to a Marriage, But He …

Sad news for Billy Joel fans: The Piano Man just ended his marriage to Katie Lee, the former Top Chef host to whom he’s been married for five years. Though Joel has been relatively unlucky in love, his luck has run a little smoother with his cinematic collaborations. So let’s take a look back at happier times with some of the more memorable uses of Joel’s songbook at the movies.

1. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)
This singing scene marks the first (and probably last) time in movie history that “Just the Way You Are” would be used to accompany a drunk girl (Norah’s friend) falling in love with a turkey sandwich. It’s also fitting that a Joel song would be used in this quintessentially New York comedy, that, as you can probably tell from the title, focuses squarely on music.

2. 13 Going on 30 (2004)
Starting with the lyrics, “Slow down you crazy child, you’re ambitious for a juvenile,” Billy’s “Vienna” is the perfect, sad accompaniment for a climactic scene where Jennifer Garner’s prematurely aged kid returns to her room. Looking back at all her childhood toys, crying, and once again letting herself be a kid: No one could bring that emotion out like Billy Joel.

3. A League of Their Own (1992)
Joel’s cover of Duke Ellington’s classic “In a Sentimental Mood” plays in the background as the all female team travels from game to game, and Madonna’s Mae teaches an illiterate player how to read. Meanwhile, Rosie O’Donnell gets sentimental about being a girl playing baseball. The scene wouldn’t nearly work as well without Joel’s haunting cover.

Source: AMCtv.com