'No one understands a woman in her 20s like Billy Joel': gen z finds solace in anti-hustle anthem Vienna

August 2024

Billy Joel's song "Vienna," which is nearly half a century old, has found new resonance with Generation Z, particularly young women who connect deeply with its themes and use it to express feelings of ennui and resistance to societal pressures.

The song's message of taking life at one's own pace and not rushing through youth has been embraced by the younger generation, who feel it reflects their challenges and offers comfort amidst the fast-paced demands of modern life.

“That’s this really romantic thought, because you can’t really do that nowadays,” says 22-year-old Billy Joel fan Liv Keaton. “There’s no way to ‘disappear for a while’, but that’s something a lot of us wish we could do: shut out the world and not have to worry about missing out.”