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"Allentown" is a song by American singer Billy Joel, which was the lead track on Joel's ''The Nylon Curtain'' (1982) album, accompanied by a conceptual music video. "Allentown" reached #17 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,〔 spending six consecutive weeks at that position and certified gold. Despite the song placing no higher than #17 on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart, it was popular enough to be placed at #43 on the Billboard year-end Hot 100 chart for 1983. The song later appeared on Joel's ''Greatest Hits: Volume II'' (1985), ''Концерт'' (1987), ''2000 Years: The Millennium Concert'' (2000), ''The Essential Billy Joel'' (2001), ''12 Gardens Live'' (2006) and ''Live at Shea Stadium'' (2011) albums. Upon its release, and especially in subsequent years, "Allentown" has emerged as an anthem of blue collar America, representing both the aspirations and frustrations of America's working class in the late 20th century. ==Theme== The song's theme is of the resolve of those coping with the decline of the American manufacturing industry and the emergence of the rust belt in the latter part of the 20th century. More specifically, it depicts the depressed, blue-collar livelihood of residents of Allentown, Pennsylvania in the wake of Bethlehem Steel's decline and eventual closure. The rhythm heard in the introduction, "Hey" part of the chorus and ending is reminiscent of the sound of a rolling mill converting steel ingots into I-beams or other shapes. Such a sound was commonly heard throughout South Bethlehem when the Bethlehem Steel plant was in operation from 1857 through 1995. This gives the song an early industrial music influence in contrast to the prominent acoustic guitar and piano of the rest of the track. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Allentown (song)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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