We all love a bit of Billy Joel, and TikTok is no exception. A new trend on the app using the Piano Man song has been used to highlight injustices people face in society, but it hit especially hard when some students jumped on the bandwagon. Miming to the the lyrics, multiple students have flagged the brutally honest take on post-uni life and its given the words a whole new meaning.
What starts off as a light-hearted, relatable video has quickly spiraled into an existential crisis, making people question whether these £9,250 a year degrees were ever really worth it.
Here’s the trend, explained
@amygardiner22 that’s what happens in a prestigious uni ig #fyp #uni #pianoman
All the videos follow a similar formula, featuring the wise words of Billy Joel’s Piano Man, but particularly “And the waitress is practicing politics“As the businessmen slowly get stoned“Yes, they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness“But it’s better than drinkin’ alone.”
And a lot of the videos use captions like: “POV: you realise your degree taught you how to reference in APA but not how to pay council tax.”
It’s part of a broader online shift where students and recent grads are openly questioning the value of higher education. And while you’re scrolling through TikTok from your childhood bedroom while job hunting, it hits a little too close to home.
Here’s how it relates to the post-uni spiral
@postcards.from.anne don’t get me wrong I love my job but I can’t imagine living life with everything handed to me on a silver platter. been employed since 15 baby
#job #walmart #billyjoelpianoman #pianoman #pianomanbillyjoel #billyjoel #collegestudent #40hourworkweek
For years, we were sold the dream of going to uni, getting a degree, securing a stable job, then starting your life. But the reality for many, looks more like temp work, rising rent, and having to work 40+ hours a week just to scrape by.
Meanwhile, the friends who didn’t go to uni are, in the words of TikTok, “25 with a mortgage and a dog.” And although we know social media isn’t real life, the comparison game is hard to avoid when your feed is full of house keys and houseplants while you’re still trying to pay off your student loans.
@sofiinsfrann #school #senioryear #graduation #philosophy #thoughtdaughter #kant #billyjoel #career #university #college #argentina #messi #humanist #dps #pianoman #vienna
The genius of the trend lies in its use of Piano Man, a song about unfulfilled dreams and the slow grind of adulthood. Now, TikTok creators are turning this midlife crisis anthem into a postgrad one.
So… was it worth it?
Of course, all of this isn’t to say uni isn’t valuable. For many, it’s where you find your people, your passions, and your capacity to write 2,000 words in one night.
But it’s also okay to feel a little scammed, especially when the graduate job hunt feels more like a game of luck.
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Featured image via TikTok @postcards.from.anne @sofiinsfrann @amygardiner22
