Billy Joel Thread!

[ernstinen]

Hey All!

HERE'S THE BILLY JOEL THREAD!

Billy Joel is my sister's favorite artist! She has a double Masters in Musicology and Performance Art from Northwestern University! So, what do I know?

Billy Joel is an enigma to me. He writes so many great songs, like "Just The Way You Are," and "The Longest Time," that are brilliant.

My question for Billy is: WHY be so derivative? "Piano Man" (Harry Chapin); "You May Be Right" (Stones, Beatles); "Uptown Girl" (Four Seasons); "We Didn't Start The Fire" (Rap) etc. --- But for the record, I LOVE all these recordings, especially "Uptown Girl." That bridge just kills me! Great writing.

BUT, who IS he as an artist? I can't figure it out! Help me, Billy Joel fans! Thanx,

Ern

[raymy]

Billy is my all-time fav too. I think the fact that he can take all of these artists' sounds and yet create something that in many cases surpasses the original (at least in in the way of song structure and compositional prowess) makes him unique. So many who are derivative end up sounding like second rate copycats. Somehow Billy takes an existing sound and makes it his own. This also makes each record a blast to listen to. His innate sense of craft keeps him at the top of my list. I just wish he hadn't dropped out of the game so early. I think THE STRANGER and 52ND STREET probably capture Billy's own sound best although THE NYLON CURTAIN is my favorite (because of the Beatles' influence.)

[fret17]

I think first and fore most Billy Joel is a songwriter's songwriter...Classically trained musicians understand the roots of melody from studying the classics , and if they're talented enough,can adapt that knowledge to modern song ...I also think if you've lived it, it writes better...I think he always rights from the heart...I never thought of him as "derivative " although I would say he is universal...I think he sticks to what he knows best (and he knows a lot)...but I've always just thought of him as a singer songwriter, as I 've thought of James Taylor, Neil Young, Paul Simon...etc..Gifted artists who developed their talant and skills, who love all kinds of music and have brought their own personal take to the respective tables....
fret17

[Hookjaw Brown]

I watched him give an interview with Elvis Costello and told how he wrote music.

"Every evening, without fail, he would sit at the piano and play, whatever came to mind, for one hour. Occasionally an idea would develop and from that a song. He does not sit down to write a song, but opens himself up to his creative side every day."

It is akin to fishing....the fish are in the water, sometimes they bite, but you will never catch one unless you bait a hook and caste it into the water. Sometimes you go home with a bucket full of fish, sometimes a good nap.

[ernstinen]

It is akin to fishing....the fish are in the water, sometimes they bite, but you will never catch one unless you bait a hook and caste it into the water. Sometimes you go home with a bucket full of fish, sometimes a good nap.

Hook, I'm a big fisherman and love these analogies. Today a screenwriter friend of mine said: "Bees are a good example. They go to good flowers, bad flowers, looking for the nectar. Sometimes they find it, other times they don't. But eventually, they find the nectar."

Maybe that's what Billy Joel does!

Ern

[mojobone]

Longtime fan, here. Agree that The Stranger and 52nd Street are the most "Billy Joel" of Billy Joel records. Also, that songwriting is like fishing. I still get skunked a lot. The key to BJ is on the front cover and in the lyrics of the title song on The Stranger; he's a guy who likes to try on different masks and personas. I think that helps keep his writing fresh. It gets hard to write when you get tired of yourself.

[cardell]

I went to a free songwriting workshop with him here in Melbourne, Australia (many years ago). I was very impressed that he would give up his time for free...very generous. I actually learnt some valuable things that I still use to this day, now that I think about it.

Stuart

[kelysian]

Some people have a bust of Beethoven on their piano. I have a bust of Billy Joel. Seriously.

An interview with an old friend of his on some video special on the making of River of Dreams said that he "knows how to take a melody exactly where it needs to go."

I like him BECAUSE he's a chameleon and can pull off so many different styles. Though my favorite tracks of his are the dark ones like "Blonde Over Blue" or "All For Leyna."

Plus I think he's cute.

Kathleen

[ernstinen]

Kathleen,

Billy Joel is CUTE, huh!? I just loved "Uptown Girl" because Chrisite Brinkley was CUTE, but she sure couldn't dance! Heheh!

But on second thought, today I actually thought about some of Billy's less famous songs: "Honesty" came to mind. Great, DEEP song. So, my dismissive attitude has become less dismissive. He sure is a talented S.O.B.!

My best,

Ern

[Kolstad]

My question for Billy is: WHY be so derivative? "Piano Man" (Harry Chapin); "You May Be Right" (Stones, Beatles); "Uptown Girl" (Four Seasons); "We Didn't Start The Fire" (Rap) etc. --- But for the record, I LOVE all these recordings, especially "Uptown Girl." That bridge just kills me! Great writing.

BUT, who IS he as an artist? I can't figure it out! Help me, Billy Joel fans! Thanx,

Ern

I like a lot of his stuff too. I think his career has been about exploring different genres of popular music from the piano point of view, searching for a musical 'home'. Classically trained, I suspect he's had a hate/love relationship to the piano (maybe forced to play, but learned to love it as a line of work), and could never really find a home in rock'n roll. That may be why the songs with him and just the piano are the best, songs like 'Just the way you are', 'Honesty' and 'New York state of mind a lot too'.

He's also great when he gets outside himself and let himselv be influenced by the real world, more than musical traditions, like on 'Leningrad' ect.

There's just something unsettled about him as an artist, I think. That may be his big driving force shining through his music, and the core of his achievement, really. A hard working guy, who's never been able to find peace in his work.. maybe untill now, when he's not doing rock'n roll anymore.

But that's also what rock'n roll is supposed to express, isn't it... the rootlessness, unsettling emotions and the quest for peace or freedom.. the things you can never get, because they are impossible dreams..