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I don't believe in guilty pleasures. However, some things I have learned to keep to myself — such as my love of Billy Joel. To my great dismay, not everyone around here appreciates his dulcet singing and evocative storytelling — at least, not the way I do! Despite this, today I share with you my boundless appreciation for the piano man.
This spring, Columbia Records marks 50 years of Billy with new vinyl reissues of his earliest albums. Cold Spring Harbor, Streetlife Serenade, Turnstiles, 52nd Street, and his fabulous live compilation Songs in the Attic will all be available on vinyl beginning April 5, with the rest sure to follow. Between these reissues and his new surprise single "Turn the Lights Back On" it seems to be a perfect time to reflect on his illustrious career. Billy Joel is the rare pop star that doubles as a genuinely masterful instrumentalist — his control over a piano is something I'm sure Rachmaninov himself would respect. He's an artist that conjures vivid images, both musically and lyrically, so it's no surprise he claims to have synesthesia. The sonic diversity of his catalogue is continuously surprising to me; I can hardly think of another artist who has created such a flavorful discography using primarily a piano and their own voice (sorry, Taylor).
Perhaps my favorite thing about Billy Joel's music, though, is that it always rings true. They say to write what you know, but when Billy sings about a gritty working-class lifestyle, such as on "Allentown" or "Downeaster Alexa," you believe him. One of his greatest talents is simple observation, which is why he remains one of the favorite artists of any New Yorker looking for themselves in his music. He may not share their struggles and hardships — but he understands them. At one of his recent performances for his historic residency at Madison Square Garden, fellow Long Islander Jerry Seinfeld stated that Billy is "like the companion that we've gone through our whole lives with. His music is our best friend for our whole life." I may not be from New York, but Jerry, I couldn't agree more.
This spring, Columbia Records marks 50 years of Billy with new vinyl reissues of his earliest albums. Cold Spring Harbor, Streetlife Serenade, Turnstiles, 52nd Street, and his fabulous live compilation Songs in the Attic will all be available on vinyl beginning April 5, with the rest sure to follow. Between these reissues and his new surprise single "Turn the Lights Back On" it seems to be a perfect time to reflect on his illustrious career. Billy Joel is the rare pop star that doubles as a genuinely masterful instrumentalist — his control over a piano is something I'm sure Rachmaninov himself would respect. He's an artist that conjures vivid images, both musically and lyrically, so it's no surprise he claims to have synesthesia. The sonic diversity of his catalogue is continuously surprising to me; I can hardly think of another artist who has created such a flavorful discography using primarily a piano and their own voice (sorry, Taylor).
Perhaps my favorite thing about Billy Joel's music, though, is that it always rings true. They say to write what you know, but when Billy sings about a gritty working-class lifestyle, such as on "Allentown" or "Downeaster Alexa," you believe him. One of his greatest talents is simple observation, which is why he remains one of the favorite artists of any New Yorker looking for themselves in his music. He may not share their struggles and hardships — but he understands them. At one of his recent performances for his historic residency at Madison Square Garden, fellow Long Islander Jerry Seinfeld stated that Billy is "like the companion that we've gone through our whole lives with. His music is our best friend for our whole life." I may not be from New York, but Jerry, I couldn't agree more.
— Maggie