Omggg I was equally impressed by the new single!! And yes I think people should be able to walk away if they want to. All depends on their personal journey.
Agree the new song feels like classic Billy, but I'm dying to know what possessed him to release it now. Do we think he and Alexis are in trouble? I would be personally devastated if poor Billy loses yet another love. But also if they're not in trouble... it's maybe even weirder?
Great essay! I picked up the new single on 45. I once had a pair of tickets that my buddy dipped out on and I walked up to the girl I’d been cautiously flirting with in my Chemistry Lab class, finally introduced myself, and told I had an extra ticket to the Billy concert and I would love to spend the evening and get to know her better.
I was shocked to discover one of my friends still hasn’t seen Billy Joel (we live in Queens, it’s not like it would be hard). I think he made the right choice for him. He still puts on a great live show and if he wasn’t feeling like anything he was writing should be released (I don’t think he ever stopped writing). Elton is stopping playing live, but he’ll probably still record. And then you have McCartney, still doing both successfully. Most musicians with longer careers that are doing well say they’ll do it til it stops being fun. But maybe Denis Franz had it right - retire and enjoy life!
An artist is 100% in control of their art and muse. If they think they are done, we should respect that. In a related note, an artist’s demos, early drafts, notebooks etc. should not be released unless that, too, is(was) the artist’s intent.
Omggg I was equally impressed by the new single!! And yes I think people should be able to walk away if they want to. All depends on their personal journey.
PUSH THROUGH! Be brave. Failures can become funny or brilliant with the addition of time. Or they just remain failures, and that's ok too.
Like Jackie Brown was viewed as a failure at 1st too
Never seen it! Showgirls came to mind for me. Probably still bad, but god do I love it.
The new Billy song slaps.
Gorgeous song, thank you for reminding me how amazing Billy is!!
BJ song feels trite. He’s done better.
Made me think of these lyrics
I am the entertainer
And I know just where I stand
Another serenader
And another long-haired band
Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you'll forget my name
I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts
He knew it from the start
Agree the new song feels like classic Billy, but I'm dying to know what possessed him to release it now. Do we think he and Alexis are in trouble? I would be personally devastated if poor Billy loses yet another love. But also if they're not in trouble... it's maybe even weirder?
Paul, is this your way of saying you're retiring and someone new will be cohost of HDTGM/June's husband?
HA!
Great essay! I picked up the new single on 45. I once had a pair of tickets that my buddy dipped out on and I walked up to the girl I’d been cautiously flirting with in my Chemistry Lab class, finally introduced myself, and told I had an extra ticket to the Billy concert and I would love to spend the evening and get to know her better.
That shit worked, too. It was a great night.
WHOA! Smooth move
I was shocked to discover one of my friends still hasn’t seen Billy Joel (we live in Queens, it’s not like it would be hard). I think he made the right choice for him. He still puts on a great live show and if he wasn’t feeling like anything he was writing should be released (I don’t think he ever stopped writing). Elton is stopping playing live, but he’ll probably still record. And then you have McCartney, still doing both successfully. Most musicians with longer careers that are doing well say they’ll do it til it stops being fun. But maybe Denis Franz had it right - retire and enjoy life!
Gene Hackman too, right ?
I didn’t know that about Billy Joel! 👏
where is the interview from
That Quote from Billy is from People Magazine
An artist is 100% in control of their art and muse. If they think they are done, we should respect that. In a related note, an artist’s demos, early drafts, notebooks etc. should not be released unless that, too, is(was) the artist’s intent.
I grew up with Billy Joel too, although in Chicago, so it’s not the same thing.