A Year Of Billy Joel

For most of my life I hated Billy Joel's music. Then I listened to every song Billy Joel has ever released and wrote about it all. Questions, comments and angry letters can be sent to [email protected].

[chipgreene]

Billy Joel reflects on his nearly 50-year career—and breaking records today

One of pop’s best songwriters hasn’t released a new album since 1993, but he’s still breaking records, performing nonstop—and connecting with a...

One of pop’s best songwriters hasn’t released a new album since 1993, but he’s still breaking records, performing nonstop—and connecting with a younger generation of fans. From his hometown of Oyster Bay, Long Island, Billy Joel, 66, looks back on a nearly 50-year career, revels in being labeled “dad rock,” and opens up about whether he’ll ever release new music again. “I may keep performing. I may stop,” says the Grammy winner. “I’ve learned to never say, "I’m quitting.’”

[ayearofbillyjoel]

How Well Do You Know The Lyrics To Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’?

It’s one of the most iconic radio hits of all time, but how well do you really know Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’? Take this quiz to find out!

From the most reliable news source in America!

[ayearofbillyjoel]

The Complete Works: Ranking All 121 Billy Joel Songs

Something to chew on: A ranking of every Billy Joel song. I take issue with some of the choices but these lists are all subjective. I agree with the first and last songs wholeheartedly.

[jukeboxgraduate]

I was never a fan, but I went to see Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

jukeboxgraduate gives Billy a try. She's a great writer and knows more about music than any 10 people I can think of. She's essential reading.

[betheboy]

Billy Joel Swindle, criminal mastermind and leader of the best Billy Joel tribute band ever.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” was an accidental hit that captured craziness

In We’re No. 1, The A.V. Club examines a song or an album that went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts to get to the heart of what it means to be popular in pop music, and how that concept has changed over the years. In this installment, we cover Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” which went to

Excellent piece on this song.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

Have you started the new Billy Joel biography yet? What do you think of it?

I have not started it yet. I am working on a Billy related book of my own based on this blog. I'm holding off on reading the bio until I finish my project. I'm sure that the bio is great but I don't want it to influence what I'm doing.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

Billy Joel, Thirty-Three Hit Wonder

Nick Paumgarten profiles Joel, who tells him, “You know, if you type ‘Billy Joel’s house’ into Google maps, you get Madison Square Garden.”

Lots of great stuff in this profile.

[sidestreetspodcast]

Episode 029: The Pope Of Long Island (with Will Stegemann)

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Download Episode 029: The Pope Of Long Island (with Will Stevemann) (via LibSyn)

Typically, this podcast focuses either on Tucson’s local music/arts community or burritos. Billy Joel does not fall into either category. In fact, I don’t really have a strong opinion about Billy Joel’s music either way.

Will Stegemann does, however.

Will is one of the funniest guys on twitter (@BeTheBoy) and we share a major common interest (super-fandom of The Best Show on WFMU). I’ve always wanted to talk to Will about his up-and-down-and-then-up-again relationship with Billy Joel ever since I became aware of his blog (A Year Of Billy Joel). In 2012, Will embarked upon a project to listen to every single piece of Billy Joel music in existence (official albums, pre-solo work, bootlegs, you name it) to fully confront his nemesis head on.

Will HATED Billy Joel when he was younger, which is a sin growing up in Long Island. But a funny thing happened in 2012. This massive Billy Joel project turned into deep self-examination and an exploration of the threads that made up his life — family, class, his hometown, etc. At some point in the very near future, Will plans to put out a book chronicling his Billy Joel Experience. I can’t wait.

Will is a wonderful guy to talk to, and this is one of the best interviews we’ve done on the show. I know you’ll enjoy this one.

AS AN ADDED BONUS: Take your favorite Billy Joel tune and rewrite the lyrics to be about Mexican food. The winner gets a PRIZE! (no idea what the prize will be yet)

Music credits: Bed music: dashflanagan Songs in the podcast: None this time.

Get in touch: Email me at sidestreetspodcast at gmail dot com, or follow me on twitter, either on my personal twitter feed, or at the official SideStreets twitter page.

Topics: Billy Joel, the absence of moderation, plastic bowling pins, justifiable on-stage meltdowns, his punk record, a new appreciation for the man’s discography, Amityville, New Year’s resolutions, improper mastering techniques, seat belts, figuring things out, dogs on twitter, fathers and sons, tonic, gin, feeling completely lost in your early 20s, and the things we do for love.

-LET ME DO MY SHOW, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!

[ayearofbillyjoel]

I recently did a guest spot on The Side Streets podcast. We talk about Billy Joel, Long Island and where I am with the book version of A Year of Billy Joel. Host Nick Prevenas is a delight. You should check his stuff out. 

[ayearofbillyjoel]

On the 21st episode of Whale Cave, writer Will Stegemann reconsiders his lifelong hatred of Billy Joel by listening to every single Billy Joel song and then blogging about it.  Host Matt Price tries out an exciting new game show using Wu Tang Clan songs. 

Hey, that's me and this is that blog. Whale Cave is a GREAT, GREAT music podcast that you should check out. There are legendary people on it. Also, I am on it. Listen to them all!

Seriously, I'm very proud of this one. Whale Cave has been one of my favorite podcasts for a while and it was a thrill to sit down and talk to Matt Price about A Year of Billy Joel and what's coming next.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

Some sad news to pass along. Rosalind Nyman Joel passed away this week at age 92. Rosalind was Billy's mother and the inspiration for the song Rosalinda's Eyes. My condolences to all who knew and loved her. 

[ayearofbillyjoel]

So have you become a "fan" yet? Seeing him 2 times in concert has to do something for you. :)

Undoubtedly yes. In fact, take the quotes off of fan. I can and will have a lot to say about this in my book but the short answer is: Billy Joel fans were right, I was wrong.  

[betheboy]

Will Sean Podcast?

Episode 119 is up! Will Stegemann stops by to discuss his love/hate relationship with Billy Joel and his upcoming book A YEAR OF BILLY JOEL. Then we breakdown trigger warnings, R rated comedies, TV commercials and Space Pope. Remember to download, subscribe and rate at the iTunes store:

Hey, it’s me on a podcast. You should give this a try because these guys put on a good show. They had me on to discuss A Year of Billy Joel, seeing Billy live and the book I’m working on. I also make a number of potentially controversial statements about nerds, garbage music and what routes you should take when driving on Long Island.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

Famous Last Words

Dear Billy Joel fans and curious readers,

I had to go back. After seeing Billy Joel for the first time last week I had to go back to The Hollywood Bowl to see if what I experienced could be repeated. 

Also, I had be given a pair of tickets, which made a return trip a lot easier on my wallet. I love going to see live music but I'm not rich so I've gotta pick my spots or get lucky; on Billy's brief Hollywood visit I was fortunate enough to do both. 

Last week I wrote about how going to the show felt like reaching the end of a very long and rewarding journey. I felt like I had made it someplace that I was supposed to be. If last week felt like going back home to Long Island and having a great time, the second trip was confirmation that where I came from will always be a part of who I am. The set list, like the places I remember, may change, but the feeling is the same. 

Nearly two and a half years ago I started this project with the goal of finding out why Billy Joel and his music meant so much to so many people. Over time I found a lot of explanations why but more importantly, I discovered that I AM one of those people. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book to finish. 

Sincerely,

Will Stegemann - A Billy Joel Fan 

[betheboy]

Friday night she crashed my party. (Waiting for Billy Joel to take the stage)

[ayearofbillyjoel]

My wife Nina who has helped me every step of the way of A Year of Billy Joel.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

So there's this. That's a thing.

[ayearofbillyjoel]

The Road To Hollywood

The Hollywood Bowl is a terrific place to be but a difficult place to get to, which is why I was glad I took the shuttle from Westwood to the Bowl. As our bus made its way east to our destination I had time to think about what I was doing. I said to my wife: 

"I just want you to know that I'm really excited. Not ironically excited either. Seriously, like a little kid. I'm really excited to finally be seeing Billy Joel."

She nodded and laughed at how improbable it was that this was happening. She said that she couldn't believe that a seemingly inconsequential moment like her stumbling across "Billy Joel: Last Play At Shea" in January 2012 had led us back to the neighborhood where we used to live, to see someone I once swore I'd never listen to. 

We made it to our seats with time to spare and waited for our friends to join us. It was really happening.

The show itself was everything I could have asked for. The set list was a mix of hits, fan favorites and deep cuts and Billy seemed to be having a good time on stage. One of the things I have really enjoyed as an observer of his recent return to the spotlight is that he seems like he's in it for himself. Sure, he's giving fans what they want too but he seems like a guy just happy to be doing a job he loves. As he said at one point, about being a rock star: "if you can get this job, take it." 

One of the primary lessons of A Year of Billy Joel for me was understanding how much the music I was listening to had impacted my life, Watching Billy and his band play songs that had meant so much to my family and friends  made me feel connected to them in ways that only music can make you feel connected. The fact that these same songs have finally come to mean something to me made the connection even stronger. I regret that I'm unable to talk to my late father about it, to tell him he was right but I'm grateful that my mother is still here as she's less likely to say "I told you so." 

Towards the end of the night my wife insisted that I stand up when Billy began "Piano Man." She explained: "When you're at the church of Billy Joel, you better stand up for Piano Man." She was right, and I did. 

The evening and my long journey to the church of Billy Joel ended with my wife and I happily singing along with the rest of the crowd. 

It was a long road to The Hollywood Bowl last night, but I finally made it.