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Billy Joel Is 68 Today — And His Music Is Still Terrible
The Forward ^ | May 9, 2017 Read more: http://forward.com/culture/371449/billy-joel-is-68-today-and-his-music-is-sti | Jake Romm

Posted on 05/09/2017 1:12:47 PM PDT by nickcarraway

What does the typical Billy Joel fan look like? It’s a serious question. We can, I think to at least a small degree of accuracy, guess what the typical Sex Pistols fan looked like back in their heyday, or the typical Spice Girls fan in theirs. But, what about Billy Joel? His music is so nondescript, so family-restaurant friendly, so bland, so cheesy, that its lack of concrete identity aside from its popularity and its blandness makes it difficult to imagine just who buys his albums, just who packs the sold out arenas.

Let’s think about it this way perhaps – Billy Joel is the suburbs of music. The term “ugly” is so often misapplied to the suburbs (some, at least). I say misapplied, because the suburbs, as I’ve lived them, are not positively ugly, like, say, Jean Dubuffet’s “Art Brut,” but rather they have a sort of negative ugliness, which is to say, they lack any qualities whatsoever. The “ugliness” of the suburbs is in reality nothing more than the banality, the boringness of the suburbs. As opposed to brutalism, which can often be ugly, but in a positive, fascinating sense, if the suburbs are oppressive, it is only because there is nothing to latch on to, nothing interesting. This seems to me the best description, by way of analogy, of Billy Joel’s music – negatively terrible. This, again, does not bring us any closer to visualizing the typical Billy Joel superfan, but it at least let’s us theorize about why we can’t.

In any event, the occasion for these thoughts is, of course, Joel’s birthday. The man seems, like the suburbs, timeless – he’s still around, still making music, still selling out shows. Long after we’re gone – cockroaches, Joel, office buildings, and, probably, (I shudder at the thought) The Eagles. But my hatred for Joel’s music doesn’t run as deep as some. Despite his eternal dullness, he does have some okay songs. No, if you want some real, wonderful, joyous vitriol, look no further than Ron Rosenbaum’s 2009 article for Slate, “The Worst Pop Singer Ever.” Rosenbaum is the author of books like “Explaining Hitler” and “How the End Begins: The Road to a Nuclear World War III,” so when he writes about Joel’s music, well, he knows what he’s talking about. The article is one of those perennial internet gems, the epitome of “evergreen content” – so long as Joel is around (forever), this article will be necessary. But enough from me – Happy birthday Billy, and here’s Rosenbaum.

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TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: billyjoel
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To: laweeks

Rod Stewart can be a very schmaltzy, lounge type of performer, with his double-breasted dinner jackets and open collars, but he has great back up musicians.
Next time you have a minute, listen to a recording of his 1974 hit “Maggie May”. Try to imagine hearing it without the vocals. The musicianship is outstanding, tight, spirited and very much the work of Scots or Irishmen. Clearly the work of professionals, not a garage band at all. At least not by that stage in their careers. The group may have included members of the Small Faces.


41 posted on 05/09/2017 1:34:12 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: nickcarraway

I loath critics.

I’ll say the same thing to the idiot author of this piece of trash that I’ll say to anyone who trashes any professional entertainer (at least about their art):

Go and produce something that millions of people will pay money for, that gives thousands joy.

Until you can to that, STFU unless you have something complimentary to say.

There are a lot of artists and types of music I don’t care to listen to, but having tried (and failed) to make a living thusly I have more respect for any rapper, ‘pop country’ crooner or idiot diva who has put out a successful album and/or made a living touring than *ANY* critic.


42 posted on 05/09/2017 1:34:42 PM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, deport all illegal aliens, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
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To: nickcarraway
This critic is an elitist in addition to being a horses ass. He appears to be highly enamored with himself and his ability to harp on the negative.

Piano Man is/was a great album. Joel's history since then has been a mixed bag. Some good stuff along with lots of mediocre. Still love Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, New York State of Mind and Allentown, among others.

This guy probably loves The Eagles -- a band I've forever referred to as the country Monkees. Different strokes for different folks I suppose....

43 posted on 05/09/2017 1:34:51 PM PDT by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: BlueLancer

Two “rr.’s” in Parris. And I would find it hard to trust anyone who doesn’t start singing along when almost any Billy Joel song comes on the radio.


44 posted on 05/09/2017 1:35:01 PM PDT by katana (It still hasn't occurred to them that Trump doesn't give a s***)
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To: nickcarraway
Billy Joel got a lot of radio play on the FM stations back in the early 1970s. "You're My Home" and "The Ballad of Billy The Kid" are great songs.
45 posted on 05/09/2017 1:35:57 PM PDT by 4yearlurker (If you work for living,why do you kill yourself working?)
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To: Mariner
Clearly the worst live performance I’ve ever seen outside Motley Crue.

*********************

A friend of mine once told me that one of his friends was held up at knifepoint at a Bobby Sherman concert. I can't imagine admitting that I attended either a Bobby Sherman or a Motley Crue concert. :)

46 posted on 05/09/2017 1:38:50 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

I met him in the Greensboro Four Seasons Lounge and welcomed him to Greensboro.
He was unimpressed


47 posted on 05/09/2017 1:39:03 PM PDT by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
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To: Scrambler Bob

I like the Looper with the EV motor and modern front end.


48 posted on 05/09/2017 1:39:55 PM PDT by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: nickcarraway
Not an avid fan of modern music myself, I was completely taken by Billy Joel and his:

"We didn't Start The Fire".1989

The staccato delivery of the names that intrigued millions. A history teacher had his class listen to it and then write a paragraph on some the leading figures. An example of part of it.

Foreign debts, homeless vets, Aids, crack, Bernie Goetz.....Rock and Roller, Cola Wars, I can't take it anymore.

Easily got via Google.

49 posted on 05/09/2017 1:42:00 PM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: nickcarraway

Billy Joel was once the guest on the cable show, “Inside the Actors Studio.” On stage was also a grand piano. From time to time, Joel illustrated the point he wanted to make by strolling over to the piano and playing the chord/ lyric, etc. One of the most interesting and entertaining segments of that program.


50 posted on 05/09/2017 1:42:36 PM PDT by Remole
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To: nickcarraway

One of the first albums I remember hearing was Billy Joel from my fathers collection. I was too young to really be in to music yet. But I remember him. And I remember a never ending collaboration to destroy him. He is like the Donald Trump of musicians. EVERYONE wanted to destroy him, not just criticize. Destroy. So this guy can shove it. He is a talented musician, has maintained his popularity for over 40 years, entertained millions of people, beloved by fans, mastered Rachmononov, conducts and composes symphonic music, and he still keeps kicking in an upbeat and optimistic way.


51 posted on 05/09/2017 1:42:56 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Flinging poo is not a valid argument)
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To: trisham

Motley Crue was first band, followed by Alice Cooper (great) followed by the Rolling Stones.

I just got to the venue too early:)


52 posted on 05/09/2017 1:43:15 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: lee martell; All

And certainly don’t forget ‘You Wear It Well’ and the great tune ‘Stay With Me’!


53 posted on 05/09/2017 1:45:42 PM PDT by notdownwidems (Washington D.C. has become the enemy of free people everywhere!)
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To: petercooper

I agree. Springsteen sucks. Worse, he sucks pretentiously


54 posted on 05/09/2017 1:46:02 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: Organic Panic

And he’s still entertaining millions and will continue to.


55 posted on 05/09/2017 1:47:24 PM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: Mase
This guy probably loves The Eagles

No, the idiot author hates the Eagles. And anybody who either thinks the Eagles are "country", or compares them to The Monkees, hasn't got his head screwed on straight.

56 posted on 05/09/2017 1:48:05 PM PDT by NorthMountain (The Democrats ... have lost their grip on reality -DJT)
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To: nickcarraway
Billy Joel is the suburbs of music.

I like that.

Joel has a couple of nice tunes. But, I would be at a loss to understand why anyone would but an entire album and listen to it.

57 posted on 05/09/2017 1:48:37 PM PDT by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
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To: Mariner

I got tickets for a concert of his that I recall as near New Years eve in the late 90s. I was looking forward to it because he had such a list of hits — what could go wrong.

His sound system was horrible and he could not sing. It was horrible. He had his music get louder as the third number was playing because he had no voice.

It was a lot more than $11.00 for me and it ruined an evening I wanted to be memorable.


58 posted on 05/09/2017 1:53:05 PM PDT by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: nickcarraway

The pointless dickishness of this article is something to behold.


59 posted on 05/09/2017 1:54:51 PM PDT by Junior_G (Funny how liberals' love affair with Muslims began on 9/11)
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To: Darksheare

Agree Billy Joel sucks.
And overwhelmingly concur
that Springsteen is an overrated putz.


60 posted on 05/09/2017 1:55:41 PM PDT by sparklite2 (I'm less interested in the rights I have than the liberties I can take.)
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