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.
Read more:
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.
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.
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....
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.
*********************
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. :)
I met him in the Greensboro Four Seasons Lounge and welcomed him to Greensboro.
He was unimpressed
I like the Looper with the EV motor and modern front end.
"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.
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.
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.
Motley Crue was first band, followed by Alice Cooper (great) followed by the Rolling Stones.
I just got to the venue too early:)
And certainly don’t forget ‘You Wear It Well’ and the great tune ‘Stay With Me’!
I agree. Springsteen sucks. Worse, he sucks pretentiously
And he’s still entertaining millions and will continue to.
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.
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.
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.
The pointless dickishness of this article is something to behold.
Agree Billy Joel sucks.
And overwhelmingly concur
that Springsteen is an overrated putz.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.