The singer’s first big hit is not among his favorite songs and is the result of real experiences he had in the early 70s
It is practically impossible not to associate Billy Joel the “Piano Man”his first big hit. The song was released in 1973, on the album of the same name, and informally serves as a nickname for the artist.
Interestingly, Joel has a less than popular opinion regarding his own songwriting. The American is quite critical of his work, which may surprise some fans.
“Piano Man” offers a pianist’s view of bar patrons as well as other people present. It is inspired by real experiences lived by Billy between 1972 and early 1973, when he lived in Los Angeles and performed in local pubs, as a backing musician, under the pseudonym Bill Martin — at the time, due to issues with his record company, he could not perform using his own stage name.
Even with so much meaning, Joel revealed that he was not the greatest admirer of the composition in an interview with Marc Allen (via Far Out Magazine). About her, the singer and pianist said:
I have no idea why this song became so popular. It’s a karaoke favorite. The melody is not very good and is very repetitive, while the lyrics are like a limerick (type of poem). I was shocked and embarrassed when it became a hit. But my songs are like my children, and I look at this song and think, ‘my son did really well’.”
When released, “Piano Man” reached number 25 on the American charts and did well in Canada, where Joel quickly gained fame. However, the track only gained greater notoriety four years ago, when the singer released the album The Stranger (1977), responsible for making the public look at the musician’s previous works.
The worst of all according to Billy Joel
Even with the harsh criticism, Billy Joel does not consider “Piano Man” to be his worst song. The title goes, incredibly, to another big hit song composed by him: “We Didn’t Start the Fire”from the album Stormfront (1989). And it is another song with a particular history, as it was created in celebration of the artist’s 40th birthday that year.
In an interview with The Howard Stern Show (via website Igor Miranda), the singer revealed his opinion on the track. He said:
“I don’t hate it, but I consider it the worst thing I’ve ever written. Musically, it’s not very good. The melody isn’t great. And I also have trouble remembering all the lyrics.”
Despite this — and the poor reception from specialized critics — “We Didn’t Start the Fire” achieved impressive numbers. It reached the top of the American chart and the top 10 in nine other countries, including Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Collaborated: André Luiz Fernandes.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
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