Billy Joel Refused To Write Another Song Until A Surprising Relationship Changed His Life

Highlights

• Billy Joel's new song "Turn The Lights Back On" marks his go back to writing tune after a hiatus of seventeen years.
• A surprising friendship with producer/songwriter Freddy Wexler impressed Joel to in finding joy in songwriting again.
• The luck of "Turn The Lights Back On" demonstrates Joel's persisted relevance.

On January 22nd, 2024, music icon Billy Joel announced his first new song in seventeen years. Joel infamously prophesized in his 1993 album, "River of Dreams", that he would prevent writing music indefinitely. True to his prediction, Joel did not free up another unique composition until 2007. "All My Life" and "Christmas in Fallujah" have been rare treats for fanatics, and remained Joel's handiest lyric-based songs released within the twenty first century until his surprising 2024 announcement.

"Turn The Lights Back On", which was launched on February 1st, 2024, used to be an unexpected move by means of the legendary artist. While Joel has remained active through traveling, he has intentionally avoided liberating new song. It took a life-changing relationship to make Joel fascinated with writing track again.

How Did A Surprising Friendship Inspire Billy Joel To Write Music Again?

Billy Joel indubitably has not anything left to turn out. The singer and songwriter was once some of the beloved acts within the Nineteen Seventies, 1980s, and Nineteen Nineties. From "Piano Man" to "Uptown Girl" to "The River of Dreams", Joel launched hit after hit all through his heyday. Beyond his legendary catalog, Joel stays some of the in-demand reside performers. He has performed over one hundred presentations at Madison Square Garden in a ancient and exceptional residency, which he has earned a massive fortune from.

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Joel stopped writing song for a surprising reason. He misplaced the enjoyment in his craft. According to Joel in an interview,

"It was fun. Music is fun. Rock 'n' roll was fun. It was all about having fun — and I kind of lost that and I turned the lights off because it wasn't fun anymore."

Furthermore, Joel in the end discovered songwriting to be a "painful" revel in. He elaborated at the Audacy Check-In podcast, "I have this high bar that I set for myself. If I don't reach that bar, I beat myself up and I punch myself and I hate myself. So I stopped doing [music] because I got tired of feeling like that."

To avoid self-deprecating emotions, Joel stopped writing music. In his 1993 song, "Famous Last Words", Joel hinted at his need to forestall developing new tune. Joel wrote and sang, "these are the last words I have to say, that's why it took so long to write, there will be other words some day."

Besides his 2007 tracks, "All My Life" and "Christmas in Fallujah", Joel remained steadfast. He knew he had a whole songbook he could depend on all the way through performances and didn't feel the will or desire to unencumber new songs. This shockingly changed after an come upon with a lifelong, devout fan named Freddy Wexler, in accordance to People.

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Wexler, a manufacturer and songwriter recognized for his paintings with artists akin to Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Selena Gomez, had been a fan of Joel's since he was a kid. Knowing how much Joel was an inspiration to Wexler, Wexler's spouse took it upon herself to arrange an interaction between the two males. Through a abnormal doctor connection, Joel agreed to meet Wexler for a transient lunch. What used to be supposed to be a brief assembly turned into a longer exchange, leading to an sudden friendship between Joel and Wexler.

Once Joel explored Wexler's paintings, tune became exciting once more for the seasoned performer. He found joy in songwriting all over again. In collaboration with Wexler and a few different songwriters, Joel began to develop and work on "Turn The Lights Back On." The process took two years to entire, according to Wexler in a Grammy interview.

Joel has been recognized to dislike his singing voice, in spite of having large success with an impressive catalog of songs. In a Grammy interview, he revealed that he in fact preferred the best way he sounded on "Turn The Lights Back On." Not most effective does the song hint at Joel's departure from song and his surprising go back, however it is a song that Joel himself discovered great excitement in. Since its unlock, fans have discovered joy in it too. Earning critical and industrial acclaim, "Turn The Lights Back On" is the comeback lovers have waited years for. Joel carried out the song for the primary time publicly at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

What Does The Success Of "Turn The Lights Ons" Mean For Billy Joel?

Billy Joel has had a prolific touring occupation in the 2010s and 2020s, regardless of now not freeing any new material until 2024. Furthermore, his celebrated concert events are at all times offered out.

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"Turn The Lights On" demonstrated Joel's relevance and famous person power. The song, more so, confirmed that enthusiasts want new subject material from the mythical artist. While Joel's long run is unknown, possibly "Turn The Lights Back On" is the primary web page in a new chapter of Joel's profession. Could Joel unencumber extra new songs or even an album one day? For enthusiasts, this is an exciting query to contemplate.

Joel is not the one vintage artist to percentage new music within the 2020s. ABBA, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Bruce Springsteen are some of the iconic acts who've launched content in the 2020s. The a success return of legendary Twentieth-century artists demonstrates that there is a eager for nostalgia among lovers old and young. Joel's "Turn The Lights Back On" is a welcomed contribution to the resurgence of 20th-century rock 'n' roll.

For Joel, it will have to be a good feeling to know that his enthusiasts are hungry for brand spanking new subject material. "Turn The Lights On" proves it was once no longer too overdue for the icon to go back to his craft.

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