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Rank Billy Joel as a songwriter over the course of his career

Posted on 8/4/14 at 6:07 pm
Posted by Hat Tricks
Member since Oct 2003
28612 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 6:07 pm
(no message)
Posted by monsterballads
Make LSU Great Again
Member since Jun 2013
29266 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 6:26 pm to
pretty damn good
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
141904 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 6:28 pm to
he ran the gamut from bombastic pomposity to pompous bombast
Posted by lsusportsman2
Member since Oct 2007
27232 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 6:56 pm to
One of my favorite ones ever. Love that dude.
Posted by COTiger
Colorado
Member since Dec 2007
16842 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 7:05 pm to
quote:

pretty damn good
Posted by Backinthe615
Member since Nov 2011
6871 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 7:29 pm to
This post was edited on 8/4/14 at 8:49 pm
Posted by Chitter Chatter
In and Out of Consciousness
Member since Sep 2009
4659 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 9:20 pm to
There's nothing wrong with the latter day Joel - An Innocent Man, This Is The Time, Big Man on Mulberry Street, Shameless, We Didn't Start The Fire, Downeaster Alexa. I know there is a big of difference from The Nylon Curtain album to An Innocent Man. AIM - he wanted to write songs like the ones that influenced him growing up. Nylon has some great stuff - Laura (Beatles influence), Goodnight Saigon, Allentown.
Posted by OldTigahFot
Drinkin' with the rocket scientists
Member since Jan 2012
10502 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 9:23 pm to
I don't like uptown girl either but it was targeted at a specific person. I don't think he ever planned for it to be a hit.

On a similar note, you could use that same chart for Elton John :

Amoreena >>>> Island Girl

Posted by AlaTiger
America
Member since Aug 2006
21121 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 9:40 pm to
Uptown Girl was a good song. It was fun and told a story. Had a doo wop feel to it, which was happening at the time in a throwback sense.
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
141904 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 9:44 pm to
quote:

We Didn't Start The Fire
I would rather have icepicks hammered into my ears than have to listen to this again
Posted by Backinthe615
Member since Nov 2011
6871 posts
Posted on 8/4/14 at 10:10 pm to
I don't write off everything after Glass Houses, it was just faster to make a joke chart than pick through every up and down.
Posted by BobRoss
Member since Jun 2014
1694 posts
Posted on 8/5/14 at 6:22 am to
The Stranger had some jams. New York State of Mind is probably my favorite.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81622 posts
Posted on 8/5/14 at 12:48 pm to
Yup. When he was on, he was great. Loved almost all of it. When he was off, he was terrible. Uptown Girl, Innocent Man and some others - just terrible.
Posted by Hawkeye95
Member since Dec 2013
20293 posts
Posted on 8/5/14 at 12:58 pm to
quote:

On a similar note, you could use that same chart for Elton John :

you can use that for almost any song writer. something about 40 that kills your creativity. Maybe you lose the anger? I dunno.

billy joel 70s was really good, even early 80s. but boy did it go south in the late 80s. about the time he turned 40.

the stranger is a great album.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81622 posts
Posted on 8/5/14 at 1:09 pm to
quote:

On a similar note, you could use that same chart for Elton John :

Exactly the same.
Posted by Fontainebleau Dr.
Mid-View New Orleans
Member since Dec 2012
2400 posts
Posted on 8/5/14 at 3:00 pm to
He certainly has some throw-aways, but his best is as good as any American songwriter's. I'd say Top 10, arguably Top 5 stateside.
Posted by Darkknight
Member since Mar 2012
1415 posts
Posted on 8/5/14 at 3:15 pm to
quote:

the stranger is a great album.


Yea you right about The Stranger. Great album. Joel was on a roll for a few years with Stranger, Glass Houses, 52nd Street, Glass Houses.....

Saw him in concert years ago and he was phenomenal. Also there is a really good documentary about his tour in Russia. He stated songs Honesty and Matter of Trust took on a whole different meaning when played before the Soviet crowds. The dude spent like a million of his own money to help pay for the tour!
Posted by LSUTigers1986
Member since Mar 2014
1336 posts
Posted on 8/6/14 at 12:00 am to
Billy Joel is great
Posted by lsu480
Downtown Scottsdale
Member since Oct 2007
92876 posts
Posted on 8/6/14 at 12:50 am to
Gay
Posted by DanniDoodle
Maine
Member since Aug 2014
21 posts
Posted on 8/6/14 at 12:54 am to
Who doesn't enjoy some Piano Man?? I don't usually rank musicians, there are just to many good ones. I can't say much bad about Billy Joel. I love piano!!!!
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