What a sellout to commercialism! His early stuff was excellent; biting and cynical ("Captain Jack", the overplayed "Piano Man" and the bite the hand that feeds him "The Entertainer," which was partially about cutting down "Piano Man.") Even "The Stranger" had some stinging satire ("Scenes from An Italian Restaurant.") Since then, he has turned out commercial pablum. His last good song, "Big Man On Mulberry Street," he did not even see fit to put in his "Greatest Hits, Vol III" collection. Mr. Joel became rich, but at a cost.

I am LMAO that this board comes just after" music that sucks and why"

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.

I like to focus on the positive with Billy Joel. His stuff from "The Nylon Curtain" and before is mostly excellent: "Allentown," "You may be right," "Big Shot," "Just the way you are." "Piano Man" has already been mentioned, plus some good album tracks and my personal favorite, "My Life."

Beginning with "An Innocent Man," his music changed and became less and less interesting (possible exception: "We didn't start the fire"). His sound changed, became more flatly upbeat and pop-sounding, the same time that his relationship with Christie Brinkley began.

I once commented that Billy Joel's music was much better when he was pissed off and drunk, and I still think that's true.

Hell, most rock acts are better when they're pissed off, drunk and/or stoned. Look at Aerosmith. I'm glad they're clean and sober and all, but their music just ain't as good as it used to be.

But you just can't beat "Uptown Girl"!

Sure you can. Listen to "Big Man On Mulberry Street," "The Longest Time" or anything on "Turnstiles."

I was being ironic.

Sorry, Trike, "We Didn't Start the Fire" is bottom-of-the barrel. It is the song that started me turning against Mr. Joel.
Sven, I love the irony of his fawning over Christie in the "Uptown Girl" video vs. the divorce a few years later.

Well, Adam, here's a reason to dislike me: I like "We Didn't Start the Fire". Of course, I'm not blind to the fact that some people don't. I can even see why they wouldn't like it. But, it is the only reason I own Storm Front.

By the way, I seem to recall hearing that Billy Joel has come to hate "She's Always a Woman" so much, that he no longer performs it in concert.

I like it too. It's one of the few songs that I bothered to convert to MP3.

Hey, I'm a huge Billy Joel fan, but I can see where everyone's coming from with the Christie Brinkley stuff - it's just silly, most of it. (Although I think a case can be made for For the Longest Time being fairly cute.)

I'm a little iffy on the 'commercial sellout' question, tho. Where is written that a musician can't have some straight-ahead fun every once in awhile? His later stuff may not be biting satire, but An Innocent Man, River of Dreams and I Go to Extremes are pretty good rockers anyway, Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel) and And So it Goes are beautiful ballads, and The Downeaster Alexa is great to howl along to when you're doing dishes. So there.
(Also, We Didn't Start the Fire may not be great art, but you gotta admit it's a clever concept for a song.)

I don't know about She's Always a Woman, Benn, but it's common knowledge that Joel despises Just the Way You Are at least that much. Can't really blame him.

That me be the one I'm thinking of, Kerrie.

That one is pure bubble-gum.

Bravo ran the "Moonlighting" episode the other day, in which "Big Man On Mulberry Street" was turned into a big dance number (directed by Stanley Donen, BTW.) Made me nostalgic.

At 10:30 p.m., (Eastern time?), Billy Joel's 2002 Mercedes Benz swerved off the road in Long Island and ran into a tree. Mr. Joel is currently listed as being in stable condition at the Stony Brook University Hospital. It has not yet been determined if alcohol played a role in the accident.

"And Christie's finally seen what an ugly bastard i am" - truer words were never more spoken in a music video parody.

River of Dreams

"At the end of my career, my popularity it fades! Got a brand new beard but I've kept the old shades! Got a couple of black guys who all think I'm a jerk!"

And what about that line? It's a nice line, but why are you mentioning it?

She's quoting from an obscure Australian TV show parody of the song.

Someone else likes "The Late Show"