Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joelis an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States. His compilation album Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 is one of the best-selling albums in the US...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth9 May 1949
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
Most people you'd tell "I'm gonna be a musician," they'd say, "you're crazy, you're gonna starve, you're gonna be poor, a drug addict, go to jail, you'll never make it, there's too much competition, it's a terrible business," etc. But my chorus teacher in high school said, "you've got what it takes to be a really good professional musician, you should consider it." That was an epiphany for me. So I thought, well, maybe I can help somebody, too.
As human beings, we need to know that we are not alone, that we are not crazy or completely out of our minds, that there are other people out there who feel as we do, live as we do, love as we do, who are like us.
My friends and I are crazy. That's the only thing that keeps us sane!
you may be right, I may be crazy, but it just might be a lunatic you're looking for
You should never argue with a crazy mind, you ought to know my now.
Slow down, you crazy child.You're so ambitious for a juvenile.
You may be right I may be crazy But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for.
When you look into my eyesAnd you see the crazy gypsy in my soulIt always comes as a surpriseWhen I feel my withered roots begin to growWell I never had a place that I could call my very ownThat's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home
If I'm crazy then it's true That it's all because of you And you wouldn't want me any other way.
There are certain artists who have taken it upon themselves to save the world, and I find that gets tiresome. I think the artist's first obligation is to the art, not to the issues . . . I think if I have something to say the best way to do that is just to tell a damn good story.
I always wanted to try to be a teacher even before I was in the music business. I liked history, and good teachers made an impact on me.
I didn't graduate high school, so I never got a teacher's education, I'm mostly self-read, self-taught. I always loved music, so I would probably either be in a band with another group of people, or an arranger, a producer, a musicologist, a music history guy, something to do with music. Either that, or I would probably be in jail. Or dead.
I look at some of the songs I wrote years ago and I can't believe I wrote such crap.
I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience you're gonna stink. If we play for a great crowd we're much better. You want 'em to make noise. It's kinda like sex, if they don't make noise, you ain't doin' it right.