REVIEW: Billy Joel - Turn The Lights Back On

[@TonyWalkerIsYourBestFriend]

Billy Joel is one of the greatest song writers of all time. Great songwriters never get better with age. This song is great. He is a chord master and melody master. He is still one of the greatest singers as well. He knocked it out of the park with this song. It is great I will listen to it 100 more times.

[@StevenReed-d2r]

I hope that this guy hasn’t quit his day job. The new Billy Joel song is incredible any way that you look at it.

[@JohnGadzaJr.]

This is the best review ever. As a Billy Joel fan myself, I am very hopeful that he has some more new original materials to record and put out for us to listen to. It would be great if the song title "Turn The Lights Back On" can also become the name of his new studio album. For right now, let's just keep our fingers crossed that Billy Joel will put out his first new studio album in the pop/rock genre since 1993's River Of Dreams.

[@TrackXTrack]

Glad you enjoyed the review!

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Aside from some rather cliche analogies I thought this review was excellent. I watched this post before listening to the song and the points made seem very articulate, thorough, and accurate. I think it is important to note though that this song has a total of four composers. Joel cowrote the first original track of this song back in 2007 with Freddy Wexler, Arthur Bacon, and Wayne Hector. So, as an artist very much beloved by his fans equally as a composer as well as musician one ponders is it fair to question how much of a ‘Billy Joel’ song this is from the perspective of songwriter/composer. I like the song a lot and a very large part of me wants to adore it. Taking a leaf out of 2023's Beatles 'Now and Then' it’s difficult to disassociate nostalgia from one's emotional response. With Joel not just the lyrics, but many compositional ingredient trademarks are easy to find, and fans will instantly hear and resonate with these. The difficult question for this fan is does that make the song feel better than it is? There is certainly lots to love and most of that is with his familiar troupes, yet then it never quite grabs the listener as much as songs it borrows from. You can feel Joel's desire to capture the poignancy and sincere simple honesty of 'And So It Goes’ but he reaches to hard and therefore does not achieve this. Rhythmically the similarity to ' Always a Woman' is obvious as it the chord structure. Other songs from his catalogue are conjured up including the driving movement of 'The Downeaster Alexa’, licks from ‘Piano Man’ and ‘Scenes from an Italian Restaurant’ shine through. Compared to his last single release ‘All My Life’ this imo is a superior song. Lyrically, Joel as he does so often, combines the sublime with the cringeworthy. It will require repeat listens to fully develop a true feeling and opinion towards this piece. Upon first listening it is certainly nothing new in direction and really that is a good thing. Joel might as well give us what we know and love in his music. It gives the song some needed sincerity from a man who too often seemed to angrily rage about chips on his shoulders. My problem with Joel is that so often in his lifetime he has made statements and followed pathways he was earlier disparaging in verse or conversation. For example: Joel once stated he hated people preaching to audiences with their material. The man who wrote The Downeaster Alexa, The Great Wall of China amongst many songs with messages to exude. He once stated he could not tolerate rock stars playing on into their old age when they can no longer hit the high notes etc. Well, his subsequent career he did just that (although it must be begrudgingly stated his voice has maintained its power and warmth much more than most others of his era). His marriages to others some younger than his daughter and all good-looking very much seemed in tune with the Hollywood ageing Rock Star stereotype. Lastly his much-praised lecture series seemed more about providing opportunities for fans to verbally gush at his talents then any genuine serious study of musical composition. These felt like a faux act, presented to offer up, and maintain a sense of a musical legacy. All those contradictions from the once angry young man seem distant as he has mellowed with age and is less bitter. He still seeks reassurance, even admiration and perhaps realises relying on his distant past along with current continuous touring still leaves fans with wanting something new. This song has Joel reflecting without the bite of his youth and middle-aged angst. It is better for it. A song of quality and completely welcomed in an industry and musical world where melody and playing skills seem devoid in anything created by most younger generations. It isn't any wonder that even the young are using options such as KZbin to hunt out better music than what constitutes the charts. Would a new album from Billy be warmly received? I think so, for if there is one thing certain Joel's music and traits have a way of stretching across generations with his innate talent for melodic invention and everyday man sensibilities. This guy next door image has always felt prevalent and of great importance to Joel. Is it sincere no longer seems to matter. The similarities to McCartney are remarkable. Billy Joel is a craftsman capable of achieving greatness. Whilst this song may not be at the peak of his best work it certainly fits into his musical canon and is a pleasant temporary stop to enjoy the scenery on the way up that mountain.

[@OurFamilyInMotion]

Welcome back Billy and thank you for giving us another "meditation in cathedrals of our own."

[@TrackXTrack]

Great to have him back!

[@timbrownrigg5217]

I also got summer highland falls vibes big time.. and not so much the others mentioned in the review.. though do sort of see a small resemblance.

[@OurFamilyInMotion]

@@timbrownrigg5217 So darn happy that someone picked up on the quote in my comment. Summer Highland Falls is one of the greatest.

[@kevingearhart5141]

Whatever was just puked about the song, it means nothing to me and a waste of ear time. What I definitely know is it’s without a doubt a great song and I’m glad he’s performing it. Glad you’re still with us Mr. Joel.

[@TrackXTrack]

This channel is not intended to be an echo chamber for myopic opinions.

[@zoni36]

Here to repeat &kevingearhart5141’s myopic view in this echo chamber. Luv, luv, luv this song!

[@John12785]

What are you two talking about, the review was positive about the song and Billy's come back too! He's simply saying the lyrics are a bit self-absorbed and I agree, but the song is good

[@yanks1fan09]

I liked the song like you said it has certain echoes of previous songs within it. From what I heard from listening to him discuss this on local NY radio this was a collaboration with Freddy Wexler who may have added some lyrics to this unfinished song. As a matter of fact they talked about working on a bunch of songs which they completed over the last 2 years. I would imagine their will be a new album at some point. He will probably premiere this song next Friday at Madison Square Garden which I will be at. I am keen on hearing it live as well and his voice is certainly in great form. It's nice to have new music sometimes from a great artist like him.

[@TrackXTrack]

Sounds like he’ll premiere it at the Grammys on Sunday, but the MSG show you’ll be at will probably be the concert premiere. Lucky! Enjoy!

[@thejoyofthemusicinmylife7897]

I took a more favorable view of the of this new song. It seems like you were giving it a green light with a lot of but this and that. While this may be a bit of giving Billy too much praise, below is what I wrote regarding this new song. One thing I did notice about the song that I did not include in my write up is there is a bit of residue of the Cat Stevens classic Morning Has Broken in the melody line but not enough to say it is a rip off. Maybe a little barrowing at most. Turn The Lights Back On has that classic Billy Joel sound. I like the build up of instruments as the song goes along. Billy's voice is strong and still resonate with a touch of aging which is expected for his years. Billy's genius comes right through and this new song is worthy to take its place in the great Billy Joel songbook. From what I can hear there are no use of a newer techniques of modern day popular music, it does not sound like he is making a deliberate effort to keep up with the times as some veteran music artist have done. Billy does not need a new makeover. His style of writing is timeless that can bypass fashionable current music trends. Here we have a solid effort and a good song. If Billy is going to make more music then this new offering is a hopeful sign that good things are to come. For the listener who has the work of Billy imbedded in their brain, if your disappointed on the first listen, do not prejudge but give the song a number of listens before passing off final judgment. We do expect a lot from an artist of the caliber of Billy Joel and if your not picking that at first, then again give the song some repeated listens. I am sure there are a number of Billy Joel songs you now love but it took a while to reach that point. As for myself I love the new song from the start and it only gets better each time hearing it. Lastly, the world has changed greatly since Billy released his last full pop album. With the internet coming into our lives attention spans have grown shorter. Some people will just give the new song a quick listen and move on. People to not spend as much time listening to a full vinyl records like they use to. We even have a generation who never done that. Jumping around to different songs on streaming service such as Spotify is more common. Here Billy just gave us one song to take in. Perhaps in doing so he is keeping up with the times instead of offering up an album of 11 songs. Even Ringo Star has said he is just going to just release 4 songs EPs. Hey Billy EPs may be the way to go hint, hint. Again Turn The Lights Back On is worthy of Billy legacy and a reminder of how great an artist he is and I am glad he tapped back into his creative side to give us a new song which I hope fans will embrace. Also Billy will have a new song to play at his live shows so a win win for everyone. I like to conclude by sayin thank you Mr. Joel for this very nice gift to your fans which we did not see coming. Today it is being presented for all of us to unwrap and enjoy. First a new Beatle song now a new song by Billy Joel. We are so lucky.

[@TrackXTrack]

A well-articulated take on the song. Nicely said.

[@thejoyofthemusicinmylife7897]

@@TrackXTrack Thanks, I might use what I have written about it to do my own video.

[@glennthomas8418]

Couldn't agree with u more..That song hit me instantly like all of his past music!!.Can't wait to hear the rest..I just heard turn🎉 the lights back on.At 4.10 pm thurs.feb 1st 24 I

[@singahanni]

Agree with this review - great, great song! Reminds of Abba's brilliant comeback single(s) in 2021 - in tone and sentiment voiced here. Wonderful!

[@thejoyofthemusicinmylife7897]

@@singahanni Yes I liked the Abba comeback music as well. Thanks for chiming in. :)

[@JOHNNYRADIO]

Good review, I pretty much felt the same way unfortunately. Hopefully, he has some more & better material to share!

[@TrackXTrack]

Fingers crossed, this isn’t a one-off!

[@jeremyf5973]

I actually really like his vocals a lot on this song. Sounds a bit like Glenn Shorrock of Little River Band at close listen.

[@TrackXTrack]

I like the vocals, I just don’t think they fit the lyrics

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

Q104 New York aired an interview with Billy Joel and Freddy Wexler (producer) on the Track.

[@willcartoons]

I heard that interview. I get the feeling there is an entire album ahead!

[@lionheartroar3104]

Wonderful song. As per the title is he asking the audience if he's waited too long to come back into the popular music circle.

[@JimmyJames-kz6cp]

If I had to guess, they wanted the mix to sound more "modern" and so, they decided not to produce a Billy Joel song...but rather, a song with Billy Joel singing. This is no reflection of the greatest artist to ever grace this earth...because, in the end, his beautiful voice was the best part of this song -- period.

[@timberframingbear]

"Out of place with the sentiment" is exactly my thought. Its an intimate conversation sung and mixed for a stadium. The song isnt his best. The mixing kills whatever emotion it may have had.

[@TrackXTrack]

100%

[@happy-xi4kq]

Really? Go away. U sound ridiculous.

[@briannassautheteacher9516]

I like the lyric. It's a nice metaphor. Melodically it sounds Morning has broken and End of the Road. I like the vocals!

[@thegator5000]

This song is all emotion , and Billy is still the best at hitting all the right cords on the piano , and in the heart ; THANKS BILLY !!!!!

[@rolandofgilead43]

no it's not (2011) you are wrong on that my friend it was (2007) when All My Life was released

[@TrackXTrack]

Yes, you’re right. I misspoke.

[@davidellis5141]

His catalog is reissued on vinyl tomorrow. I always thought 52nd St. was a great album.

[@TrackXTrack]

52nd St really is great!

[@lionheartroar3104]

Rosalinda's Eyes...what a track.@@TrackXTrack

[@musicstream26]

The reviewer didn't do his research. It was written by a Billy Joel fan and Billy just changed some words around. But, obviously Billy signed off on it cause he decided to sing it.

[@nickma3910]

Dude, take a zanax and enjoy this wonderful song

[@elsongs]

The songwriter in me thinks it's a nice (but not great) song, composition-wise. The audio engineer in me thinks this is a horribly-compressed mix made for smartphone consumption with zero dynamics or low- or high-end.

[@TrackXTrack]

Agreed

[@catherine6653]

Good review. I felt the song is a bit sad.

[@TrackXTrack]

It is a little sad

[@catherine6653]

@@danielmarra1555 Thanks 😊

[@JimmyV1530]

Spot on review Kyle, it's a nice song but will need a few more listens to get a true feel for it / although it is great to hear the piano man sing something new. Seems to be an abrupt start....

[@TrackXTrack]

Abrupt start- Yes! When I hit play the first time, I had to double check that I hadn’t skipped ahead and missed the beginning. It’s fine, but yeah, I was taken aback at first.

[@JimmyV1530]

@@TrackXTrack Too funny - that is exactly what I did.... wonder how many people are doing the same. 🤔😀

[@piratepeyton4371]

Yeah I agree I don't know if it's the tone of his voice or the mixing but it didn't sound exactly right. It's a beautiful composition though and I'm so glad he's back

[@TrackXTrack]

Very glad he’s back!

[@anthonymondello6796]

I don’t think this is the best song Billy’s ever done, but I do like it and I am thrilled that he took the long overdue leap of faith and finished a song and released it. I don’t find the lyrics to be trite, but heartfelt. It’s the production that escapes me a little bit. It seems bland. Good, honest review sir!

[@TrackXTrack]

Thanks for watching !

[@anthonymondello6796]

@@TrackXTrack I appreciate your reviews. As a songwriter who second guesses every second of a composition, I get Billy’s reluctance to go back to it, it’s not for the faint of heart. I think your review was fair and your opinion, not mean-spirited at all. Good work.

[@broshoe16]

I heard a recent interview with Billy and his collaborator Freddy Wexler. It appears Billy had very little to do with writing this song. This was a disappointing revelation. I had hoped that Billy found his muse again. I keep hearing the song sounds like ‘classic Billy’. The more likely truth is that a super fan wrote a song that sounds like ‘classic Billy’ and got Billy to sing it. After a dozen listens, the song is less interesting after each listen. After about the 1:20 mark, nothing else happens musically. The melody repeats several times and never takes the listener in a different direction. The song is sorely lacking a bridge as an example. My hope is that the overall positive response to this song inspires Billy to write new songs…I am forever optimistic!

[@TrackXTrack]

It won’t be remembered as one of his best, I agree.

[@darreleddings5901]

Commenters saying he's too self absorbed. And his other songs aren't?

[@John-du6ec]

Billy should have got bernie taupin to help whrn he felt the well running dry

[@TrackXTrack]

That would be an interesting colab.

[@ericwaldron3599]

Billy Joel is one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Not subjectively, objectively. Name a song writers hall of fame, he is in it. Thought the song was good. Liked to use of metaphor. I thought the song was emotionally evocative. Sorry it was not literal enough for you. .

[@themixguy]

Kyle, remind me what hit song YOU wrote?

[@TrackXTrack]

Ah, yes. That old cliche. The weakest criticism of a critic you could make.

[@longtallshorty5791]

@@TrackXTrackwhile I don’t entirely agree with your critique, this is one of the dumbest arguments that can ever be made. And it comes up in every comment section. You have to be a hit artist to make judgement on a piece of music (despite the fact we’ve all listened to music our entire lives, and make our judgements every single day).

[@John12785]

A beautiful song, but the lyrics are very self-absorbed, Joel is at his best when talking about pit falls and social complexites of modern society...this is overly sentimental and a tad egocentric for a veteran performer who had a stellar career, he should be more gracious in old age

[@TrackXTrack]

Yeah, it’s hard to sympathize with the “character” in the song. He doesn’t sound sincere in either words or tone.

[@John12785]

Right on...great to find an honest review! Keep up the good work!

[@rose106]

everybody has one

[@rhoman2006]

Kinda felt like Billy was channeling Adele

[@lionheartroar3104]

Not at all. This is all his sound.

[@rhoman2006]

@@lionheartroar3104 I was referring more to the production than the song itself. His voice is iconic

[@josephfernandez8015]

Adele? Hell no this is a Billy Joel song reminiscent of his 70s stuff.

[@suzanneb.3415]

Wtf. Great Song

[@trupax2210]

Anyone who still gives a f is worth at least a listen

[@rod_at_adelaide5766]

Give the guy a break he is 75! I reckon his voice is great for his age. Watch this kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3W9o3qXm9iJrtE same lyrics but a different musical production, the guy who did this is amazing

[@0_debt429]

Yeah, I agree. In addition, he needs a new sound engineer or producer instead of the person drowning out his voice with over zealous instrumental volume. Apparently, that's why he had to make a Lyric Video.

[@larryk731]

I'm a fan of his music up to 1983 (he changed his tone from at best bittersweet to happy in 1983) and the new song cements the fact that he still hasn't done anything good since.

[@TrackXTrack]

His music certainly evolved over the years

[@christinat4507]

I am a huge fan. Unfortunately the lyrics felt a bit forced. The music however 🤌🏾

[@TrackXTrack]

I agree.