“The Lyrics Are Like Limericks” - Billy Joel Breaks Down “Piano Man”

[@evomink]

It’s so wonderful to see Billy relaxed and happy. He deserves it.

[@AllenKnutson]

God it's hilarious to watch him totally half-ass his own songs, rather than treating them as precious. Saw him in LA in 1986 and was wowed.

[@rhymeswithsomethingy4766]

This 3rd segment was the best. All the plugs are taken care of, and it's a more relaxed conversation. Piano Man may be a limerick at its core, but it is so much more than that.. 🙌

[@SkipSidekick]

I'm 54, been a fan of Billy since I was 14. Being in the UK, I never got chance to see him live until last year in Hyde Park and I made sure I got to the front by getting there 8 hours before he came on! (didn't realise at the time but it worked out well!) It was actually quite an emotional experience, waiting all those years and probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was happy but sad (dealing with stuff and the experience exacerbated things!) , hard to explain. But such an amazing experience and he sounded great. I just wish I could have met him. Keep going Billy, we need more! 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@Elwaves2925]

I'm also in the UK and I got a chance to see him as part of The River Of Dreams tour at Birmingham's NEC. It was on his birthday too which made it special. As soon as the intro music started playing, we sang Happy Birthday and drowned it out so they stopped it. Later on, Elton John came on as a guest, they did a few songs together and we sang Happy Birthday again. Like you, a once in a life time experience but absolutely worth it.

[@SkipSidekick]

@@Elwaves2925 Awesome 😊

[@EllieTheNellie]

Ha ha, I was outside Hyde park, cause my family couldn’t afford. Luckily, I’m getting to see him in Cardiff this year

[@Elwaves2925]

@@EllieTheNellie At least you'll get to see him soon and he'll play the new song, something we never got.

[@rikkiechambers4959]

What a special treat , really enjoy these longer interviews , especially when it’s someone so iconic like Billy Joel , they are fun insightful and it’s like a nice chat with friends , thank you Stephen for a great interview !

[@littlejoe9381]

Yesss!

[@sandraandrews9907]

Can you age me any more than saying "Piano Man" is 50 YEARS OLD?! 😮 I remember when this song first came out, and it's one of my fave Billy Joel songs. 🎶🎤🎹🎶

[@Islandgirl4ever2]

Makes me feel old!! It's a timeless song!

[@marelynch685]

7th grade. Miss Wise’s art class. How cool is this teacher. She let us listen to the radio while we created our masterpieces.

[@Rambam1776]

That was an absolute treat to listen to

[@marelynch685]

❤everyone over 45 has at least one Billy Joel song memory. The Piano Man is a true genius. Brilliant.

[@dysamoria]

Does that mean his current wife doesn't?

[@celinadavies]

The whole interview rocks ❤ such a huge talent 👏 🥰🇨🇦

[@annemarie1507]

Joel is very witty and frank, a true New Yorker.

[@DonnaMayStanish]

❤️

[@lyudmillawasright.]

Two masters of their crafts..

[@BlackGuardXIII]

Turn the lights back on is such a quintessentially Billy Joel song. I love it! 🎵❤️

[@theoutspokenhumanist]

Piano Man was my karaoke 'go to' for years and it was always well recieved (I sing a bit) but it was never me that was applauded, it was the song. I have never met anyone who doesn't love it because it tells a story we relate to.

[@HoneyboyDominguez-dw8if]

Dear Billy, please play for your diehard fans in the Philippines. You are an icon in our country touching our lives with your songs. Like you, James Taylor will be playing here in Manila on April 08, 2024. Hope you could also play here. From the Philippines 🇵🇭 Mabuhay Billy Joel!

[@alejandronunez3544]

He´s has a melancholic and emotional magic in his songs that can touch you and made you feel a part of it in every single composition, even if you have 52, lives in the other side of the world (Uruguay) and english isn't your native language, incredible. Best American song writer ever.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

I love the way his eyes sweep the audience up to the balconies and the "nose bleed" seats, like he's taking it all in, still amazed that so many people enjoy seeing his appearances. Must have been impactful for him to be in the Ed Sullivan Theater, on the same stage as the Beatles so many years ago. 🎶🎵🎶

[@nicorobertson8488]

Still the piano man, what a Great guy❤

[@JP51ism]

SC (effortlessly) shows what a great host he is. Billy Joel may be shy of cameras AND have other problems coping with fame, but the audience not only loved him, SC made him FEEL comfortable with it while giving him, kiddingly, a hard time.

[@jamesdooling4139]

I feel older now. Billy Joel was an old man when I was a kid... Now, he's still old, but I'm old as dirt. And, he's out kicking ass while I rot.😂❤❤

[@BrandonAyong]

Piano man is good but honesty is one of the most underrated pop song ever written "Honesty is such a lonely word . Everyone is so untrue Honesty is hardly ever heard but mostly what i need from you " Also fun fact On "for the longest time " there's no doo wop group in the back . That was Billy laying down stacked vocals to create a doo wop quartet feel to it Genius

[@Islandgirl4ever2]

Love the song, Honestly... and also, My Life!!

[@hydrogen3266]

It’s all a cappella too except for really subtle bass. Inspired by 60s doo-wop he listened to when he was young. The whole “Innocent Man” album is inspired by specific people/styles of Joel’s youth, it’s really genius

[@BrandonAyong]

​@@hydrogen3266such a creative record

[@danjohnston9037]

The beauty of the lyris is in the wonderfully succinct yet encompassing character descriptions "A real-estate novelist, who's never had time for a wife "

[@sallymjmj750]

Billy Joel explained, “He was a real estate agent who always wanted to write the great American novel. So I combined the two: his real job and his dream job = “real estate novelist.”

[@DoBeLove]

Loved it back in the day when dj's could chose whatever they wanted to showcase and the listeners got to contribute. Some fine songs were exposed because of it. I love Billy's humilitly, graciousness and sense of humor. Would love to see him in concert one day.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

I remember hearing Piano Man on WPLJ while I was working, picking up a few hours, trying to keep bills paid.

[@thejimbruce]

Very excited to say I got a copy of that vinyl. I really dig the new song. Delightful interview.

[@kristinemunholland8980]

Great guest. Have never heard him interviewed before. Feel like I understand him better now.

[@hollyzukowski4216]

I saw Billy Joel when his second album came out and was touring. The show was at a college auditorium. Great show. He introduced Scenes from an Italian Restaurant at that show.

[@nayrod4529]

I showed my mother, who was my favorite singer, performer when he was at the grammy's. She had no idea and seemed confused. Since I grew up in a Spanish family that always has Spanish music playing and from the Projects.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Some of his stuff has a latin fusion flavor to it. There was a lot of that going on in the 80s and 90s with Al Dimeola, Gato Barbieri, etc. Rosalinda's eyes is one example, but there are others. Listen to all of his stuff closely and you'll hear it coming through from time to time. Enjoy. 🎶🎵🎶

[@shadygrove]

Props to Billy for not letting Dylan’s talent go unrecognized amidst Colbert’s quip.

[@georgegonzalez1408]

I was all "Billy strongly disagrees!" 😂

[@youcare_somuch2433]

Now I desperately need a Billy Joel cover of Tangled Up In Blue!

[@stevetournay6103]

Yep, Billy looked visibly embarrassed for a moment, then quietly said "No".

[@NewMessage]

I'd buy an album of him doing limericks!

[@osilva2367]

Now Billy is a true artist and keeps the music first❤!!!

[@charlie-obrien]

I've been to a few Billy Joel concerts and Billy himself never has to sing the chorus; "Sing us a song you're the Piano man..." Because the crowd would always drown out the auditorium by singing it for him, which oddly enough, is just what the Saturday night crowd in the bar does in the song. I always felt that this was a very true communion between the audience and the performer.

[@louiebee6745]

"They say that these are not the best of times, but they're the only times I've ever known". Summer, Highland Falls (from Turnstiles LP) My HS yearbook quote nearly 40 years ago, still my fave Billy Joel lyric.

[@TraceyStark]

Now I'm going to binge Billy Joel music for the next four hours.

[@DonnaMayStanish]

❤️🥳

[@alexaales7937]

i hope he's doing the 15 questions with Billy! i was 12 when my much older brother introduced me to him, gave me all his vinyls, made a tape with all my favorites. as soon as CDs came about i bought every single album. my favorite to this day is his debut album 'Cold Spring Harbor' closely followed by 'The nylon curtain'. i will forever be grateful for the comfort he gave to me with his music!

[@yankee04]

So glad he was on Colbert. What a nice chat.

[@macquariepark]

that was a wonderful interview.. im nearly 60 and i remember the first time i hear piano man lp..feelin alright...

[@amusicment4829]

He’s so awesome. What a treat.

[@alanw737]

I just saw him in Tampa, for my 5th Billy Joel concert. Timeless.

[@jamesstuart3346]

This is the time to remember, 'cause it will not last forever

[@Kreepyb5]

Excellent interview! I was smiling the whole time. Didn't realize until it was done. 😊😊ty

[@fwfulton]

When I was in 9th Grade (1973) I was taking a sociology class and the teacher came in one day with a record player and Played "Captain Jack" after it was over she told us we had to write a 500 word essay about what it meant, and then played the song again. At the end of class I asked her who that was and where can I buy the album, and she gave it to me. I have bought that album more time then I can remember in every format it was ever released. Always a big fan!

[@DowntownCanon]

Was it an edited "PG" version?

[@ziggy321gj]

rather laugh with the sinners than sky with the saints cause sinners have much more fun

[@Toartaulu]

Billy Joel has a special place in my heart…

[@Sainbury]

Brilliant man.

[@joanneg460]

Billy Joel best concert I have ever gone to.

[@HermitOnWheels]

We love you, Billy! Know that if nothing else. 🤟💞

[@tallenpelegrin7026]

Piano Man has always been my favorite Billy Joel songs, among various others that I really like. In fact, the Piano Man album, I think, is his best album.

[@charlesnolan7602]

I started working for Suburban One Stop in King of Prussia, Pa., in November, 1977. S.O.S. was a small record wholesaler attached to the Record Revolution record chain, also in King of Prussia, Pa. ( K of P is very near Valley Forge, hence the name) That Christmas rush in the industry for 1977( in the US ) featured 2 popular music genres: Disco, and Rock. Disco had Bee Gees Sat night fever, and several successful dance acts. Rock had Fleetwood Ma, Jackson Brown, but the biggest seller in rock was Billy Joel! The Stranger" album just took off! When a new album by an established act is released, the catalogue sales increase! PIANO MAN really was right behind the Stranger! New song released after 33 yrs!

[@ChristinaKeenan-u5s]

I love "tangled up in blue" also. Billy Joel rocks the best....

[@cindithomas7440]

I never realized! I love it!

[@cheknfaks]

True was back then in the 80s about the song: 'Piano Man' and how it wasn't popular but the radio sure played the notes out of it made my ears bleed.. Skiping to today: I sing the song out loud pitch perfect and play the harmonica to it and loving it while driving to work in the morning yelling at traffic

[@davincisghost9228]

BILLLEEE! ❤

[@louiebee6745]

0:45 Piano Man came out November '73.

[@muffinman4353]

So what....

[@fran23324]

I got his Album “The Stranger “ for my 21st Birthday……now I’m62! I had tickets to see him & Elton years ago but for some reason it was cancelled.😞 Glad he’s back making music for us again. ❤️😊❤️

[@gazt8926]

Billy is looking great

[@smorris7713]

Billy is a fun guy🙌🏽

[@figmo397]

Dang. I was hoping they'd have Billy Joel perform!!!

[@John-Edward]

I like the Super Group idea!!!

[@Zonker66]

Wonder what the extended Piano Man was like... love to hear that. I DO know I'm never going to be able to unhear it as an extended limerick.

[@bluepacifica123]

I'm not a person who has regrets, but years ago I was sitting next to Billy at Claudio's in Greenport. I regret I never said hello. Later, I was shopping across the street at Preston's when I saw him walk down the street but stopped to talk to every fan. So, many years later, "Hello Billy, I'm a big fan"..

[@kayfarquar2034]

I have the album from a group he was in, The Hassles.

[@3izzy0]

You need to do the Colbert Questionaire with BJ!!!

[@airport862]

"From here we can go places"

[@keve4253]

why is Colbert asking him the same questions that have been asked him 100 times already

[@treborretsnom6186]

Set my alarm for that show ♥️🇺🇲

[@yurielcundangan9090]

Thank you New York for draining the Swamps.

[@darlenesmith6370]

Sent 'em all South to Florida. 😊

[@mlbrooks4066]

"The Entertainer" was genius. It was the first, really, but didn't take until after "Piano Man."

[@WillysTruckLife]

I like his new hair style.

[@JonathanACarr]

How many times have I looked in the mirror and said, "They sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say, "Man, what are you doing here?"" That's how I know it's time to move on. That said, I think it would be hell to sing the same song every night for forty years. I would need many bottles of red and not a few bottles of white.

[@louiebee6745]

Hard to believe it was 1963 when B.J. and The Affordables appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in that very same theater!😎

[@359P7bEu3ykQt]

Stephen, you are fangirling hard.

[@kevinriddell2105]

Piano Man turned 50 last November

[@bherber]

Howard Stern asked him this exact same question... I guess Colbert's staff can't come up with its own questions...

[@paulgrimaldi1751]

He puts everyone down in Piano Man lyrics.

[@Skinnyorangemusic]

Tangled Up In Blue is my favorite song

[@susafoe]

Love it, love Billy, love Stephen ❤

[@lashendawest7509]

We love your show stephen colbert

[@blindfreddy]

I love BJ. Always have, always will

[@NorsePJ]

I wish Billy Joel's first album "Cold Spring Harbor" could have been rectified to sound as it should have. I bought the original LP and Joel's voice sounds almost like a chipmunk. The mastering had been done with the vocal at the wrong pitch. Years later, they tried remixing it but still not good. Joel wasn't involved in the remix, but he still thinks it doesn't sound great. It's a shame because it's a great album otherwise.

[@krs5115]

Traveling wilburys with billy too.

[@Mgh-r]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@kt9166]

Billy Joel in Bluuuuuuuue......

[@runningonemty8566]

wow

[@darrellsongy309]

Even robot chicken paid tribute to the piano man. It was great

[@the4thj]

Have to have Bob Segar!

[@NoUploadJustComment]

Please tell me you recorded a Colbert Questionaire with him...

[@napalmholocaust9093]

So old my parents didn't even listen to this. Were his records still shellac?

[@CaptainsChannel58]

Whoever is editing this needs to be fired. Either just upload the full interview or don't bother with this high school quality production.

[@lyndaspangler9654]

Once again I'm KZbin scrolling too much to find the Colbert show "pieces" which is not appreciated. Also, Stephen, what greater interviews you could conduct IF you weren't leaving the show for obnoxious ads every other minute. In the meantime, my soul is sooooo grateful for this interview. To really hear Joel, I need to find a full interview with focus on him, not commercials. Thank you Billy Joel, for eternity. And you, Colbert of commercials. And so many other wondrous things. Billy Joel saves my soul. So do you, Stephen Colbert, in the fray of current INSANITIES since COVID, and before. But Billy Joel? Flows in my blood cells fulfilled by his shared gifts of his talent. Life, is AWESOME. ✌🏽🙏🏽🖖🏽🐾💕😍🥰 (Your daughters have your eyes, Billy. What wondrous eyes you all are blessed for observing 'the other musicians' 😘)

[@JP51ism]

Agreed, but it's commercial TV; just click the volume mute &/or "skip ad". In the theater the band plays great music during the breaks, keeping the audience energy high & with Billy Joel, probably regaling him with his own music. The in-between exchanges also allow SC to gauge his guest & keep the on-air content on track. [So, Lynda, you know his daughters?]

[@thomasgriffiths6758]

I'm surprised he didn't mention Elton John in his super group because of his mutual tour.

[@sjoerdrijpkema9197]

Billy Joel, the Mussolini of Music! 🤣

[@mikemilnes7093]

You mean Billy Jo-el. That's from Jim Gaffigan's comedy skit, anyway I love Billy Joel.

[@RoyCurly-r3t]

50 years ? WOW...years go by...many hairs ago...😂😂

[@tayloreh]

I hope Billys playing too?? ❤

[@jaysiegel4742]

part 3

[@kevinb9n]

Holy shit, it really is limericks! Now Paul is a real estate novelist Who never had time for a wife And he's talkin' with Davy Who's still in the navy And probably will be for life It's not 100% in that form, but still, that is so wild.

[@debrarantilla9879]

I’m kinda crushing on BJ right now after this interview… 😅

[@EllieTheNellie]

Wouldn’t it be 51 years? Unless this was filmed last year?

[@dceplay]

You are correct. Piano Man was released in 1973.

[@Bown497]

We say Billy joEL in Ireland

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

Peter Griffin: Does anyone ever call you Bill or William Joel? Billy Joel: No. Does anyone ever call you Petey Griffin? Peter Griffin: No, they don't. Because I am an adult, which is sort of the point I'm getting at.

[@fisch723]

That interview made me like Billy Joel so much more. Not that I disliked him, but I was kinda lukewarm.

[@Skinnyorangemusic]

People love to rag on Dylan, guess what, he's one of the best, he knows it, and if you don't it doesn't change a thing!

[@dceplay]

Billy is waaaaay more melodic.

[@BrandonCroker]

He'll always be Dodger to me