google-site-verification: googlec7193c3de77668c9.html

Billy Joel says he quit songwriting to avoid diluting his own legacy

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Billy Joel believes in leaving on a high note.

The five-time Grammy winner said he stopped writing music after his 1993 album “River of Dreams” because he felt like “I was done.”

“I didn’t want to lock myself in a cave and devote myself like a monk to writing anymore. I had done it 12 times,” he told music producer Rick Beato in an interview posted to YouTube on Monday.

The “Uptown Girl” singer added that he also had a wife, ex Christie Brinkley, and a young daughter — his oldest, Alexa — at the time. Joel and Brinkley divorced in 1994.

RINGO STARR REVEALS THE ONE HUMBLE RITUAL THE BEATLES REFUSED TO QUIT EVEN AT THE HEIGHT OF FAME

Billy Joel performs on stage at Madison Square Garden.

Billy Joel claimed that aging artists sometimes taint their legacy by writing mediocre music. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

He said he realized the Beatles made 12 albums and “that was just enough for me.”

“And I decided I was not going to do it anymore because I’ve heard artists who keep putting out records and they really … they dilute their legacy,” he added. “Maybe they’re not as good as they used to be, or they’re not as motivated as they were, but it ends up trailing off. I didn’t want to go like that.”

The “Piano Man” singer didn’t name any of the aging artists he had in mind.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Billy Joel performs onstage at Tokyo Dome.

Billy Joel is seen performing in 2024. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

He admitted that “it’s not easy to do ” after Beato said he respected his decision to let his past music stand for itself.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Billy Joel performs on stage at Allegiant Stadium.

Billy Joel said he didn’t want to muddle his legacy with subpar music. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“Saying ‘no’ sometimes is really hard to do,” he said, adding that, however, he did do an album of classical piano pieces afterward.

“That’s where I wanted to go. I was ready to do that,” he said. “I didn’t want to just keep beating a dead horse and keep being played because I was Billy Joel. I wanted it to be good, and I recognized that I didn’t have the same motivation I used to have, so I said, ‘Stop. Don’t kill it.’”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Views: 1

See also  Wynonna Judd's daughter arrested on indecent exposure charge

Check Also

The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan film starring Matt Damon and Zendaya receives rave reviews

Universal Studios will have high hopes for the film at the box office, after Oppenheimer …

Ice-T reveals marriage secrets including date night and communication

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Ice-T is dropping marriage advice that has …

Country star Zach John King cancels two weeks of shows to grieve father’s death

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Country music star Zach John King is …

Leave a Reply

Available for Amazon Prime
Elfbar elfa kit.