Went and saw Rocketman the other day (meh) and got to thinking, who was/is the better musician/singer Billy Joel or Elton John? Both are known to be great "piano rockers", one from England the other from the US. They even teamed up doing "face to face" tours together for a while until Billy couldn't stay sober. For me it's no contest. Elton by a mile. 30 studio albums vs 13 for Billy. Billy strikes me as being lazy, not having put out any new music in decades and his last studio album was a joke -- Beethoven wannabe garbage. Never like BJ so I'm not an unbiased critic (wouldn't cross the street to see him perform) so I figured I'd elicit board opinion.
OT: Billy vs Elton
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Elton by a mile to me. I agree with Billy not having produced material in 30 years.
I think Elton is probably more talented, but I like Billy's stuff better.
Billy did Christie Brinkley, so he wins hands down.
Billy's songs are aging better. Billy wrote his own lyrics. Elton was the better showman and celebrity. I think his best songs reach greater heights than Billy's but I find his sound more repetitive across the catalogue.
EJ partied way harder. Used to show up for football matches in the owners box at noon, having not slept for two days, still drinking champagne and whacking lines in the bathroom. Amazing he's still alive.
All and all, I take Billy's catalogue to the deserted island over Elton.
EJ partied way harder. Used to show up for football matches in the owners box at noon, having not slept for two days, still drinking champagne and whacking lines in the bathroom. Amazing he's still alive.
All and all, I take Billy's catalogue to the deserted island over Elton.
For me, it's not even close. BIlly's music and performance are way better. I've seen him 9 times, twice with Elton. There is simply no comparison to the energy each exerts on stage. Maybe in the 70s, Elton was a showman. From the 90s on, he was bordering on boring on stage. Add in the fact that Elton didn't even write his own stuff, and it's no contest.
But Elton did one of her ex husbands.Billy did Christie Brinkley, so he wins hands down.
A
anon_ivydyf0amkzay
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Had this exact same thought several days ago. Without hesitation I chose Billy.
Sums it up nicely for me.
Sums it up nicely for me.
I think both had a time when they each produced some very good music. What I find perplexing is that both retain much more relevance than they ought to at this point. Billy Joel hasn't cut a record worth listening to in nearly 40 years (1980?), and for Elton, it's been even longer than that, and by a few years, too. Yet both are still regarded by many as current musicians. Amazing...
For what it's worth, I think the Elton's best is quite better than Joel's best, though Joel stopped recording ****** albums well before Elton did, so he gets some credit for realizing it's over.
Elton also has to his (dis)credit what is one of my three least favorite songs of all time, Bennie and the Jets. Absolutely unlistenable...
For what it's worth, I think the Elton's best is quite better than Joel's best, though Joel stopped recording ****** albums well before Elton did, so he gets some credit for realizing it's over.
Elton also has to his (dis)credit what is one of my three least favorite songs of all time, Bennie and the Jets. Absolutely unlistenable...
What did you think of the movie? I understand Taron Egerton did all his own singing. Thought he was great in Kingsman.
Not a huge fan of either, really, from an overall catalogue perspective, although they each have some great songs. I'd probably have to give Elton's best songs a slight edge over Billy's best songs and I'd also say Elton has more "best songs" IMO. For me, the problem is both have a host of songs, even including big hits, that I just hate with a passion and there's not a lot of music I dislike that much.
- Elton Fave Hits/Songs: Rocketman, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Funeral For a Friend, Tiny Dancer, Your Song and Saturday Night's Alright for Fightin'
- Elton Hits That Make Me Hurl: Candle in the Wind, That's What Friends are For, Island Girl, Philadelphia Freedom, Blue Eyes and many more
- Billy Joel Fave Hits/Songs: Piano Man, Pressure, Captain Jack, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Only the Good Die Young
- Billy Joel Hits That Make Me Hurl: Uptown Girl, We Didn't Start the Fire, Tell Her About It, You May Be Right, Say Goodbye to Hollywood, and many more, including the song that makes me want to stab my ears with ice picks - The Longest Time
Billy did Christie Brinkley, so he wins hands down.
in which case Rick Ocasek is the greatest musician in history.
The Dangerous Type.
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in which case Rick Ocasek tops Billy.
The Dangerous Type.
Question: Why do rockstars date super models?
Answer: Because they can.
Neither have done relevant work in 30 years
Two great singer soundwriters but completely different in what they sing about
Both better than Bruce tho
Two great singer soundwriters but completely different in what they sing about
Both better than Bruce tho
The question I like to pose is, which artists do we have the responsibility of sharing with the next generation? My list would definitely include Elton John, along with Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and a bunch of others I’m not remembering right now. I’m not talking Beatles or Zeppelin or Dylan, as they will always stay relevant. I’m thinking about artists that are influential yet current day listeners may not realize what songwriting used to be, and how much influence they’ve had on other artists over the years.
You have literally the shittiest taste in music of anyone in the English-speaking world. Those are two of the ten worst songs ever recorded.
Having seen them both (Paulina and Christie) in person in the City and not gussied up for a shoot....in which case Rick Ocasek is the greatest musician i history.
The Dangerous Type.
Billy is the maestro here.
It was ok. I could have done without all the homoeroticism. I get it, Elton’s gay. That fact can be conveyed in a more subtle manner, imo. That said, I’d say if you’re a classic rock fan it’s worth the 10 bucks
Billy Joel favorites:
It's a Matter of Trust
Sometimes I Go to Extremes
Piano Man
Good Night Saigon
Miami 2017
We Didn't Start The Fire was 1989; All About Soul 1993.
What's Elton released during that time?
A lot of Elton's is similar...while Joel's music bridges more genre's and imo is MUCH more hook laden (catchier).
Joel's father was a classical musician and his half brother is the conductor of a European Orchestra....
Also with few exceptions Joel is a far better lyricist than Taupin.
Just like the sound and message in this song:
MO
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Those two releases weaken Billy Joel’s case in my opinion. Both are awful. It’s subjective, of course.
They both are not in top 50 on my list.
To the original poster, I love Nashville, and think that city is one of many reasons we should stay clear of scheduling vandy in football--+they hired a new AD, I think.
But not to hijack the thread, neither one of them has written a song/poem in >20 years. It is not music for them--only entertainment and $$$$. So they've come clean and only play 30+ year old songs, or have the non-union young millennials write songs giving up all of their <the authors> future earnings.
Enjoy your weekends, #RUFaithfaulFANS...
To the original poster, I love Nashville, and think that city is one of many reasons we should stay clear of scheduling vandy in football--+they hired a new AD, I think.
But not to hijack the thread, neither one of them has written a song/poem in >20 years. It is not music for them--only entertainment and $$$$. So they've come clean and only play 30+ year old songs, or have the non-union young millennials write songs giving up all of their <the authors> future earnings.
Enjoy your weekends, #RUFaithfaulFANS...
Billy Joel is Long Island's Bruce Springsteen. The further away you get from there, the fewer people love his music.
Different Strokes....
Think we didn't start the fire was a good 3 minute recent history / current events post- and different from virtually all other Joel tunes.
It's All About Soul has nice background harmonies...
IMO I'd pay to see Billy Joel and forgo freebies for Elton if on the same night.
MO
No, actually.
I think that might have been your last IQ point, just floated away, there.
thoughts:
I went to see Elton's "fair well tour" show in Newark, and he did a very good job, crowd pleasing.......
I also was fortunate to see him in 1974, thanksgiving night, when John Lennon came up on stage and they sang about 4 songs together....I believe that was John's last major stage appearance. that show also was excellent
that said, Elton and Billy did that dueling piano tour, years ago..... when they did their songs separately, the crowd was really into Billy....... when Elton came out a lot of people went to the bathroom, milled about, etc..
there was even a point where Elton looked hurt
by the crowd response
concerts are funny....by himself Elton would rock a concert hall, same for Billy......
but, Billy showed who owned the NY area.....
I went to see Elton's "fair well tour" show in Newark, and he did a very good job, crowd pleasing.......
I also was fortunate to see him in 1974, thanksgiving night, when John Lennon came up on stage and they sang about 4 songs together....I believe that was John's last major stage appearance. that show also was excellent
that said, Elton and Billy did that dueling piano tour, years ago..... when they did their songs separately, the crowd was really into Billy....... when Elton came out a lot of people went to the bathroom, milled about, etc..
there was even a point where Elton looked hurt
by the crowd response
concerts are funny....by himself Elton would rock a concert hall, same for Billy......
but, Billy showed who owned the NY area.....
I saw Billy do the Saigon song on stage, where he had some vets come up on stage and were posed through out in a war stance....was really good...
anyway, I always thought that song was under rated, ignored by most fans..... glad you appreciate it