Hit Parade | "Still Billy Joel to Me Edition"
Host: Chris Molanphy
Date: April 30, 2020
Episode Overview
This episode of Hit Parade explores the musical evolution and surprising chart success of Billy Joel—focusing on how, in 1980, he broke out of his established "Piano Man" persona to embrace new genres and styles that sent him to the top of the Billboard charts. Host Chris Molanphy dives into the period when Joel downplayed his signature piano sound and experimented freely, asking: What really makes a Billy Joel hit, and how did he keep reinventing himself while dominating the pop charts?
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Context: Billy Joel’s 1980 Reinvention
- Forty years ago in April 1980, Billy Joel, already a well-established artist, re-entered the top 10 with music that sounded dramatically different from his earlier work (01:27).
- Joel's 1980 singles, including "You May Be Right" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," featured rock and guitar-forward sounds rather than his trademark piano style (01:57).
Shattering the "Piano Man" Myth
- Despite his nickname, piano was not always the center of Joel's hits. Even "Piano Man" itself was not as huge a Billboard hit upon release as fans might think (02:30).
- Molanphy highlights that Joel is more accurately a musical chameleon—"the pastiche man"—who adopts styles and genres as needed to keep his music fresh (03:10).
Chris Molanphy (03:28):
“The truth is, Billy Joel never really was the Piano Man. Not entirely anyway. Some of his most famous piano standards weren’t actually Billboard chart hits in their day. And even on the massive Grammy winning smashes, keyboards were just one tool in Joel’s bag of tricks.”
Chart Success Through Reinvention
- Joel’s experimentation reached a peak with the album Glass Houses, which featured harder-edged rock tracks and marked the zenith of his chart power (04:00).
- “[Billy Joel] tried on genres, styles and even voices like they were clothing. Sometimes he didn’t need any instruments besides the human voice.” (03:50)
The Big Moment: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
- The episode zeroes in on the week ending July 19, 1980, when "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" became his first number one on the Hot 100 (05:28).
- At the same time, the album Glass Houses was in the midst of a six-week run atop the Billboard album chart (05:35).
- Joel cleverly pokes fun at his own musical anxieties and the pop landscape in the self-aware lyrics of the song.
Chris Molanphy (06:05):
“He even poked fun at his own stylistic insecurities right in the lyrics of a hit.”
Enduring Legacy and Perceptions
- To younger generations, Joel is often associated with “that apocalyptic history lesson song with too many words”—a reference to “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (04:20).
- Molanphy asks: Was there ever a singular Billy Joel sound, and did it really matter, given his astonishing hit-making ability?
Chart Factoid & Trivia Asides
- Joel’s genre experimentation—including forays into new wave, dance crazes, and more—helped sustain his popularity in a fast-changing musical era (06:35).
- The concept of "exit velocity": Molanphy describes the exact moment when Joel’s career blasted beyond his original image (04:55).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Chris Molanphy on Joel’s Versatility (03:45):
“Forget Piano Man. Joel was the pastiche man by the Eighties, when he was at the peak of his hit generating powers.” - Chris Molanphy on Joel’s Approach to Hits (06:38):
“He was trying on genres, styles and even voices like they were clothing...Any ways to get on the radio.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:27 – Introduction to Joel’s 1980 comeback and shift in sound
- 02:04 – Analysis of “You May Be Right” and its rock sensibility
- 03:28 – Debunking the Piano Man myth
- 04:00 – Examination of the Glass Houses era and Joel’s pastiche style
- 05:28 – Chart breakthrough: “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” hits #1
- 06:05 – Joel’s self-aware lyricism and genre-bending approach
- 06:38 – “Next Phase, New Wave, Dance Craze, Any ways to get on the radio”
Summary & Takeaway
Chris Molanphy expertly recounts how Billy Joel, far from being stuck as the Piano Man, continually reinvented his musical persona. The episode spotlights Joel’s 1980 pivot to harder rock, his playful attitude towards genre, and his remarkable run on the charts—culminating in his first Hot 100 #1 with "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." Ultimately, the episode leaves listeners with a fresh appreciation for Joel's adaptability and his lasting impact on pop music history.