# Billy Joel actually releases a new song - Turn the Lights Back On **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 1, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973 "2024-02-01T15:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/21 "2024-02-17T01:14:30Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > but I found this reasonable enough on first listen. It’s a bit milquetoast for me – the melodies are just so predictable and there’s no real surprises, but it’s perfectly nice. that!!! a generic piano ballad - what I call “Hollywood Music” (b/c just like in an avg. Hollywood movie you know exactly how everything will turn out - just 3 min. into the movie) … the same here, zero surprises, you know exactly the structure, cord progressions etc… So, I expected way more … if an avg. joe doe had made this song, he’d be hard pressed to get a gig in a coffee-shop … Just play it again and visualize Taylor S. singing it - or Michael Bubblé… it works - it is so generic … I get a nearly AI/Disney optimized vibe from it … likable - but at the same time “poor” compared to his 1970ies output. … But then, Macca/Elton et al have not produced anything noteworthy in ~~30~~ ~~35~~ 40 years, either … ---
**Author:** ![Nayna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ebca7d/32.png) [@Nayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nayna)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/22 "2024-02-17T04:37:22Z")
I hadn’t seen that - I just watched it and I love it! Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/23 "2024-02-17T05:37:50Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > So, I expected way more … if an avg. joe doe had made this song, he’d be hard pressed to get a gig in a coffee-shop … It’s far more than I expected because I didn’t think he’d ever release anything new again. When I first heard the song I was worried it might be a farewell to his fans and the video kind of reinforced that idea for me. At the age of 74, how long can he keep performing before he gives it up to run for president? You’re right. It’s not the best Billy Joel song, but I’m still glad we got it. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/24 "2024-02-17T13:36:54Z")
yes … similar to the “new Beatles song” … nothing too earthshaking - glad it has been done … but I still feel it dilutes the “ouvre” of the artist … (just like the Beatles thingy did) ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/25 "2024-02-18T06:44:14Z")
I’m just gonna go ahead and disagree with you there. BJ’s new song is WAY better than the “new” Beatles song, which is anything but new. Also “Lights” actually is new, even if old Billy had some help writing it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/26 "2024-02-18T22:33:21Z")
I enjoyed the new song. It’s pretty good. I’d put it maybe 12th in the top 12 Billy Joel songs? It doesn’t have the classic Billy Joel attitude that you hear in _My Life_ and _NY State of Mind_. But BJ does some sappy, sentimental songs like _She’s Got a Way_ that I still like. _Turn the Lights Back On_ is in a similar category. My Top 10 (in no specific order) _Piano Man She’s Always a Woman New York State of Mind Only the Good Die Young It’s Still Rock N Roll Uptown Girl Allen town Captain Jack My Life An Innocent Man_ ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/27 "2024-02-19T09:55:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It doesn’t have the classic Billy Joel attitude that you hear in _My Life_ and _NY State of Mind_. That’s because Billy didn’t write the words this time. There are actually four songwriters credited. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/28 "2024-02-19T14:32:53Z")
I listened to the live Grammy version last night. It sounds more like classic Billy Joel. He’s using more runs and emotion in his voice. It’s also his natural voice. The official recording is pitch corrected. That’s standard in modern music today. Here is an interesting comparison of the Grammy awards performance vs the offical release. You can easily hear how much better Billy Joel is live. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OkM0Or6ZG6o/maxresdefault.jpg "GOOSEBUMPS! THIS performance made me emotional... in MANY ways!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkM0Or6ZG6o) ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/29 "2024-02-19T16:46:17Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > There are actually four songwriters credited. It took _four people_ to come up with that? Something something _ **committees** _ something. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/30 "2024-02-19T17:05:39Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > It took _four people_ to come up with that? I’ve always wondered about songs with a lot of people on the credits. What were they all _doing_? You’d think they would spend so much time getting in each others’ way and arguing that nothing got done. I’ve written songs now and again with ONE collaborator at a time, but that many?? ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/31 "2024-02-20T06:46:07Z")
The video’s pretty cool. One of the first AI things I can say I like. Has young Billy merged with today Billy. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/32 "2024-04-20T16:30:52Z")
If you did not get to see it, find a copy of Billy Joel’s 100th Madison Square Garden performance. It aired on CBS the other night and was terrific. He did perform Turn The Lights Back on live and honestly, it has rapidly become one of my absolute favorite songs of his. The whole performance was great and I do think it would have been amazing to see him there live. He’s been performing there once a month for…10 years? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973/33 "2024-04-21T14:20:17Z")
I saw it this weekend as well. What a show! With a guest appearance by Sting, no less! I think during Covid, they would have cancelled a few shows (once a month for ten years would be about 120 shows, so you do the math). I’ve seen him live twice, once in 1986, another about 15 years ago, and the man is a consummate performer every time. Great band too! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-actually-releases-a-new-song-turn-the-lights-back-on/996973.md?page=1)