Turn the Lights Back On
Billy Joel's first song in 17 years
Never say never. After famously saying he’d never write a song again, here’s the song he released yesterday. It certainly sounds like him and it’s fine enough but I wasn’t moved to tears unlike a lot of the commenters on YouTube. With more listens it might grow on me as I am a huge fan. (That’s happened before. - see the Lost Brotherhood and Memorial Beach albums.)
Maybe it’s because it’s not written by Joel alone but with producer Freddy Wexler, Arthur Bacon, and Wayne Hector. Maybe it’s because it’s a mellower Joel. I just wish it was more…something.
Enjoy the song. Interested in what you think.
It sounds plodding and ponderous to me. The piano adds a touch of brightness in the bridge, but it's too little and too late. His voice is still mighty fine, though.
It’s interesting. He asks “did I wait too long to turn the light back on?” and I think maybe he did. The voice is still there although clearly older and perhaps not as dynamic. But the music and the song are both a little tired for me.