Billy Joel’s Best Record in 30 Years, Turn the Lights Back On

In the Hamptons, it’s easy to support local music when it includes iconic artists like Billy Joel, Student Body, Tape Lab, and Beyoncé, just to mention a few. 

I know this is LNG territory, but I always listen to The Afternoon Ramble on WLIW (“Long Island’s ONLY NPR Station”). The deejay Brian Cosgrove throws some serious heat on his playlists and highlights new local music. So, when I heard that a Sag Harbor-based singer/songwriter had released a new single, I naturally turned up the volume.

Even though it seems like the longest time since we heard new music from the Entertainer, the new single is a breath of fresh air and a reminder that, even if he didn’t start the fire, Billy Joel still burns bright in 2024. You May Be Right that the new track wouldn’t make the cut at this year’s Catalina Wine Mixer (“Strictly 80’s Joel, Sir!”), here in New York, we’ve got another state of mind.

Billy has been hot on the press tour to promote this new record, so as neighbors, we figured he might be a little too busy for an interview. Instead, let’s take a listen to the record and remember we always love you, Mr. Joel, just the way you are.

Clearly, the world is as hungry as ever for some new Joel. In the first 20 days since the song was released, it has been streamed 4.3 million times on Spotify. Don’t worry, Bill, you didn’t wait too long, you still have our attention.

If you were smart, you stayed up to catch Billy Joel’s headlining performance at the Grammys. Of course he had to go on last—imagine you have to come on after Anthony’s Song? All of his hallmarks as a performer and artist were on display: virtuoso piano chops, charisma and it doesn’t hurt that the song is a certified BILLY BANGER.

In The Hamptons, Billy Joel is no Stranger, where he lives in a house (not made of glass) in Sag Harbor Village. You can find the iconic Downeast Alexa docked in the Sag Harbor Yacht Club, or maybe he’s sitting across the room in an Italian Restaurant. Our connection runs even deeper as we shared many moments around town in Sag Harbor; Me, wondering if that was really the Piano Man; BIlly, relieved that he wasn’t recognized. He is a genuine Long Island Legend, an active and engaged Sag Harbor citizen, and of course, one of the best artists of our lifetime.

After a career spanning more than half a century, the Hicksville native is more reflective and contemplative than ever, revealing a depth of maturity and humility. There is power in allowing the question to go unanswered, power in being open to what comes after the “long winter of indifference” (a lyric that only Billy Joel could make singable).

On the surface, “I’m late, but I’m here right now / And I’m tryin’ to find the magic” may be a nod to the 30 years that have passed since he last released studio music; However, there is a depth of reflection that speaks to more than celebrity. More universally, relatably, the song’s center of gravity is a question: did I wait too long to make things right? 

Stylistically, Turn the Lights Back On reveals an interiority of feelings and thoughts, treated tenderly and sincerely. Absent are the slice-of-life storytelling (Allentown), sarcasm (Piano Man), and dextrous word-play (Start the Fire)—instead, the record is paired down, and it doesn’t appear that there is an immediately available answer. 

While Mr. Joel’s words are burdened by the weight—and waiting—of time; his voice and piano playing are as bold, self-assured, and distinctive as ever. Clearly, he has taken great care of his real moneymakers. Sweeping piano flutters with the skill of a true master, he knows when to lead and when to hold back. SIDE NOTE: It’s got a similar reverb timpani crash from Downeaster ‘Alexa’!

As for the music video, I won’t say that the AI-altered young Billy Joel image is not horrifying. It is. But for you, Billy, I will forgive this. I suppose you could say its cool to see the singer age before your eyes, mirroring the reflective nature of the lyrics.

In case you’ve been living in Vienna, or in Hackensack, Billy’s historic residency at Madison Square Garden will conclude his historic sold-out monthly residency with his record 150 lifetime shows in July of this year. In My Life, I’m proud to say that Billy Joel was my first major concert. The dude brings the heat, seriously. Like The Boss, Billy Joel gives his fans the most for their money by playing shows that can top more than 3 hours. 

Solidifying his absolute GOAT status among die-hard fans, for years, Billy Joel has refused to sell front-row seats at his concerts; instead, he GIVES them to the loudest and most excited fans. 

Billy Joel – Turn the Lights Back On