Billy Joel Performs at the Grammys for the 1st Time in 22 Years

May 2024 · 3 minute read

The Grammys audience was once in the mood for a melody, and Billy Joel had them feeling alright.

The iconic musician, 74, took the level at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, making his triumphant go back to the awards show for the first time in 22 years. He performed his new unmarried, “Turn the Lights Back On,” which debuted earlier this month.

Before his efficiency, Joel described the making of the tune with manufacturer and cowriter Freddy Wexler. Wexler joked that he was once “relentless” while seeking to persuade Joel to record the track, noting that Joel gave the impression reluctant to listen to him out at their first lunch meeting — he ordered clams on the half shell and a BLT to go.

After Taylor Swift accepted the ultimate award of the night for Album of the Year, Joel returned for a 2d performance, enjoying “You May Be Right” from his 1980 album, Glass Houses.

Joel ultimate carried out at the Grammys in February 2002 when he joined the overdue Tony Bennett for a duet on “New York State on Mind,” which firstly gave the impression on Joel’s 1976 album, Turnstiles. The duo were nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals that yr however lost to Christina (*22*), Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink for “Lady Marmalade.”

Three days ahead of this 12 months’s Grammys, Joel launched “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new song in 16 years. His most up-to-date previous release is 2007’s “Christmas in Fallujah” with Cass Dillon. His closing studio album, Fantasies & Delusions, debuted in 2001.

In 2019, Joel published that he by no means stopped writing but just doesn’t unlock his latest paintings. “I still write track. I just don’t file it, they usually’re now not in track form,” he instructed Rolling Stone at the time. “It’s any other roughly track altogether. It’s purely for my very own edification. I don’t really feel forced to record it. I don’t feel pressured to make myself be related. Like I stated, I lived the rock ‘n’ roll existence, and I’m now not writing that anymore.”

He additionally mentioned he hadn’t closed the door on making every other full-length album. “I’m never going to mention by no means,” he defined. “I might come up with an idea that could turn out to be a song. I would possibly write a movie soundtrack. I might write a symphony. I don’t know. Anything’s possible.”

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While Joel hasn’t been recording new music for the past couple many years, he’s never stopped touring and performing. Last 12 months, Joel announced that his long-running residency at New York City’s Madison Square Garden will come to an end in July after his one hundred and fiftieth career live performance at the famed arena.

“I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted so long as it did,” Joel stated in a June 2023 press conference. “My crew tells me that lets proceed to sell tickets, but 10 years, a hundred and fifty displays — alright already!”

Though Joel’s MSG residency is coming to an finish, a rep for the singer assured fans closing 12 months that the singer has no plans to retire anytime soon.

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