BILLY JOEL: IN HIS OWN WORDS (TV)
Summary
This televised concert special, filmed at the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania, features music and conversation with performer Billy Joel. Joel begins by singing "Summer, Highland Falls," and then explains that he wants to share information about the music business rather than the gossipy details of his personal life about which he is frequently asked. He jokes about the overused three-chord style in rock music, as featured in songs like "Louie, Louie," to which no one knows the true lyrics. He recalls his disappointment at receiving an advertisement brochure in response to his detailed fan letter to The Beatles, and comments on the irony of his performing at many different colleges when he did not graduate high school. Taking audience questions, he explains the story behind his 1976 "sci-fi" song "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)", explaining that it was written in response to New York City's financial troubles in 1975. He also discusses "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and its inspiration from Ronnie Spector's "Be My Baby." Next, he comments on his love of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life" despite not understanding many of the Britain-based references in the lyrics. Further questions prompt a discussion of natural versus learned talent and how music must be a "compulsion" for one to succeed.
After "New York State of Mind" and a partial power outage, Joel talks about the fishing communities of Long Island and their challenges in maintaining their business, then performing "The Downeaster 'Alexa.'" He comments on the appeal of a "rock 'n' roll" girl versus "the girl next door," and explains that he is attempting to write a requiem of sorts about 9/11 but is still struggling to process his feelings about the tragedy. He then welcomes accompanist Richard Hyung-ki Joo to the stage, who performs part of "Uptown Girl" in the style of Mozart, and the two pianists play "Air (Dublinesque)" together. Joel admits that he often becomes distracted by hunger onstage and forgets the words to some of his classics, including "Just the Way You Are," and then describes how "Only the Good Die Young" was originally conceived as a reggae song. He reveals that it did badly on the charts until it was officially banned by an archbishop for its religious content, after which it sold very well. Next, Joel discusses "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and the difficulty of portraying the passage of time within the song and its interludes. In response to an audience question, he explains that he wrote "Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)" for his daughter Alexa Ray in response to her questions about the afterlife.
Following this, Joel mentions his latest album "Fantasies & Delusions," and he and Joo play the three movements of his "Star-Crossed" suite for piano: "Innamorato," "Sorbetto" and "Delusion." Next, he shares a funny memory of Bob Dylan and his signature harmonica holder, which he himself then dons for "Piano Man," written from his own experiences playing at bars. He closes by reminding aspiring musicians to "be brave, be strong and don't be afraid," and plays the rest of "Lullaby" before departing. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: November 11, 2001 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:52:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:73249
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music; Specials; Talk/Interview
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 2001
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jodi Hurwitz … Executive Producer
- Andy Kadison … Executive Producer
- Paul Rappaport … Executive Producer
- Danny Bennett … Executive Producer
- Delia Fine … Executive Producer
- Allen Kelman … Producer
- David Leaf … Producer
- Tony Faske … Associate Producer
- Mitch Maketansky … Audio Producer
- Max Loubiere … Consulting Producer
- Eileen Bernstein … Line Producer
- Lawrence Jordan … Director
- Billy Joel … Performer
- Richard Hyung-ki Joo … Performer
- The Beatles
- Ronnie Spector
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Alexa Ray Joel
- Bob Dylan