Billy Joel Should Take A Page Out Of Taylor Swift's Book
I'm a HUGE Billy Joel fan. Artist I have seen the most in concert in my life. Grew up with the CD's blaring in the car as a kid, then bonded with kids who were raised similarly in college and played his songs at pregames or postgames etc. It's amazing that he hasn't released an album in 30 years yet people still flock to his concerts. When it was announced 10 years ago he would be doing 1 concert a month at MSG for a year with "possibility to extend as long as people are interested" or some quote to that extent , I said he would die on stage before people stopped having interest in going to his shows. He's an icon in NYC, and by some miracle his show didn't sell out people would find out who haven't gone before and then fill the arena. There's no shot he wouldn't sell out MSG.
Here we are 10 years later and Billy basically had to tap out himself and end the run. He recently announced we are in the final year of shows at MSG in terms of his residency and we are likely on the tail end of him performing live in general. He is 74 years old. I imagine he's running out of performances left in the tank.
Taylor Swift has taken this country abuzz this spring and summer with a stadium tour, but it's how she has gone about it that has really stood out (more on that in a second). I think Billy Joel can learn a thing or two from her as a way to give back to his fans during his final run at MSG.
The things that stand out on Taylor Swift's concerts on this tour are them running 3 and half hours, featuring surprise songs, and special guests. Those are the three things I think Billy Joel should do in these last 12 performances. He runs for about 2 hours every performance and you leave loving it, but wanting more. There's always one song you wish you heard, or one you were just in the mood for that night. A 3 hour run time allows people to really feel like they got a knock your socks off show. I know it would push him to the limit, and he would take a toll on his voice, but if he's only got 12 left... shouldn't he want to empty the tank each night and really rock the place ?
Special guests always make a show better. I've seen Billy Joel a lot, and the only real stars he has brought out live with him were at Last Play at Shea. At MSG he brings up kind of oddball guests (one guy sings Highway to Hell that travels with him, another guy sung a beautiful song in a different language, and his daughter came out recently. Not really star studded stuff. With all his connections, shouldn't he bring out Bruce, or Elton, or Stevie Nicks, or hell even Taylor Swift for one song ? Wouldn't people lose their shit if that became a thing for the final 12 shows ?
if he can't go 3 hours, and he doesn't want to go guests and he only decides to take one of my ideas I hope it's this one ... embrace the special songs.
Everyone I know who has attended these concerts or wants to attend these concerts has the "suprise songs" as the thing they talk about the most. Which song did you get ? How many are left ? What song do you want to hear ? It's a terrific idea and a true way to both thank fans and connect with them. I like Taylor Swift and have seen her live, but this is really an awesome idea. Billy Joel has a variety of songs he almost certainly not performed live during this run, and I'll go out on a limb and say he very rarely has performed live ever. I think he should start working these into the shows, it's something I really hope he does.
And if you are asking which deep cut I love the most ... it's this