Billy Joel - Q&A: Where Do You Get Your Song Ideas? (MTV Night School 1982)

Throughout the years, Billy Joel has become known for his willingness to hold Q&A sessions with fans in settings across the globe. Here Billy answers a question about inspiration and where song ideas come from on MTV's Night School in 1982.
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Billy Joel's official RUclips channel features music videos, live performances, interviews, TV appearances and more. Best known for his first hit song, 'Piano Man', in 1973, Billy has written and recorded thirty-three Top 40 hits in the United States. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 150 million records worldwide. Billy Joel is the sixth-best-selling recording artist and the third-best-selling solo artist in the United States.

[@georgiethumbs2438]

Paul McCartney wrote the words first to "All my loving" and then set it to music. Bob Dylan also almost always writes the words first. I think what has to happen when you write the words first is you have to have a rhythm in your head going first that suggests a chord pattern.

[@carlbaumeister3439]

True, but that was a rare occurrence for McCartney. He usually writes music first.

[@wubbsdingus4320]

That's why Bob Dylan isn't a musician imo. His emphasis was on the lyrics and so the music isn't very unique or interesting.

[@mylifeasjohnnyvbook]

I hear the music first and then work on lyrics to fit the music.

[@brandonhaygood5286]

I know your comment is old but you're so right about the rhythm. I write the lyrics to my friend's music and we usually do lyrics first, and when I write lyrics it's always to a rhythm. Sometimes I have to recite to him the lyrics with that rhythm for him but that has always helped him as a composer. I know nobody asked but I wanted to share my input.

[@thewheekly8]

Oh Billy! 😂❤️ I love you ❤️

[@lilianacaetano2866]

I loved the explanation... An excellent sense of humor!❤️😂

[@pureflame6755]

I can't 😂 he tells the stories so amazingly, funny 😂🤣

[@syngsworld]

interesting idea. music first then lyrics. what a musical genius

[@keepinmahprivacy9754]

I think it comes from his classical background. Mostly in classical music you are composing instrumental pieces with just a mood or theme in mind. Maybe later you put them together with some lyrics to make an opera, but the music comes first.

[@GlennTwiddle1]

2:23 I think someone has a crush 😉

[@DuhAverageJoe]

Amazing! lol

[@remotegod255]

heh, this is excellent. very good and funny advice

[@crimsonghost4107]

my sharona! that's so me

[@thebutton7932]

I used to have this entire q&a on video. It was very funny and about 40 mins long.

[@Eddie_Barzoon]

and mostly what I need from you😬😬😬

[@weirdguy75]

Fucking hilarious!

[@DanHarrisonKing]

1:23 Billbeachy Joeboysl

[@negativecapability703]

jajaja nothwithstanding BILLY YOU ARE A POET

[@FleagleSangria]

I think that artists that are musicians first will usually find a hooky little melody and instrumentation first. Then whatever the mood of the music is dictates the lyrics. For those who are not as good of musicians. Maybe they simply play guitar pretty good and are more into the idea of a song first, lyrics come first. Bob Dylan is really a poet (whether he believes this or not) that just so happens to use the musical medium to set the words to music. He really isnt that great of a musician. Though he is underrated as an acoustical guitarist. The best popular singer songwriters are more inclined to be pianists. Elton, Leon, Billy etc. Elton got very lucky in that he had an excellent lyricist in Bernie. Billy Joel unfortunately, imo, isnt thst great a lyricist. Very limited in scope. And focused on subject matter that imo isnt that interesting and comes off not to my liking. Ill leave it at that.

[@manco828]

Well, that's just your opinion, man.

[@FleagleSangria]

@@manco828 Well uh yeah. Since I wrote it lol. Now dont make me pee on your rug Dude. :p

[@urbangorilla33]

@@manco828 You got a date Wednesday, baby!

[@rowang.2760]

"It doesn't really sound like sodomy, does it..."

[@WakaWaka2468]

Did Norm Macdonald write the title?

[@WSNO]

😺🌠🎸🎹🗽✨🎨❤️💖💌🌈🎉🍝
I'm also very inspired by Melody 💘💛

[@WSNO]

Love that working title btw 😻😹

[@thehumanian634]

And that’s why billy Joel songs are easy to remember the name of

[@chaseCween]

What a funny guy

[@Tolstoy111]

This is not 83...it’s 82.

[@creativesource3514]

It's interesting that Elton John writes the song once Taupin sends him the lyrics.

[@jackgeary6928]

There’s another clip where he explains the honesty song in more detail. That is a funny story too.

[@showtunegirl659]

For years my brother thought George Michael was saying “chchcheeseburg”

[@angelashepherd4429]

He has a great personality ❤

[@bentleyraiford5188]

2:12

[@adamv4344]

Thanks

[@williambaker8654]

Www

[@Izzy-gz1rq]

2:13 *harasses piano for the millionth time*
𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐇𝐍𝐔𝐍𝐔𝐇𝐍𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐀𝐇
billy has such a way with words