Billy Joel performs in New York City in December 2023.Photo:Kevin Mazur/GettyThe Piano Man is gearing up to sing us a brand new song!Billy Joelhas officially announced the release of his first single in 17 years, “Turn the Lights Back On.”The track — which heteased on Instagramon Monday — will be released on streaming platforms on Feb. 1, along with a lyric video. It will also be released on limited-edition 7-inch vinyl.“Turn the Lights Back On” is the legendary singer-songwriter’s first new material since 2007, when he released one-off singles “All My Life,” which was penned for then-wifeKatie Lee, and “Christmas in Fallujah” with musician Cass Dillon.Joel, 74, wrote the track with Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector and the song’s producer, Freddy Wexler, who has worked on songs for artists includingAriana Grande,Selena GomezandPost Malone.The Grammy winnerteased it on stagelast year, telling the audience, “We’ve got a little something we’ve been working on you might hear sometime.”Prior to his 2007 singles, Joel had retired from songwriting altogether, only releasing covers — including Carole King’s “Hey Girl” andBob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” — since his 1993 albumRiver of Dreams.Reflecting on his decision to cease songwriting ina 2018 interview with Vulture, Joel simply said, “When I stopped writing songs it was time.”“I couldn’t be as good as I wanted and that was driving me crazy. I was driving my loved ones crazy,” he told the outlet. “I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ So I stopped.”Elsewhere in the interview, the “Uptown Girl” singer revealed that drinking was “one of the reasons I stopped writing songs.”“I would drink to try and ease the pain of not being as good as I wanted to be,” Joel told Vulture, adding that “it was a vicious cycle, so I stopped.”Billy Joel in the ’90s.Michel Linssen/RedfernsDuring his 17-year songwriting hiatus, Joel has continued to take the stage to perform his massive — and massively successful — discography, which includes “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Vienna,” “Movin' Out,” “The Longest Time” and “Only the Good Die Young.”Recently, heannounced a handful of massive stadium shows, including several dates with co-headlinersStevie NicksandSting.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Joel also recently revealed that his iconic, decade-long Madison Square Garden residency in New York Citywill come to a close this year. It will end after his 150th lifetime show at the venue on July 25.“After 10 years, we’ve done it. I mean, I didn’t realize it would last 10 years,” Joel told PEOPLE last November.“And I don’t know how many shows it is, I’m sure somebody’s keeping track of it somewhere, but I’m amazed that we went this far, and I’m honored,” he added.
Billy Joel performs in New York City in December 2023.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
The Piano Man is gearing up to sing us a brand new song!Billy Joelhas officially announced the release of his first single in 17 years, “Turn the Lights Back On.”The track — which heteased on Instagramon Monday — will be released on streaming platforms on Feb. 1, along with a lyric video. It will also be released on limited-edition 7-inch vinyl.“Turn the Lights Back On” is the legendary singer-songwriter’s first new material since 2007, when he released one-off singles “All My Life,” which was penned for then-wifeKatie Lee, and “Christmas in Fallujah” with musician Cass Dillon.Joel, 74, wrote the track with Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector and the song’s producer, Freddy Wexler, who has worked on songs for artists includingAriana Grande,Selena GomezandPost Malone.The Grammy winnerteased it on stagelast year, telling the audience, “We’ve got a little something we’ve been working on you might hear sometime.”Prior to his 2007 singles, Joel had retired from songwriting altogether, only releasing covers — including Carole King’s “Hey Girl” andBob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” — since his 1993 albumRiver of Dreams.Reflecting on his decision to cease songwriting ina 2018 interview with Vulture, Joel simply said, “When I stopped writing songs it was time.”“I couldn’t be as good as I wanted and that was driving me crazy. I was driving my loved ones crazy,” he told the outlet. “I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ So I stopped.”Elsewhere in the interview, the “Uptown Girl” singer revealed that drinking was “one of the reasons I stopped writing songs.”“I would drink to try and ease the pain of not being as good as I wanted to be,” Joel told Vulture, adding that “it was a vicious cycle, so I stopped.”Billy Joel in the ’90s.Michel Linssen/RedfernsDuring his 17-year songwriting hiatus, Joel has continued to take the stage to perform his massive — and massively successful — discography, which includes “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Vienna,” “Movin' Out,” “The Longest Time” and “Only the Good Die Young.”Recently, heannounced a handful of massive stadium shows, including several dates with co-headlinersStevie NicksandSting.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Joel also recently revealed that his iconic, decade-long Madison Square Garden residency in New York Citywill come to a close this year. It will end after his 150th lifetime show at the venue on July 25.“After 10 years, we’ve done it. I mean, I didn’t realize it would last 10 years,” Joel told PEOPLE last November.“And I don’t know how many shows it is, I’m sure somebody’s keeping track of it somewhere, but I’m amazed that we went this far, and I’m honored,” he added.
The Piano Man is gearing up to sing us a brand new song!
Billy Joelhas officially announced the release of his first single in 17 years, “Turn the Lights Back On.”
The track — which heteased on Instagramon Monday — will be released on streaming platforms on Feb. 1, along with a lyric video. It will also be released on limited-edition 7-inch vinyl.
“Turn the Lights Back On” is the legendary singer-songwriter’s first new material since 2007, when he released one-off singles “All My Life,” which was penned for then-wifeKatie Lee, and “Christmas in Fallujah” with musician Cass Dillon.
Joel, 74, wrote the track with Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector and the song’s producer, Freddy Wexler, who has worked on songs for artists includingAriana Grande,Selena GomezandPost Malone.
The Grammy winnerteased it on stagelast year, telling the audience, “We’ve got a little something we’ve been working on you might hear sometime.”
Prior to his 2007 singles, Joel had retired from songwriting altogether, only releasing covers — including Carole King’s “Hey Girl” andBob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” — since his 1993 albumRiver of Dreams.
Reflecting on his decision to cease songwriting ina 2018 interview with Vulture, Joel simply said, “When I stopped writing songs it was time.”
“I couldn’t be as good as I wanted and that was driving me crazy. I was driving my loved ones crazy,” he told the outlet. “I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ So I stopped.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the “Uptown Girl” singer revealed that drinking was “one of the reasons I stopped writing songs.”
“I would drink to try and ease the pain of not being as good as I wanted to be,” Joel told Vulture, adding that “it was a vicious cycle, so I stopped.”
Billy Joel in the ’90s.Michel Linssen/Redferns
Michel Linssen/Redferns
During his 17-year songwriting hiatus, Joel has continued to take the stage to perform his massive — and massively successful — discography, which includes “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Vienna,” “Movin' Out,” “The Longest Time” and “Only the Good Die Young.”
Recently, heannounced a handful of massive stadium shows, including several dates with co-headlinersStevie NicksandSting.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Joel also recently revealed that his iconic, decade-long Madison Square Garden residency in New York Citywill come to a close this year. It will end after his 150th lifetime show at the venue on July 25.
“After 10 years, we’ve done it. I mean, I didn’t realize it would last 10 years,” Joel told PEOPLE last November.
“And I don’t know how many shows it is, I’m sure somebody’s keeping track of it somewhere, but I’m amazed that we went this far, and I’m honored,” he added.
source: people.com
