Billy Joel recently discussed a fan theory that suggests two characters in his song “Piano Man” are gay. The song, released in 1973, tells the story of bar patrons from the perspective of a piano player. Joel revealed that he was surprised when his record company wanted to release the song as a single due to its unconventional nature.
In the song, listeners are introduced to Paul, a “real estate novelist” who never had time for a wife. When asked about the meaning of a real estate novelist, Joel explained that it’s a real estate broker trying to write a novel. He also mentioned the speculation about the characters being gay, particularly due to Paul’s lack of time for a wife.
While Joel never intended for the characters to be gay, he acknowledged the new theory and found it amusing. He shared that he sometimes relies on the audience to remember lyrics during live performances, especially for songs like “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Joel also discussed his latest single, “Turn the Lights Back On,” which marked his first release of new music in years.
Despite the recent release, Joel expressed that he doesn’t feel particularly inspired to write more music, as songwriting is a challenging process for him. He prefers to create music for himself rather than focusing on crafting commercial hits. Joel emphasized the difficulty of writing a good song and shared his perspective on the creative process.
In addition to his music, Joel reflected on the end of his Madison Square Garden residency and his future plans as a musician. The article originally appeared on TODAY.com, featuring other entertainment news stories. It highlighted moments from Joel’s career and personal insights into his creative journey.
