Billy Joel Lights Up Fans with First Single in 17 Years: ‘Turn the Lights Back On’
via A Mandolin Player on Carnegie Hill / YouTube
The legendary Piano Man, Billy Joel, has delighted fans with the release of his first single in 17 years, titled “Turn the Lights Back On.”
Joel, 74, had given a sneak peek of the track on Instagram
The official release on streaming platforms will be on Feb. 1. Alongside the digital release, a lyric video is available, and for those who cherish the tangible, there’s a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter last treated his fans to new material in 2007 with singles “All My Life” and “Christmas in Fallujah,” the latter featuring musician Cass Dillon. Now, with “Turn the Lights Back On,” Joel is showcasing his songwriting prowess once again.
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The track was crafted in collaboration with Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector, and the song’s producer, Freddy Wexler, known for his work with artists like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and Post Malone.
Joel had hinted about the new music during a performance last year, telling the audience,
“We’ve got a little something we’ve been working on you might hear sometime.”
Before his 2007 singles
Joel had taken a hiatus from songwriting, focusing on covers, including Carole King’s “Hey Girl” and Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love,” since his 1993 album “River of Dreams.”
Reflecting on his decision to step back from songwriting in a 2018 interview with Vulture, Joel explained,
“When I stopped writing songs, it was time.”
He acknowledged the pressure he felt to be as good as he wanted, stating,
“I couldn’t be as good as I wanted, and that was driving me crazy. I was driving my loved ones crazy. I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ So I stopped.”
In the same interview, Joel disclosed that drinking played a role in his hiatus from songwriting,
“I would drink to try and ease the pain of not being as good as I wanted to be. It was a vicious cycle, so I stopped.”
@billyjoelBilly has some good news and bad news. Stay tuned for more! – Team Joel
