Piano Man Billy Joel released a new single this week through People magazine's web site.
Billy hasn't released a pop song since his River of Dreams farewell CD, featuring cover art by then wife Christie Brinkley. Christie and Billy had had it already by the summer of '95. So without a muse to write for, Billy spent the last 14 years touring, composing, teaching, on Broadway and wrecking his automobiles.
But Billy's got himself a new wife, Katie Lee Joel, and as everyone knows she's about 5 years older than Billy's daughter Alexa. And so the new song All My Life comes our way via an anniversary present to his new wife.
Here's an overview of those songs written for all the girls he's loved before:
#1 1971-83: Elizabeth Weber, business manager
I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
#2 1985-94: Christie Brinkley, Supermodel
And when she's walking
She's looking so fine
And when she's talking
She'll say that she's mine
#3 2004-"forever": Katie Lee, Food Reporter
And I know very well, there's a long road to hell
That's been paved with intentions like mine
All my life, my stars were surely crossed
Now and then, I missed the love I lost
But all that changed, the day you said you'd be my wife
Who could have known that finding you
Would only take me all my life
There are so many things that have made Billy Joel the favorite Entertainer of All My Life. Yeah, his songs have great melodies and are the kind of pop music candy I like. But I've also identified with the endless search he's been on for whatever it is that fills up the empty space inside - women, fame, rock and roll, anger, honesty, New York, Hollywood, the soul, and keeping the faith. He will not quit his quest. And he hasn't quit evolving and showing you every time that he's not the same old Billy. I also enjoy his emulation of the classic sounds of American music. This latest is clearly all about Sinatra. But he's done the 50's, Beatles, blues and jazz too.
I am so looking forward to Billy's show in Nashville on February 21. I'm quite sure there's something in store that will write another chapter in The Ballad of Billy the Kid.
