GOOSEBUMPS! THIS performance made me emotional... in MANY ways!
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Tonight we're taking a look at Billy Joel's performance from The Grammys!
Original Video - • Billy Joel - Turn the ...
TIME STAMPS -
0:00 Intro
TIME STAMPS -
0:00 Intro
1:35 Performance Start
2:54 Analysis Start
3:50 Why does THIS sound 'better'?
12:17 Official Release
13:29 The 'Correction'
16:06 Comparison
17:14 Distinct Inaccuracies
19:44 Getting Into the Details
24:01 It's ALL about the Detail!
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I wish Billy Joel could hear this analysis, Fil.
Hear this and put out the un-altered version.
You think he can't hear his un-natural voice on the released version? He must be okay with it. Which is just sad ... very, very sad when the music lover and consumer cares more about this stuff than the (classic) artist. I would have expected much better from an artist like Billy Joel.
Maybe link it to his daughter on IG?
@@RealGriz ooh, maybe?
Its really sad to realise that there are great vocal performances happening in recording studios every day, and the only people who will ever get to hear them are the producers and sound engineers who will then do their best to suck the life and soul out of them.
Engineers pouring their heart and soul to create an amazing recording and then weeping in pain when the producer forces them to blow the hell out of hit with processing.
Tampering with this wonderful live performance is like trying to improve the Mona Lisa with crayons.
Billy Joel’s live performance is what makes him such a legend, as he is a storyteller and the studio version does a disservice to his storytelling
He was dissatisfied with the production of his first 4 albums , that's why he released songs in the attic - all recorded live
One of my fav Billy albums
@@SteveSingerFowkes Song in the Attic is an absolute gem
The human voice conveys emotion. Pitch correction strips out the emotion, turning a singer-songwriting storyteller into a Teflon-coated narrator. The live version is pure Billy Joel. Not sure who the corrected version is; could be anyone. Very sad.
studio version is just fine
@@SteveSingerFowkesI was going to say the same thing. I’d like to add that I do enjoy the studio albums . . . but Billy is most at home during live performances, which adds an extra special emotional element. I was lucky enough to attend one of the 12 Gardens Live shows on one of the two nights they recorded for the live albums and video concert. I actually enjoy those songs more than the original recordings because there’s just that element of Billy putting his whole heart into the songs and feeding off the audience. If you go listen to each of those songs vs the original recordings, it’s tough to disagree that the live performances aren’t better.
I also find it interesting that Billy downtuned this Grammy’s performance, as Fil mentioned. Billy can sing in C like the original recording without any issue - I’ve heard him sing many songs in C at live shows that have been posted online, so I don’t think it’s an issue of his not being able to hit or hold the notes. I keep wondering if that was a logistical or creative choice and what was behind the decision. He’s done that before in the past, of course, and I find it curious. Why wouldn’t he just record it in a lower key and just record it live without all vocal tweaks? I think that’s why he doesn’t like hearing his own voice on recorded studio albums - they are missing the expression that he adds live. If I ever ran into Billy in NYC, that’s the question I’d be curious to ask about.
It’s a beautiful song no matter how you slice it, even with gentle pitch correction.
I started listening to Gordon Lightfoot in the late 1960's. I heard him in concert about 2 years before he died. One might say his voice was gone. But I heard something different, something magical that only comes with age and with time, with experience and with living a rich, long life. It was a voice with years of memories,, adventures, successes and failures, loves gained and lost. It was real and it was beautiful. Some things need to be left honest and real. Billy Joel is one of those. I loved the live performance. Thanks.
I loved your comment and its testament to the richness of experience. ❤
John Prine was the same way. He was never a “perfect” singer, but after his cancer surgeries there was something deeper, wiser, maybe “real”, about his voice that made his old songs new again.
I had a similar experience listening to Burt Bacharach at a live concert. His voice was almost gone, but the feeling that came through was magnificent!
We saw Lightfoot live at University of Windsor 🇨🇦 when my husband was a student. It was such a wonderful experience. Also, whenever I see the ‘Black Day in July’ video, I get teary every time. Even when he was young, Lightfoot’s emotions came through and touched one’s heart, but I agree, he aged well.
Same applies for Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchel. Under normal circumstances everyone would complain about their voice being gone.
But man, does that feel good when Joni Mitchell sings life now ....
Billy Joel is Honest(y)!
"Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard"
In acting, honesty is the most important thing. Once you learn to fake that, you've got it made --George Burns
@@fredbloggs6080 Billy Joel and his piano always turn out uniquely magic.
@@Claus-dx2qy Could this be the magic at last? It could be magic.
@@fredbloggs6080 Billy is already an Immortal!
@@Claus-dx2qy He become a member of the Norwegian black metal band?
A weird aspect is the studio version sounds much younger, like Billy in the 80s. The grammy performance sounds like an older man, which actually fits the theme of the song with a deeper, gruffer, and more bluesy voice. Respect for Billy saw him live a few years ago and obviously their are compromises he makes such as leaning on his backing singers for some hard parts (hey that's why you hire Mike DelGuidice) but he still sings the hell out of his songs and puts on a great show.
Great observation! This is a song of regret and pleading which is also why the lower tone works better (and explains the trend of going slightly sharp). Producers need to stop sabotaging human emotions while singing.
Studio version sounds like an AI clone of Billy's 80s voice.
If you see the official video you'll see why they have done this.
It uses AI to de-age him and then slowly age him through the song until we get to today's Billy.
@@LSwick-ss6nm I'm amazed how many people have missed this point.
He could be just saving his voice. In the studio he won't be using his voice that intensely like he does for a few hours
Maybe a generation used to pitch correction doesn't notice or mind the loss of emotion, but for those of us who are used to having an emotional connection with a song (even if it's a negative emotion) the lack of it diminishes the enjoyment. The first time I heard Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" I stopped whatever it was I was doing because the emotion she put into that performance demanded complete attention. Note to producers. I hadn't purchased any new music in years, but I not only immediately bought the album that song was on, but her previous album as well. Because she sounded amazing and yes, real. Turned out that "Rolling in the Deep" wasn't a fluke either, as she sounds real on her other songs as well. If more artists and producers understood this and bucked this trend...I'd probably be buying a lot more music.
The live version brought tears to my eyes. So much emotion in his voice. When you can hear the emotion/ expression, it is like you are being invited into the same perspective he holds
I wonder if this was about Christi. In this live version, his voice is congruent with his age. In the recording, it is strangely youthful.
Billy and Tracy Chapman saved the Grammys. True talent needs no augmentation. Fil...goosebumps for sure. Thank you for this!
Good grief…. you’d have to be the best music teacher I’ve come across. Your work is exceptional
Billy's voice may have aged, but man... he is such a master still. Goosebumps, yes, absolutely!
Louis Armstrong sounded old, even when he wasn't. It was so flawed, and that's what made it a perfect instrument. Can you imagine if someone went back and pitch corrected Satchmo's recordings? It would lose everything.
Age is a privilege and a good thing for the voice. Why is there so much ageism towards musicians? Actors can be in drama, films and theatre and you don't hear their age being used against them like singers when many improve their technique with age. Nobody says bad against Anthony Hopkins or Judy Dench.
Billy Joel is amazing. His "breakup" with pop music was very sad, but I'm glad he came back for a visit. Billy has the kind of microtonal vocal control you can't get out of a piano which is how he compliments it so well, and I think it comes from his early years of playing old, out of tune pianos and learning to play and sing around the notes. That microtonal control is a big part of what's missing from modern over-produced music, a lot of the emotion lives there, otherwise you may as well just listen to electronic instrumental music which is essentially what we've been doing.
"Look What They've Done to My Song!" Are you old enough to have heard that song?😁
Melanie, God rest her soul, was a wise lady with foresight. She nailed it with that song.
Ma!
Went to a concert at the Berkley indoor theater. Great sound quality in that theater. Billy Joel was opening for a popular, better known CA band called Pablo Cruz. Billy started with "seen the lights go out on Broadway". The theater was pitch black and the curtains were drawn. Suddenly a synthesizer started producing such a low low frequency sound that you felt it before you heard it and it slowly climbed in frequency until it was high-pitched note. Suddenly the curtains flew open, the lights went on and the band hit it. When the song was over there was a stunned silence for about five seconds as people just looked at each other in their seats, momentarily unable to comprehend what they had heard/experienced. The place then erupted into a standing, cheering ovation. Every song Billy and the boys played received a standing ovation. I felt sorry for Pablo Cruz. Half the audience left when Billy was done. Never seen anything like it.
And Pablo Cruz was amazing. The two would be so different- like 2 separate concerts. Wow!
I saw him in about 1982. Incredible show.
I would have thought that Billy Joel was a bigger name than Pablo Cruz. I can’t remember even one of their songs. Billy Joel was never my cup of tea, but I can name many of his songs.
Speaking of people leaving venues en mass before the main act, I saw that happen twice recently, and both were after Breaking Benjamin finished their set, once before Alice In Chains, and last summer, before Disturbed. I had decent seats for both shows, but got to move closer when so many of BB’s fans left.
@@SuziQ. At that time Pablo Cruz had a couple of hits one being "zero to sixty in five" and were on kind of a roll. Not many people knew of Billy Joel, yet. A couple of years later he was selling out coliseums and I saw him at the Oakland coliseum. Great show but terrible sound compared to the Berkley indoor theater.
@@danabuch324 ,
The LA Coliseum has horrible acoustics, too. I prefer smaller venues that were built for good sound.
I don’t remember that Pablo Cruz song, but if I remember correctly, they were popular when I first got into metal. LA had a metal radio station, and several rock stations. I don’t think I would have heard any of their songs.
That's a great story. There is a similar story about Anne Murray headlining a concert in Central Park in1972. Opening for her was a young guy who had just released his first album... Bruce Springsteen. I have seen Bruce 20+ times and yes, I saw Anne Murray twice. Her version of this story is really funny. (Yes, more than 1/2 of the audience left by Anne's second song).
Could you imagine the pitch correcting on Joe Cocker's live performances 😂😂😂
Or pitch correcting Lou Reed...
Does not compute.. Does not compute.. Beeeeeeeeeeep🔥🌋
Sorry, can't find an emoji for an exploding machine.
Oh that would be ghastly...
He was on Howard Stern's show on Feb. 14, and he even said "if you need auto tune, you are in the wrong business". The man, born in the Bronx, has talent up the wazoo, a fantastic set of pipes and the brains and the balls on how to use it! There is a concert video of him in front of the Colliseum which is great, like all his shows are, but the version of New York state of mind is just...spectacular, like him and Ray Charles combined into one performer! I grew up with Billys music but had drifted away from it, but his latest tune just elbowed me and reminded me that he is still here and he is still great!
He also said he doesn’t use autotune because he doesn’t need it!
I love Billy Joel - he really feels what he is singing no matter how many times he has sung it. He has kept it real all these years and it's wonderful.
Some people have picked up on an important factor that you're completely missing regarding the official recording, and that is that in the accompanying video, Billy Joel has been cgi'd to look like his younger selves, aging as the song progresses, and the vocals have been corrected to match the visuals. Hearing current Billy Joel's voice coming out of the mouth of 1970s Billy Joel would break the illusion. It's clearly intentional, and I in no way believe they were trying to "fix" his voice. Based on his known feelings about autotune (along with the fiasco of the screwed up master of his very first album), I can't imagine that the "corrections" were done without his knowledge or approval.
As a Billy Joel fan since the 70's, this studio recording reminded me of Billy's voice back in the day, and assumed that was the intention. The official video seems to support this. He was a much better singer back then, as everyone is, and i think it was the right choice. You want the elderly Billy singing the song? There's plenty of performances of that, but at least there's one recording of Billy in his prime singing this great song.
I’m not sure you get that emotion in a 70/80’s Billy singing this song as it’s a song of an older man looking back. I can see what they’ve done but they’ve stripped out the colour from his voice that comes through age.
Billie Eilish also sang What Was I Made For live. accompanied just by her brother Finneas at the Grammys. It was extremely emotional and won song of the year. She is one of the few artists who doesn’t use pitch correction, even the studio release of this song wasn’t pitch corrected. For those who haven’t seen Barbie, it’s the story of a toy who leaves her perfect world to become a human being in the real world. This is a beautifully written song for an amazing, emotional movie. It’s absolutely nothing like I thought it would be.
That drift up is absolutely part of his charm. That float has so much emotion in it... Iused to get yelled at for using my harmony notes in songs instead of my lead but It just felt "Right" ....Singer know thyself
I’ve seen Billy live-40 years ago-and seen him and Elton live, together, maybe 35 years ago and the “corrected” Billy has had his SOUL removed. The line “unable to change” is what the “geniuses” have done to him.
Thanks for this analysis - one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time. Why don't the music producers understand that it's the personality and real emotion of the artist that makes us love them so much?
They do, and that's why there are so many Live album releases. We want the pristine studio albums to appreciate for their sonic purity, but we love the live performances to capture the artists' vulnerability and raw emotion. Each is important to us as fans and ultimately, it's why we go to concerts.
I grew up on long island..🇺🇲 And actually coming from the same town as billy ,he was very big there. This is a great analysis. In the live performance you can hear the emotion. Like you mentioned, this is 25 years after his last release. On the studio version , I think they tried to inflect the voice of his youth in this song. And apply it to youthful images of billy In the video. I recently saw a interview with billy. And it seems the lyrics have a double meaning. Turning the lights back on in a relationship.. But can also be turning the lights back on To creating new music. And that's what in my opinion makes him one of the greatest song writers..🤔🤗👍🎼🎶🎙🎹🎵
I hope that he keeps on releasing new music until he passes 😢
It really feels like they were trying to make Billy sound 40 years younger in the recorded version. But they didn’t need to. The magic in this song is a 75 year old Billy Joel singing it!
I even get the impression that in the video they made his voice younger to match the pictures of his younger self.
You know, I think you’re on to something!
I saw him a few years ago. I wasn’t expecting much frankly. Man did he blow me away. Every musician on stage was amazing. Between songs he would just riff on Bach and the Beatles. Amazing performer live 👏👏👏
I especially love how he’ll start playing a completely different song (anything from “A Hard Day’s Night” to “Tush”) during the break in “River of Dreams,” only to finish “River” after that. (To say nothing of his other famous Grammys performance from 30 years ago, when he used that same break to troll the network for cutting to commercials in the middle of Frank Sinatra’s speech.)
So great watching you fight the fight for good, raw talent without technology and greed layered over it. Thank you!
The studio version is like a radio news reader reading out the news; cold, distant, disconnected and emotionless. The live version is like Billy Joel has invited us to join in the experience he has had in his life. The ups and downs. The regrets and the hope. No prize for guessing which version I like more.
How sad.
thanks fil, billy joel really live and unedited, a true joy to listen to
Thank you for saying unadulterated communication through music. That is exactly what it is.
I agree 😊
Amen to that!
Of you watch the Warren Fu video you can see why it has been done. To make each verse fit with the era. When modern Billy comes back toward the end, the voice is back! The video is a piece of art in itself. You need to see the video to understand the meaning of the piece of work. It is an evolution. The lyric, the song and the video need experiencing together.
Just seen the video and completely agree. The video and the recreation of the vocals are part of the whole art, and I'm pretty sure we do get the current Billy vocals when he is on screen, stood out at the very end.
Watching the music video, I felt that the pitch correction in the beginning was to make him sound like he sounded when he was younger. I got that impression, so for me, it was effective. I felt like as the song advanced, it sounded more like he's sounded since the latter part of the 80s.
Billy Joel is an amazing live performer. I was blessed to see him about 15 years ago, and up pretty close, row 10. I felt like I could touch the piano. He pours every ounce of energy he has into his performance. I cannot believe that I've been listening him since the mid '70'si. It doesn't seem real. They should release it as true voice. An older voice is not a bad voice. Do not mess with a masterpiece.
Love this live performance from Billy Joel! Yes, we get the "feel", the emotion.
I've said this before: Billy Joel is unique in that he manages to capture that special something "magic in a bottle" live performance that is so hard for most performers. There are fans who consider some of his live versions as the "standard" rather than the studio versions. I don't really know any other artist like that. It's pretty obvious that Joel has always had a problem with producers. Blame Wexler for this, he's firmly in the camp of being a "modern producer". Which means he breaks out the pitch correction tools even when not needed. But Blame Joel too, because he let it happen.
I believe that everyone is missing the gift that the video gives us! Not only do we see Billy sing at the different stages of his life, but if you listen, he also sings at each stage the way he sang then! Listen to 70’s Billy on the video, and you’ll hear him once again - just as he sang back in the 70s! Yes, it’s AI, but it’s fantastic how they put it together… The video with his different looks, but the music as well in those different times! Listen to the video again with this in mind, and tell me it’s not genius!
Yes! I noticed that when I first saw the video. I had almost been convinced that the pitch correction had simply meddled with the song, but you reminded me that it can’t have because they were trying for a different idea with the studio recording.
It's an artistic choice to recreate the different periods with the technology. He does sound like older Billy by the last verse and chorus. AI is with us and artists will be using it in different ways. For me it works as a piece of art. That's what recordings are. Ever since the Beatles and The Beach Boys, the studio and the technology became a tool of creation. Live performances are always more dynamic. The two performances serve different purposes.
rhaleymusic Yes!! This is the very first instance I've seen that uses A.I. to a truly artistic purpose. AFAIC that's what A.I. is *for*.
and I agree .... the video concept is genius. I love it - even with the correction - for the art that it is. And for the gift of seeing and hearing Billy as I remember him throughout all the years I've loved him. yeah, it's totally different than the live Grammy performance - which blew my doors off, for all the reasons Fil points out here,- but even so, the more I hear it the more I love it.
I agree with the person who requested it. This actually is better than the studio version! What an an outstanding, heartfelt performance. Just... WOW! 😲
Ok ok I nominate Fil as producer of B.J's next single!
What an astonishing difference with no pitch correction or any other monkey business in editing!
Thanks for doing this analysis. This is organic…. this is real. And this type of raw live performance is all but gone now.
Pitch correction steals the soul from music.
I’ve never been a huge Billy Joel fan, but this was incredible.
Great analysis.
Well done.
Great observations Fil, pointing out that honest compassionate art of emotional expression can't be pitch-corrected.
When applied anyway the magic truth becomes a lie. ROCK !
Your loss
Pitch correcting is akin to plastic surgery. And it seems like producers watch the music with their eyes rather than use their ears to hear what a true human voice sounds like.
Great analogy!
I love the grittiness and emotion of the live version, perhaps not all notes are “technically” perfect but I felt the sentiment so much more than the studio version. Literally brought tears to my eyes.
Youre right, Losing expression is correct unfortunatrly with A.I.
I went to see Billy live in Birmingham in the early 90 s. Brilliant experience.
My reaction when I first heard this song on the radio was, this is a really great song, so well written. I would love to hear Billy Joel sing it. So glad to have the Grammy performance so we actually get to hear Billy Joel sing it.
"I'd love to hear Billy Joel Sing it." Ouch!! 😬
There is a video on here from MSG where he sings it for the first time at one of his concerts.
Oh my god, give me the live version all Day!!!!!!!!!!
The official video leads one to think that it's an old song but it really was just released the 1st of this month.
It keeps making me cry. I'm 57 years old but still.
Exactly. I said it in a separate comment, then saw yours. I like the video because I feel like I’m watching him through the years. With some of the clips, it’s an emotional flash back. But I do like his real voice now. Keep going, Billy !
I've always liked Billy Joel because when he performs, he makes me think of his "Piano Man" start, when he was playing in bars. The live version of this one is the way he would sing it in a bar.
I have to say, Fil, that this may have been one of your very best Wings of Pegasus reactions, not only because of your thoughtful analysis of both Billy's LIVE & studio performances, but because you address, with such love & heartfelt conviction, this very real issue that is now plaguing the music industry.
Thanks!
I love live performances so much. To see the artist into their own performance is so satisfying.
His 74 year old natural voice! The fact that he’s still playing MSG twice a month is astonishing!
You should watch the performance from the Garden the following week! It’s probably the best version yet!
Great video and analysis.👍🏻
Sacrilege. That's all this is. The pitch corrected version is horrible! They absolutely are trying to give him back his voice from 20-30 years ago.
Yup. Exactly what I thought.
After seeing the official music video, I can understand why they wanted him to sound younger.
@howtodoitdude1662 and it maybe Joel himself that wants to evoke his younger self in song and video.
Billy Joel's is one of those giiants of music. Not many can compare to him, or his music and lyrics.
Honesty, You're my Home and Vienna are amazing examples of his immensity.
The studio recording is simple cold.
So happy to have Billy's voice back in pop music.
"Give me the live version all day..." 👍
In my opinion, the corrected voice in the video sounds much like 1980's Billy Joel around the time of Glass Houses album
As a lifelong Billy fan, I can say with some certainty that they made the album cut to sound like he did 40 years ago. (And it does). The problem is that they didn’t embrace Billy’s voice the way that it does now. Billy live - It’s the reason why my favorite album from him is ‘songs in the attic’. His best album and it’s all live.
EXACTLY
Great big huge Billy Joel fan here. And now I shall go back and listen to all his old songs again, more carefully, and hope that this was not always a thing.
I sadly only listened to the studio version and my impression was that it was fine and then never bothered to listen to this. This is incredible. The story of his emotional pain and the pain he caused is just gone from the studio version.
Brother, I would absolutely love to sit and buy you a brew and just talk music. Your perspective is the most unique I've seen. This song is an absolute work of art, and this performance is so emotional, so expressive...I had tears the first time I heard this. I am already working on this song. I hope I have the chance to play it at some point. But this is the most complete analysis of tonality that I've seen. I"ve been to many concerts where songs have been taking down a step or two...most recent was the Genesis 'The Last Domino!' tour where most of their songs were taken down 2-4 steps because Phil Collins simply couldn't hit the notes he used to. I also recently saw Night Ranger, who only took ONE song down a half-step, much to my amazement. I was a little startled when I heard Billy took this song down a full step from the studio version already. But you explanation makes COMPLETE sense. I've been blessed/cursed with perfect pitch so identifying the notes are easy, but seeing the physical representation of the notes with your illustration was just FASCINATING. THank you for this. If you ever find yourself in Wisconsin, the drinks are on me.
Saw some clips from a recent appearance on Howard Stern, his voice sounded great.
I love both versions
FIL, thank you for this one ! I loved his natural voice, so full of expression and emotion! Yes, it did touch me emotionally , but then came the pitch corrected version ! Why can't the person who applies pitch correction hear that they have taken all that was real away from the voice and made it sound unemotional as if someone else is singing ! Pitch correction needs to be outlawed, in my opinion !
Billy Joel still sounds great live. Thank you for sharing this insight.
I remember seeing Billy Joel back in the 1990s at Madison Square Garden. He was so good. I still remember it.
This is a fascinating analysis. Such a world of difference. Fil, thanks for showing us the stark contrasts. Billy Joel’ s voice’s is so unique . It’s his real voice that we have always loved. He’s a wonderful story teller. We needed your comments on artistry!
He’s an incredible talent. He plays REAL MUSIC. What a great idea.
The artist needs you as their coach to save them from themselves.
Excellent analysis!! Agree with you completely. I hope Billy Joel watches this and knows how much we want to hear HIM singing!
Joel has one of the best voices in popular music, so they meddle with it(?!)
On the assumption the official studio recording and official music video vocals are one and the same, criticism of the studio version against the live performance at the Grammys is unfounded. On the music video, not only do the AI enhanced versions of younger Billy progress to the Billy of today but his voice also progresses from younger to older. I'm not imagining this. When I first heard the song, I cried. I've been a Billy Joel fan since his start in the early 70's, so I'm very well aware of how he sounded back then. The first thing I thought at the start of the song was "OMG! His voice hasn't aged at all!"....until I watched the entire video through to the end where you hear his voice as it is today - more mature but still, unmistakably, Billy.
You describe so well the relationship between band and performer.
I am extremely hard of hearing, and I often wondered why I did not lije certain songs/singers. After listening to Fil for so long, I now know it all has to do with pitch correction and how songs are mixed. Thank you, Fil, for all you've taught us. 😊
Watching this I was trying to figure out why Billy Joel would let this happen. Then I remembered he said that he never liked his voice, but when he was played this, he didn't think it was too bad. He even indicated it didn't really sound like him! He is a brilliant lyrisist who does not value his lyrics, an amazing pianst who does not think he is very good and a wonderful emotive singer who does not like his own voice. He was raised in a family with a classical music background. So was I. The idea of the perfectly rounded tones etc. runs strong even if you love rock, R&B etc. I was not impressed by the music when I first heard the recording, but the words spoke to me. Hearing the two versions next to each other how little life was in the recording. The producer committed a crime by using the artists insecurities to destroy his art. Shame on him or her.
His longtime friend and producer, the late great Phil Ramone, once wrote that the only way he could get Billy comfortable in the studio was by making it feel as much like a live show as possible. That might explain why Billy never really stopped playing live, but hardly recorded for 30 years.
You are spot on Phil. We can only hope they’ll issue a live recording from his tour to hear the Billy we love
As a long time Billy Joel. I totally recognize the voice on the official release! The recorded version sounds much more like his voice from the 70s and 80s. The corrected track gave Billy the ability to release a track with a voice he used to be able to pull off. Also, gotta remember the Billy gave the thumbs up on the release.
Billy Joel's live concerts were always more expressive than the records. He becomes more like a blues singer live. I love this new song.
My impression of this live version is that I hear some of the honesty and and expressivness that you get with Leonard Cohen's later music.
Even some of the "darkness" for lack of a better word.
Not to compare them as artists and I really haven't been following Billy Joel's music for the last two decades.
Also in regard to the ascending and movement in the individual notes beeing sung,
it reminds me of your videos on Dean Martin & Sinatra and why their singing seems to hold a special magic that is missing from many contemporary recordings!
i love this older wiser billy joel. thank you for this.
The power of being made him sound like he did when he was 25 and I was about 20 then
Fil, I can't begin to explain how much you have helped me understand pitch correction, and why i like/don't like certain performances today. I was so excited to hear of a new Billy Joel song, but was non-plussed by it, until i heard the live version. Same with so many other artists today, that have been performing for decades.
Very telling that he wanted to perform live with his true voice & not try to match the manipulated version. I think the recorded take sounds kinda like Billy Joel … 30 years ago, but the song is about how he’s changed & grown since then. Ironic. Big ❤❤ to Billy and his journey.
Keep preachin' Fil! I hope some day (hopefully soon) there will be a massive backlash and producers will go back to truly capturing the performance the way the artist does it! I'm on board!
In September I saw Billy Joel at the garden New York City. A friend of mine is good friends with him. She kept telling me you got to go see him you gotta go see it now!!! I’ve seen Billy three time once in the 70s and twice in the 80s. He’s phenomenal. But when I went to see him last September I forgot the breath of his work it was truly staggering and he gave it all in that performance as he always does.
His band has always been phenomenal
This is one of his best videos! and I love most of them. It's great because in this case the pitch-correction was done very well! He says that we have trouble recognizing the Billy studio voice but I think the studio "correction" actually makes Billy Joel's voice more recognizable to the past "80's" recordings. But the live performance reveals a completley different voice. The "new" Billy Joel. It challanges us to hear a new Billy and people NEED to be challanged. Ultimately it shows that pitch correction is just a giant mistake. It turns out that the misTAKES make the song more than the perfectTAKES. I noticed that with the Beatles anthology. The demo recording are just more gripping and human. And now with pitch correction and auto-tune it drives this point home. And I don't think it is just with music. All art is made by the imperfections. We are not computers. And when we are confronted with perfection I think we just turn it off. It no longer exists. We need to change our understanding of what means to be human. This is especially true of cancel culture, which is a oxymorone because insisting that people have to always be perfect destroys culture.
Love the passionate analysis of these 2 recordings. You are so SPOT ON with your authentic analysis of this legend. Your comments are genuine and "contagious". You give artist your stamp of approval to be authentic and true our personalities and not constantly be compared to a "machine corrected" version of what producers "think" (brain fart) you should sound like. LOVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE OF THE ART FORM OF MUSIC xx
Hi Fil,
This was a great analysis of Billy Joel today. His songwriting and storytelling abilities are second to none. One of the reasons I believe he is so loved is his take on real-life situations and putting them into song. Loved the comparison of the two vocals. Like two different worlds. Great job looking at this performance! Debbie☮️
Yes, it was really different - night and day!
At the Rockin Roll Hall of Fame induction of Chicago, the band wanted Cetera to sing 24 or 6 to 4 in the original key. He vetoed that. He couldn't do it. Lamm was pissed. Cetera said he wouldn't do the song. I know what that feels like. I'm 66. I can't get near the notes I could when I had a four-octave range.
Delightful analysis- "BANG ON!" Thanks Fil!
I love both versions, times have changed but it’s still rock n roll to me
I would assume the vocals were increased a key for the official version to match Billy's voice when he was younger in order to sync with the music video which shows 70s/80s Billy singing the song. The part of the video with older Billy singing is in a lower key to match his older voice. But still, the "younger" voice is as real as the deep fakes in that video. I would love if they released the original recording before the "corrections" were made.
That live performance shows just how talented Billy still is, pouring emotion into the song. His voice has aged like a fine wine. I've loved the couple of his concerts I've been able to attend for that reason.
Billy has still got it. Awesome to hear this.
I have never heard this song and instantly got goosebumps. That is all I needed to know it was authentic.
Been a huge fan of Billy Joel for decades and his voice has aged but in the best way possible. His energy is still there but it is more focused and controlled. Such an exceptional talent and it shines through in his live performances.
I was actually devaststed when you played the corrected version , so soulesss. They ruined such a great performance.
When do record producers cross the line into criminal behaviour?
Was hoping you would analize this one!
When I heard the studio version, it sounded like at one part he was singing the new tune over the piano part of "Always a Woman to Me."
Fil, thank you so much for your analysis. It makes a lot of sense now, why I thought his voice sounded weird on the original release! I wondered recently why today's recordings leave me totally emotionless and I can't feel/connect to the vocals and music like I used to. I still can with older music though. I thought it was because I'm 40, therefore becoming stuck in the past musically haha. I love music and always have and it makes me sad to see how the producers can think that it's OK to totally modify such a legend's voice like Billy Joel. Please let him express himself! He probably worked on that song for a long time and they just took most of the expression out of it. I feel like someone who did the tuning has no musical background. Music is art! It's not meant to be perfect. He just sounds like an AI version of himself on that recording. What is the point of releasing something like this? Sorry for the rant, but I feel very strongly that it's disrespectful towards Billy. The live version is a gift, very moving, as he intended it to be.
Thank you!!! 👏👏I’m patting myself on the back because I heard what you’re saying before I watched this video. lol I feel like this song was a test and I believe many of us passed. And you’re responsible for the education. Thanks again!!!! 😃
Billy is an amazing live performer. He is a true storyteller.
This is one of your best analyses which absolutely proves that autotune & pitch correction totally suck the life out of an artists voice! The live vocal here is amazing, particularly for a man of BJ’s age. The polished recording makes him sound 30 years younger & totally removes the ‘maturity’ & feel from his voice. Keep up the good work... I think all recordings should now be legally required to state on the tin that autotune has been used as this may encourage the ‘better’ singers out there to stop allowing their producers to use it, as it would add credibility to put out a record/cd without that stated on the case!