Billy Joel or Elton John?
- Thread starter The Tradition
- Start date
Tough call. I'm going with Captain Jack but its impossible to deny Elton's influence on pop music.
Recorded, Elton. Live, Billy. Saw them in a joint concert several years ago. Billy's a far superior live entertainer.
How many of these threads are you going to freaking start?
I like these threads a helluva lot better than all the politics ones.
Elton. Crocodile Rock and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting- legit kick ass rock n roll songs. Joel had couple fun songs. Not a fan of either artists ballads.
Elton by a hair. Saw Billy in Nashville several years ago and at MSG in 2019. Going to see Elton here in Nashville in October.
Billy wrote his own songs while Bernie Taupin wrote most of EJ's songs, I believe.
Billy's catalogue is a little more relatable for me than "Rocket Man" and the like.
Billy's catalogue is a little more relatable for me than "Rocket Man" and the like.
Taupin wrote the lyrics. John wrote the music.
Joel wrote all of his music and lyrics.
Tough call. In the end it's Elton for me. He stayed relevant much longer. Elton could still sell out a stadium of his choosing. I don't see Billy doing stadium shows.
Who wrote songs has zero impact on enjoying the music. It’s no different than album art. Interesting but doesn’t make the music better or worse.
‘He writes all his own lyrics and music.’ Yes and it sucks.
‘He writes all his own lyrics and music.’ Yes and it sucks.
Based on other artists you've told us you like, I'd think Billy's "Longest Time" would appeal to you.
Absolutely. But I still like Elton’s rocker songs better. Billy used to do a doo wop medley live, so he gets credit for that.
Trad, this might be your best one yet. I've seen them both in concert and had quite a few of their albums. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tilted it to Elton for me.
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??? Billy Joel regularly sells out Madison Square Garden. He's basically set up residency there and plays a monthly show for like the last 7-8 years.
I don't know why this poll is basically the opposite of what it should be. Billy Joel should be winning this in a landslide but for some reason isn't because too many of you got piss drunk in college listening to Piano Man and think it is overplayed and overrated and that is the only Billy Joel song you can think of.
Captain Jack
New York State of Mind
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Movin Out aka Anthony's Song
You May Be Right
Just the Way You Are
She's Always a Woman
Allentown
Uptown Girl
Pressure
Tell Her About It
An Innocent Man
We Didn't Start the Fire
Goodnight Saigon
I could keep going and going on and on and list about 40 of them.
I've often thought the better comparison is between Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen. I don't think Elton John is in either one of their leagues.
Hey man, I don't dislike Billy Joel. But MSG is his home arena. Of course the hometown kid is going to draw a crowd. Billy made his hay in the 70s and 80s. Elton has been burning out albums since the 60s and hasn't stopped.
Like them both, Never saw EJ live, Saw Billy Joel back in 1980 and he and his band put on a great show, Since I’m required to choose it’s BJ.
Elton John once said Bruce Hornsby aka Spider Fingers is the best piano player. That’s who my vote goes to
The album, I assume you mean, which really is great.
But Billy has The Stranger, Glass Houses, and The Nylon Curtain.
Listening to Billy Joel tonight and still can't believe how this poll went.
"I don't see Billy doing stadium shows".
Yeah, but other people with functioning brain cells have seen him play in several stadiums in 2022. Look it up and eat your crow dumbass.
I love some Billy Joel songs, probably over Elton’s catalogue. But god I hate the songs where he over does things. “You had to be a BIIIG SHHHOT DINNNNT UUUU.” and “heart attack-ack-ack-ack.” Just stop douche.
We made back to Iowa City that night. Passed a lot of cars in the ditch. Probably not the smartest thing we ever did.
