By Theo A. Katz
After a nearly two-decade hiatus, world-renowned musician Billy Joel is back in the music industry, releasing his new song, “Turn the Lights Back On.”
On Feb. 1, he surprised his fans with the release on his Instagram account, @Billyjoel, posting the record cover with the caption, “We’re turning the lights back on NOW! Billy’s latest single, “Turn the Lights Back On,” is out everywhere now. Listen at the link in bio! #turnthelightsbackon.”
The musician is a leader for the music industry, coming alive during the 1970s and 80s. With hits like “Piano Man,” “New York State of Mind,” and “Movin’ Out,” Joel brings joy to his fans through his versatile music creations.
According to The Washington Post, the piece was produced by Freddy Wexler, a famed music producer who has worked with pop artists such as Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. The song, a well-written tune about a man returning to a previous love interest, has satisfied the hearts of Joel fans worldwide, amassing just over 250,000 Spotify in the first 24 hours of release.
Joel has taken time off from releasing music in the past. His previous single release, “All My Life,” in 2007, is the only material he has dropped since the 1993 album “River of Dreams.” Though not released steadily today, The Piano Man is still an impactful artist to many through various tunes and meaningful lyrics.
This is his most anticipated return to music in his career. People wondered when Joel would rise to the charts again, so he returned with a hit.
“So wonders Billy Joel – a legend for all lifetimes – on “Turn the Lights Back On,” his return from his self-imposed songwriting that arrived Thursday morning, 50 years after his Piano Man breakthrough in November 1973,” Chuck Arnold of the New York Post writes.
Joel’s return has stimulated his fame among the new generation. While new music was released, he is currently on the final tour of his career. According to USA Today, the five-time Grammy award winner teased the possibility of new music at his residency concert at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 19, 2023. There, he told the crowd, “We got a little something we’re working on you might hear sometime.”
The wait was well worth it for his fans, as they took to his Instagram page and flooded the comments with love and support.
Due to the immense praise from fans and fellow musicians, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is continuing his return to glory as a selection to perform at the 66th annual Grammy Awards.
The release of “Turn the Lights Back On” is a special gift to his fanbase. The iconic writing and performing that Joel embraces and presents to his audiences goes unmatched. Arnold writes, “…It’s a welcome return from a man, who, now a senior entertainer, seems to have a new appreciation for the gifts he still possesses.”
Billy Joel is set to take his tour to Tampa, FL, performing at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 24, with special guest Sting.