|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
NOTICE: It seems I have to state the obvious in light of some instances of copying (see bottom of this page*). If you wish to use any content from this website or its social media pages within or for the basis of your own podcast episode, social media post, playlist, article, essay, paper, dissertation, book, or similar item, then please cite and give attribution to this website. I have spent about a dozen years and countless hours researching and posting the content here to share it with Billy Joel fans and others. Many items or facts stated on this site were not easy to find or are not commonly known (e.g., the 'Easter egg' of the Betty Wright 45 single in the Keeping The Faith video). Just because this is a fan-created site, rather than a published work by a professional writer or media company does not mean you can simply use the content or research here as if it were your own, without attribution or credit. I have also included much of my own original content and ideas on this site. I am tired of this happening, and may be moving most of this content behind a paywall to registered members only. For now, if you wish to make a donation or become a Patreon of this site, please see the links further below. Thank you for your support. Here are some folks who, to their credit, have given attribution to this website: Heavy.com, Keenan Crotty (YouTube), ElectricMohair (Reddit), ILM, Jie Fang Goh, M.M., Gladys B.H. on Medium.com, Lucas Abbott, and Smooth Radio. This site is also frequently cited in Wikipedia. You can e-mail me at [email protected]. Return to Home Page.
|
* The podcast Billy Joel A to Z has since publicly apologized for using my site and other content in their podcast without attribution or permission. I accept their apology. Thank you Elon and David.
However, I also recently discovered that a music journalist did an extensive two-part podcast on Billy Joel for a popular culture publication in 2020. Among other things, he mentions the Betty Wright 45 record "Easter egg" in the video, which I had not seen mentioned anywhere else before I published it on this site in 2016 on my page about "Keeping The Faith." He not only mentions this largely unknown Easter egg, but also states in his podcast that "eagle-eyed" YouTube viewers may spot this. My page states that an "eagle-eyed YouTube viewer" noticed this and made a comment on the YouTube music video page.
On my website page about "Leave A Tender Moment Alone," I quote and cite a fan's English translation of a Dutch language book about musician Toots Thielemans (who is Belgian) which states that the song was in part inspired by Smokey Robinson. I had never seen anyone state this before, and frankly, I don't really hear the resemblance to Smokey Robinson. The English translation was posted in a popular members-only Facebook group (Billy Joel: Completely Retold run by superfan Mike Stutz) by a fan. Remarkably, the journalist in his podcast states too that "fans and Joel himself cited many influences for the track, including the Rascals and Smokey Robinson." Where did he get that from? Did this American journalist happen to find the same Dutch language book about Toots Thielemans and can read Dutch? (That said, someone did quote the same translated quote that I had put on my site, and later posted it in Songfacts).
I also state on my site that much later Billy stated in a brief interview snippet on SiriusXM from 2016 that the rhythm to the song was like Burt Bacharach's "What The World Needs Now" which was made popular by singer Jackie DeShannon. Similarly, the podcast states that "in a later interview, Joel revealed that he had deliberately based the melody for 'Leave a Tender Moment Alone' on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition, sung by both Jackie Deshannon and Dionne Warwick, 'What the World Needs Now.'" Did he happen to hear the same 2016 snippet in 2020 when preparing his podcast, or did he find it on my website?
But more importantly, the journalist got it wrong in his attempt to portray Billy Joel as a musical "magpie" as he terms it. Billy did not state that the melody of "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" was "delibrately based" on "What the World Needs Now" (the melodies are not similar), rather Billy said that beat was similar (Billy: "what has a beat like that? [plays piano then sings] what the world needs now . . . ."). Any music journalist, including one who can read Dutch, should know the difference between melody and beat.
Similarly, in my page describing The Stranger album, I open by stating that: "The Stranger, Billy Joel's fifth album, was his artistic and commercial breakthrough." That's my first sentence. The same podcast in describing The Stranger album, also opens by stating: "The Stranger was Billy Joel's commerical and creative breakthrough." Nothing groundbreaking here, but I find it telling that we both open with nearly the same phrase and language.
On my page about the song "Just The Way You Are," I state: "but singers Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow, who were visiting Billy in the recording studio, urged him to keep it on the album." In the podcast, in describing the song, the journalist states "it took singers Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow, who visited Joel in the studio, to convince him the sentimental song was worth keeping." This fact has been reported before, but I find the similarity in our wording to be more than coincidental in light of the other instances mentioned above. He uses "singers" like me when it was not needed, and he also mentions that they were visiting Billy in the recording studio, which is largely a throw-in fact.
These are just some instances. Collectively, they strongly indicate that my site was used as a research source for the two-part podcast, without any attribution or credit.
So, please stop using my website as a resource for your work, podcast, or post, unless you give attribution to my site. And you accuse Billy Joel of being a "magpie." Who really is the "magpie" here? I "don't take any shit from anybody," and will be contacting this person and other folks who use my site without attribution.
However, I also recently discovered that a music journalist did an extensive two-part podcast on Billy Joel for a popular culture publication in 2020. Among other things, he mentions the Betty Wright 45 record "Easter egg" in the video, which I had not seen mentioned anywhere else before I published it on this site in 2016 on my page about "Keeping The Faith." He not only mentions this largely unknown Easter egg, but also states in his podcast that "eagle-eyed" YouTube viewers may spot this. My page states that an "eagle-eyed YouTube viewer" noticed this and made a comment on the YouTube music video page.
On my website page about "Leave A Tender Moment Alone," I quote and cite a fan's English translation of a Dutch language book about musician Toots Thielemans (who is Belgian) which states that the song was in part inspired by Smokey Robinson. I had never seen anyone state this before, and frankly, I don't really hear the resemblance to Smokey Robinson. The English translation was posted in a popular members-only Facebook group (Billy Joel: Completely Retold run by superfan Mike Stutz) by a fan. Remarkably, the journalist in his podcast states too that "fans and Joel himself cited many influences for the track, including the Rascals and Smokey Robinson." Where did he get that from? Did this American journalist happen to find the same Dutch language book about Toots Thielemans and can read Dutch? (That said, someone did quote the same translated quote that I had put on my site, and later posted it in Songfacts).
I also state on my site that much later Billy stated in a brief interview snippet on SiriusXM from 2016 that the rhythm to the song was like Burt Bacharach's "What The World Needs Now" which was made popular by singer Jackie DeShannon. Similarly, the podcast states that "in a later interview, Joel revealed that he had deliberately based the melody for 'Leave a Tender Moment Alone' on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition, sung by both Jackie Deshannon and Dionne Warwick, 'What the World Needs Now.'" Did he happen to hear the same 2016 snippet in 2020 when preparing his podcast, or did he find it on my website?
But more importantly, the journalist got it wrong in his attempt to portray Billy Joel as a musical "magpie" as he terms it. Billy did not state that the melody of "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" was "delibrately based" on "What the World Needs Now" (the melodies are not similar), rather Billy said that beat was similar (Billy: "what has a beat like that? [plays piano then sings] what the world needs now . . . ."). Any music journalist, including one who can read Dutch, should know the difference between melody and beat.
Similarly, in my page describing The Stranger album, I open by stating that: "The Stranger, Billy Joel's fifth album, was his artistic and commercial breakthrough." That's my first sentence. The same podcast in describing The Stranger album, also opens by stating: "The Stranger was Billy Joel's commerical and creative breakthrough." Nothing groundbreaking here, but I find it telling that we both open with nearly the same phrase and language.
On my page about the song "Just The Way You Are," I state: "but singers Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow, who were visiting Billy in the recording studio, urged him to keep it on the album." In the podcast, in describing the song, the journalist states "it took singers Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow, who visited Joel in the studio, to convince him the sentimental song was worth keeping." This fact has been reported before, but I find the similarity in our wording to be more than coincidental in light of the other instances mentioned above. He uses "singers" like me when it was not needed, and he also mentions that they were visiting Billy in the recording studio, which is largely a throw-in fact.
These are just some instances. Collectively, they strongly indicate that my site was used as a research source for the two-part podcast, without any attribution or credit.
So, please stop using my website as a resource for your work, podcast, or post, unless you give attribution to my site. And you accuse Billy Joel of being a "magpie." Who really is the "magpie" here? I "don't take any shit from anybody," and will be contacting this person and other folks who use my site without attribution.
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial fan site that is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Billy Joel, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Maritime Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, or any similar entity. The Official Billy Joel site is at BillyJoel.com. Except as otherwise noted, all music and lyrics by Billy Joel are © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Joel Songs, Sony Music, and/or affiliated organizations, and are posted here for editorial commentary and research purposes, and are not for commercial use. This site has no advertisements and does not collect any personal information. See Contact Us page for DMCA notices or any other questions. Otherwise, text and layout are copyright this site, One Final Serenade. Background collage photo from Facebook Group Billy Joel-Fans with permission from Admin. Some photos in collage substituted by One Final Serenade. This site is not optimized for mobile devices.
If you enjoy this site, please consider donating any amount to help keep it active. I have not sought funds during the first ten years (and countless hours) of this site, but the costs include Weebly Pro Site subscription, domain name renewal, and monthly payments for various apps like the Comments app below. Thank you! (You don't need to include a shipping address of course, or just enter a fictitious address).
