Billy Joel has so much admiration for Taylor Swift’s musical talent.

Billy Joel is one of the most celebrated musicians in Hollywood, having earned the nickname Piano Man after his signature 1973 song of the same title. The famed pianist’s positive comment about Taylor Swift previously made rounds online.
Taylor Swift via Speak Now album
Billy Joel’s praise of Taylor Swift’s songwriting skills underscores her dominance in the music industry with her catchy and relatable songs. His acknowledgment of her talent highlights the impact of her music and lyrics on listeners.

Billy Joel Praised Taylor Swift For Her Genius Music Ideas

Billy Joel praised Taylor Swift’s music concepts and song compositions during an interview with USA Today. Swift, known for her catchy and emotionally charged lyrics, has garnered acclaim for her songwriting prowess, further solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the music industry.

“Taylor [Swift] is also a very talented girl, and she’s productive and keeps coming up with great concepts and songs, and she’s huge. You have to give her high marks. She knows music, and she knows how to write. She’s like that generation’s Beatles.”

Billy Joel comparing Taylor Swift to The Beatles is significant given the iconic status of the latter as one of the most enduring music icons. While some may have initially been surprised by this comparison, a fan on Twitter defended Joel’s statement, suggesting that he may be referring to Swift’s songwriting talent rather than her overall artistic innovation. This perspective underscores Swift’s influence and acclaim as a songwriter in the music industry.

“I think he’s really comparing her songwriting talent – which I believe is a fair comparison to McCartney & Lennon. Taylor deserves a spot next to both. I don’t think anyone would say she’s innovated artistically the way the Beatles did – not anyone familiar with their music.”

Billy Joel via CBS News
Speaking about modern singers, Joel shared his sentiment on the rise of new music artists. Whenever they mention or credit him in their works, the singer claims this is what he thinks:

“We kind of left them in the past and moved on to the new stuff, the Elvis generation and the Beatles generation and disco and the ’80s. We weren’t a back-looking generation and there are a lot of younger people now looking backward and they like their parents’ music, which is a strange phenomenon. I look out (in the crowd) and see so many young people. I’m grateful for it, especially because they make more noise. It’s a great mix.”

Billy Joel’s admiration for Taylor Swift’s talent indeed carries weight and is likely to be viewed as a significant compliment by her fans. Swift’s ongoing Eras Tour, scheduled to conclude on December 8, offers further validation of her status as a powerhouse in the music industry, showcasing her immense popularity and enduring appeal among audiences worldwide.

Is Taylor Swift More Famous Than The Beatles?

The Beatles via Twitter
An article from The Standard claimed Taylor Swift is bigger than The Beatles in terms of profit and popularity:

“Because in terms of success, fame, and sheer output, Swift is John, Paul, George, and Ringo (and Brian Epstein) all rolled into one. She is, to amend a phrase, bigger than The Beatles. She sells an experience, a vibe, and a moment people want to be a part of. The music may as well be thrown in for free.”

 

“As much as I Love Taylor, I have to agree with Billie”: Clash Between Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift’s Fandom Gets Intense Over Artists Using Vinyl Variants For Money

Billie Eilish has recently spoken out against major music industry artists for their practice of releasing multiple vinyl variants of an album, deeming it wasteful.

The music industry has become one of the biggest businesses in the whole world. Being an artist no longer solely entails making music or singing. The success of an artist is no longer solely determined by the quality of their songs. It’s also about revenue generation, from selling tickets to merchandise. It’s a whole different game out there.

Billie Eilish, who is just a Tony away from becoming an EGOT winner, recently spoke out about sustainability, calling out big artists who choose to release multiple vinyl variants of the same album for fans to purchase. Fans couldn’t agree with what she had to say.
Billie Eilish in the music video for What Was I Made For?

Billie Eilish Calls Out “Big Artists” for Vinyl Releases!

In a recent interview with Billboard, Billie Eilish shared her commitment to sustainability both in her personal life and in her work. While she strives to ensure all aspects of her business are sustainable, she didn’t shy away from addressing artists who don’t share this value.

The tradition of selling vinyl records has persisted, but Eilish pointed out a concerning trend of excess in recent years. She cited examples like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, who release multiple vinyl editions of the same album, which she views as wasteful. Eilish expressed her frustration, stating:

“In this day and age, it’s become oddly crucial for some artists to produce various vinyl editions and extravagant packaging to boost sales figures and profits…”

While this tactic may indeed boost sales, Eilish emphasized the environmental toll it takes, highlighting its wastefulness.

 “I can’t even express to you how wasteful it is. It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right, and I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable”

Billie Eilish in No Time to Die
She added,

“And then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making f–king 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more. It’s so wasteful, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care that much about your numbers and you care that much about making money — and it’s all your favorite artists doing that sh-t.”

Although she is indeed working hard to help save our planet from ruin, she believes that everyone has to work together in order to achieve this goal. Ultimately, it’s the music itself that is important, regardless of where you’re listening to it from.

The Swifties and Billie Eilish Fans Are at War!

However, ultimately, it’s the fans who wield the true influence. As long as fans keep buying multiple versions of the same vinyl, artists will keep making them. These are straightforward truths.

As a result, the remarks of the Oscar-winning singer have sparked division online. While some align with the sentiments of the “What Was I Made For” singer, even if they’re passionate fans of those “big artists,” others interpret it as a personal affront to their favorite musicians.
Taylor Swift in the music video of End Game
Here is what the fans have to say about this matter,

This is the kind of greed they talk about in the Bible pic.twitter.com/fE5sFvXlMh

— Pob Base (@PobBase) March 28, 2024

While the two fandoms of Swifties and Eilish fans may currently find themselves at odds, it’s crucial to clarify that Billie Eilish’s album Happier Than Ever was released in eight vinyl variants. However, it’s noteworthy that she opted for 100% recycled black vinyl, incorporating recycled scraps for colored variants and employing shrink-wrap made from sugar cane. Although she acknowledges the importance of the business aspect of the music industry, she urges fellow artists to prioritize sustainability in their practices.