Billy Joel recently made a highly anticipated return to the Grammy Awards stage, captivating the crowd with his emotional performance of his latest single, 'Turn the Lights Back On.' With a live orchestra adding depth to his soulful vocals, the New York icon left the enraptured Los Angeles audience in awe.
In a pre-performance interview segment, Joel opened up about his hiatus from songwriting, explaining that he had stopped because he didn't want to continue. However, his encounter with Freddy Wexler, a devoted fan, changed everything. Wexler's relentless persuasion and genuine connection convinced Joel to find joy in his craft once more. After a two-year hiatus, the seasoned musician returned to the vocal booth and was pleasantly surprised. He confessed, 'I did a recording, and I listened back, and I didn't hate my voice, which I usually do… So this is actually the first time I'm doing it in 30 years. The whole point of doing what I do was because it was so much fun when I first started. I kind of lost that after a while. Freddy got me to find the joy in it again.'
Joel's Grammy Awards appearance marked his first performance on the prestigious stage in 22 years. His last appearance was a memorable rendition of 'New York State of Mind' alongside Tony Bennett during the telecast. This time, however, he chose to showcase his newest creation, 'Turn the Lights Back On.' The single, which reflects on the possibility of repairing a flawed relationship, represents Joel's first solo release in 17 years. Co-written with Freddy Wexler, Wayne Hector, and Arthur Bacon, the song holds sentimental value for the legendary artist.
While 'Turn the Lights Back On' is Joel's first pop release in nearly two decades, he has remained active musically in other ways. In 2007, he released 'All My Life' as a standalone single, and in 1997, he recorded three cover songs for 'Greatest Hits Volume III,' including a heartfelt rendition of Bob Dylan's 'To Make You Feel My Love.' His last full-length album, 'Fantasies & Delusions,' featuring classical compositions, debuted in 2011. As for his last pop record, that was 'River of Dreams' in 1993.
Throughout his illustrious career, Billy Joel has received remarkable recognition from the Grammy Awards. With 23 nominations under his belt, he has taken home the coveted trophy six times. His success began in 1979 when his hit song 'Just the Way You Are' won both the record of the year and song of the year categories. His most recent nomination came in 2002 for his collaboration with Tony Bennett on the re-recorded version of 'New York State of Mind,' which earned him a nod in the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals category.
Billy Joel's return to the Grammy Awards stage was met with excitement from fans and critics alike. His emotional performance of 'Turn the Lights Back On' demonstrated that his songwriting prowess and captivating voice remain as powerful as ever. As his dedicated audience eagerly awaits more musical endeavors, we can only imagine what the future holds for the legendary musician.
