Billy Joel Reflects on Two of His Songs by Today's 'Woke' Standards
An Interview with Rolling Stone
Exclusive Interview
Billy Joel recently sat down with Rolling Stone to discuss two of his classic songs, "Uptown Girl" and "Just the Way You Are," in light of today's "woke" standards. In an interview that has since been edited for clarity, Joel expressed his thoughts on how these songs would be received in the current social and cultural climate.
Regarding "Uptown Girl," Joel acknowledged that the song's portrayal of a wealthy man seeking a woman from a different socioeconomic background could be seen as problematic. "I wrote that song when I was young and didn't fully understand the power dynamics involved," he said. "I think I was trying to capture a feeling of longing for someone who seemed unreachable, but I can see how it could be interpreted as being about classism."
Joel also addressed the criticism that "Just the Way You Are" is not inclusive enough. "I wrote that song as a celebration of individuality, but I understand that it doesn't represent everyone's experience," he said. "I think it's important to remember that art is subjective, and what one person sees as empowering, another may see as offensive."
Ultimately, Joel believes that it's unfair to judge older songs by today's standards. "I think it's important to remember the context in which these songs were written," he said. "Society has changed a lot in the past few decades, and I think we need to be careful not to rewrite history in a way that makes it seem like everyone was always enlightened."
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