Billy Joel, the legendary singer-songwriter and pianist, has revealed that he lost the ‘fun’ of writing music after releasing his last studio album ‘River of Dreams’ in 1993. The album, which featured hits such as ‘The River of Dreams’, ‘All About Soul’, and ‘Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)’, was his 12th and final album of original songs.
Joel, who has sold over 150 million records worldwide and won six Grammy Awards, has not released any new music since then, except for two classical albums and some singles. He has also not toured extensively, preferring to perform monthly residency shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City since 2014.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Joel explained why he stopped writing music. He said: “I just lost interest in it. It wasn’t fun anymore. I felt like I was repeating myself or writing the same kind of song over and over again. I didn’t have anything new to say. I didn’t want to force it or fake it. I didn’t want to be one of those artists who keeps making albums just because they can.”
Joel also said that he is happy with his legacy and does not feel the need to prove himself anymore. He said: “I’m very proud of what I’ve done. I’ve had a great career. I’ve made some good albums, some good songs. I don’t feel like I have anything left to prove. I don’t have any ambition to be on the charts or to be famous or to be relevant. I just want to enjoy my life and play music for my fans.”
Joel added that he still loves performing live and playing his old songs for his loyal audience. He said: “I love being on stage. I love playing my songs for people who appreciate them. I love seeing their faces, hearing their voices, feeling their energy. That’s what keeps me going. That’s what makes me happy.”