Not everyone loves Billy Joel’s music. Some people find his songs too polished, too traditional, or too tied to classic rock and pop formulas. Even some fans admit that not every song hits the mark. Still, one thing is clear: Billy Joel always treated songwriting seriously. Every melody he released was carefully put together, even when the final result didn’t live up to his own expectations.
Billy Joel worked like a professional craftsman. He believed that a song should feel complete, like there was no better version of it waiting to be written. Because of that mindset, some songs feel inspired and powerful, while others feel more like assignments than passion projects. That difference is noticeable across his long career.
Interestingly, some of Joel’s best songs came when he ignored what pop music was “supposed” to be. Instead of short, radio-friendly tracks, he sometimes experimented with structure and style. A perfect example is “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.” The song changes moods, tells a full story, and feels more like a short movie than a typical rock song. At the time, this kind of approach was unusual, but it became one of his most beloved tracks.
Another standout is “Zanzibar,” which blends pop songwriting with jazz influences. The unexpected jazz breakdown in the middle of the song gives it personality and depth. These creative risks helped make Billy Joel’s albums feel unique rather than repetitive.
Joel was also deeply influenced by classical music. He admired composers like Beethoven and wasn’t afraid to show it. In “This Night,” he directly uses a classical melody, turning it into a modern pop song. Rather than copying, it feels like a tribute — a thank-you to the music that inspired him as a teenager.
However, Billy Joel was honest about his failures. He openly criticized “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” calling it one of his weakest melodies. While many listeners enjoy the song for its fast-paced history lesson, Joel felt it lacked musical depth. Even so, the song still has charm, proving that even his least favorite work connected with audiences.
The songs Joel disliked most were the ones where he felt uninspired. One of the clearest examples is “When In Rome” from the album Storm Front. Joel later admitted he was out of ideas when he wrote it and called the lyrics cliché and shallow. The song also suffered because it appeared right before “And So It Goes,” a song he considered one of the best he ever wrote. The contrast only made “When In Rome” feel weaker.
In the end, Billy Joel showed real maturity by knowing when to stop. After River of Dreams, he chose not to release more pop albums. Instead of forcing creativity, he stepped away, confident in the legacy he had built. Sometimes, knowing when not to keep going is the most powerful decision an artist can make.