Billy Joel Shrugs Off ‘Woke’ Critics in Candid Bill Maher Chat
Billy Joel sat down with Bill Maher on HBO’s Real Time on June 8 to make it crystal clear that he’s completely over what “woke” people think about his music and message.
Jordan Collins here: You probably should already know this, but here we go. The Piano Man himself just set the record straight after years of watching fellow rockers rewrite lyrics and issue public apologies to pacify social media. Joel told Maher that, at 74 years old, he has zero interest in retrofitting his classics or bowing to modern critics who find offense in lines that defined generations.
During the wide-ranging conversation, Maher pointed out how cultural pressure can turn harmless pop songs into targets for outrage. Joel laughed it off, saying he wrote “We Didn’t Start the Fire” as a rapid-fire history lesson, not a political manifesto. “I understand the world changes,” Joel said. “But a song’s a song, and I’m not rewriting 50 years of my work because someone decides a phrase is problematic.”
The veteran rocker also noted that his Broadway residency at Madison Square Garden has remained a fan favorite despite calls on Twitter for him to tweak lyrics in crowd-pleasers like “Only the Good Die Young.” According to Rolling Stone and People magazine, Joel’s shows sold out in under 24 hours this spring, proving that most ticket holders would rather sing every original lyric than listen to a watered-down version.
Joel reminded viewers that artists from the Beatles to the Stones have had their moments in the spotlight of social scrutiny. He referenced Sir Paul McCartney’s 2021 apology for a decades-old comment and the Stones editing performances of “Brown Sugar,” yet added that he personally sees no benefit in re-filing history. “My songs are a snapshot of their time,” Joel said, citing his own 1973 bulk of material as cultural artifacts. “If you want a museum, go to the Met. But don’t expect me to curate my own life.”
Maher applauded Joel’s stance, noting how cancel culture can discourage creativity. Entertainment Weekly and Variety both highlighted this segment as one of the interview’s most memorable moments, where the star insisted that art must be allowed to stand on its own. Joel quipped that he’s got a “library” of songs—in his words, “my greatest hits aren’t up for negotiation.”
Joel also teased upcoming tour dates in Europe and North America, reminding fans that live music offers an unfiltered experience that no online backlash can erase. He joked that if social media users don’t like his past work, they’re welcome to skip the show—but as Joel added with a sly grin, “They’ll miss out on nine encores.”
That’s the scoop, folks. Glad I could clear that up for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
