Billy Joel Quotes & Sayings (Page 4)

“I have been both praised and criticized. The criticism stung, but the praise sometimes bothered me even more. To have received such praise and honors has always been puzzling to me.”

“Twyla Tharp put it together from the material I wrote and recorded over my whole career. I thought it was pretty good, but how objective could I be?”

“Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial to make a living, that shouldn't be your inspiration. Do it for yourself.”

“If you make music for the human needs you have within yourself, then you do it for all humans who need the same things. You enrich humanity with the profound expression of these feelings.”

“When I was 19, I made my first good week's pay as a club musician. It was enough money for me to quit my job at the factory and still pay the rent and buy some food. I freaked.”

“For whatever reason, not all people are born with the particular gift of being able to express ourselves through music. And, believe me, it is a gift.”

“When I look at great works of art or listen to inspired music, I sense intimate portraits of the specific times in which they were created.”

“Musicians now find themselves in the unlikely position of being legitimate. At least the IRS thinks so.”

“I can't think of one person I've ever met who didn't like some type of music.”

“I never said I wasn't going to play any more. I don't know where that came from.”