I, too am a piano man. So perhaps I'm biased. But I don't think its my instrumental bias that makes this artical so easy to dismiss. Joel has written some truly artful songs, and I am specifically NOT referring to JTWYA.

Allentown, Vienna, Pressure, I Go To Extremes, (has any rock performer, with the obvious exception of John Lennon, been as brutally honest about his personal fallibilities?) The Woman's Got soul (did I get the title right on that?), New York State of Mind, Honesty, the list can go on and on.

And it did for Twyla Tharp who found them worthy of her choreographic talent in Movin' Out.

And Joel as a singer. Fuggedaboudit. Just listen to him belt out Don't Worry Baby at Brian Wilson's Radio City Honors Concert.

Like the Beatles - yes I am making THAT comparison - Billy Joel had the sense to know when enough was enough. He pulled away from the "star-maker machinery behind the popular song" as Joni sang.

He's had his troubles and challenges, but his music has continued to live - for decades - while the tunes of Costello have meandered into mediocre musical musings. Costello and Toussaint? Costello producing Anne Sophie von Otter? North? The Delivery Man? Please. (Notice I left out Costello / Bacharach. THAT WAS GENIUS) Find me one person who know the words and sings along to My Brilliant Mistake. Now look for one who knows the words and sings along to Uptown Girl. I rest my case.

Why is it so necessary for us to tackle our heroes? The surviver? The ones who achieve uber-popularity?

Squandered genius? I'm simply thankful for his genius, and the fact that I was a 20, 30, 40, now 50 something piano man who could sing his songs.

Thanks Billy.