--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both…" description: "\"Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both play piano.\" — Ben Folds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png" --- # Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both… ![“Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both play piano.” quote by Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png) > “Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both play piano.” [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ben compares two pianists, noting shared talent and instrument, highlighting common excellence. **In simple terms:** Two piano players are both great. Key Takeaway Appreciate shared skill. Themes music comparison talent instrument Mood appreciative analytical Type musical critical When to use this quote - music criticism - music education - artist interviews - performance review Key Concepts artistic influence musical analysis Questions to Reflect On - What makes each pianist unique? - How does instrument shape expression? A Different Perspective Comparison may oversimplify unique styles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Joe Jackson is a great man. The problem that people have with my father is that he tells it like it is. He's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-jackson/joe-jackson-is-a-great-man-the-problem-that-people-have-with-my/) [Tito Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-jackson/) > [A lot of people can play the piano, but not everyone can be Billy Joel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/a-lot-of-people-can-play-the-piano-but-not-everyone-can-be-billy-joel/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [My big influences are piano artists like Billy Joel and Elton John.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-dunnigan/my-big-influences-are-piano-artists-like-billy-joel-and-elton-john/) [Kyle Dunnigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-dunnigan/) > [There are some seminal things that happened in the '70s for me: Billy Joel and Jackson 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/there-are-some-seminal-things-that-happened-in-the-70s-for-me-billy/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [Most people are blown away by the fact that Beck is Jewish... and Billy Joel. I didn't know he was Jewish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-oseary/most-people-are-blown-away-by-the-fact-that-beck-is-jewish-and-billy/) [Guy Oseary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-oseary/) > [For me, '52nd Street' is quintessential Billy Joel. I bought that record as a kid and listened to it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/for-me-52nd-street-is-quintessential-billy-joel-i-bought-that-record/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [Billy Joel is an incredible musician. He just feels like one of the guys, you know. I grew up listening to his music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/action-bronson/billy-joel-is-an-incredible-musician-he-just-feels-like-one-of-the/) [Action Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/action-bronson/) > [We teach young kids from 8 to 14 or 15 about their musical heritage through great songs written by American songwriters. We don't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-whiting/we-teach-young-kids-from-8-to-14-or-15-about-their-musical-heritage/) [Margaret Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-whiting/) > [Oh, yeah, I've always thought of covering some of my influences like Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-secada/oh-yeah-i-ve-always-thought-of-covering-some-of-my-influences-like/) [Jon Secada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-secada/) > [I know all the words to Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-grande/i-know-all-the-words-to-billy-joel-s-we-didn-t-start-the-fire/) [Frankie Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-grande/) > [“She can kill with a smile She can wound with her eyes She can ruin your faith with her casual lies And she only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-fenton/she-can-kill-with-a-smile-she-can-wound-with-her-eyes-she-can-ruin-2/) [Liz Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-fenton/) > [Usually, if I want to just listen to something or sing along to something, I'll put on some Gavin DeGraw or some Billy Joel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-young/usually-if-i-want-to-just-listen-to-something-or-sing-along-to/) [Josh Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-young/) > [My favorites growing up were always Billy Joel, Michael Jackson... and Placido Domingo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-young/my-favorites-growing-up-were-always-billy-joel-michael-jackson-and/) [Josh Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-young/) > [I copied (Shoeless Joe) Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen, the greatest natural hitter I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/i-copied-shoeless-joe-jackson-s-style-because-i-thought-he-was-the/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [Joe Jackson was a tragic figure. He was a serene country boy who signed a confession he couldn't read. He was illiterate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/joe-jackson-was-a-tragic-figure-he-was-a-serene-country-boy-who/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) ## More by Ben Folds > [The nice thing about age is worrying less and less about what people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/the-nice-thing-about-age-is-worrying-less-and-less-about-what-people/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [What stupid f - king idiot gets married a second time if the first time didn't work out?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/what-stupid-f-king-idiot-gets-married-a-second-time-if-the-first-time/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [I'm definitely an anomaly, but I'm making things. They're selling, say, martinis, and I'm kind of making vintage Riesling. People aren't going to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/i-m-definitely-an-anomaly-but-i-m-making-things-they-re-selling-say/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [There is still some art in pop music. But it can't happen if you're not inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/there-is-still-some-art-in-pop-music-but-it-can-t-happen-if-you-re/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [People learn at the rate they are going to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/people-learn-at-the-rate-they-are-going-to-learn/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [My job is to be some sort of music/lyric psychic, to figure out that that's the right song to not fight the lyric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/my-job-is-to-be-some-sort-of-music-lyric-psychic-to-figure-out-that/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [With the a cappella groups, every voice is like one string on a guitar, one note on the piano, or one cymbal, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/with-the-a-cappella-groups-every-voice-is-like-one-string-on-a-guitar/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [You never know when you put out an album that's unique whether it'll get beat up for it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/you-never-know-when-you-put-out-an-album-that-s-unique-whether-it-ll/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [The piano is just a different animal. It's expensive, it's big, it's heavy, and it doesn't fit in the mix easily. Everyone grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/the-piano-is-just-a-different-animal-it-s-expensive-it-s-big-it-s/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [I used to do this big rant at the end of some gigs with Ben Folds Five. The band broke into this big heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/i-used-to-do-this-big-rant-at-the-end-of-some-gigs-with-ben-folds/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [I've gotten to the point where I realize that I need to tell my truth in music and not walk around blabbing my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/i-ve-gotten-to-the-point-where-i-realize-that-i-need-to-tell-my-truth/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [The press is like any business. Its a group of really intelligent individuals that ends up being one slathering, one-eyed, drooling monster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/the-press-is-like-any-business-its-a-group-of-really-intelligent/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [You can't really control how people hear stuff. It's hard to remember that. I have to let go of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/you-can-t-really-control-how-people-hear-stuff-it-s-hard-to-remember/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [Why would I want to sound like Joni Mitchell? I've got Joni Mitchell records, and they're great, and I couldn't possibly be that good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/why-would-i-want-to-sound-like-joni-mitchell-i-ve-got-joni-mitchell/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [Everyone, when you're a teenager and you're growing up, you do feel like your life is dramatic enough to be on a TV screen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/everyone-when-you-re-a-teenager-and-you-re-growing-up-you-do-feel/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) [Explore all 75 Ben Folds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) ## More Billy quotes > [“When I first met Billy I thought about sucking his eyes right out of their sockets. They’re like turquoise gum drops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-treggiari/when-i-first-met-billy-i-thought-about-sucking-his-eyes-right-out-of/) [Jo Treggiari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-treggiari/) > [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > ['Billy Elliot' embodies the idea that anyone can achieve anything regardless of their socio-economic background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fellner/billy-elliot-embodies-the-idea-that-anyone-can-achieve-anything/) [Eric Fellner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fellner/) > [Look at Greg Jbara! I've watched him work for years, always switching. He's literally a different human being when he's onstage in 'Billy Elliot.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-chase/look-at-greg-jbara-i-ve-watched-him-work-for-years-always-switching/) [Will Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-chase/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [“That last voice in his head. It hadn't been Billy's. It was his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/that-last-voice-in-his-head-it-hadn-t-been-billy-s-it-was-his-own/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [It is said that a hundred gamecocks will live in perfect harmony together it you do not put a hen with them; and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/it-is-said-that-a-hundred-gamecocks-will-live-in-perfect-harmony/) [Augustus Baldwin Longstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/) > [I think you and the referee were in a minority of one, Billy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-armfield/i-think-you-and-the-referee-were-in-a-minority-of-one-billy/) [Jimmy Armfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-armfield/) > [“Most Tralfamadorians had no way of knowing Billy's body and face were not beautiful. They supposed that he was a splendid specimen. This had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/most-tralfamadorians-had-no-way-of-knowing-billy-s-body-and-face-were/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [My great-grandfather was a variety hall comedian called Billy Mack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/my-great-grandfather-was-a-variety-hall-comedian-called-billy-mack/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [“Billy's at 44 north, 56 west and heading straight into meteorological hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/billy-s-at-44-north-56-west-and-heading-straight-into-meteorological/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [I can tell you the actor who I admire the most. Billy Crudup. Do you know who he is? He's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/i-can-tell-you-the-actor-who-i-admire-the-most-billy-crudup-do-you/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [When they told me there would be a statue erected at Wrigley Field, I was happy with that. I know there will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-williams/when-they-told-me-there-would-be-a-statue-erected-at-wrigley-field-i/) [Billy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-williams/) Browse all 228 Billy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both play piano.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Folds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-great-and-they-both-play-piano/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-great-and-they-both-play-piano/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/ben-folds-9125_billy_billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-gre_1797173.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both play piano.” — Ben Folds", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Folds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-great-and-they-both-play-piano/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/billy-joel-and-joe-jackson-were-both-great-and-they-both-play-piano/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```