--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started out, I wanted to be Billy…" description: "\"When I started out, I wanted to be Billy Joel. The plan was to be a singer-songwriter of that ilk, and, then, I got waylaid - that's probably an unfair..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/jason-robert-brown-18136_i-love_when-i-started-out-i-wanted-to-be-billy_2359419.jpg" --- # When I started out, I wanted to be Billy Joel. The plan… ![“When I started out, I wanted to be Billy Joel. The plan was to be a singer-songwriter of that ilk, and, then, I got waylaid - that's probably an unfair way to say it - from being a rock star by the musical theatre stuff, which I love doing.” quote by Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/jason-robert-brown-18136_i-love_when-i-started-out-i-wanted-to-be-billy_2359419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/jason-robert-brown-18136_i-love_when-i-started-out-i-wanted-to-be-billy_2359419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/jason-robert-brown-18136_i-love_when-i-started-out-i-wanted-to-be-billy_2359419.jpg) > “When I started out, I wanted to be Billy Joel. The plan was to be a singer-songwriter of that ilk, and, then, I got waylaid - that's probably an unfair way to say it - from being a rock star by the musical theatre stuff, which I love doing.” [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He aspired to emulate Billy Joel, but his path shifted to musical theatre, altering his career trajectory. **In simple terms:** Dreams can change direction. Key Takeaway Adapt goals to new passions. Themes career artistic identity flexibility aspiration Mood reflective hopeful Type musical career narrative When to use this quote - songwriting - theatre auditions - career counseling - personal branding Key Concepts creative industry personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What new opportunities emerged from this shift? - How do you reconcile original ambitions with current reality? A Different Perspective May feel regret over abandoned dreams. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy-joel/) [I love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-love/) [Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joel/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theatre/) [Rock star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-star/) [Singer Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singer-songwriter-358469/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-billy-5771616/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I am at my core a singer/songwriter a la James Taylor or a la Billy Joel. It's not that I don't want to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-am-at-my-core-a-singer-songwriter-a-la-james-taylor-or-a-la-billy/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [My favorite people on the planet are Robert Downey Jr., Billy Joel and Kevin Feige.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-vellani/my-favorite-people-on-the-planet-are-robert-downey-jr-billy-joel-and/) [Iman Vellani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-vellani/) > [Growing up on Long Island, I think Billy Joel albums come with your driver's license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/growing-up-on-long-island-i-think-billy-joel-albums-come-with-your/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [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/) > [Elton John and Billy Joel, I find them both to be huge inspirations, those guys are so talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kygo/elton-john-and-billy-joel-i-find-them-both-to-be-huge-inspirations/) [Kygo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kygo/) > [Most Billy Joel songs make me want to cry a little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-devitto/most-billy-joel-songs-make-me-want-to-cry-a-little/) [Torrey DeVitto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-devitto/) > [I don't know if people know this about me, but I'm into Billy Joel. I'm a huge fan of his and always have been.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-don-t-know-if-people-know-this-about-me-but-i-m-into-billy-joel-i-m/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I listen to Billy Joel. He is fabulous. I saw him with Elton John when they toured together, it was so great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-listen-to-billy-joel-he-is-fabulous-i-saw-him-with-elton-john-when/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I love Billy Joel's music, but let's put it this way - I think this is a frustrated, ugly man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-avalon/i-love-billy-joel-s-music-but-let-s-put-it-this-way-i-think-this-is-a/) [Frankie Avalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-avalon/) > [“She's the type of girl Billy Joel would write songs about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-nadeen/she-s-the-type-of-girl-billy-joel-would-write-songs-about/) [Bailey Nadeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-nadeen/) > [In terms of other people's perception of me, that's their business. There are people who I have never met but, for whatever reason, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-albini/in-terms-of-other-people-s-perception-of-me-that-s-their-business/) [Steve Albini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-albini/) > [Because of Billy Joel, I've been playing piano since I was knee high. The house was always full of music, so of course he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-ray-joel/because-of-billy-joel-i-ve-been-playing-piano-since-i-was-knee-high/) [Alexa Ray Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-ray-joel/) > [I've had so many hot, cheesy, corny loves of music in my life. I had a very intense Billy Joel period. So once you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/i-ve-had-so-many-hot-cheesy-corny-loves-of-music-in-my-life-i-had-a/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [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/) ## More by Jason Robert Brown > [I am a muso, and I love doing it. I assumed that would be my career for a long time. I always wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/i-am-a-muso-and-i-love-doing-it-i-assumed-that-would-be-my-career-for/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [Comedy is drama. 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But because I'm performer as well as a writer, I'm constantly interacting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/i-love-my-stuff-you-re-not-supposed-to-say-that-but-because-i-m/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [The jury is still out on whether I'm a genius or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/the-jury-is-still-out-on-whether-i-m-a-genius-or-not/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [I've never been particularly good at explaining or even understanding what this sort of rage is that is so accessible to me. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/i-ve-never-been-particularly-good-at-explaining-or-even-understanding/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [What I aspire to do, and what I try the hardest to do, is write stuff that's very personal in its way. I figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/what-i-aspire-to-do-and-what-i-try-the-hardest-to-do-is-write-stuff/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [As much as I can act, I don't have anything in me that yearns to be an actor - that sense of needing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/as-much-as-i-can-act-i-don-t-have-anything-in-me-that-yearns-to-be-an/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [Immediate, simultaneous connection between the audience and a performer is crucial to me. It's why I do what I do. Other things, like recording,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/immediate-simultaneous-connection-between-the-audience-and-a/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [What's great about collaborating is getting to work with wonderful people. 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It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. 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