Knit to This
Billy Joel: And So It Goes
If not for an email from MDK reader Barbara A., I would have slept on this one: HBO’s two-part documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes.
It was produced with the subject’s cooperation; Joel talks on camera a lot, looking back both ruefully and triumphantly, and he’s a great storyteller. But it nonetheless is candid about Joel’s life, personality, and foibles. It also illuminates his songwriting process and places his music in the context of the times and his contemporaries—many of whom also appear and have interesting things to say. At one point in the first episode, it’s mentioned that despite his huge stardom, Joel’s music was not loved by fans of punk and new wave music, which finally explained to me my own vague embarrassment at liking it so much.
If I’m making it sound studious and boring, it isn’t! There’s a lot about his personal life, which was daily fodder for the New York tabloids in the 1980s and beyond; you couldn’t not know about his messy exploits at the time. The telling is honest but not sensational. Yeah, he did that, and that and that, but it’s all humanized by the compassion that comes (hopefully) from living.
The big news for me was his first wife Elizabeth Weber’s huge role in his success, a fascinating tale that is told in great detail. Knowing this will completely change your understanding of the lyrics of Joel’s early hit songs—in one way or another, they were all about Elizabeth, things that really happened, feelings that were really felt. And if you’re over here with me on Team Women Never Get Fair Credit, you’ll love this story.
Another surprise was to learn that Joel’s mostly estranged father was a German-Jewish refugee of World War II. What happened to his family is a complicated, painful story, that helps explain the complicated, painful youth of Billy Joel. His musical flourishing is nothing short of miraculous against this background. As a kid, he didn’t even know what had happened to his German grandparents, uncles, and aunts, but he surely sensed it.
And So It Goes is five hours that’s well worth watching, if only to let the music wash over you, and realize again how good it is. I also recommend Linda Holmes’s review.
Ooooo. You make it sound so janetantalizing. I will find it!
His music was a soundtrack of a time in my life!
Just watched this a couple nights ago while working on my Floating Squares wrap. It was a really interesting and enjoyable pleasure. I’m forever a Billy Joel fan!
Thank you so much for sharing “And So It Goes” ! I grew Up with Billy Joel and will be watching it I full later. For now I’m just thrilled for the chance to hear him pretty much narrate his life story. The sound track of my life is filled with memories of his music and where I was and how it fit in!!!
Billy Joel was part of the soundtrack of my teenage years. I still love his music. I will certainly be looking this up.
I watched with my husband, both episodes in one night! It’s one of the best documentaries I’ve seen on any musician! Brilliantly done! And as you said, very eye opening!
I really enjoyed the documentary. His hits started happening when I was in college. I loved his music but been awhile since I’ve heard so much of it together. Like most gifted artists he had a complicated life and it’s clear that his father affected him deeply his whole life. Fame doesn’t equal happiness but fame or not he was driven to make music. Had no idea about Elizabeth’s role or really anything about his personal life. Hopefully he knows, really knows, how much people love his music.
I just finished the first episode last night. It’s fascinating. Good to knit to.
I love Billy Joel. So there. Also, if you have a chance to listen to the King Singers do “And so it goes” you won’t regret it. Lots of great covers but this one is magic.
Billy Joel was so interesting that I had to put down my knitting. So interesting and what a love story it is. I have to watch the second half yet. But this definitely is a must watch!
You’re the second “friend with good recommendations” to suggest this one. So it’s on our list.
I loved the film — and the music. And it is perfect for a binge knitting session.
Thanks for this. My hubby is a musician and so we watch a lot of music documentaries. Alas, our watching is in a darkened room so I can’t knit erstwhile. But this will be in our list. Another one that is surprising and fascinating is about Joseph Collier–sorry, have to look up the name of it, but oenophiles, it’s well worth the trouble. What a genius that young man is, surely our modern day Mozart.
Oops, oenophiles is the wrong word! I wish we could EDIT our comments here. (Hint, hint, dear programmer.)
But, knowing a lot of you here, oenophile might fit just fine lol!
Happy knitting!
P.s. I am almost finished with the Rota Sleeveless Top suggested in one of these daily reviews. Thanks for that too! It has been a very fun challenge-cum-learning for me, turning out to be quite lovely in a teal cotton/silk blend and my daughter is so excited to be the recipient. These daily reads are a welcome morning read. Arrigatou gozaimus!
I never really liked Billy Joel’s music but I love a good music documentary, I’ll definitely put this on our watching list, thanks! We also recently enjoyed Becoming Led Zeppelin, another band I was never really into but the doc is fascinating. Also McCartney 3, 2, 1 is another one not to miss!
We happened to see the last hour of part 2 the other night and now need to watch the documentary from the beginning…it’s excellent. I’ve always enjoyed Billy Joel’s music…The Stranger debuted when I was in high school and my friends and I knew all the words, leading to some some fun sing-a-longs in our cars.
Thanks for the heads-up on this!
On Instagram the other day I happened on a post from Jimmy Fallon. Billy Joel was his guest and they performed a magical version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Try to find it – you’ll probably laugh and cry at the same time.
I loved this show. The music of course but the background info was so good.
Definitely on Team Women Never Get Fair Credit with you. Thanks for the heads-up about this show—I would probably have missed it too.