Billy Joel has spent more than five decades writing songs of his own, but when it comes to Bob Dylan, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says there is simply no comparison.
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s The Billy Joel Channel, Joel opened up about Dylan’s influence and singular approach to songwriting, calling the 85-year-old music legend “the top guy.”
“Well, Dylan is, for me, he was the top guy,” Joel said. “Nobody wrote like Dylan before Dylan. And even after Dylan, nobody wrote like Dylan.”
But even Joel admitted that deciphering exactly what Dylan meant with some of those famous lyrics can be another matter entirely.
“Sometimes I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about,” Joel said. “And he’ll even admit to that. But his style of writing is totally unique. He was the only guy who really did that to this day. And he’s still kicking it.”
Joel, 77, went on to explain that part of Dylan’s gift was making even his most mysterious lyrics sound completely convincing.
“He had a way with lyrics,” Joel said. “You didn’t always know what he was talking about, but the lyrics sounded like he knew what he was talking about.”
As an example, Joel turned to Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” reciting part of the song before marveling at the kind of imagery Dylan was putting into popular music in the mid-1960s.
“Who did that before him?” Joel asked. “This is fantastic stuff.”
Related: 1967 Hit, Written by Bob Dylan, Became a No. 1 Song 24 Years Later
“Mr. Tambourine Man” was written by Dylan and appeared on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The Byrds released their own version that same year, taking the song to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Joel also praised one of the most consequential moves of Dylan’s career: embracing electric instruments at a time when some folk fans vehemently opposed the change.
“The guy had to face all this resistance to him plugging in,” Joel said. “There were people that were dead set against him playing an electric guitar.”
Joel had a decidedly different reaction.
“I thought it was a great idea,” he continued. “I thought it was fantastic. It was a marriage of folk, rock and amazing poetry. It was great.”
The comments came as Joel also offered listeners an update on his health. The “Piano Man” singer revealed that he underwent brain surgery after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, a condition that had affected his balance.
Joel said doctors implanted a shunt and that he subsequently experienced improvements in his balance, memory and ability to function. He has stepped away from performing while focusing on his recovery.
“I just want people to know, don’t worry about me,” Joel said. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here.”
Related: Rock Royalty Turns 76, Tributes Pour In: He ‘Saved My Life’
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