We can o ly hope learns, and realizes I know more than he does.


Billy Joel views songwriting as a painful, disciplined craft—a "curse" or "torment"—rather than a purely talent-driven process, often favoring meticulous, long-term refinement over instant inspiration. He emphasizes that the more one writes, the better one gets, treating songwriting as a sculpting process where he writes music first, then sets lyrics to it.
The Learning Leader | Ryan Hawk
The Learning Leader | Ryan Hawk
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Key aspects of Joel's, as discussed in on Instagram and in interviews with The Learning Leader Show, approach include:
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Reddit
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Music First, Lyrics Second: Unlike many, Joel starts with the melody, rhythm, or a musical "dream" and fits words into that structure.
The "Sculpting" Approach: He described his process to The Learning Leader Show as closer to sculpture, molding the music into its final form.
"Torture" over Ease: Joel has described the process as "lonely" and "painful," as discussed on People.
High Standards/Self-Critique: He stopped writing new music because he couldn't meet his own high standards, telling Instagram that he "had not forgiven [himself] for not being Beethoven".
Not Editing Immediately: According to The Learning Leader Show, he often avoids changing lines, believing constant editing sends a message to his subconscious that he made a mistake.
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Reddit
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Ultimately, Joel sees songwriting as a learned, grueling process that required immense effort rather than just talent, as reported in this YouTube video and in Far Out