Billy Joel: And So It Goes

Based on Part One, I'm looking forward to Part Two.

I felt the editing in this episode is close to perfection. An almost intuitive sense of pace and timing. It's as musical as the music of Billy Joel.

I wasn't aware of the depths of Billy's early adulthood difficulties, and the enduring extent to which they serve as both carrot and stick. But I wonder if it could be any other way for an artist of his calibre, especially at the point in time when "The Stranger," "52nd Street" and "Glass Houses" rocketed him to international currency.

Nice idea to close the credits with "Zanzibar." Listening to Freddie Hubbard absolutely crushing it still gives me the shivers.

As others have stated, Part 1 was so well made thanks in large part to Billy's first wife. This of course had me really looking forward to Part 2 but after watching I feel let down. It's not just that there was no current health update on Billy it's more than that. I can't exactly put my finger on it. Maybe more insight into Billy's creative process in writing some of his most iconic songs and albums in the 80's would have been nice? Maybe more gritty details about his alcoholism as Part 2 seemed to only scratch the surface?

Overall, my recommendation to any Billy Joel fan would be to watch Part 1 of this new documentary and, instead of Part 2, watch Billy's oldie but goodie documentary on the concerts he performed in the former Soviet Union in 1987.

Billy Joel music was the main soundtrack to my glory days living close by in NJ. We are similar ages and going through similar experiences, including depression at times. His music and lyrics are genius. The legacy he will leave behind is massive. Do any colleges study Billy Joel or is that a newer thing for pop stars ? I was lucky enough to see him once in Philadelphia and Christie Brinkley came out on stage (The Uptown Girl tour). The documentary was very informative as I didn't know all the details of his early years and first marriage. And also his childhood and very difficult relationship (non-relationship) with his father. These in-depth bio shows, like the Pee Wee Herman bio, are excellent and I hope HBO will continue to make more. It is bittersweet to think Billy is 76 and he and Elton John are beginning to slow down and have various health problems. I want to thank him and hope he has found happiness at last.

I love Billy Joel music. Billy's music has gotten me through many difficult times in my life. His music more than any other is the soundtrack of my life. Watching this documentary helped me understand the music and deepen my appreciation for the genius of Billy Joel. I've always appreciated the brilliant lyrics, geniusly accessible melodies and songs that touch the heart but now I get it at a whole new level. I wish I had his ability to take a feeling or emotion and put words to them that make the world experience it with you.

The documentary is an exploration of Billy's life through his music, or his music through his life. The interviews are great, the stories enlightening and they feel real and authentic. We knew Billy was special but this documentary makes you realize his humanity and how that got channeled through his music to become the soundtrack that made a difference to so many people. Thanks Billy!!

Billy Joel is a pop/rock music legend! For 50+ years his impeccable songwriting, ivory-tickling, unique vocals, and everyman persona have created a catalog of epic proportions. And So It Goes is a documentary that captures all of that and gets Joel's perspective on it all.

For what is essentially a chronological biography, there's no way And So It Goes should be as good as it is. Not at a whopping 5-hour runtime (two 2.5 hour episodes). But directors Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin use every ounce of that extended runway to examine different angles of Joel's life and music.

This is of course a doc that somewhat trades in the tried and true "trade lengthy artist participation for steering clear of controversial topics" formula that HBO Docs seems to prefer. Yet, it is never a big problem here because Joel is generally so forthright about his own personal demons or foibles.

The two things about And So It Goes that stuck out to me the most:

-I hadn't realized how special of a songwriter Joel was. At every life stage, he crafted tunes from his own experiences that are generalizable enough to be enjoyed by mass audiences--and stand the test of time. A true gift.

-The way Joel's personal relationships (wives, children, father, managers, etc.) impacted his artistic journey. While a lot more straightforward and less uptight about his own life than many musicians seem to be, he also is able to talk about the ups and downs of his life and come to some kind of terms with them.

As someone who came of music-listening age after the majority of Billy Joel's catalog was already established, And So It Goes was exactly the doc I needed to help understand the method behind Joel's remarkable song-crafting madness.