Billy Joel has made a comeback to the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his new song, "Turn the Lights Back On," which he performed for the first time at the Grammy Awards on February 4th. The song, released on February 2nd, is his first pop song in 30 years, since his 1993 album River of Dreams.
"Turn the Lights Back On" debuts at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Joel's first appearance as an artist on the chart since 1997, when his song "To Make You Feel My Love" peaked at #50. The song also marks his 42nd entry on the chart, extending his record as the solo artist with the most ‘Hot 100’ hits.
The chart debut comes just one week before the 50th anniversary of Joel's first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, when his signature song "Piano Man" entered the chart at #94 on February 23rd, 1974. The song eventually reached #25 and became a classic anthem for generations of fans.
While Joel has not released any new pop songs since 1993, he has continued to write and perform music in other genres, such as classical and jazz. He has also seen his songs covered by other artists, such as the Glee cast, who recorded versions of "Only the Good Die Young" and "Uptown Girl" in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and Fall Out Boy, who updated his 1989 hit "We Didn't Start the Fire."
Joel, who turned 72 in May, has not announced any plans to release a new album, but he has said that he still enjoys writing and playing music. He has also resumed his monthly residency at Madison Square Garden in New York, where he performs his greatest hits and fan favorites to sold-out crowds. He has also announced a series of stadium shows for the summer, where he will be joined by special guests such as Miley Cyrus and The Killers.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]