Trivia to Enjoy in Quiz Form about Billy Joel, the One-and-Only Piano Man

Last updated:2024/5/23

Pop music writer/editorKEI
A style that keeps updating my favorites while loving mainstream and hit songs. I have experience writing articles for outlets like Utaten. Since I discovered music as a student, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. 2000s J-POP and 2010s K-POP were my youth, and I’m also loosely into jazz and R&B. I enjoy good music across genres with a “good is good” mindset. Thanks to my past work environment (and its influence), I listened to a lot of classic rock and kayōkyoku, which may have broadened my tastes. At RAG MUSIC, I mainly cover K-POP. I focus on reviews that emphasize feelings people can relate to, and on editing aligned with local pride and hit potential. Thank you!

Billy Joel radiates a one-of-a-kind charm as the Piano Man.

Active since the 1970s, he has given us classics like “My Life,” “Just the Way You Are,” and “Honesty.” Even if you don’t know much about him, chances are you’ve heard at least one of his songs.

In January 2024, his long-awaited concerts in Japan were a huge success, and he continues to be beloved there.

In this article, we’ll introduce topics related to Billy in a quiz format.

Let’s have fun getting to know Billy, whose straightforward pop sensibilities captivate people!

[The One-and-Only Piano Man] Fun Trivia About Billy Joel in Quiz Format (1–10)

Which famous song has been covered by many jazz singers?

New York State of Mind (Feelings for New York)
We Didn’t Start the Fire (Heart ni Fire)
Just the Way You Are (As You Are/Your Natural Self)

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New York State of Mind (Feelings for New York)

A song written when he left Los Angeles, where he had lived for a time, and returned to New York. Although it was not released as a single, it became popular through frequent live performances and numerous covers by various artists. Many of the covers are by female singers, and in Japan it has been covered by Chie Ayado and JUJU, among others. It appears on the 1976 album Turnstiles. Its gentle melody is truly soothing.

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Which song made Billy gain attention in Japan?

Just the Way You Are (As You Are/Your Natural Self)
My Life
The Stranger

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The Stranger

It became a hot topic after being featured in a commercial for SONY’s stereo radio cassette player “ZILBA-P” series. For a Western song at the time, it was an exceptional hit, selling over 500,000 copies and ranking 24th on the year-end chart. The fact that it was released in May 1978 as a Japan-only single also gives it a special charm and a sense of fondness. The melancholy-laden intro and the free-blowing, wind-like melody are especially memorable.

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What is Billy Joel's height?

166cm
176cm
181cm

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166cm

Since he’s often seen as smart and, in recent years, having a solid build, it might be surprising if you didn’t know. He’s also said to joke about his height himself.

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What is the song that is also known by an epithet referring to Billie's pronouns?

Piano Man
Honesty (Onesuti)
Uptown Girl (Apptown Gaaru)

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Piano Man

Thanks to the hit of “Piano Man” and winning the Newcomer Award from Cash Box magazine, he came to be affectionately known by this nickname. “Piano Man” was released as the first single on November 2, 1973. First impressions really do make a strong impact.

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Billy’s first performance in Japan was on the same day and at the same venue as another artist. Who was that artist?

Spiders
Scorpions
Cars

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Scorpions

It was the German hard rock band Scorpions. Because the Nakano Sunplaza Hall they had originally reserved overlapped with Billy’s preferred dates, a proposal came up to hold a performance during the daytime on the same date, April 23. Nowadays, two-part shows by the same artist are fairly common, but having different artists perform at the same venue on the same day must have been quite rare back then.

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How many times or more has Billy visited Japan so far?

12 or more times
10 times or more
8 times or more

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They have visited Japan more than 12 times as of May 2024. Their concert tour in January 2024 marked their 12th visit to Japan—the first in 16 years—and was a great success.

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Which of the following is the work by Billy Joel that was the first CD ever sold in the world?

Cold Spring Harbor
52nd Street, New York
Innocent Man

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52nd Street, New York

The album 52nd Street by Billy Joel was the first CD ever sold in the world. Philips first manufactured CDs in 1982. The first title they produced was The Visitors by the Swedish group ABBA, but due to various circumstances, the first CD to go on sale appears to have been 52nd Street.

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