Billy Joel: And So It Goes

Last updated

Billy Joel: And So It Goes
Billy Joel And So It Goes HBO.jpeg
Directed by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producers
ProducerEmma Pildes
Running time288 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseJuly 18, 2025 (2025-07-18) July 25, 2025 (2025-07-25)

Billy Joel: And So It Goes is a 2025 American documentary directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin based on the life and career of musician Billy Joel. [1] [2] Produced in two parts for HBO, first aired July 18, then July 25, 2025, [3] [4] [5] [6] the film takes its title from Joel's song "And So It Goes".

Contents

Premise

Billy Joel: And So It Goes is an expansive portrait of Billy Joel that explores the life and work of the singer-songwriter and the impact of his music.

Production

In March 2025, HBO announced that it would be airing a two-part documentary about Joel's life and music and the meaning behind his songwriting. [7]

The documentary features a diverse cast of interviewees, including members of Joel's family (Alexa Ray Joel, Alexander Joel), ex-wives (Christie Brinkley, Katie Lee), musical luminaries (Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Pink, Nas, Garth Brooks, and Itzhak Perlman) and friends. [8] [9]

The documentary also features the first interview in 40 years with Joel’s first wife, Elizabeth Weber, who helped launch his career, and was his manager until they parted ways in 1982. [10]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"Part One" Susan Lacy and Jessica LevinJuly 18, 2025 (2025-07-18)
Billy Joel admits to being a work in progress as he heads towards his eighth decade and looks back on a childhood as the son of working-class parents on Long Island, the loss he felt at the age of eight when his father left the home, and his entry into the business of music. Acknowledging the mistakes he made along the way, Joel put everything he lived through into his music. As he went from keyboard player in local bands to striking out on his own, he discusses the love affair and first marriage with Elizabeth Weber that became the fuel for his early songwriting hits, such as “Just the Way You Are” and “She's Always a Woman.” His collaborators and peers thoughtfully illuminate his musical gifts, and Joel delves into the business deal he made that led to the writing of “Piano Man.” After signing with Columbia Records, Joel’s career took off and years of hits and record-breaking tours followed, as he continued to channel his personal experiences into his music. While he chafed against the critical response to his music, struggled with his relationship to alcohol, and navigated a complicated personal life, a near fatal motorcycle accident impacted his ability to play piano and left his future unclear. How would he rebuild his career and move forward with his life.
2"Part Two"Susan Lacy and Jessica LevinJuly 25, 2025 (2025-07-25)
With his eighth studio album The Nylon Curtain , Joel changed his musical focus by reflecting the grit and aspirations of the Everyman with songs such as “Allentown” and “Goodnight Saigon.” Joel recounts his complicated reunion with his long-absent father and discovers the secret story of how his Jewish grandparents survived Nazi Germany, which he distilled into his philosophical ballad “Vienna.” Recovering from years on the road, Joel vacations in St. Barths where he meets his future wife, supermodel Christie Brinkley, who would become the mother of his first child and the inspiration behind the hit “Uptown Girl.” Dedicated to his craft, but uneasy with fame and the spotlight, Joel persevered through romantic and professional setbacks, choosing to reinvent himself time and time again. With the support of his wife Alexis Roderick Joel and their children, and through his collaboration with Elton John, a return to his classical roots and his historic residency at Madison Square Garden, he continues to find a safe space in his music.

Release

It had its world premiere on June 4, 2025, at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. [11] Joel was not in attendance, as a week prior, he had been diagnosed with a brain disorder Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which also led him to cancel upcoming concerts. [12]

Reception

Critical reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 95% approval rating based on 21 critic reviews. [13] The website's critical consensus states, "An expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting; intimately exploring the life and work of Joel, whose music has endured across generations." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 72 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable acclaim." [14]

Media

On July 26, 2025, Joel released a 155-track companion album, that coincided with the release of the documentary. [15] The album mirrors the tracks from the film which features well known hits, alternative versions, live renditions, as well as unreleased recordings, unreleased studio sessions, and new mixes. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (June 24, 2025). "Billy Joel Two-Part Documentary Sets HBO Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ Zuckerman, Esther (June 5, 2025). "'And So It Goes' Traces Billy Joel's Dramatic Early Days: 5 Takeaways". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ Watts, Marina (July 11, 2025). "Billy Joel Says 'Life Is a Fight' in And So It Goes Documentary Trailer — Watch!". People. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hyman, Lizzie (July 24, 2025). "Billy Joel Calls Playing Madison Square Garden a 'Dream Come True' in Part 2 of Documentary (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  5. ↑ Blanchet, Brenton; DeSantis, Rachel (July 27, 2025). "Billy Joel Slams Rumors He Has Had DUIs: 'That Never Happened'". People. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ Levy, Giana (July 26, 2025). "Billy Joel Says Elton John's Rehab Comments Were 'Rock Bottom' For Him in HBO Documentary: 'There Was Bad Blood For a Little While'". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ White, Peter (March 26, 2025). "Billy Joel Documentary Sings At HBO". Deadline. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Exploring the Life and Legacy of Billy Joel: HBO's Documentary". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ Holmes, Linda (July 24, 2025). "I didn't know I needed the new Billy Joel documentary". NPR. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ Waxman, Olivia B. (July 18, 2025). "The Biggest Revelations in HBO's Billy Joel Documentary". Time. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (April 6, 2025). "2025 Tribeca Festival to Open With World Premiere of Billy Joel Documentary". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (June 5, 2025). "Billy Joel's Message As Doc 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Opens Tribeca Festival Without Him — 'Getting Old Sucks, But It's Still Preferable To Getting Cremated"". Deadline. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Billy Joel: And So It Goes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Billy Joel: And So It Goes Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (July 26, 2025). "Billy Joel Drops Massive 155-Song 'And So It Goes' Companion Playlist". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  16. ↑ Oates, Avery (July 25, 2025). "BILLY JOEL CELEBRATES BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES WITH DIGITAL ONLY COMPANION PIECE FEATURING UNRELEASED AUDIO HIGHLIGHTED IN TWO-PART DOCUMENTARY". Billy Joel Official Site. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
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