Jordan Karlesson
With three Grammy Awards already under her belt, Olivia Rodrigo doesn’t exactly need someone to give her a boost.
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Regardless, New York’s favorite piano man, Billy Joel, performed with Rodrigo at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, EW reports. They played two songs: Rodrigo’s smash hit “Deja Vu” and one of Joel’s most popular songs, “Uptown Girl.”
“We’re gonna bring up another young musician,” Joel reportedly said. “This is a very talented singer-songwriter … I like her music, and so do my kids.”
Added Rodrigo, upon arriving onstage: “Thank you so much for having me, Billy. I’m such a huge fan, and I couldn’t have written this next song without you, so thank you.”
Billy Joel’s Show Must Go On
“Deja Vu” was a no-brainer pick for Rodrigo’s performance, as she mentions one of Joel’s greatest hits, “Uptown Girl,” as well as Joel in the song. During her performance, the pop starlet reportedly pointed and smiled at Joel as she sang, “I bet that she knows Billy Joel / ‘Cause you played her ‘Uptown Girl.'”
Neither artist is currently on tour, making Wednesday’s collaborations extra-special.
The performance underscored Billy Joel’s generosity and might indicate he’s not as condescending as many critics claim him to be. Adding even more evidence to the argument, Joel rarely sells front row tickets due to getting tired of scalpers taking advantage of his fans.
Additionally, Joel said two years ago that he would look down on stage and see “rich people sitting in the audience,” puffing on cigarettes, comparing them to “gold chainers” demanding to listen to Piano Man.
Rodrigo has a long road ahead of her if she wants to collect as many accolades as Billy Joel. However, she’s already closing in on Grammy wins. Joel has five to Rodrigo’s three — all of which she received for her debut album, 2021’s Sour.
