Music legend Billy Joel has joined the growing list of industry icons praising Taylor Swift, boldly calling her “this generation’s Beatles” and applauding her ability to consistently create memorable songs and innovative album releases.
Speaking to USA Today, the “Piano Man” singer-songwriter said:
“Taylor Swift is a very talented girl, and she’s productive and keeps coming up with great concepts and songs, and she’s huge. You have to give her high marks. She knows music, and she knows how to write. She’s like that generation’s Beatles.”
Why Joel Thinks Swift Is Comparable to The Beatles
Joel, who grew up heavily influenced by The Beatles’ creative leaps, noted that few artists have managed to match their cultural influence. For rock, he points to Led Zeppelin; for pop, Michael Jackson; and for the grunge movement, Nirvana. In today’s pop landscape, however, Joel says Swift comes the closest to capturing The Beatles’ spirit—not by imitating them, but by redefining the industry on her own terms.
While Swift has cited Carole King as a stronger influence than The Beatles, Joel says her Taylor’s Version re-recordings echo The Beatles’ ability to innovate in ways no other artist had attempted before. By reclaiming her masters and reintroducing her earlier work to a new audience, Swift has not only taken creative control but also shifted the conversation around how albums are consumed in the streaming era.
Parallels in Creativity and Innovation
Joel is quick to acknowledge that Swift’s reach is more than just commercial success—it’s about how she uses music to connect with fans on a personal level. He likens her creative ambition to The Beatles’ landmark experiments, such as Abbey Road, where songs were stitched together into elaborate medleys. Similarly, Joel’s own “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” reflects that same spirit of blending fragments into a cohesive whole.
“Much like the Fab Four, Swift knows that with the right set of lyrics or that one great melody, artists have the potential to relate to their fans in a way that very few people can,” Joel observed.
A New Era’s Cultural Phenomenon
Taylor Swift’s rise mirrors the kind of generational shift The Beatles sparked in the 1960s. From her country beginnings to global pop dominance, she has continually reinvented her image and sound, all while building one of the most dedicated fanbases in music history.
Her Eras Tour and chart-topping releases have made her not just a music star, but a cultural force—one whose influence extends beyond the stage into business, activism, and fan engagement.
In Joel’s view, this combination of prolific songwriting, business acumen, and cultural impact cements Swift’s place as one of the defining artists of her era—much like The Beatles were in theirs.
