Dec 20, 2007 7:19 pm US/Eastern
Billy Joel Records Song For Troops
NEW YORK (CBS News) ―
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Billy Joel has recorded a new song and all the proceeds will go to a charity that provides homes for wounded soldiers.
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The song "Famous Last Words," was supposed to be his swan song. In
1993, after 14 platinum-selling albums, Billy Joel claimed he had
nothing left to say.
Fourteen years later, this is perhaps the Piano Man's most provocative statement yet.
It's called "Christmas in Fallujah," and is sung by 21-year-old
newcomer Cass Dillion. It's a blunt and mostly bleak, song about the
plight of U.S. troops in Iraq.
"We came with the crusaders to save the holy land. It's Christmas in Fallujah. And no one gives a damn," he sings.
Joel told CBS News anchor Katie Couric: "The events over
there seem to have slipped from the headlines because of what's
happening with the surge, but you know, what they conveyed to me was,
"well tell that to the guys on the front lines. We're still there."
Joel says the song was inspired by letters he's gotten from soldiers overseas.
"I think a lot of people who where are … there feel detached from
the home front, that people may not care or people have forgotten about
them," he said.
Noticably absent are the two instruments the 58-year-old Rock and
Roll Hall of Famer is most famous for - his piano and his voice.
"When I wrote this song, and I heard a 58 year-old man singing it,
in my voice, I said, 'that doesn't sound right to me. I think it should
be somebody of that age, the age of a soldier or a Marine,'" he said.
Joel had heard the music of a fellow Long Islander, Cass Dillon,
and was impressed. So, backed by Joel's band, Dillon recorded
"Christmas in Fallujah" on Veterans Day.
Was that intentional?
"Completely coincidental," Dillon said. "Divine intervention."
But not everyone agrees the Karma's good. Joel's lamenting lyrics have
some calling it an anti-war rant. And a Pentagon Channel holiday
segment about the song was pulled.
"Is it an anti-war song?" Couric
"I'm not going to say if it's anti-war song or not," Joel said. "I
hate it when a celebrity gets up on a soapbox and tells people how to
think and how to vote. And what their opinion is. I hate that. I find
it insulting. What I think isn't important. What they think is
important, because they're risking their lives."
Ten-year Army veteran Rick Bradley hosts an Internet radio show for military families and has a son serving in Iraq.
He says most of his listeners think "Christmas in Fallujah" hits home.
"It's an awesome, awesome song," said one military mom. "It definitely touches base."
"They're really proud of Billy Joel because it was written from
their eyes," Bradley said. "I think it's his thank you to the
soldiers."
And when we played the song for Sgt. Greg Papadatos of the 69th
Infantry, back from Iraq and about to deploy to Afghanistan, he said
he'd like to thank Joel.
"He's reminding people we have soldiers. They are at war. They are far from home," he said. "Yeah, thanks for remembering."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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