2000 YEARS

release has two extra songs "just the way you are" and "This is the time"

Here is the "OFFICIAL" press release

BILLY JOEL CELEBRATES 2000 Years - The Millennium Concert WITH FIRST IN-STORE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING IN 25 YEARS ON MAY 2
Music Legend Will Chat Online May 1 on MSN.com
Pop music superstar Billy Joel will celebrate the release of his new album, 2000 Years - The Millennium Concert, with his first in-store appearance in a quarter century and his first online chat ever.
On May 2,the day 2000 Years - The Millennium Concert hits the stores, Billy will meet and greet his fans at an autograph-signing session at the Lincoln Center Tower Records (66th & Broadway, Manhattan) beginning at 7pm.

On May 1, Billy will chat with his fans online live beginning at 10pm (EST).
2000 Years - The Millennium Concert contains more than two hours of music from Billy's monumental New Year's Eve 1999-2000 concert at New York's Madison Square Garden and includes: "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony," "Big Shot," "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "Summer Highland Falls," "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid," "Don't Ask Me Why," "New York State Of Mind," "I've Loved These Days," "My Life," "Allentown," "Prelude/Angry Young Man," "Only The Good Die Young," "I Go To Extremes," "Goodnight Saigon," "We Didn't Start The Fire," "Big Man On Mulberry Street," "2000 Years," "Auld Lang Syne," "River Of Dreams," "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," "Dance To The Music," "Honky Tonk Women, " It's Still Rock And Roll To Me," "You May Be Right," and "This Night."

Here is the chat Transcript
MSN Live presents Billy Joel “2000 Years: The Millennium Concert” (Columbia Records) on MSN Live May 1, 2000
Digital Dish Diva says: Welcome to MSN Live! This evening we are honored to present a very special chat with recording artist, Billy Joel whose new CD, "2000 Years: The Millennium Concert" premieres in stores tomorrow. Tonight meet Billy Joel and find out what's next for this prolific artist and songwriter. Tomorrow, pick up "2000 Years: The Millennium Concert" and meet Billy Joel at a rare in-store appearance at Tower Records Lincoln Square (New York City.)

Digital Dish Diva says: Billy, welcome to MSN Live. It is my honor to welcome you to MSN.com.
Billy Joel says: Hi.
Digital Dish Diva says: Let's talk about the new CD, “2000 Years: The Millennium Concert.” It's from the New Year's Eve Millennium Concert at Madison Square Garden. What is it about this CD that you are proudest of?
Billy Joel says: I don't know yet. It's still to new for me to have come to any grand conclusions about. I think it sounds pretty good. Just so people understand, it's not easy for me to listen to myself. I'm not objective about my own work. So, the fact that I said "This can come out. This is pretty good" means I can live with it.
Billy Joel says: As far as the Tower Records appearance, I'm not sure what's going to happen. I've heard various things. Some people have said it's going to be this big event. Others have said they don't know what will happen.
Digital Dish Diva says: If the numbers here mean anything, the line is going to go around the block.
Billy Joel says: I certainly hope nothing crazy happens. I'm not anticipating anything. I don't get it. I haven't put out an album in seven years, so what's all the fuss about?
Digital Dish Diva says: dnicole80 asks: I know this is your first in-store appearance in twenty years. Why haven't you done this before?
Billy Joel says: I have done this. (laughs) Over twenty years ago. Twenty-five years ago, I'm not sure which album. I was in this strange setup where they put me on this high table where I felt like Joseph Stalin. Almost like Lenin's tomb and I wasn't comfortable. Not because I didn't want to meet people, but because it was an unnatural synthetic situation. I'm glad that people like my music so much that they buy it, but it's an embarrassment to me that I get compliments on top of it.
Digital Dish Diva says: Fiona_UK says: Hi Mr. Joel. We love you here in the UK. I was at your New Year's Eve concert with my mum and dad. Since it was being recorded for this CD release, did you do anything differently than you would for a regular concert or do you record all concerts in case you want to record another live album someday? Thank you!
Billy Joel says: Fiona, the New Year's Eve concert was a very different concert even without planning to record because of the date, venue and situation. It was the last concert I had planned on my last tour and it just happened to be in NY, my hometown, and at Madison Square Garden so we had a longer show and played songs we hadn't done, and ones that we hadn't done for many years. It was geared towards the change of the Millennium. Even though it was recorded, we didn't do that much different. I can hear mistakes. That doesn't bother me too much. We just played to the audience and let the chips fall where they may.
Digital Dish Diva says: Karalys says: How did you decide what songs to sing for the Millennium concert?
Billy Joel says: Karalys, actually I didn't decide. Columbia Records listened to the concert and did kind of a poll between the website and record company and picked the ones they liked the best. I had a hard time deciding what lived and what died, so I let them figure it out. They are all my children. I don't like editing.
Digital Dish Diva says: sailorgirl74 asks: What's the one song you'd rather never have to perform again? What song do you love to perform each and every time?
Billy Joel says: Sailorgirl, I’ll probably never do a song called “C'Etait Toi” (You Were the One). I don't think we'll ever play that song again. Although I like that song musically, I did it in French and I don't even speak French, so I really made a mess out of that. (laughs) It's not really a crowd pleaser, not even in France. It was on "The Glass Houses" CD.
Billy Joel says: The song I like to do every night is “Honky Tonk Woman.” I like to do things spontaneously. I don't know when I'm going to do something off the cuff. I just get a mad moment and I'll do a Hendrix, Beatles, or Led Zeppelin song. Of my own material I like to do the “The Downeaster' ‘Alexa.’” I like to do the newer stuff not as much as the old stuff but since I haven't put out an album for a while, the newer stuff is getting to be the older stuff.
Digital Dish Diva says: brownsugar says: What’s new on this new CD? Is there something for the older Billy Joel fans?
Billy Joel says: Brownsugar, yeah. “Auld Lang Syne,” “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” ('74), “I’ve Loved These Days” (’76) and “Summer Highland Falls” (’76). If you're really old I'm sure you'll enjoy “Beethoven's Ninth Symphony” or Honky Tonk Woman. (laughs)
Digital Dish Diva says: FloridaFan says: Billy, are you planning on releasing the New Years Eve show on video?
Billy Joel says: FloridaFan, I don't have any plans to do that. I haven't even seen a video of the New Year's Eve show. I know there is footage sitting around. So, who knows? Maybe it will be released sometime in the future.
Digital Dish Diva says: "Sax maN" asks: Did anything go disastrously wrong on New Years Eve or did the whole gig go like a breeze?
Billy Joel says: Sax Man, no. Remarkably enough there were no screw-ups. Considering the fact we were doing so many songs that we weren't used to doing. It was a very smooth evening. The only time we skirted disaster was at midnight when we ended “2000 Years” and I heard the crowd counting down. I had been told I would be able to see the clock hanging from the ceiling so I could count my countdown with the crowd. But I couldn't see the clock at Madison Square Garden. I heard the crowd counting down from 7, so I almost missed the countdown.
Digital Dish Diva says: Cascio says: What is your greatest high during a live performance?
Billy Joel says: Cascio, the greatest high during the evening's concert would have to be the roar of the crowd. In a big arena when you have an audience that has been anticipating your arrival, and you get on stage and the crowd roars, the girls scream and the guys shout, the hair goes up on my neck and I get a tingling on my spine. For a minute I feel we can invade another country. Just kidding. There is definitely an exchange of energy. Much like a crowd would cheer on a football team.
Billy Joel says: The hair goes up on my neck, not so much on my head anymore. (laughs)
Digital Dish Diva says: Peter Bart says: Billy, I am very pleased you have released a live CD. It sounds great! Do you see yourself doing concerts in the future or are you going to continue to do your college question and answer appearances? Maybe something else?
Billy Joel says: Peter Bart, I really do enjoy those college Master classes where the format is question and answer and I get to play the piano on my own and I get to interact with the audience in a small venue. It's very gratifying and I feel that I'm implying some knowledge that I've learned over the years to help the students. I am pretty sure that I'm not going to tour anymore. That is stay out on the road and do concerts night after night. Those days are over for me. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to perform a concert again. I'm just not sure what the venue of the concert will be. I'm sure it will be what I've been doing, a road crew and the musicians that I've been working with for years like in a football area. I would like to do songs that I haven't been doing over and over again. I honestly don't think I'm going to do that many concerts in the future because I really want to direct my energy into writing music rather than performing it.
Digital Dish Diva says: Writing Pop or Classical?
Billy Joel says: I know that I'll be trying to write classical in the foreseeable future, but I might do Pop too. I haven't been motivated to write songs for the past seven years. I'm not going to close a door on anything. I'm not sure what it will be, it will be music of some kind.
Digital Dish Diva says: Allforlayna asks: I have been an avid fan of yours, like most people for all of my life. You are truly an inspiration to the spirit of man. I am looking forward to your new album. Are there any musical pieces, or do they all have lyrics?
Billy Joel says: Allforlayna, there is a fragment of a piece which is instrumental that I had just started composing prior to the New Year's Eve show. I've since finished that piece, "Inamorata.” It was just recently recorded with piano and cello but again, it's only a fragment of that piece, but you can hear the thought. I believe I even mention on the recording that it was something I was working on and the audience gave it a nice applause. As I'm looking at the titles on the CD I don't even see it mentioned.
Digital Dish Diva says: Is there a release date for your Classical CD?
Billy Joel says: No, because there is no definitive recording yet. I have been working with a classical pianist and we've been recording them as demos. So, they are still in the working recording stage. I guess I'm in the process of building my piano repertoire. I'm no Beethoven.
Digital Dish Diva says: Pooka asks: You have been blessed with an extraordinary musical gift. Who was the biggest influence in helping you to develop your talent?
Billy Joel says: Pooka, there were a lot of influences. It would be difficult to point to one. Let's go back to Beethoven. (laughs) He's always been my musical hero. He's like a God. I wouldn't have heard Beethoven without my parents making that music available to me. My mother paid for piano lessons and it was a struggle for her as a single mother. She would be one of my influences. I would say classical music in general had an impact on me, especially as a child. I have rediscovered it now and I hear the magic in it. But it was Rock and Roll that inspired me and made me a professional musician. Especially the soul music of the '60's and the doowop recordings of the late '50's and most of all the Beatles who changed everything in my lifetime. After that I could point to certain bands in the '60's like Traffic, Cream, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell.
Digital Dish Diva says: ruxy asks: Hi Billy, you have done so many wonderful things for Long Island fishermen, for charities and for the music industry. How would you most like to be remembered?
Billy Joel says: Ruxy, I don't know the answer to that. I don't know. I hope my music outlasts my own lifetime. I'd like to be thought of as being a good father. I'd like my friends to have good memories of me. I suppose it would be nice to be remembered as someone "of his time.”
Digital Dish Diva says: DanielR says: I would like to know if you still keeps in touch with the clown friend you met in Russia that you talked about on VH1.
Billy Joel says: DanielR, that would be Viktor. I have been in touch with Viktor from time to time. He represents artists in the classical world in Russian and we've exchanged correspondence over the years.
Taylor says: FanofBilly says: What's the one thing you wish your fans knew about you but don't?
Billy Joel says: FanofBilly, actually I'm not sure I'm comfortable with them knowing as much as they know. I'm not sure if I want people to know much more about me as it is. Not because I'm a misanthrope but only because I treasure my private life. Frankly in all truth, I don't think I'm all that interesting. So, it's is amazing to me that people want to know so much. I think people would be surprised at how mundane I really am. I don’t say that with any false humility. I think it's just my needs and passions aren't that different from anybody else. Maybe they see themselves in me, who knows.
Digital Dish Diva says: Shawnie asks: Billy, in a "60 Minutes" interview in April of 1998, you spoke of there being a lot to be said for "contentment." I agree. Are you feeling content these days?
Billy Joel says: Shawnie, I'll feel a lot more content when I find a house, but I am able to recognize contentment as a good thing. I can't say I'm always content and I can't say I'm more content these days when I made that statement, but I'm glad I'm able to recognize when I am content. It's difficult to know because it's a subtle feeling. It's not as obvious as happy or sad.
Billy Joel says: The best way to explain it is, you know when you have a cold and you say "I wish I could get better because it would feel so good to not have a cold." I think contentment is much like that. When things aren't bad, we don't always recognize it, but we certainly know when things are bad. So, I guess what I'm saying is it's good to realize you don't have a cold.
Digital Dish Diva says: Jendee71 says: You have a birthday coming up next week. How do you plan on spending it?
Billy Joel says: Jendee, I'm going to be in Italy. It's one of my favorite places to go because I love the people, the climate, the history, the architecture, and the food and the wine. It would be a nice contrast to my last birthday that was celebrated with a big party.
Digital Dish Diva says: yachtsman says: Are you really keeping the Yacht?
Billy Joel says: I'm not sure where the information ever came from that I was ever selling the Yacht. I would hesitate to call it a Yacht. It's a little ship. It's not a Yacht in the ritzy sense of things. It looks like a little cargo ship and I still have the fishing boat, Alexa, which is definitely not for sale either.
Digital Dish Diva says: Speaking of Alexa, how is your beautiful daughter?
Billy Joel says: She's great. She's a wonderful girl and a great daughter to me. She makes me very happy. I am probably happiest when I can be a father. I'm amazed that I have such a wonderful child. She's a great musician too. She's been taking piano lessons for years now and also has a great singing voice. Alexa has perfect pitch. She could surpass me as a musician if she put her mind to it. I don't know if that's what she wants and I'm not going to push her. Sometimes children of celebrity parents have things going against them. I don't believe there are any free rides. As much as I would like to help her, the best help I can give her is to let her get it from herself. Ultimately we're all kind of alone and it certainly wouldn't make her life easier if I laid it all out for her. She's an intelligent girl and she has a lot of character and talent so I think she'll be fine.
Billy Joel says: And if there are any guys out there that break her heart, I'm going to break their necks. (laughs) Because I know guys.
Digital Dish Diva says: (laughs) Molly asks: Billy, I've heard rumors that the "John" and "Paul" mentioned in "Piano Man" were actual bartenders from my hometown of Troy, NY. I read somewhere that you had grown to know them while staying upstate early in your career. Is this true?
Billy Joel says: Well John the bartender in the song “Piano Man,” I believe, was from Texas and Paul wasn't a bartender. He was a real estate broker that wanted to write the Great American Novel. As far as bartenders from upstate NY named John and Paul, I'm sure there were many of them. I just can't recall.
Digital Dish Diva says: kahuna2000 asks: Hello Mr. Joel. After all these wonderful years of music and going around the world playing music, how do you describe your music? Is it "rock and roll" or exactly how would you describe it? What type of audience do you make songs for?
Billy Joel says: Kahuna, well let me start with the last question, I don't make my songs for any audience, I make my songs for me. I know that may sounds self-serving, but I can't second-guess an audience. I don't have that kind of cynicism. I basically write music for myself, a loved one, or the musicians I might be working with. That's as far as I can project. If you are looking for me to describe my music, I can only say, there are so many styles of music that have influenced me, I couldn't narrowly describe my music as just Rock & Roll, or just ballads, or just songs. I don't know what the hell to call these songs. Perhaps music would be enough.
Digital Dish Diva says: "Play Me A Song" asks: Hi Billy, I just want to say that my friend, Sara and I have always been loyal fans to you! My question is, who has impacted your life and career the most and how?
Billy Joel says: Play Me A Song. The one person that has impacted my life the most would be my daughter. Ludwig Beethoven influenced my career the most.
Digital Dish Diva says: Roadwarrior110 asks: What do you think of the new Millennium so far?
Billy Joel says: Roadwarior, well I broke up with my girlfriend. I sold my house. I moved. I'm putting out a new album of old material. My hair is getting thinner. I lost about 30 pounds. I'm dating a new girlfriend, and I'm on my way to Italy. So far it's been a real interesting Millennium.
Digital Dish Diva says: I don't know whether to say I'm sorry or congratulations.
Digital Dish Diva says: Billy, I can’t believe this hour is over already. Thanks so much for being our guest tonight on MSN.com. Best of luck with “2000 Years: The Millennium Concert” and the Tower Records in-store appearance tomorrow. From all of us here at MSN Live, Happy Birthday!
Billy Joel says: I would just like to thank you for your patience and waiting to get a question to me. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to answer all the questions that were asked. I hope you understand that was impossible. I do appreciate your interest and would like to do this again sometime. Good night!

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