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We are your passport to the world. Our stories, told through the ABC's network of foreign correspondents, will take you to incredible places where you'll meet the people and see the forces shaping our world.
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ABC News
20 hours ago
- ABC News
Billy Joel finally lets fans into his life in documentary And So It Goes
In 2011, Billy Joel had every copy of his tell-all autobiography pulped just before release. It was a dramatic move, but not completely out of character for an artist who seems to have his guard permanently up. He rarely gives interviews and those that do happen tend not to reveal all that much about the man behind some of modern music's most enduring pop songs. As America's fourth-highest-selling solo artist, he has a lot of fans. But the desire for more information isn't just due to the size of his fanbase, it's also because he seems like the kinda guy you want to know. His songs are plain-spoken and relatable. They're songs we see ourselves in. "He comes across like one of us," Nas says towards the end of And So It Goes, a monstrous two-part, five-hour documentary that offers fans the most intimate insight we'll ever get into the world of Billy Joel. His reluctance to embrace the spotlight is interrogated early and often in the film. Joel considers himself a musician more than a rock star, he doesn't love being on camera and isn't particularly comfortable with the enormity of his success. It's a long way from his roots, raised poor by a loving but manic single mother in Long Island. In the late 1960s, homeless and suicidal after destroying his band and closest friendships, Joel checked into a metal health observation ward. He detested it so much he was determined to never come back, and it was his raw, dark emotions at the time that fuelled his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor. That record heralded the first of a few monumentally unsound business decisions but also started him on a roll of tireless writing and performing that would train him to become both the songwriting and performing force who would ultimately take over pop music. The film generally follows his life and career chronologically from here, showing him cutting his teeth as an opening act before finally cracking the big time with his fifth record, The Stranger. Striving for success is part of the story, but the deeper message lies in Joel's tenacity. Music initially gave him something to live for and was a dream worth pursuing at all costs. Ultimately, it was music more than fame that would inspire him to move forward, try out new moods and styles to the delight of fans and chagrin of critics. There's nothing groundbreaking about the way the film plays out: this is your tried-and-true talking-head music doco, where the artist is revealed through conversations with the talent, friends and famous admirers. Lovely as it is to hear from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Pink and Paul McCartney, the most illuminating comments come from those who know Joel intimately. His band mates, his ex-wives, his family. It makes sense. Joel says relationships are at the core of his work, and his best songs all revolve around the ways we interact with one another and the ways that shapes our existence. Part one is dominated by first wife Elizabeth Weber, and for good reason. Her role in Joel's life and career has never received much public recognition, and she's a relatively humble but confident subject when speaking about the success she brought to him. Joel's band were as close to him as anyone, and his loyalty to them is another relational aspect that says a great deal about his character. By the time he met his second wife, supermodel Christie Brinkley, Joel was a superstar. She taught him to deal with the spotlight, gave birth to their daughter Alexa, and inspired some of his most enduring work. But another poor business decision forced Joel to spend more time at work than at home, ultimately leading to the breakdown of their marriage. This was another inflection point in the singer's life, and one that changed his trajectory forever. There would be no new pop music (OK, almost none) after this — Billy Joel was done. The length of this film allows directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin to tell so many under-appreciated stories from Joel's career. We see so much of his early years in bands like The Hassles and Attila, we learn about the lack of label support for multimillion-selling album The Stranger, and hear the deep-seated personal reasons for making his 2001 classical album, Fantasies and Delusions. Then, there are countless asides, like how he doesn't hate 'Piano Man' as much as you might think, Bob Dylan was the reason he signed with Columbia Records, and Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow convinced him to put his career-saving smash 'Just The Way You Are' on record. If the interviews don't grab you then the archival footage surely will. 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Man of Many
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- Man of Many
Man of Many's Staff Favourites—19 July, 2025
By Dean Blake - News Published: 19 Jul 2025 |Last Updated: 17 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. The week is over, July is halfway done, and wouldn't you know it—it's time for another round of our Staff Favourites! Each week, we try to show off some things that have brought us some joy in the hopes it'll help you find your own, and this week we're showcasing some delicious Tasmanian whiskey, a pint-sized collectable car, an ape wearing a tie, and some custom Adidas. Hot Wheels 1990 Acura NSX Brick Set | Image: Mattel Hot Wheels 1990 Acura NSX Brick Set John Guanzon – Head of Creative & Production When we posted about the news of Mattel dropping collector-focused brick sets on Man of Many's Instagram, the response was huge, so I took it as my sign to grab a set for myself. I told myself it was for the kids over the school holidays, but let's be real: I'll be the one building it while they watch (and honestly, I'm not mad about it). The build quality is surprisingly impressive. This one features 876 pieces and pays tribute to the iconic '90s ride with incredible attention to detail, from its scissor doors to the classic wedge profile. It's part of Mattel's new Brick Shop range, which also includes the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and 1963 Corvette Grand Sport. All three are loaded with authentic touches and feel way more premium than you'd expect from a brick set. It's definitely got that collector energy, and now I'm tempted to grab the others and complete the set (or quietly drop hints between now and Father's Day wink). Favourite Article this Week: Our First Look at Link and Zelda in 2027's 'Legend of Zelda' Movie Donkey Kong Bonanza | Image: Nintendo Donkey Kong Goes Bananza Dean Blake – Entertainment & Tech Writer Donkey Kong has finally been let out of his cage, and he's literally tearing the scenery apart. In DK's big return to a starring role, he's diving deep into the bowels of the planet in Bananza, the first major single-player system-seller for Nintendo's new Switch 2 console. I got a chance to play a few hours of the game recently, and it was fantastic. DK feels great in the hands (which is no surprise if you've played this studio's prior game, Super Mario Odyssey), and has a number of new abilities in store: he can break the world apart around him, for one, but also climb most surfaces and, when the mood strikes just right, turn into an ostrich. No, I'm not kidding. He can also turn into a zebra and an even bigger ape with bananas in his hair, which is strange but you know, who cares? Doing so gives the big man access to some new abilities, like gliding, sprinting, and bashing things even harder. Oh, and he does it all with a human child on his shoulder. Confused yet? Well, that's just the beginning of where things get whacky with this one, but I don't think I want to spoil much else. Really, if you've already picked up a Switch 2 for Mario Kart you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to check out Bananza—and if you've been on the fence, this is a pretty damn good reason to make the jump to Nintendo's new system. Favourite Article this Week: Does the Nothing Phone (3) Justify its AUD$1,509 Price? Image: Scott Purcell / Man of Many Kicking It with the Three Stripes: Our Night with the adidas Superstar Scott Purcell – Co-Founder This week, Harry and I had the opportunity to head out to the adidas flagship store on Pitt St in Sydney to celebrate the return of a true icon: the adidas Superstar. The new 'Superstar: The Original' campaign is bringing back the legendary sneaker in two classic colourways, alongside the equally iconic Firebird Tracksuit. The global campaign features a star-studded cast including the likes of Missy Elliott, Jennie from BLACKPINK, and is narrated by the one and only Samuel L. Jackson. The event was a super fun getting to customise our own sneakers, and they even offered to embroider the back of our new jackets ahead of the night. In a moment of questionable genius, I opted for 'Man of Many' on mine, which made for some interesting conversations. Others were more clever, with one person getting 'It wasn't me' stitched on the back. While I'm not sure my attempt with a metallic scourer was a complete success as you can see in the photo, I can confirm these shoes are ridiculously comfortable. I've been wearing them all week since and this was my first proper foray into the world of adidas Superstars footwear. I think it's safe to say I'm a convert. Favourite Video this Week: DITL with the Dyson OnTrac Rosevears Tasmanian Three Grain Whiskey | Image: Rosevears Rosevears Tasmanian Three Grain Whiskey Alex Martinez – Media Sales & Brand Partnerships Tasmania's first crack at a bourbon-style whiskey is an ambitious and largely successful effort. Rosevears Batch 1 delivers a bold, grain-forward profile that proudly wears its local ingredients on its sleeve. The nose is rich with sweet corn and toasted cereal, backed by a punch of rye spice and oak. On the palate, it leans into classic bourbon notes – vanilla, caramel, and a touch of char. While it doesn't quite rival the depth of some seasoned Kentucky counterparts, Rosevears impresses with its authenticity and craftsmanship. As a debut, it sets a promising foundation for what's to come from this Tasmanian distillery. One for the curious bourbon enthusiast looking to explore Australian innovation – and why wouldn't you be? 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