How do you pronounce Billy Joel?

[BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants]

Do you say Joel or Joe l? For years always said Joe l. My son said you have been saying it wrong but all friends my age say it the same way. Is this just an Irish way of saying it with the broad accent on certain parts of the word. Never a fan of his music though.

One syllable. A great singer.

To rhyme with 'role'

Jole or Jo el? Neither. Jo wel, with the wel rhyming with towel.
How can you not like his music though? It is very varied, clever lyrics and catchy tunes. Scenes from an Italian restaurant, and And so it goes, being particularly brilliant.

sorry not a fan, runs and hides. seems it must be just an Irish way of saying it.

Billy Jowel

Billy jole

I'm in my 40s, not Irish and I've always said Billy Jo-el with two syllables

But also wondered if it was just me and very aware that Joel isn't two syllables!

Rhyming with role

Do you mean Joe L as in Joe-ull or joe-elle?

Like others have said, rhymes with role - that might sound like two syllables depending on accent?

Am I the only one thinking of Santa Clarita Diet when Joel (pronounced Jole) is constantly called Joelle by that one character and it drives him nuts

Jole to rhyme with dole

Which is how my neighbour Joel pronounces his name, and how the only other one I've known in RL did too (he was from US)

I’m 41 and say Jo-Elle. I’m sure I’ve heard it pronounced like that.

When he was at the peak of his fame and his name was often mentioned on the radio etc it was always pronounced Joe-elle.
I'm guessing that younger people who have read his name rather than heard it spoken are likely responsible for any shift towards a one-syllable pronuncition.

Yep this.

I was worried this was a baby name suggestion!

Mustbethursday yes like Joe elle... must be a generation thing also.

Joe-el

Joe Elle for Billy Joel. Northern Irish if that makes a difference, but don't think it does.

Jole rhyming with role for the first name Joel.

Jole, one syllable- my ds is called Joel and that’s how I pronounce it.

Jole to rhyme with role. I've seen several documentaries about him and starring him and it's how he pronounces it himself.

I did used to say Jo elle though. I'm a massive fan.

Of course not user147 we all on same island. Weird though in Ireland how in different counties same words pronounced so different.

Jole. It’s not Jo-el.

Jo-el. Two syllables. Not sure if it's an age thing, I think that's how his name was announced on the radio as an earlier poster said. Or an accent thing, Northern England.

I used to pronounce it Billy Jole - but I do know the radio says "Billy Jo el"

I saw him in concert many years ago - loved Piano Man.
(Uptown Girl was the first cassette I brought)

He's either being polite in this video or just called Billy Jole