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.

As far as I can see, I'm the only person who has mentioned being Scottish and I'm arguing AGAINST the two syllable pronunciation! I posted a video of him introducing himself.

Trust me, I'm familiar with Joel as a first name - I was obsessed with Joel Madden from Good Charlotte as a young teen

I read your first sentence and agreed it was definitely Billy Joe l.
Then I read you were also Irish. Now I've read the thread and realise I've been living a lie. I really like his music too!

Jole

Nearly 60 and never heard it pronounced any other way.

seen him in concert twice - he’s a great entertainer

Jole. Never heard it with two syllables.

I have a friend called Joel who also pronounces it Jole - not American, it’s a biblical name.

It’s jowells like bowels

I'm Irish, 50s and have always pronounced Billy Joel as Joe-elle.
Although I have an ex called Joel, pronounced to rhyme with dole!

Back in the 80s my only exposure to the name would be whatever they said on RTÈ. I found this footage of an RTÈ news piece of him arriving in Dublin Airport for a concert in Dublin in 1990. Its Joe-elle all the way from the reporter - 🤣 🤣
www.rte.ie/archives/2020/0513/1138221-billy-joel-in-dublin/

Thank you Ablecable very interesting...I am going to keep saying it the way have always said it even though my son gives me that 'look' everytime. ha thanks everyone. Loving all the stories.

@AbleCable
So it's not our fault, the mispronunciation.
Shure we all got our news from RTE back then

Speaking of RTE...

Is it my imagination or was there a continuity announcer way back in the mists of time who used to call Yosemite Sam Yo-ze-mite Sam?

I've met many fellow Irish people in the US who would be in their 50s who learned to their astonishment that it's Yo-sem-itty.

@MrsFezziwig we're just trying to see if the Joe-el pronunciation is an Irish and British thing. Nobody is claiming it's the correct pronunciation or saying they're an expert.

Jole

Hahahahahhaha I’ve said billy Joel out loud so many times now my dog is looking at me like ‘the fuck you on about woman’

Yes, the OP has already explained that to me upthread.

Billy jole

Jo-elle sounds really american
Like yoh-gurt

Hang on. Yogurt IS prounouced yoh-gurt.
Isn't it? 😵‍💫🤯

RTÈ says so! Here they are, making yogurt brown bread. All about the yoh-gurt ...

Mangogogogo you are gone gaga....once you are not going around the supermarket saying his name you are ok..

Yo!-gurt, to me. Yog-urt, no.