Billy Joel: Donald Trump’s Campaign ‘Very Entertaining’

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Billy Joel In Concert - New York, New York
Billy Joel performs in concert at Madison Square Garden on May 27 in New York City.Mike Coppola/Getty Images
By Katie Reilly

Acclaimed “Piano Man” Billy Joel described Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as “very entertaining” on Saturday, after dedicating a song to the presumptive Republican nominee at his Madison Square Garden concert in New York on Friday.

Trump immediately accepted the shoutout as a compliment, while others quickly speculated Joel might have meant it as a joke.

“Thank you @BillyJoel many friends just told me you gave a very kind shoutout at MSG,” Trump posted on Twitter on Friday. “Appreciate it- love your music!”

Joel said Trump’s campaign has been “very entertaining” but dismissed the notion that his own political opinion matters.

“I’m in the entertainment business. Donald Trump’s campaign has been very entertaining,” Joel told TIME in an email on Saturday. “Aside from that, who cares about the political opinions of a piano player?”

As he did on Friday, Joel has dedicated “The Entertainer” to Trump at several concerts in recent months. The song’s lyrics include:

Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you’ll forget my name
And I won’t be here in another year
If I don’t stay on the charts

On other occasions, Joel has also dedicated “New York State of Mind” to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz after he made disparaging comments about “New York values.”

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Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com