The Roots Don't Know Billy Joel, Learn Billy Joel

On Thursday Jeremy Renner was on "Late Night" to promote "The Hurt Locker". After mentioning that he sometimes plays/sings with a band, Jimmy decides to have him show off his musical skills. One of his favorites is "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel.

Jimmy: Roots, do you know "New York State of Mind"?

[Shot of The Roots looking like deer in headlights]

Jimmy: I think we stumped The Roots.

[Shot of The Roots wracking their brains in silence.]

Jeremy Renner does a solo and The Roots accompany as the melody becomes clearer.

Back from commercial, Jimmy is still disturbed. "The Roots don't know Billy Joel? I can't even believe it. You guys are in so much trouble. You don't know any Billy Joel?" Some members point fingers at other members, others hang their heads in shame. One offers, "I know who he is!"

Jimmy and Jeremy play an intense game of Perfection. At the conclusion of the segment, as Jimmy throws to commercial, The Roots play "You May Be Right". They had learned and arranged a Billy Joel song in 4 minutes.

Follow Up: Friday - First guest: Kiefer Sutherland who plays Jack Bauer in "24". The Roots play "Captain Jack". Second guest: Kerry Washington who's in a Broadway play. The Roots play "Uptown Girl". They followed their embarrassing episode one day earlier with an All-Billy-Joel extravaganza.

This phenomenon is not unheard of in my life. In an interview once, a reporter asked Thom Yorke (Radiohead frontman) if he liked any Billy Joel songs. He thought for a minute but responded that he didn't know who that was. Then after some time had passed he said something like, "Is that the guy who did that 'it's still rock 'n roll' song? Yeah, I like that one."

Not knowing who Billy Joel is?! I guess it goes to show that sometimes some artists live in a plane of existence outside the realm that you and I live in.