Billy Joel has long championed Carole King as one of the finest songwriters of his generation, arguing that her lack of vocal polish never diminished the strength of her craft. In resurfaced comments, Joel contrasted the emphasis modern music places on performance and image with what he sees as the purer value of writing songs that endure, suggesting the songwriter's contribution matters more than the singer's voice.

Joel noted that King herself acknowledged Aretha Franklin outsang her on "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman," yet insisted this took nothing away from King's standing as a writer. He described her voice as "kind of whiny" but still called her "one of the greatest writers of all time," reflecting his broader belief that songwriting craft, not vocal ability, is what should define an artist's legacy — a philosophy he says shaped his own work, including his classical compositions on Fantasies and Delusions.