( CNN ) -- New Yorkers can calm down now . Your president has spoken . Billy Joel recently defended the selection of Taylor Swift as tourism ambassador for New York City . The `` New York State of Mind '' singer told USA Today that folks need to lighten up . `` I see the New York press going , 'Taylor Swift is going to be the new New York representative ? ' '' Joel said . `` You snoots . Let her in . That 's what New York is all about . I say , 'Welcome . ' '' Better NYC ambassadors than Taylor Swift . Swift is a recent transplant to the Big Apple and her latest hit album , `` 1989 , '' features the single `` Welcome to New York '' as an ode to her new town . Fellow music scribe and die-hard New Yorker Joel further expressed his admiration for Swift . `` I think she 's a talented songwriter , '' he said . `` She catches a lot of junk , maybe because she 's so popular with young girls . But I like what she 's projecting . I respect what she 's doing . ''
He called New York press ' friends ' He offered his ' friendship ' to Swift . He expressed admiration for her talent .