Student Campus Events Welcomes Billy Joel
Vanderbilt students, faculty, and staff packed Langford Auditorium the evening of Wednesday, January 30th for “Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions and Answers and a Little Bit of Music,” sponsored by Vanderbilt Programming Board, along with its Music Group, Speakers, and VenUe committees.
The format involved significant audience participation: Joel used a laser pointer to identify who could ask a question, then responded, many times incorporating a performance one of his many hit songs into his answer. As Joel said backstage, “stupid questions will get stupid answers; good questions will get good answers.” The Vanderbilt community did not disappoint. Question topics ranged from Joel’s songwriting process to his personal life to the meaning of specific songs. Joel’s answers revealed his comedic personality and ability to interpretive dance.
First year student Michael Pollack bravely asked if he could join Joel onstage to accompany him singing “New York State of Mind.” The audience responded to their performance with a standing ovation.
Over the course of the event, Joel sang several of his hits, including “The Entertainer,” “And So It Goes” and “Only the Good Die Young.” The evening concluded with Joel’s first major hit and signature song, “Piano Man,” complete with harmonica.
When tickets went on sale December 7th, the 1,100 available seats sold out in less than three hours.