Call for Papers-The Billy Joel Symposium

We welcome submissions on topics including (but not limited to):

● Lyrics & Narratives: storytelling, character studies, social commentary
● Music & Style: harmonic language, piano-centered composition, genre fusion (rock, pop, jazz, classical)
● Place & Identity: suburban Long Island and New York as cultural landscapes
● History & Memory: nostalgia, generational commentary (Allentown, We Didn’t Start the Fire)
● Performance & Persona: Joel’s stage presence, Madison Square Garden residency, audience relationships
● Comparative Perspectives: Joel alongside Elton John, Dylan, Springsteen, McCartney
● Reception & Criticism: popular acclaim vs. scholarly neglect, canonization in American song
● Cultural Impact: Joel in film, television, and cultural memory
● Biographical & Historical Contexts: intersections of Joel’s personal story with larger cultural and political shifts