The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHoF) invites proposals for individual papers for The Billy Joel Symposium, a two-day conference devoted to the music, lyrics, themes, and cultural impact of Billy Joel. As one of America’s most influential songwriters and performers — and Long Island’s own — Joel’s body of work offers a unique lens through which to explore popular music, regional identity, and American culture. This symposium will gather scholars, critics, musicians, and students to engage in critical analysis of Joel’s artistry, life, and legacy.
CFP Topics/Tracks
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
