Spring Break
The Daily OrangeJoel's 'model citizenship' way too appropriate for SU
By Steve Krakauer
Posted: 2/9/06, 1:46 AM EST Section: Opinion
Billy Joel's newest "My Lives" tour stops in Syracuse next month, but the new material from Joel won't come out until May. On March 25 at the Carrier Dome, Joel will play his old hits. But on May 14 at the Carrier Dome, Joel will take the stage to a different tune - as Syracuse University's commencement speaker.
"He's certainly a name everyone knows in virtually every generation," said Dr. Brad Ethington, director of the SU Setnor School of Music. "I think it's terrific to have a diversity of commencement speakers."
As a musician, Joel is at the top of his field. But he certainly has not been the model citizen. Then again, neither have most graduating seniors. "Only the good die young," right?
Joel's speech won't bring protesters out such as when politicians Rudy Guiliani took the stage in 2001 or Alexander Haig in 1975. But he doesn't write about chimpanzees, either, like last year's commencement speaker Jane Goodall.
No, Joel writes quite often about what he knows: primarily women and booze. Like the old guy sitting next to him at the bar, "making love to his tonic and gin."
The class of '06 can learn from Joel's exploits with women. At the age of just 21 he married Elizabeth Weber - a tale of young love for the graduating seniors. Or you could just marry a supermodel. Two years after his divorce from Weber, he married Christie Brinkley, a union that lasted for nine years.
Maybe a recent graduate can find his or her own millionaire-musician. Katie Lee did; she married Joel in 2004 shortly after her college graduation from Miami University of Ohio. Her commencement speaker was Andy Rooney, who "just may be the lunatic you're looking for."
Joel has also had some trouble with alcoholism in the past. In 2002 and again in 2005 he spent time in a clinic to solve the problem. But like a true rocker, he took it in stride. Joel said in an article last month picked up by various newspapers, "I don't know about total sobriety - I know a hell of a lot about drinking. Ultimately, I am surprised that people made a big deal about it. I mean, I'm in rock 'n' roll. Going to rehab for people like me is like getting your teeth cleaned."
Joel exhibits another great quality for graduating seniors: that of never giving up. In 2002 he got into a one-car accident on his native Long Island. A few months later, a second crash, where he hit a tree. But Joel did not quit. In 2004, he slid into a house on a slick road. Even three crashes in two years couldn't slow down the Piano Man. He "took the good times," and he's taken the bad times.
Not surprisingly, no one has been very vocal either way with the commencement choice. "There is not usually a lot of response to the choice. So far we haven't heard anything," said Mary Jane Nathan, executive director of the Office of Special Events.
So whether the Class of 2006 decides to "hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood," after graduation, at least Joel will be there to keep everyone in a New York state of mind.
"He's certainly a name everyone knows in virtually every generation," said Dr. Brad Ethington, director of the SU Setnor School of Music. "I think it's terrific to have a diversity of commencement speakers."
As a musician, Joel is at the top of his field. But he certainly has not been the model citizen. Then again, neither have most graduating seniors. "Only the good die young," right?
Joel's speech won't bring protesters out such as when politicians Rudy Guiliani took the stage in 2001 or Alexander Haig in 1975. But he doesn't write about chimpanzees, either, like last year's commencement speaker Jane Goodall.
No, Joel writes quite often about what he knows: primarily women and booze. Like the old guy sitting next to him at the bar, "making love to his tonic and gin."
The class of '06 can learn from Joel's exploits with women. At the age of just 21 he married Elizabeth Weber - a tale of young love for the graduating seniors. Or you could just marry a supermodel. Two years after his divorce from Weber, he married Christie Brinkley, a union that lasted for nine years.
Maybe a recent graduate can find his or her own millionaire-musician. Katie Lee did; she married Joel in 2004 shortly after her college graduation from Miami University of Ohio. Her commencement speaker was Andy Rooney, who "just may be the lunatic you're looking for."
Joel has also had some trouble with alcoholism in the past. In 2002 and again in 2005 he spent time in a clinic to solve the problem. But like a true rocker, he took it in stride. Joel said in an article last month picked up by various newspapers, "I don't know about total sobriety - I know a hell of a lot about drinking. Ultimately, I am surprised that people made a big deal about it. I mean, I'm in rock 'n' roll. Going to rehab for people like me is like getting your teeth cleaned."
Joel exhibits another great quality for graduating seniors: that of never giving up. In 2002 he got into a one-car accident on his native Long Island. A few months later, a second crash, where he hit a tree. But Joel did not quit. In 2004, he slid into a house on a slick road. Even three crashes in two years couldn't slow down the Piano Man. He "took the good times," and he's taken the bad times.
Not surprisingly, no one has been very vocal either way with the commencement choice. "There is not usually a lot of response to the choice. So far we haven't heard anything," said Mary Jane Nathan, executive director of the Office of Special Events.
So whether the Class of 2006 decides to "hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood," after graduation, at least Joel will be there to keep everyone in a New York state of mind.
Steve Krakauer is a senior broadcast journalism major. You can e-mail him at sakrakau@syr.edu.
