February 8, 2008
Billy Joel Performs as the Mets are Movin' Out
In 1965 The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium (video), beginning a tradition of rock on the ball field. Sadly, they won't be around to bookend the life of the stadium, which opened its doors on April 17th, 1964 and gets torn down after the 2008 season.
Helping them close up shop are Billy Joel and his piano. On July 16th Joel will make "The Last Play at Shea," and later in the year The Mets will move over to their new, corporately-named stadium, Citi Field.
Joel has never played the stadium before, and said of his future performance there, "I'm a New York fan, and before this venue is gone, to have the opportunity to play here is really something else. This is really an honor. This is something I never dreamed of back in the day." He also hinted at paying tribute to The Beatles, but made no mention of honoring others who took the field before him. That list includes: The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Police, Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and many more. Tickets for Joel's show go on sale February 16th and can be purchased here.
Photo via the AP
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Of all aging rockers, I really hate Joel the most. His voice is just not appealing - either thin and whiny or fake white growling. And the tunes are either massively sentimental (Just the Way You Are, for example) or cheery fake cynicism (Movin' Out.) You couple that weak emotional content with the fact that he's a model-fucking fat slob, and you have feel-good music for really dumb people.
He's worse than Phil Collins. Or Rod Stewart. Maybe they could demolish Shea with him in it! He could shout "JFK! Blown away! What else do I have to say!" (which really sounds triumphant instead of outraged) and the whole stadium could just start caving in.
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Hmmm, I was going to Billy Joel-bash, but then I thought nah...better just bite my tongue (or bind my fingers or whatever)
Then I read bklnd's comment.
O.k, brklyd is better and braver than me in this comments section. Great assessment!
There are few things in life that make me lash out in anger like I do when I have to hear a Billy Joel song!