The Tennesseean - When Michael Pollack stepped onto the stage at Vanderbilt University’s Langford Auditorium Wednesday night, he was living out one of his lifelong dreams: to perform with his musical idol, Billy Joel.  All he had to do was ask.

The sold-out event — open only to students and faculty — was billed as “An Evening of Questions and Answers and a Little Bit of Music.”  Pollack, 18, a freshman at Vanderbilt from the Long Island community of Roslyn, N.Y., came to the event knowing that at other Q&A performances Joel sometimes invites students on stage.  So he made a pact with his roommate, Adam Luftig, that if Joel called on one of them, they would ask to come on stage.  With his friends all pointing their fingers at him, Joel took note and called on Pollack.

With all the nerve he could muster, he asked if he could perform “New York State of Mind.” And without hesitation, Joel said, “OK.”

 

Awesome story.  Best part is the dude absolutely killed the piano too.  Wasn’t some nervous college puke who weaseled his way on stage then ruined the whole performance.   Song sounded perfect.

And for the record my five favorite Billy Joel songs:

1) Goodnight Saigon

2) Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

3) New York State Of Mind

4) Piano Man overplayed and cliche but whatever

5) Movin Out/Allentown tie

 

5) UPDATED: Downeaster Alexa

 

But then again I could be talking to the wrong demo here.  I’ll have Zollo take 3 molly and put up an EDM playlist in a couple minutes to get everyone back on track.