Short defense of Elton John.

[satchel]

To the recent comments on Elton John, I’d respond that he has made one eternal album: Tumbleweed Connection. A classic, one of the best records ever.

[slink]

A classic, one of the best records ever.

.. if you can even stand Elton John...

[andalucia]

I personally haven't heard the album in question, but regardless, that's a brave post.


I'll check it out, but only beacause of the respect I have for your taste in music, satchel.

[jough]

I defy anyone to not acknowledge that "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" isn't a great song.

And what about Tiny Dancer, or Your Song, or Crocodile Rock, or Candle in the Wind (the original), or Someone Saved My Life Tonight, or I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues, or I'm Still Standing, or Blue Eyes (just gorgeous) or Rocket Man, or the just incredibly great Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

And that's just the *hits*.
 
I know most of you grew up knowing Elton John only as the guy who wrote those songs for "The Lion King," but please just accept on faith that he can do better.

[wombat]

May I apologize again, deeply and profoundly, for starting this.  I'm sure none of us wanted to know these things about our beloved, and indeed brave, Jough.

But I'm even sorrier that he reminded me of the existence of those songs.  Oh god - someone get them out of my brain...

Although I will grant I am capable of feeling nostalgia for "Rocket Man."

[jough]

I also think that Air Supply song "All Out of Love" is really pretty.

And Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" is one of my favourites.

Also, I like to sing the Backstreet Boys "I Want it That Way" in karaoke.  

Feel free to deride my music choices.  But while you're complaining about something that has absolutely nothing to do with you, I'll be happily singing along with the Strokes first album, or my newly downloaded purchased Weezer (Blue) album.

[beverly]

Shatner destroyed Rocket Man for me.

[side_show]

Just like Leonard Nemoy destroyed "If I had a hammer" for me.

I love Elton John - my mom always listened to Elton John when I was little and I managed to get her a ticket for when he came to town - I got it off my boss who was a great guy who could only afford to pay me minimum wage.  He knew I was spending my whole week's salary on her, and he was really sweet - took my mom and made her feel okay about going to a "rock" concert on her own.

I have fond memories of wearing my Wonder Girl T-shirt and dancing around the kitchen to crocodile rock.

I also remember when I was becoming sexually aware how I suddenly understood that line in "I guess that's why tha call it the Blues" that goes "rolling like thunder, under the covers."

Also, Elton John's homosexuality is probably the only reason my mom accepts and loves my bestfriend, who was abandoned by his own folks when he came out of the closet.

Elton John is underrated, I think mostly because of what he's become - a caracature of himself.

[slink]

Shatner destroyed Rocket Man for me.

Shatner tried his best to destroy music itself!

And as for Elton John, I don't know, there are songs where I can understand why they're good, but I just cannot cope with him. His voice puts me off things.
There are a couple of OK covers of his stuff I've heard, but as a whole I just don't really dig his writing let alone his sound.
The only times I have managed to accept his music is in films - High Fidelity - don't know the song, but it's where he talks of Penny's all time top five recording artists; and, oh I've lost the title now, the film with Tiny Dancer used - come on - that film, the Cameron Crowe one!

[jay-ell]

And Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" is one of my favourites.

Did you every play the Journey video game?

[jough]

I did, yeah.  It came out to coincide with their "Frontiers" albums (the album with "Separate Ways" on it - god help me for knowing that - but I still have the vinyl somewhere).

I was just slightly too young to appreciate the arcade experience (since everyone knows that the arcades were about getting laid in the sit-down machines and scoring coke and stuff) but I did play the games back then.

My favourite was Spy Hunter, the one with the Peter Gunn theme music and the bitchin' James Bond-esque gadgetry.

[jay-ell]

I had spy hunter for the C-64.  

<crack of whip>

Back on topic, you!  

</whip>

Yes, well.  I like "Tiny Dancer."

[jough]

The only times I have managed to accept his music is in films - High Fidelity - don't know the song, but it's where he talks of Penny's all time top five recording artists; and, oh I've lost the title now, the film with Tiny Dancer used - come on - that film, the Cameron Crowe one!

The song in High Fidelity was "Crocodile Rock".  And if you want to know what I'm like in person, my friends tell me that I act just like Cusack in that film.

The Crowe film was "Almost Famous" which I really loved.  Perfect use of music in that one, which is to be expected from Cameron Crowe.

There's another Elton song in that one, as the kid looks for Penny Lane in the taxis - "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" which is just one of the best songs ever written.

You heard it here first.

[slink]

The song in High Fidelity was "Crocodile Rock".  And if you want to know what I'm like in person, my friends tell me that I act just like Cusack in that film.

Then I'm in love with you! No, just kidding, I just think Cusack rules (mainly based on High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank).
And yes, Almost Famous. It was yet another thing added to todays list of 'It starts with an A...'

[andalucia]

Yeah, slink, agreed on that one.  I am so compulsive about making mixes (cds, not cassettes, alas), that I always get embarassed when I watch that movie-- I know I shouldn't identify with such an "unsympathetic" character, but I'm always won over by his musical snobbery and just want to be his friend.