What are your thoughts on Elton John?

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

I've kind of always lumped him in with people like Phil Collins middle of the road AOR type stuff. Boring. The sort of music people who had Princess Diana t-shirts listened to.

Thing is there was this song at the start of the movie dog day afternoon. Now I first saw this movie in about 1996 odd. No internet. So for around 10 years I have no idea who sang this wonderful song. I'm thinking maybes lynard skynard or the like. Then when IMDb arrives I find it's actually an Elton John song. So I bought the album. Stuck one song on my proto iPod type thing chucked the rest of the CD.

But I do like a few of his songs. Rocket Man I'm still standing. Not candle in the wind. I'm thinking about dipping my toe in.

Heres the dog day afternoon song. I'm just about to stick it on my iPod and dance around the house like a poundshop jagger.

 

[wilkos_perm]

I wouldn't ever choose to play any of it but for me his early stuff is decent enough, better than standard middle of the road. 90s onwards can't bear it.

 

[Muttley]

Some of his early stuff is very good, some not so good. A great "showman" you don't get to fill stadiums for decades without being able to put on a show. Tumbleweed Connection is (from memory) good in patches. I still have Goodbye Yellow Brick Road somewhere and that is a very good album with hardly a duff track (yes, the tiresome "Candle in the Wind" is on there but pre the dead princess re-write/interpretation held up). His later stuff is the odd good track among a morass of mediocrity.

 

[HolgateCorner]

I didn’t rate him much until I saw him at Newcastle Arena maybe 6/7 years ago just for a trip out with the missus and then I realised what the fuss was about.

Absolutely outstanding live performer.

 

[El Guapo]

I try not to have any thoughts on him or his music

 

[The Ruthsayer]

Anything written by Bernie Taupin will be good.

 

[Laughing]

Some of his early stuff is very good, some not so good. A great "showman" you don't get to fill stadiums for decades without being able to put on a show. Tumbleweed Connection is (from memory) good in patches. I still have Goodbye Yellow Brick Road somewhere and that is a very good album with hardly a duff track (yes, the tiresome "Candle in the Wind" is on there but pre the dead princess re-write/interpretation held up). His later stuff is the odd good track among a morass of mediocrity.

The best test for any musical artist is time. It don't really matter whether I like him or you, or anyone else. Enough people like his music to stand that one musical exam, time.

 

[Laughing]

Anything written by Bernie Taupin will be good.

You are right he had a great lyricist

 

[TheLodger]

One of the biggest selling artists, not just in the UK but in the world. He must be doing something right..

 

[swordtrombonefish]

I'm not a huge fan but I particularly liked Bennie & The Jets for some reason.
Earlier stuff far better than the later songs for me

 

[r00fie1]

"Saturday Night`s All Right [for Fighting]" - that`s a good song.

 

[MolteniArcore]

I saw Elton about 6 years or so ago and didn't think I knew any songs of his. Anyway, I wasn't expecting much and only went as the tickets were free. It was one of the best gigs I have ever seen. He's an outstanding artist and performer.

 

[Scrug]

I can’t stand him. This is outrageously bad.

 

[Scrug]

One of the biggest selling artists, not just in the UK but in the world. He must be doing something right..

Aye, he wrote a song for Princess Diana. It’s the number one selling single in British history apparently.

 

[TheLodger]

Aye, he wrote a song for Princess Diana. It’s the number one selling single in British history apparently.

Even if you took that awful record out, he is still one of the biggest artists in the world.

Tiny Dancer is amazing.

 

[Paddy_Murphy]

Had the pleasure of meeting Sir Elton at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth, and VERY funny.

 

[NI_Red]

Could listen to his music all day, superb

 

[BoroMart]

Elton has done some absolutely superb stuffyes there’s some trash in his catalogue but he’s been at it a long time and taken a lot of drugs so of course there’ll be some bad decisions in there. He’s one of those musicians that other musicians really appreciate and getting the backing of your peers is always a good sign.

As an aside I’m Still Standing is probably the greatest f@&k you song ever isn’t it?

 

[newyddion]

Amazing musician and fantastic performer!
Up there with the best. Not necessarily all of my jams.. but Tiny Dancer is immense!

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

Right I'll download a couple of his early ones and give them a spin. I really should use Spotify for this sort of thing.

Just realised this is the perfect opportunity to post the shatner sings rocket Man clip. I discovered that this was at the Saturn awards in the year I was born. I looked up the exact date as I was suddenly struck with the certainty that this was on the day I was born, but sadly I was a month too late. I also discovered that star wars swept the boards at the Saturn awards that year - hosted by shatner. Other nominees were Julie Christie for demon seed and the final ray harryhausen Sinbad film. They both seem like they are from different eras. Anyhow shatner....