Elton John, enjoying new freedom in his music, performs Saturday at Memorial Coliseum
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Music legend
What: Pop music star Elton John will perform solo in concert.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave.
Cost: $39, $79, $139. There are a limited number of seats left. For tickets, go to the coliseum box office, Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.tickmaster.com/ or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave.
Cost: $39, $79, $139. There are a limited number of seats left. For tickets, go to the coliseum box office, Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.tickmaster.com/ or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Monday, April 16, 2012 - 12:01 am
What can you say that hasn’t been said before about the career of Elton John, who’ll be coming Saturday to the Memorial Coliseum to perform a solo concert?
Sure, you can mention that he’s had 59 Billboard magazine Top 40 chart hits; sales of more than 250 million records worldwide, including more than 30 gold- and platinum-selling albums; six Grammy awards; a Golden Globe award; a Tony Award; an Oscar; and sold out concerts all over the world.
You may also throw out some of his legendary song titles, such as “Your Song,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
Longtime fans will recognize the names of some of his classic albums from the 1970s that built his reputation as one of the most important singer-songwriters of the past 40 years.
Fans who attend his concert on Saturday night will get to experience Elton John’s performance skills in an intimate setting. John will take the stage without his backup band and perform some of his classic hits and album tracks alone at the piano.
Elton John isn’t a stranger to the Summit City. He played the Memorial Coliseum once before, on June 8, 1999. But he rarely performs solo concerts, and those who have seen him perform this way feel it’s the best way to experience John as a performer.
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, Elton John created his famous stage name and persona in the late 1960s when he embarked on his musical career with the help of his longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin.
Trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Elton John created a unique style of flamboyant costumes mixed with over-the-top showmanship and superbly written songs that yielded one of the most successful streaks of hit recordings outside of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
It’s hard not to emphasize the popularity of Elton John in the 1970s.
There was no escaping him. If you turned on a radio any time of the day or night, more than likely you would hear one of his songs blasting from the speakers.
Hit after hit and album after album, Elton John simply dominated the music scene from about 1970 to 1977.
In the late 70s, personal issues and the rock star lifestyle began to take a toll on John and the hits began to slow down. After temporarily separating from writing with Bernie Taupin in 1977 (lasting until 1980), John’s music didn’t hit the artistic or chart heights of his previous work.
Also affecting his popularity was a 1976 article in Rolling Stone magazine in which John declared he was bisexual, which at the time caused quite an uproar with music buyers.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Elton John slowly regained his hit-making prowess.
John won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (written with Tim Rice) from Disney’s “The Lion King” in 1994, and in 2000 he won the Tony Award (again with Tim Rice) for Best Original Score for the play “Aida.”
One of his biggest-selling hits also came in the ’90s when he rewrote and recorded his song “Candle in the Wind” as a tribute to the late Princess Diana. The song sold over well over 30 million copies worldwide.
Nowadays, John still performs and records, but he realizes that, while he may not be the hit machine he once was, he now has the freedom to record whatever he wants without the pressure of competing with current chart toppers.
“As Elton John, my days on pop radio are over, and I know that and I accept it and I’m not unhappy about it,” John told Irene Lacher in a Los Angeles Times interview from January of this year. “It’s a different time of my life now, and it gives me the freedom to do whatever kind of music I want to do. And it may end up being pop, but I don’t know. There’s no pressure for me to go out there and say I’ve got to have a Top 40 hit, because it’s not going to happen.”
John has also found personal happiness by overcoming years of drug abuse and finding a stable personal life with his partner of almost 20 years, David Furnish, with whom he had a son by a surrogate mother in December 2010.
“It’s a different kind of love for your child than you have for your partner,” John said to the Los Angeles Times in January. “Everyone kept saying that, and now I realize that, having had Zachary. He’s the light of our lives. I’ve had an amazing professional life, personal life, but, at 64, to have a son who gives us that much love and enjoyment is, wow!”
Bernie Taupin Brings His Art Side to the Wentworth Gallery, March 31, 2012
"Without Bernie, basically, there wouldn't have been an Elton John. I mean, without that stroke of good fortune and kismet as it were, Elton John probably wouldn't have happened. I'm just a purveyor of Bernie's feelings, Bernie's thoughts."
Elton John quoted when referencing his career with Bernie Taupin, his work and influence.
It is impossible to follow a quote like that. For the better part of the last 40 years Taupin has been the one who has put the words to Elton John's melodies. There is no other duo in musical history with the exception of Lennon & McCartney that has enjoyed such phenomenal success that continues to grow year after year. Selling over 200 million records worldwide Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy have left an indelible mark composing some of the most famous and beloved songs of all time. "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Candle In The Wind," "Bennie And The Jets," "Crocodile Rock," the list of hit songs is endless. Lyricist, chef, cowboy, dad, singer, poet, critic producer, author, award winner, father and husband; Taupin has worn as many hats or should I say glasses as his award winning partner. On this trip to South Florida it was Taupin's day to shine as the acclaimed Wentworth Gallery in Fort Lauderdale showcased his array of paintings to the public in an informal 'meet and greet.'
Upon meeting one of my heroes I was instantly stuck by Bernie's charm and unassuming nature. It was very clear from the start that the passion he has put into his songwriting over these many years he has transformed onto the canvas. The paintings themselves are a wonderful reflection of the man himself. Asking him about some of his 'darker' abstract pieces (mostly black, gray and dense colors) he freely discussed his techniques when it came to creating his visions. "The darker pieces are some of the older ones here." Obviously a reflection of the artists' mood and life circumstances, "the paintings with the brighter bolder colors are my most recent." Inquiring about his style Taupin laughed as told me about his array of "brushes that are all over the place. I can't quite remember which ones I've used for particular pieces. Sometimes I will use a paint roller to get a particular texture." When asking him about the time he spends in his studio versus his songwriting Taupin remarked he spends "95% of my time painting." Ranging in size and price ($1200 to $29,000) Taupin has created canvases for every taste and style. Check your local listings for special appearances and showings across the country. Bernie appeared at the Wentworth Gallery at 819 E. Las Olas Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale and at the gallery at 517 Town Center Mall, Boca Raton, Fl.
In Taupin's artist bio for his artwork his words convey a love and understanding that everyone can relate to. He writes, "Canvas to me is simply the visual extension of what I have spent my life creating through words. The imagination, in my estimation, is the most powerful tool the artist possesses enabling us to conjure up beautiful distraction for the ears and eyes. I have no formula except that which comes from what I dream, feel and see. To me colors are like words…they express emotions…likewise texture and mediums display an abundance of moods. I have no set pattern of definitive style, it is hard to conform when there are so many options, house paint and wood stain can be equally as evocative as acrylics and oil, at times all four together can create the desired result. I find blocks and oblongs of bright colors effective, for me they express affection. In the same way their dark counterparts with their fragmented edges and torn middles spell disturbance and pain. Any form of appreciation for one's work is gratifying but for my own reasons I would rather the observer discard with titles (they're merely selfish labels) and draw upon their own imagination to read into them what they will…good, bad, or indifferent.. It will cause stimulation and that is reward enough."
- Bernie Taupin
Elton John and Being a Rock Star
http://www.download-not-available.com/quick-takes/elton-john-and-being-a-rock-star“Rock star” is one of those terms that has experienced a lot of inflation over the last few years. A rock star used to be someone who sold millions of records and had legions of fans and was, in a way, a living god. Someone with fame, wealth, and popularity almost beyond imagining for us mere mortals.
And then it became a term that meant someone with really special talent in any field, and then it became a term that meant “you did a good job doing your ordinary job in an acceptable way” and then it became an energy drink, a reality show, and by that time, it became nothing.
But I saw one of the dying breed of actual rock stars on stage last weekend: Elton John at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, in his new show Million Dollar Piano.
(I came up with what I thought was a hilarious joke about the title of the show, which I said was made up of the two things Elton said he would need in order to do another show in Vegas. Maybe it’s just me.)
Anyway, the show was great. Yes, he had to back off a lot of the high notes in many of the songs, and I don’t doubt for a second that 10 years ago, this would have been a better performance. But I’ll tell you this: his personal charisma and the amount of amazing material he has covered over all of that and made it a really incredible time.
He was, in the true sense of the word, a rock star on stage. Anybody would have seen it. Charisma and great songs are part of it, but there’s also this confidence in doing things his own way that comes through. Elton is kind of a freak of nature, and that’s part of what has made him remarkable. He took a few moments during his show to give the audience little glimpses inside what life was like for him at different moments in his career. The one that stuck with me most was when he said that when Bernie Taupin handed him the lyrics to Your Song, he knew they had reached a new level in their careers, that this piece of work was a breakthrough, before he even wrote the music for it.
But here’s the other thing I took away from being in the presence of a true rock star: I suspect they’re a dying breed. Not great musicians, obviously. There are and always will be great musicians. And certainly not great personalities or people making incredible contributions to the world. I mean actual rock stars who command this kind of adoration for decades and decades. Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong on this, but my reasoning is that the Baby Boomer generation was statistically abnormal in its tendency to produce rock stars because it was A. abnormally large as a population co-hort, and B. totally obsessed with music. Yes, Gen Y is as large as the Baby Boomer generation, but they are not as focused on music as the Boomers. They love music of course (they’ve all got two ears and a heart, as Jack Donaghy would say), but their interests are more dispersed over a broader range of things. The result of this is that at the margin, where greatness is truly found, we’re not likely to find as many of those great ones now or in the future.
Which means we’re living through the tail end of a golden age of rock stars, which of course explains the concert boom of the last decade and the concert bust of the last few years. Will Skrillex be playing Caesar’s (or the equivalent) in 2052? It’s possible, I suppose. I wouldn’t exactly bet against it, but I doubt it somehow. I wouldn’t be unhappy if I turned out to be wrong about that (or, heck, just around to find out).
But I do know that if you want to see the generation of true rock stars from the boomer era, you’re running out of chances. You might want to get to Vegas and see Captain Fantastic while you still can.
(BTW, we were told still pictures, but not video, were ok inside the venue, so I’m sharing one on this page. If I’m wrong about that, you are Elton John or one of his representatives and want the picture down, just let me know.)
‘Aida’ at The Lopez Conservatory Program by Mike Spain
The Lopez Conservatory Program production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical Aida demonstrated they can produce talented young actors who will have bright futures in theatre. After watching the show it was clear the young cast had a blast performing the show. When the cast took their curtain calls they were filled with smiles, and the audiences rewarded these young actors with a loud round of well-earned applause.
Throughout the performance there were persistent sound problems. Most of the time the sound was too loud and unfortunately drowned out some of the singing. I moved closer to the stage for the second act hoping that the sound problems from the first act would have been rectified at intermission, but they were not. Hopefully the sound problems will be corrected for future productions.
On the brighter side, there were some excellent performances: Anthony Logan Cole (Radames) was the most experienced actor in the cast, and it showed in his confidence and great stage presence that he brought to his performance. I really enjoyed Anthony’s singing of “Radames’ Letter” in Act 2.
Megan Hubbell (Amneris) is only a freshman at Langley High School, and you can tell she was having fun playing the snobbish and self-absorbed, and materialistic princess. She was a hoot singing “My Strongest Suit,” and delivered a heartfelt rendition of “I know the Truth.” Megan also had the most costume changes. They were designed by Jennifer Kessler, and her colorful costumes added sparkle to the production.
Elise Bartakke (Aida), a senior at Oakton High School, delivered a strong acting and vocal performance as the exiled Princess. Her solo highlight was “Easy as Life” in the second act. There was lots of emotion and chemistry between herself and Anthony and they provided some of the musical’s best moments. Their trio with Megan -”A Step Too Far”- provided some beautiful vocals, and they also delivered a very moving “Written in the Stars.”
Dori Prescott (Mereb) delivered a heartfelt “How I Know You.” I look forward to seeing her in future productions. Austin Lawson delivered a strong and emotional performance as Amonasro. It is hard to believe he is a 12 year-old elementary school student. He has a lot of talent and I feel he will have a bright future in the theatre,
I was so impressed by these talented young actors. They gave it their all. Chances are you will see them again performing in a college, community, or professional production soon. I look forward to attending and reviewing more Lopez Studios Inc. productions.
Running time: Two hours and 15 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission.
Aida played its final performance on April 15, 2012 at The Lopez Conservatory Program at The Industrial Strength Theatre – 269 Sunset Park Drive, in Herndon, Virginia.
Elton Honours Molly Meldrum in Logies Video Message
The Logie Awards have paid tribute to music personality Ian "Molly" Meldrum, who suffered a severe head injury in a fall at his Melbourne home in mid-December 2011.
... The audience at the ceremony heard from stars including Sir Elton John, Red Symons, John Paul Young and Delta Goodrem.
After the accident Meldrum spent five weeks at Melbourne's The Alfred hospital, before being transferred to Epworth hospital to be treated for post-traumatic amnesia.
The 66-year-old is still undergoing extensive rehabilitation but has returned to his Richmond home.
"I refer to Molly as the Godfather, he always watches over me and many other artists," Goodrem said.
After a video montage of Meldrum's TV career, Meldrum's friends Dannii Minogue and Michael Gudinski accepted his induction into the Logies Hall of Fame.
Sir Elton also paid tribute to the star, saying Meldrum had done more for the Australian music business than anybody in its history.
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