Elton John charms, thrills fans with Asheville show

Superstar rocker charms, thrills Asheville fans

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/2010311170041

By Tony Kiss • November 17, 2010 

ASHEVILLE — Martin Huffstutler, of Waynesville, gave it some thought. He could “either fix my car, or take my sons to see Elton John” at the singer's sold-out show Tuesday night at the Asheville Civic Center.

In the end, the choice was simple but expensive. He bought three tickets from a “third party,'' paying $965 for the seats. “Next year, I can probably still fix the car,” he said. “But I couldn't take my sons to see Elton John next year.”
There were plenty of similar stories Tuesday night, as fans streamed into the Civic Center arena, where John and Leon Russell performed.
Glenda and Bruce Starr made the drive from Marion. “This is her birthday present,” he said. To get tickets, they first joined the singer's Rocket Club fan group. “I have loved Elton John since I was a teen,” she said. “He is a part of my life.”
Cecilia Smith, now of Asheville, originally from Mexico City, is another longtime fan. She grabbed two tickets — one for herself, one for a daughter, but they wound up sitting in different spots in the Civic Center. “They were a little expensive, but still affordable,” she said.
Popular downtown street musician Bobby Sax was stationed in front of the Civic Center arena, ready to play a few Elton John hits for the passing crowd. He remained hopeful that someone might pass him a spare ticket. “He's one of my all-time favorite artists,” he said.
Inside the arena, the beloved pop legend didn't disappoint his fans, treating them to a night of his greatest hits. Music veteran Leon Russell opened the show. The two performers have lately been touring together, and earlier this year, released a new recording, “The Union.”
This was Elton John's second visit to Asheville. In 1998, he played solo, but this time, the star was backed by a five-piece band.
The sold-out crowd waited in anticipation for Sir Elton John's latest show here, surrounded by colorful balloons that filled the arena halls. A fog-like haze hung over the arena. Two huge projection screens provided up-close views of the stage.

Some fans carried vinyl 12-inch albums, perhaps in hope of getting them signed.

And then they caught their first glimpse of Sir John. He was dressed in a dark suit and bright blue shirt, and thrilled the crowd just after 8 p.m. when he appeared on stage to start the show and introduce “my friend and hero,” Leon Russell. John promised “a long show,” and Russell got it going with his best-known tune, “Tight Rope.”
John soon followed — backed by a five-piece band including two drummers — turning out one hit tune after another: “Philadelphia Freedom.” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” A long sweet take on “Rocket Man.” After most songs he jumped to his feet and waved to the crowd. At one point, he wandered the stage pointing at fans in every corner of the room.
Many fans, intimate with his music, sang along to the well-known tunes.
After almost an hour, Russell returned to join John in playing tunes from their new album, “The Union.”
As for the economic impact of the show, it was felt far beyond the confines of the Civic Center.
Downtown was filled with traffic Tuesday night, both for John's concert and the sold-out Kiss Country Guitar Jam with Rodney Atkins and Gretchen Wilson a few blocks away at The Orange Peel music venue.
Crowds began arriving early, filling restaurants, pubs and parking lots around downtown.

ASHEVILLE – Here is the setlist from Elton John's show Tuesday at the Asheville Civic Center.

Nov. 16, 2010 - Asheville Civic Center

Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Philadelphia Freedom
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Rocket Man
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Bennie and the Jets
I'm Still Standing
If It Wasn't for Bad (with Leon Russell)
Hey Ahab (with Leon Russell)
Gone to Shiloh (with Leon Russell)
Jimmy Rogers' Dream (with Leon Russell)
Monkey Suit (with Leon Russell)
The Best Part of the Day (with Leon Russell)
A Dream Come True (with Leon Russell)
When Love Is Dying (with Leon Russell)
Hearts Have Turned to Stone (with Leon Russell)
Never Too Old (To Hold Someone) (with Leon Russell)
In the Hands of Angels (with Leon Russell)
Burn Down the Mission
Levon
Tiny Dancer
I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Daniel
Candle in the Wind
Piano Improvisations/Take Me to the Pilot
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
The Bitch Is Back
Your Song

Está maravilhoso», diz Gaga sobre dueto com Elton John

«Está maravilhoso», diz Gaga sobre dueto com Elton John

Lady Gaga anunciou, através da sua página no Twitter, que o seu dueto com Elton John, para a banda sonora do novo filme da Disney, «está maravilhoso». A cantora revelou ainda que faltam apenas «uns toques finais e estará nos cinemas». «A terminar o nosso dueto Hello, Hello no estúdio», escreveu a performer norte-americana, elogiando o cantor britânico numa brincadeira referente ao nome da animação: «Eltoneo + Giuliet». O título verdadeiro será «Gnomeo e Giuliet».
De acordo o site Just Jared, a música tocará quando o casal se conhece pela primeira vez. A animação deve estrear nas salas de cinema a nível mundial no dia 11 de Fevereiro do próximo ano, continua o portal.

Elton John será editor por um dia 

 

O músico de 63 anos aceitou o convite para editar por um dia o The Independent, um dos jornais mais importantes do Reino Unido

 

Elton John comandará por um dia o jornal britânico The Independent e o novo diário i, ambos pertencentes à mesma editora. A edição será a 1 de Dezembro, data que assinala o Dia Mundial da luta contra a SIDA, e o lucro das vendas dos jornais reverterá a favor da Elton John Aids Foundation, a fundação de solidariedade do músico para o combate da doença.

O músico aceitou o convite pela oportunidade de selecionar informação, reportagens e artigos de opinião para alertar o Reino Unido e o resto do mundo sobre a campanha do Dia Mundial da luta contra a SIDA. "Fiquei muito animado pelo convite para editar o The Independent. Mal posso esperar para passar um dia na cadeira de editor e fico satisfeito pela oportunidade de colocar a temática da SIDA no topo da agenda editorial", declarou Elton John num comunicado.

Simon Kelner, editor do The Independent, acrescentou: "Desde futebol, até música, política e, claro, a temática da SIDA, Elton tem muito para dizer e tenho certeza que a edição do The Independent de 1 de Dezembro será diversificada, irá entreter e terá um grande impacto."

O jornal promoveu uma iniciativa semelhante em 2006, quando convidou o músico irlandês Bono Vox, vocalista dos U2, para editar um número com o objetivo de angariar fundos para a uma instituição de luta contra a SIDA em África.

 

CE: Itália deve devolver dinheiro de concerto de Elton John

A Comissão Europeia pediu à Itália a devolução de fundos europeus para o desenvolvimento regional que foram utilizados para financiar um espetáculo do cantor britânico Elton John, em Nápoles, no ano passado. "Pedimos às autoridades italianas para devolver" 720 000 euros utilizados para financiar o concerto do conhecido cantor, disse hoje um porta-voz do executivo comunitário.
Segundo a mesma fonte, o montante será deduzido do próximo envelope de fundos regionais destinados à região de Campanie, no Sul da Itália.
O eurodeputado italiano da Liga Norte Mario Borghezio foi o primeiro a denunciar a utilização "vergonhosa" de fundos europeus na região de Campanie.
As regras europeias apenas permitem que as autoridades regionais possam tomar decisões sobre a entrega de montantes até 50 000 euros, e os dinheiros são para ser utilizados em projetos de desenvolvimento regional a longo prazo, recordou o porta-voz comunitário.

Agassi e Steffi Graf namoram em torneio de Elton John

01:22

quarta-feira, 17 novembro de 2010

Foi por ocasião de um torneio de ténis solidário, organizado pelo cantor Elton John, de 63 anos, em Washington (EUA), que foi possível ver Andre Agassi, de 40, e Steffi Graf, de 41, de novo em ação nos cortes. Os antigos tenistas, que são casados há cerca de nove anos, aproveitaram o evento para ajudar a angariar fundos para as vítimas da Sida, mas também para namorar. É caso para dizer: o amor é lindo!

Elton John Doesn't Own a Computer, iPod or "Portable Phone"

Elton John is no tech whiz. The "Rocket Man" singer, 63, doesn't own an iPod, computer or cell phone.
According to ShowbizSpy.com, Sir Elton John claims he doesn't own a "portable phone" and is the only person he knows who still bothers to memorize phone numbers.
“Everybody else puts them into their phone. I feel like a grumpy old man, but I’ve made the choice not to join in with all that,” he said.
John also said in the interview that he "f***ing hates" pop music videos and that he doesn't have a fondness for "D-list celebrities," ShowbizSpy said.
“I loathe celebrity. I can’t stand it,” he said.

 

Organisers of Elton John gig told to pay up

Concert organizers in Italy have been told they need to pay the money back they used to hold an Elton John gig in Naples.
Sir Elton John was a headline for the concert as part of a festival in Naples, Italy. The event cost 720,000 Euros that came from the EU as funding to enhance regional development. It was only recently the EU discovered the cost of the gig and that some of the funds helped pay for the gig.
After looking into the case which was discovered while undertaking an audit into where the fund were being spent across the EU, the European commission sent a letter to the Italian government stating the funds spent needed to be reimbursed.
The commissions spokesmen said that the concert was not eligible for EU funding. The funding is aimed towards cultural events that aim to develop certain regions and also need to have long term investments.
The star and musical legend played at the festival in Naples last year in September 2009 in a concert that attracted over 100,000 and broad casted on Italian TV.
Sir Elton John only played the gig and accusations are towards the Italian government and not the pop star himself.