Elton John diz que já quase morreu de overdose

Elton John diz que já quase morreu de overdose
12 de dezembro de 2010 • 12h20 • atualizado às 13h54

http://diversao.terra.com.br/noticias/0,,OI4839943-EI25,00-Elton+John+diz+que+ja+quase+morreu+de+overdose.html

O cantor Elton John afirmou que era "o maior drogado que havia"
Foto: Reuters

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O cantor e compositor britânico Elton John confessou neste domingo em entrevista que as drogas que tomou durante anos estiveram "muito perto" de matá-lo.
Em conversa com o jornalista Piers Morgan no programa Piers Meets Elton: A Life Stories Specia, que será apresentado nesta noite na emissora ITV, o músico admite que sente calafrios ao lembrar de seu comportamento.
Morgan perguntou ao músico "o quão perto estiveram as drogas de matá-lo?", que respondeu: "muito perto. Quero dizer, tinha ataques epilépticos dramáticos e as pessoas me encontravam no chão e me levavam para cama. Depois de 40 minutos eu estava cheirando outra carreira".
"Era assim de tão deprimente, ficava até tarde, fumava baseados, bebia uma garrafa de Johnnie Walker, ficava acordado por três dias e depois dormia um dia e meio", explicou.
"Levantava outra vez e estava tão faminto por não ter comido nada que devorava três sanduíches de bacon, um pote de sorvete e depois vomitava tudo, porque me transformei em bulímico, e então repetia tudo de novo. Isso mostra o quão trágico era a minha vida", lembrou o artista.
Apesar de tudo, Elton diz que não se via como um "drogado", termo que associava com "quem que se 'pica' nos braços". "E era o maior drogado que havia", reconhece agora.
Em outro momento da entrevista, o cantor fala de suas posses mais valiosas."Comprei uma fotografia por US$ 1 milhão, e era apenas uma fotografia. Era um Man Ray (artista americano). Coleciono fotos desde 1991. David (seu parceiro) e eu temos provavelmente a maior coleção particular, e levo muito a sério, embora não fale muito sobre isso", afirmou.
Perguntado sobre qual é o objeto que lhe trouxe mais felicidade em sua vida, declarou: "Um vibrador, sem dúvida. Um de ouro".

12/12/2010 - 12:54

Cantor Elton John confessa a revista que já quase morreu por overdose

http://www.olhardireto.com.br/noticias/exibir.asp?noticia=Cantor_Elton_John_confessa_a_revista_que_ja_quase_morreu_por_overdose&edt=36&id=147076

EFE

O cantor e compositor britânico Elton John confessou neste domingo em entrevista que as drogas que tomou durante anos estiveram "muito perto" de matá-lo.

Em conversa com o jornalista Piers Morgan no programa "Piers Meets Elton: A Life Stories Special", que será apresentado nesta noite na emissora "ITV", o músico admite que sente calafrios ao lembrar de seu comportamento.

Morgan perguntou ao músico "o quão perto estiveram as drogas de matá-lo?", que respondeu: "muito perto. Quero dizer, tinha ataques epilépticos dramáticos e as pessoas me encontravam no chão e me levavam para cama. Depois de 40 minutos eu estava cheirando outra carreira".

"Era assim de tão deprimente, ficava até tarde, fumava baseados, bebia uma garrafa de Johnnie Walker, ficava acordado por três dias e depois dormia um dia e meio", explica.

"Levantava outra vez e estava tão faminto por não ter comido nada que devorava três sanduíches de bacon, um pote de sorvete e depois vomitava tudo, porque me transformei em bulímico, e então repetia tudo de novo. Isso mostra o quão trágico era a minha vida", lembra o artista.

Apesar de tudo, Elton diz que não se via como um "drogado", termo que associava com "quem que se 'pica' nos braços". "E era o maior drogado que havia", reconhece agora.

Em outro momento da entrevista, o cantor fala de suas posses mais valiosas.

"Comprei uma fotografia por US$ 1 milhão, e era apenas uma fotografia. Era um Man Ray (artista americano). Coleciono fotos desde 1991. David (seu parceiro) e eu temos provavelmente a maior coleção particular, e levo muito a sério, embora não fale muito sobre isso", afirma.

Perguntado sobre qual é o objeto que lhe trouxe mais felicidade em sua vida, declarou: "Um vibrador, sem dúvida. Um de ouro".

ELTON JOHN´S TRIBUTE SÃO PAULO

http://www.ingressorapido.com.br/Evento.aspx?ID=13262

ELTON JOHN´S TRIBUTE SÃO PAULO

• 
• Categoria: Show
  Gênero: Romântica
  Local: HSBC Brasil
  Cidade: São Paulo - SP
  Endereço: Rua Braganca Paulista, 1281 - Chácara Sto Antônio
  Cep: 04727-002

ELTON JOHN´S TRIBUTE
Rocket Man Elton John

Pré-venda exclusiva até 11/12 na compra de até 4 ingressos com os cartões HSBC.

Clientes HSBC tem 20% de desconto na compra de até 4 ingressos. Promoção não cumulativa e pagamento obrigatório com cartão HSBC.

Classificação: 14 anos.
Menores de 14 anos somente acompanhados dos pais ou responsável legal.

Não será permitida a entrada de alimentos e bebidas na casa de espetáculos

CD de Kanye West é eleito o melhor do ano

Música | 09. Dec, 2010 por Thatiana Albuquerque | 0 comentários

Olha a cara dele como quem diz: "eu já sabia"

O novo e problemático álbum do Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, foi eleito o melhor de 2010 pela revista Rolling Stone. O rapper deixou para trás The Black Keys (2º lugar) com o disco
Brothers, Elton John e Leon Russel (3º), por The Union, Eminem (9º),
por Recover, e Taylor Swift (13º), por Speak Now. Kings of Leon,
Vampire Weekend, Kid Rock, M.I.A e My Chemical Romance também aparecem na lista dos 30 melhores colocados. Quem diria hein Kanye?
Por Thatiana Albuquerque

UNIÃO ABENÇOADA, GENTE.

THE UNION tem indicação ao grammy de 2010 e é o TERCEIRO melhor album de 2010 além de ter chegado pela Billboard em TERCEIRO LUGAR, feito que não conseguia a 34 anos , desde ROCK OF THE WESTIES

MELHOR? 

I M P O S S I V E L

Rolling Stones elege os Melhores álbuns e os Melhores singles de 2010

A revista Rolling Stones divulgou nesta semana uma lista, elaborada por críticos da revista, contendo os melhores singles e melhores álbuns do ano de 2010.

Nas duas listas pode-se ver Kanye West reinando em 1º com "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" como melhor álbum e " Runaway" como melhor single.

Outros Destaques:

• Teenage Dream como 4º melhor single do ano e Fuck You, do Cee-Lo Green, levando apenas o 2º. 
• Eminem e Drake na lista dos melhores álbuns do ano. 
  
  

Veja a lista com os 10+:

Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Álbuns de 2010

10 LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
9 Eminem – Recovery
8 Robert Plant – Band Of Joy
7 Drake – Thank Me Later
6 Vampire Weekend – Contra
5 Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song
4 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs 
3 Elton John and Leon Russell – The Union
2 The Black Keys – Brothers
1 Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Os 30 melhores discos de 2010 segundo a Rolling Stone

1. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. The Black Keys, Brothers
3. Elton John and Leon Russell, The Union
4. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
5. Jamey Johnson, The Guitar Song
6. Vampire Weekend, Contra
7. Drake, Thank Me Later
8. Robert Plant, Band of Joy
9. Eminem, Recovery
10. LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening
11. The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards
12. John Mellencamp, No Better Than This
13. Taylor Swift, Speak Now
14. Robyn, Body Talk
15. The National, High Violet
16. Kid Rock, Born Free
17. Beach House, Teen Dream
18. Kings of Leon, Come Around Sundown
19. M.I.A., Maya
20. Neil Young, Le Noise
21. Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty ///
22. Spoon, Transference
23. Elizabeth Cook, Welder
24. Maximum Balloon, Maximum Balloon
25. Superchunk, Majesty Shredding
26. Yeasayer, Odd Blood
27. Peter Wolf, Midnight Souvenirs
28. My Chemical Romance, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
29. The Roots, How I Got Over
30. Rick Ross, Teflon Don

'Gnomeu e Julieta' ganha vozes nacionais
http://www.otoupeira.com.br/secao_texto.asp?id=3700&cat=2

A animação Gnomeu e Julieta (Gnomeo and Juliet), que é dirigida por Kelly Asbury, acaba de fechar o casting de vozes nacionais.

Daniel de Oliveira (A Festa da Menina Morta), Vanessa Giácomo (Jean Charles) e Ingrid Guimarães serão os principais dubladores desta animação, que estreia no dia 04 de março nos cinemas brasileiros.

Inspirada na maior história de amor de todos os tempos, Romeu e Julieta de William Shakespeare, Gnomeu e Julieta, conta ainda com as canções originais Elton John, que também assina a produção desta animação.

Daniel e Vanessa - que são casados na vida real - farão as vozes do casal protagonista, gnomos de jardim que vivem esta paixão proibida. Já, Ingrid dublará a sapa Nanete, melhor amiga e confidente de Julieta.

A casa do cantor Elton John 

http://www.lojaskdblog.com.br/dicas-e-decoracao/a-casa-do-cantor-elton-john/

Dora

O cantor Elton John é um homem de personalidade. Uma característica sua é o uso de muitas cores, tudo de forma ordenada. Sua casa, certamente, expressa sua personalidade. Muitas cores, sem ficar kitsch. Vamos ver?

Elton John donates his piano to Radio 2

ELTON JOHN: ‘Drugs Nearly Killed me’

Sunday December 12, 2010

 
ELTON John’s drug habit nearly killed him.
The legendary musician — who has battled alcohol and cocaine addictions, as well as the eating disorder bulimia in the past — admitted his “tragic” life came “very close” to ending at the height of his drug problem.
When asked how close his addictions came to killing him, Elton replied, “Very close. I mean, I would have an epileptic seizure and turn blue, and people would find me on the floor and put me to bed, and then 40 minutes later I’d be snorting another line.
“This is how bleak it was, I’d stay up, I’d smoke joints, I’d drink a bottle of Johnnie Walker and then I’d stay up for three days and then I’d go to sleep for a day and a half, get up, and because I was so hungry, because I hadn’t eaten anything, I’d binge and have like three bacon sandwiches, a pot of ice cream and then I’d throw it up, because I became bulimic and then go and do the whole thing all over again.
“That is how tragic my life was.”
The 63-year-old singer — who suffered from a drug overdose in 1975 — admitted despite his vices, he never considered himself to be a drug addict.
“I’m not being flippant when I say that when I look back I shudder at the behaviour and what I was doing to myself. It just takes over your whole psyche, this stuff,” Elton added.
“I never considered myself a drug addict, I thought drug addicts were people who stuck needles in their arms. And I was the biggest junkie there was.”

Elton John donates his piano to Radio 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/11_november/25/elton_john.shtml

Date: 25.11.2010

Category: Radio 2

Sir Elton John today donated, and personally delivered, one of his beloved pianos to BBC Radio 2 to be used in live performances with both established and emerging artists.

The "Elton John Radio 2 Piano" was also delivered to celebrate Elton's unique contribution to the UK radio industry.
Fresh from his stunning performance at the Radio 2 Electric Proms in October, Elton said: "I'm delighted to donate one of my treasured pianos to Radio 2, who have supported me so much over the past 40 years. The piano is, of course, my favourite instrument to play and I hope it inspires the musicians who play it."
The Yamaha DC7 piano is inscribed with Elton's signature and the network plans to use it in a unique series of live performances, on shows including Weekend Wogan, Radio 2 In Concert, Jamie Cullum's weekly jazz show and Friday Night Is Music Night. The piano will also be available to artists who perform tracks from The Great British Songbook on Simon Mayo's Drivetime show.
Lewis Carnie, Head of Programming, Radio 2 and 6 Music, comments: "It's rare that Radio 2 receives such a generous gift, and we'd like to thank Elton for offering artists who visit the station the opportunity to perform on it and, hopefully, interpret Elton's own work."
The instrument will first be used on Weekend Wogan in December.
When not in use, the piano will be on display in Radio 2's reception area in London.
Elton John will be a guest on Steve Wright 's show on Radio 2 this afternoon between 2-5pm.
SH

AUDIO INTERVIEW

http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/player/Elton-John/8505/Interview.html

Elton John: Interview

Christian O'Connell speaks to Sir Elton John at Elton's house before the exclusive Absolute Radio gig at the Union Chapel.

They discuss the now-infamous radiator key necklace, the making of Elton and Leon Russell's new album The Union, working with Leon Russell, his thoughts on X Factor and more...

http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/player/Elton-John/8505/Interview.html

VIDEO:

Sir Elton John guest edits Independent

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11884094
1 December 2010 Last updated at 11:01 GMT Help

Sir Elton John has been handed editorial duties at the Independent for a special edition to mark World Aids Day. Tim Muffett reports.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11884094

Elton John’s new percussion-based show to hit Russia

permalink email story to a friend print version

Published: 12 December, 2010, 16:12

http://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/elton-john-percussion-russia/

RT Photo / Marina Zakharova

TAGS: Celebrity, Music, Show, Russia, UK

British music legend Sir Elton John will present his new show in Russia, together with famous English percussionist Ray Cooper. The two gigs will take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg on December 12 and 13.
The Moscow gig will be at the luxurious Crocus City Hall on Sunday. To see the legendary singer and star percussionist there you would have to lay a fistful on the table, as the hall has already earned a reputation as one of the most expensive concert venues in the city. Ticket prices range from 5000 to 50,000 rubles (approximately $160 to $1,600).
The concert in the northern capital, St. Petersburg, is set for Peterburgsky Sports and Concert Complex. Tickets are from 2,750 to 15,000 rubles (approximately $85 to $500).
The newly-formed duo’s show will feature Elton John’s old and new material, with emphasis on the drums.
Elton is no stranger to Russia. The first time he visited Moscow and St. Petersburg was in 1979. His last trip was this year, in autumn, when he brought his “Red Piano” show to Moscow.
One of the most successful world pop and rock musicians, 63-year-old Elton has influenced the development of modern music and contributed greatly to spreading piano in rock'n'roll. He is also one of the most active musicians engaged in charity.
Throughout Elton’s almost 40-year career he has sold more than 450 million copies of his records. In November, in his interview to GQ magazine, the singer stated that he is not going to compose any more pop music as he can no longer compete with the young generation of pop musicians.

My Top 20 Elton John Albums - a primer for new fans (PART ONE)

http://www.examiner.com/elton-john-in-national/my-top-20-elton-john-albums-a-primer-for-new-fans-part-one

Pat Ryder

• Elton John Examiner

• December 11th, 2010 1:03 pm ET

Want to get a glimpse of Elton John's genius throughout the years? Check out our Top 20 EJ Albums List.

Photo: 2010, Kevin Winter/Getty Images (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Slideshow: Elton John Examiner Top 20 Albums 1-10

• 
• 
• 

If you are unfamiliar with the music of Elton John beyond The Lion King soundtrack and the occasional airplay of classics like "Rocket Man," "Crocodile Rock," and "Candle in the Wind," I would urge you to take a look at the below list and dig into Sir Elton John's rich history. With MP3 so easy to obtain from Amazon.com or iTunes, you don't need to dust off the vinyl or 8 track to appreciate these albums or individual tracks.
(Though, I will admit I have all of these in vinyl and there's nothing like listening to an LP on a turntable.)
In coming weeks and months I will provide detailed reviews of Elton's albums, DVDs, and other projects, but for now, check out PART ONE of my list (starting with the Top 10) with a short snippet of why I recommend them. Remember, these are my favorites, and you are welcome to disagree!

Part One, Albums #1-10 - the Elton John Examiner's Top 20 EJ Albums

1. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) Elton and Bernie's musical autobiography. My all-time favorite album. No really, I mean by anyone. Spring for the Deluxe Edition CD, if you can find it, to hear the entire album played live at Wembley in 1975. I love every cut: from the arrangements to the flow to the instrumentation; and EJ's vocals are knowing and world-weary, yet haunted and passionate.
2.  Empty Sky (1969)
   I'm continually amazed at how good EJ's debut album was. Shame it didn't get released in the US until 1975. Naive, complex and somewhat odd, it's a great first effort and one I never tire of.
   
3. Elton John (1970)
   The first record album I ever owned as a kid. It still gives me chills. Rock and classical merge to give this a "victorian" feel, and his piano chops are well showcased.
   
4. Blue Moves (1976) Although critics panned it, this is a very daring departure from Elton's comfort zone - and remarkably well done. He'd always experimented with styles, but listen to "Tonight" for an epic classical piece and "Idol" for one of his few forays into smokey jazz piano. Those two songs alone are worth the price of admission.
    
5. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Most often considered his "masterpiece." Definitely an amazing album. I prefer the intimacy of the four above it, but there's no denying the quality that spans both discs. An accomplishment that stands the test of time, and is consistently featured on every "Top 100 albums of all time" list.
    
6. Madman Across the Water (1971) I like this one a lot, though many critics felt it contained too many throw-away songs. But with "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," the title cut, "Indian Sunset," "Holiday Inn," and "All the Nasties," I don't see how this can be considered anything other than a stellar achievement.
    
7. Tumbleweed Connection (1971) EJ's third effort, a country-flavored rocker that showed his versatile vocal style. He expands on his unique phrasing, eventually becoming adept at wrenching multi-syllabic mouthfuls out of the smallest words. The show stopping "Burn Down the Mission" is on here, along with Leslie Duncan's gorgeous "Love Song."
    
8. Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973) This album was released in early 1973, just prior to "Yellow Brick Road." Hard to pick a favorite, though I'm partial to "Elderberry Wine," "High Flying Bird" and "Have Mercy on the Criminal." It's another solid effort in Elton's canon that further propelled his star.
    
9. Honky Château (1972) When you listen to his albums in chronological order, it's easy to spot that he had matured as a songwriter and vocalist by the time this was released. "Rocket Man" may be the most famous of the album cuts, but there's not a mediocre song on it.
    
10. Caribou (1974) A feel-good album, though when compared to what came before it, a bit of a let-down. We all know "The Bitch is Back" and "Don't Let the Sun..." but have a listen to "Ticking" for the best track. And who doesn't love the fuzzy tiger shirt?

Watch for PART TWO of my Top 20 list, albums #11-20 including a surprise or two.

Elton John to play concert in Moscow

Posted by IANS-CT in Hollywood
http://calcuttatube.com/elton-john-to-play-concert-in-moscow/134617/

Moscow, Dec 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) British pop and rock singer Elton John will play a concert in Moscow’s Crocus City Hall Dec 12, the official website of the musician said.
‘Elton John is coming with a new show, where he will play together with famous drummer Ray Cooper. They will play Elton’s old and new songs but with an accent on the drums,’ Yelena Maslova from Russia’s Melnitsa company, which is organising the concert, said, adding that the show will last for two-and-a-half-hours.

How fast did the Elton John tickets sell out? Too fast, some disgruntled fans say

 http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/fast+Elton+John+tickets+sell+fast+some+disgruntled+fans/3959314/story.html

timescolonist.com December 10, 2010 Comments (32)

More Images »

 

Elton John has two concert dates in Victoria: Feb. 14 and 15.

Photograph by: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Tickets for two Elton John concerts at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in February sold out quickly Friday morning. Too quickly, according to some disgruntled fans.
The highly anticipated concerts officially reached their capacity within 30 minutes of going on sale at 10 a.m., which did not come as a surprise. John, who has never performed in Victoria in his four-decade career, remains a hugely popular artist on the touring circuit.
"These concerts mark the absolute high point of entertainment in Victoria and people have responded with unprecedented fervour and desire to see rock and roll royalty," Dave Dakers, president of RG Properties, which operates the Blanshard Street arena, said in a news release.
Those who were left out in the cold did not feel the same fervour, however.
Tickets could be purchased online or by phone through Select Your Tickets, the arena's box office. A limited number of tickets were also available through the fan club at eltonjohn.com, which gave members advance access to eight rows of tickets at each show.

 

Britain's Elton John (right) shares a light moment with Evgeny Lebedev, chairman of The Independent newspaper, at their editorial offices in London, England on Nov. 30. John was the guest editor of the special World Aids Day edition of the British daily paper.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/fast+Elton+John+tickets+sell+fast+some+disgruntled+fans/3959314/story.html#ixzz17wiav9LW

However, some fans reported seeing tickets for sale on other ticket-selling websites, such as gotthetix.com, well before the official 10 a.m. start time — at double and triple the original cost of $89.50 and $149.50.
André Masters said he saw three or four pairs of tickets prior to the John on-sale, but thought little of it until he came up empty for tickets. Masters then took a closer look at the Connecticut-based company, which advertises itself as an intermediary between buyers and ticket sellers.
"I haven't a clue how they do it," Masters said. "But for the average person trying to get through, within one minute of 10 a.m., and [to] get nowhere — that's crazy."
Larry Doughty had a similar issue with gotthetix.com's apparent access to tickets. Seconds after he was told tickets were sold out, he noticed dozens of seats available at the secondary ticket site.
"In my mind there's no way they could have organized that without knowing what their inventory was before the sale. The speed with which this scalper site was up and running ... they didn't pick them up a few seconds ago."
Arena officials and the Vancouver branch of the concert's promoter, Live Nation Entertainment, declined to comment further on the issue.
Demand for tickets to events at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre has been an ongoing hot topic. In 2007, an intra-squad game between Vancouver Canucks players sold out in just four minutes.
Cher's first local appearance in 2005, one of the venue's first high-profile concerts, sold out in less time.
More than 12,000 total seats were available for John's Feb. 14 and 15 performances at the arena. Selectyourtickets.com, which can reportedly handle between 2,500 to 3,000 requests at one time, was extremely busy Friday morning but did not report any problems.
mdevlin@timescolonist.com

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/fast+Elton+John+tickets+sell+fast+some+disgruntled+fans/3959314/story.html#ixzz17whXanc9

Elton John and Leon Russell on Rolling Stone 2010 Top Albums with 'The Union'

• December 10th, 2010 4:09 pm ET
• http://www.examiner.com/elton-john-in-national/elton-john-and-leon-russell-on-rolling-stone-2010-top-albums-with-the-union
  

(CLICK FOR FULL VIEW) The Elton John - Leon Russell collaboration 'The Union' is the #3 album of 2010 according to Rolling Stone

Photo: Decca

Rolling Stone has named its Top Albums of 2010, and music legends Elton John and Leon Russell have landed in the #3 spot with their collaboration The Union.
The Union, which was released on October 19, 2010, was at once a departure and a homecoming for John. The British singer-songwriter's recent compositions have been heavy on theater-stylings for Broadway successes like "Billy Elliot." But when examining John's early work (like Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water), some of his most interesting songs were written in the blues/gospel/country flavor that dominates The Union.
Leon Russell, 68, was an idol of Elton John's when John first came to the United States in 1970. Although the two musicians met during that trip to the States, there was mutual admiration and some session work but never a real opportunity to collaborate.
Until The Union, that is. The duo started working on the album in 2009, with Russell contributing songs and co-writing others with John (and John's long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin). Produced by T Bone Burnett, the colorful album provides an old-time feel complete with brass and gospel choirs.
The Union has been receiving very positive reviews, and the album's first single, "If It Wasn't For Bad," has been nominated for a  2010 GRAMMY® award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
Elton John's last album, The Captain and the Kid, was released in 2006.

Elton John to sing against California's Proposition 8

http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=4439

Elton John will perform a private concert in Beverly Hills, California on 19 January to raise money for the ongoing federal lawsuit against Proposition 8.

Rex Wockner

news.PinkPaper.com

Monday, 13 December 2010

6 December 2010

Post your comment

Elton John will perform a private concert in Beverly Hills, California on 19 January to raise money for the ongoing federal lawsuit against Proposition 8.

The concert, to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which hired the gay side's superstar attorneys, Ted Olson and David Boies, will take place at the Green Acres estate of billionaire political fundraiser Ron Burkle.

"We are deeply honored to have the support of Sir Elton John," said AFER Board President Chad Griffin. "The American Foundation for Equal Rights stands for the enduring principle that all Americans are created equal, and believes that ending state-sanctioned discrimination is a critical step we must take toward ending the hate crimes and suicides that continue to claim the lives of young Americans."

John has not always been a supporter of same-sex marriage.

On 12 November, 2008, eight days after voters passed Prop 8, he told USA Today: "What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word 'marriage'. ... I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. ... Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

Prop 8 was struck down as unconstitutional at the federal district court level. The ruling is currently on appeal at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard oral arguments on 6 December.




Plain song

Terence Dackombe examines
the art of the instrumental.
http://www.therockingvicar.webeden.co.uk/#/instrumentals/4546440223

Instrumentals. I don’t like them.
It’s simply laziness on the part of the composer. Sitting at the piano or hunched over the guitar and constructing a tune, it’s the easy route to loll back in the chair and say, “That’s it! My day’s work is done. My opus is complete.”

I’m telling these idle songsters that they need to (as we tune observers like to say) walk the extra mile and add some words to their little melody. What sort of career would Elton have enjoyed if he hadn’t realised the limit of his capabilities and subsequently handed over his albeit catchy compositions to the care of Bernie Taupin. A very limited career is the answer.

What joy Bernie has brought with his well considered lyrics – well, like those for ‘Island Girl’ for example:

I see your teeth flash, Jamaican honey so sweet; Down where Lexington cross 47th Street; She's a big girl, she's standing six foot three; Turning tricks for the dudes in the big city.

Island girl; What you wantin' wid de white man's world; Island girl; Black boy want you in his island world; He want to take you from the racket boss; He want to save you but the cause is lost; Island girl, island girl, island girl; Tell me what you wantin' wid de white man's world
She's black as coal but she burn like a fire; And she wrap herself around you like a well worn tire; You feel her nail scratch your back just like a rake; He one more gone, he one more John who make a mistake.

Oh... no, wait a minute. That’s racist, sexist, and several other ists too, I imagine.

Yet the point is still valid; Elton’s instrumentals are usually doomy affairs, aimed at the dead or dying.

Instrumentals rarely bother the compilers of the charts, because they generally follow the Elton Rule in that you may hear them once or twice, say ‘meh’ and move on to something you can sing along to. Successful instrumentals are usually associated with a visual ‘pick-me-up’ which helps them sell a few copies by association as they form the aural backdrop to television shows or movies.

A list of instrumental hits that have edged into the top twenty in the Billboard Charts shows an almost exclusive adherence to that movie association. In my extensive research (OK, a quick look at Wikipedia) I found that no instrumental has troubled the Billboard Top Twenty since 1996.

We have fallen completely out of love with instrumentals. We’ve had to tell them that it isn’t them, it’s us. We just don’t feel the same and we need to start hearing new tunes. Ones with words.

Yes, I can hear you at the back, shouting out with your Booker T and the MGs, and your Classical Gas. The former’s canon is made up of tunes that are only heard as add-ons to TV shows, and the latter (and its ilk) are just showing off pieces that we listen to with respect; then we say ‘meh’ again, and play Abbey Road.

The most vital deficiency of the instrumental is that the writer can only prompt you in an abstract way. They can only paint a possibility of engagement. They might be able to lift your mood, or lead you to reflection, but they aren’t letting you in.

Words are our most powerful tool. Words stop wars; they break hearts and have the power to repair them.

A tune without words is a monochrome landscape, a dreamless sleep, a straight line that leads us nowhere. Composers of melodies – bring us your words, your thoughts, your dreams, your curved lines, and colour in our panorama.

But maybe don’t give the lyric writing gig to Bernie Taupin.