Elton John is still standing. But not better than he ever did. The piano ma’am has written only one good song in the last fifteen years … and it’s on the new Scissor Sisters album.
But Stereogum hopes Elton has another great album in him (yes, he got kudos for Songs From The West Coast, but only because it wasn’t completely terrible.) And Mr. John’s looking to the past — and the future — to prove his relevance in pop music.
First up, The Captain And The Kid (out 9/19), a sequel of sorts to 1975′s autobiographical Captain Fantastic and the Dirt Brown Cowboy. First single “The Bridge” is up at iTunes. Pleasant little piano ballad. I just can’t stand the way he sings these days. Listen to the sample and how he croons “…standing on the brrrry-udge.” But I’ll reserve judgment on Captain until I hear the whole thing.
Interestingly, this is Elton’s 940th album, but the first time Bernie Taupin is featured on the cover, which is based on photography by NYC artist Ryan McGinley.
That’s Bernie on the horse. I guess. Hi Bernie!
So that’s all I know about Captain. What’s more interesting are Elton’s plans to go hip-hop on the next album:
?I want to bring my songs and melodies to hip-hop beats ? a bit like no ?No Diggity? by Blackstreet,? said the Rocket Man, who?s also a huge fan of Tupac?s 1995 hit ?California Love,? ?I love these beats, but I have no idea how to get them. I want to work with Pharrell, Timbaland, Snoop, Kanye, Eminem and just see what happens. It may be a disaster, it could be fantastic, but you don?t know until you try.?
Not so implausible. Check out 2Pac’s “Ghetto Gospel,” which samples Madman‘s “Indian Sunset,” and knocked Crazy Frog from the top of the UK charts last year.
Can everyone cop to liking at least one Elton John song, or would that be too uncool?
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Hands down, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” When he hits that chorus, man, it’s awesome. I never get tired of it.
Runners up: “Levon,” “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
only one? i can name a bunch:
tiny dancer
rocket man
don’t go breakin’ my heart
i’m still standing
i don’t wanna go on with you like that
mona lisas and mad hatters
circle of life (JUST KIDDING)
“Harmony” is perfectly beautiful.
Does anyone else find the pairing of Elton John and Ryan McGinley odd?
I more than like a good portion of his 70s output. Even some of his 80s singles are outstanding (“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” etc.).
Plus, I just listened to Songs from the West Coast yesterday, and it’s far better than simply “not completely terrible.” If not exactly Honky Chateau or Madman Across the Water, it’s a pretty great album and not just because it was preceded by a decade or so of consistent awfulness.
“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.”
btw — didn’t Elton just say the other day that he wants to make a hip-hip record? I think that’ll be fantastic. Gay British old white guy = what hip-hop needs.
I think that is Bernie on the horse. If you’ve never seen him, Bernie grew up to be a good looking dude.
I started playing piano when I was like 3 years old, and when I started getting into popular music I basically had 3 possible heroes to choose from: Elton John, Billy Joel and Bruce Hornsby. The Billy Joel songbook was ubiquitous in those days, so I had no choice but to learn it. And then I have to admit that I was really, really, REALLY obsessed with Bruce Hornsby’s first album – it sold a bazillion copies, I wasn’t the only one. For whatever reason, Elton just never did anything for me – he was great on the Muppet Show, but that was his peak, as far as I was concerned.
ha! i dropped a ryan mcginley reference yesterday in my blog. not about elton john though. something different. maybe he’s a new client of clell tickle(ryan mcginley, not elton john).
Are there actually people in the world that hate everything Elton John has ever made?
The thought never occurred to me until just now.
I think anyone can cop to loving a bunch of 70s Elton tunes, but will anyone cop to liking anything since his voice changed/he magically went from Uncle Fester bald to having a full head of hair?
I have love for “This Train Don’t Stop.”
My top 5 favorite Elton songs:
“My Father’s Gun”
“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”
“Bad Side of the Moon”
“Take Me To The Pilot”
“Country Comforts”
“Dont Let Your Son Go Down on Me”
[[ ...this is Elton's 940th album, but the first time Bernie Taupin is featured on the cover... ]]
Not true. I’m by no means familiar with all of EJ’s work, but Bernie was also pictured in the painted cover for the aforementioned Captain Fantastic and the *Brown Dirt* Cowboy. He appeared on the back of the gatefold sleeve, literally in a bubble, with pen and paper across his knees. He’s the large figure on the left in this pic:
That’s a terrible scan, but you can just make him out.
growing up, I didn’t even know that Elton John made albums after 1975. my dad owned five elton john albums: Madman, Tumbleweed, Honky Chateau, Piano Player, Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic. I thought maybe Mr. John had died.
and so, when a musician goes off the track of their potential, they become dead to me. chris cornell, eddie van halen, stevie wonder, etc. ie, Chris Cornell was in a serious car accident right after the breakup of Soundgarden. It’s sad.
best song in my book: “Levon.” I can’t ever seem to like “Bennie and the Jets,” but maybe that’s because of the Beastie Boys treatment.
Madman Across the Water kicks ass.
let’s not forget “i’m going to kill myself,” which is a surprisingly upbeat song.
“Sacrifice” is really great, but only when Sinead O’Connor sings it. Ferreals, y’all. Check it out.
Anyway, how can you rail against John singing “brrrrry-udge” and still like Colin Decemberists? That’s the most fake, affected singing I’ve ever heard.
“Come Down in Time” is his best song, in my opinion.
I’d rather listen to the WORST Elton John albums of the 80′s than ANYTHING by Billy Joel (except maybe that Atilla album). That said I really like side one of Captain Fantastic and STILL listen to Songs From The West Coast. He should also get extra credit for calling Keith Richards “a monkey with arthritis”.
Hello? “The Circle Of Life”
I’m completely with the first post (Devin). Additionally, “That Train Don’t Stop There Anymore” from his 2003 record is brilliant. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues.” Shit, the guy can do anything he wants as far as i’m concerned. Except disco.
“Someone Saved My Life Tonight” is my favorite Elton song, and probably one of my favorite songs period. A lot of memories attached to that one for me.
Oddly enough, I had been having a bit of an Elton period in my life before I read this post. The guy is fantastic, and I’ll kick anyone’s ass who can’t like “Your Song”. In fact, how many other artists can claim to have such a huge selection of memorable pop songs?
The machine gun drum beats on ‘Saturday Night’ still get to me.
How do you know that the cover is based on Ryan McGinley? Did he shoot it?
I always liked “Crocodile Rock” because of the Muppet Show association from my childhood. But I listened to it again more recently, and it’s still fun.
Did anyone ever see that “Tantrums and Tiaras” documentary that his partner made several years ago? It’s actually pretty interesting and entertaining–especially the part where he talks about never taking more than an hour to write a song. Not to mention all the hissy-fits.
Let’s see….Elton John.
Goodbye yellow brick road
Captain Fantastic
Sad songs
Original Sin
Freaks in love
Red Shoes (ballad)
I could name about 20 or 30 more. The man has been in the loop for over 30 years. I’m trying to think of any other “pop” artist who can make the same claim with the sales and concerts to back it up.
he doesnt know it, but piano man is me and my boyfriends song
Love Lies Bleeding/Funeral for a Friend from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is awesomeness! One of my favourite openings to an album.
I still play a lot of tunes off of Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water–those were his best years as far as I’m concerned.
i was seven and my dad’s vinyl copy of Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the first time a saw a naked woman, albeit it was a cartoon
levon
my father’s gun
funeral for a friend (love lies bleeding)
Dudes! “Philadelphia Freedom” – EJ’s song for Billie Jean King! 1975! Smash hit! A winner!
http://www.superseventies.com/1975_7singles.html
Levon and also, strangely I admit, Holiday Inn.
Why hasn’t anyone mentioned “are you ready for love”. And I still like “your song” even after moulin rouge gang raped it.
I love plenty of 70s Elton, Tony Danza is a fave, but I also love love Sacrifice.
Brilliant song once you get past all that production and I’ll be sure to check out the Sinead version.
Some of Elton’s best songs come from his most underrated album Blue Moves… check out “Tonight”, “Cage The Songbird” and “Idol” if you want to hear him at his best… I also love “Indian Sunset” from Madman, “High Flying Bird” from Don’t Shoot Me, and “The Greatest Discovery” from his self-titled debut.
I think I heard someplace that Mr. Taupin now wants to be known as just “Taupin” a la “Cher,” “Madonna,” “Sting,” and “Chewbacca.”
“are you ready for love” is a GREAT song. i forgot about that.
RAZOR FACE!
excellent.
Most incredible Elton song and performance: the combination work “Carla/Etude.” AMAZING!!!
The new album Captain and the Kid is apparently (quite comfortably) his best since 1975.
EJ’s best tracks:
Someone Saved my Life Tonight
Candle in the Wind
Curtains
Funeral for a Friend
High Flying Bird
Tiny Dancer
Rocket Man
Your Song
I Don’t Wanna go on with you like that
Original Sin
The Last Song
Daniel
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Believe
Sacrifice
Empty Garden
American Triangle
Captain Fantastic
Indian Sunset
Tonight
Levon
Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes
I’ve Seen that Movie Too
Love Lies Bleeding
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Don’t Let the Sun go Down on me
Bennie and the Jets
One More Arrow
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
Porch Swing in Tupelo
We all Fall in Love Sometimes
They Call it the Blues
Philadelphia Freedom
Little Jeannie
The Bitch is Back
This Train don’t Stop
Japanese Hands
Nikita
Club at the End of the Street
(all these are certainly better than big hits like Crocodile Rock, I’m Still Standing, Sad Songs, Don’t go Breaking my Heart, Can you Feel the Love Tonight, Island Girl; don’t judge him too harshly on the weaker stuff, but on the catalogue of goodies)
best albums:
Capt Fantastic
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Tumbleweed Connection
(from what i’ve been hearing, it’s likely Captain and the Kid will be one of his top 5)
Oh and some fine tracks i forgot: The One, Skyline Pigeon, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, Where to now St Peter.. (and some more hits; Song for Guy, Blue Eyes, I Want Love, Are you Ready for Love- bigger in Europe)
Ok. Elton is my favorite artist and I like every song I’ve heard from him, which includes everything from his 60th b-day concert, Goodbye Yellowbrick Road, Captain Fantastic…, Songs from the West Coast, Peachtree Road(tho not my fav), The Captain & the Kid, and a few others.
I think that since he had surgery on his throat and had the whole voice change, all it’s done is help him get yet another amazing sound.
For example, you listen to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and you hear an amazing falsetto, and even though that’s gone now, he now has an amazing bass-baritone and this has only helped in songs such as ‘answer in the sky’ and ‘the wasteland’ which would not sound anywhere near as good if his voice was still that little boy sound.
so yeah… and also adding to the hip-hop discussion: if you listen to the song ’2 man show’ by Timbaland,(off ‘Shock Value’) the great piano in the back is Elton, and it’s a pretty good sound.