Elton John
 

An absolutely *FANTASTIC* melodist, one of the best melody writers of all time who could dabble in virtually any style of popular music. Often overlooked by younger music fans (like myself if mid-20s is young) these days due to the lack of the cool factor. I personally had not listened to him for years and knew of his music through my dad, who grew up with it. But I heard some of those classics again recently and he really is an unbelievably good melodist. In fact the sound itself is pretty unique from the standpoint of the early 70s, in that it is more piano-driven pop rock as opposed to the more usual guitar rock format that was all the rage at the time. The arrangements are pretty great too.

Here's one of his best:

I have Honky Chateau and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road which are both great albums. I think people overlook him past his popular songs.

Actually, I think a lot of "overlooking" was actually prejudice, or so my father says. I wasn't alive when Elton was making his bones, so I don't know the story, but I'm told that it was always something like the Queen phenomenon. Men simply didn't want to listen to a *** singer, no matter how talented he was. Bit unfortunate really, because I can't begin to imagine how many artists remain undiscovered due to this unfair stigma.

That's a very good point, earlier when I first read the thread of was thinking, I wonder if part of the reason Elton does not consistently get considered among the best songwriters ever is because people sort of dismiss him as "that flamboyant *** guy" like a lot of casual listeners do.

Do people think that? I think he's too general most of the time to fit into anyones genre and he's safe as far as music goes so its not as if he'd fit into any one scene.

I think his genrelessness is more of a factor than his homosexuality which to me is just a non-issue. I mean, I am more put off by Becks Scientology than John's homosexuality.

Even his absolutly campy (croc rock) and coked out (I'm still standing) songs are great. But the one that, despite making the first best of, is still too underrated for my liking is Border Song.

If you listen to one song you've never heard before today, make it Border Song.

I agree about Border Song; a fantastic song.

Even though it's not hip to say so, I do like Elton; he wrote some great pop tunes and was a good enough vocalist to make Taupin's lyrics seem passable.

I wonder if above all it is what TheBigWhateverYowLongA$ssNameIsDog is getting at: Elton just doesn't fit into any niche scene hence why those of our general ilk and disposition just don't take notice. Too much of a blatantly mainstream celebrity pop songwriter for music geeks to care.

Which is a pity really because there's an awful lot of good in his songs. Aside from the often inspiring quality of the music itself and the melodies, Bernie Taupin's lyrics are often great too. Really imaginative, thoughtful stuff. Serious talent going on there altogether, and like Seltzer points out, it doesn't stop with the singles - there are some album gems too.

Have to get round to Yellow Brick Road after that video Rainard. Love the arrangement... and that kind of sound I would never have associated with him, like you say, because of his popular songs.
It reminds me of early Paul McCartney, just unconvential pop-songcraft, really playful but solid.

Hating me is old hat. I was saying exactly that, but certainly not condoning it.

Elton John is amazing. I saw him in concert 14 years ago and it still remains in my top 3 concerts of all time. I have seen at least 100 concerts since then. Even his less popular newer albums are amazing. I listen to his "Songs from The West Coast" every couple of months and it is just as good as the stuff he was making in the 70's. Border Song is great, but I also love Gray Seal, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Don't Go Breakin' My Heart, and Harmony. There are very few of his tracks that don't have many playings on my Itunes. His music single-handedly got me through a seven month time away from the U.S. I would listen to his stuff while waiting to fall asleep every night.

I personally get sick of the people who just hate him because of his being a little eccentric and too be honest a little b1tchy. I would still see him over almost any artist I can think of.

You got me wrong, I wasn't a-hatin'. I think you got it spot on.

When I first listened to Elton John it was the year he released Honky Chateau, we didn't know he was ***. To us he was just a new artist trying to establish himself in a music scene completely dominated by guitar oriented rock. His uh flamboyant tendencies didn't surface until he became famous, specifically after he released "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", which is my favorite album. Amazingly enough even when we all found out about his sexual preferences, it didn't affect his popularity as a heavyweight in the music world, and back in the 70's homosexuality wasn't even discussed or accepted the way it is now.

Although I was much more into the hard rock scene back then, whenever we had parties Elton was one of the staples, especially because the girls all liked his music and to keep them happy we would listen to their favorites too. Besides we could always play our Deep Purple, Stones, Steppenwolf albums when it was just us guys hanging out or getting psyched to play football etc. I followed Elton right up to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, and then lost interest, I think he lost something and never really rose to the creative level of his earlier recordings.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Greatest Hits Vol. 2

The only 3 recordings of Elton's I still have in the library.

Elton John is deffinately one of the best melodic writers of the 20th century and of all time. i saw him live in 2002. he was incredible. my favorite album is songs from the west

I think he only came forward as out and out *** as late as 1988 or something. Though he came out as bisexual in the very late 70s. I guess that by the point he did, the height of his popularity and success had probably long passed by.

he's not considered the best song writer of all time because he doesn't write his songs entirely.. he writes the music, not the lyrics. The team of Elton and Taupin are up there with Lennon/McCartney and Jagger/Richards in the rock n roll circuit.

Elton is one of my favorites... I think for a man to be a great artist all around being G A Y actually helps because it allows for a broader range, reaching a broader audience. Fortunately I got into Queen, Elton, Bowie, etc... before my mind was subjected to all the prejudices revolving around the g a y s so I was able to enjoy them for their art before thinking about their sexual preferences.

Aha. You do realize that David Bowie isn't gay, right? :/

My feelings about Elton John is when he writes good songs they are amazing, but when he writes bad songs, holy ****.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a classic though.

says who? Bowie? oh because he's married? forgot about that. Anyway, *** or not the guy performs as if he can be *** which only helps him. Personally I don't care what he is.

Yeah RJ he probably came out publicly around that time, but we suspected way earlier about his preferences. Think about it, the only piano player more flamboyant than Elton was Liberace and we knew he was ***. My best friends older brothers both saw Elton live in 1975 and he put on a spectacular show, in fact he was the most popular performer in the world for a couple of years. However they both said that according to all the rumours they heard that Elton was bisexual and he never really tried to hide anything just didn't make a big deal about it period. Regardless he was a great artist in his prime and I still like playing his old recordings.

Bowie "outed" himself as a bisexual in some interview in the 70s, but it was all just an image/marketing hike. Eventually he decided it was more of a detriment to be perceived as such, so he declared that he wasn't really bisexual at all - he described himself, humorously, as a "closet heterosexual", which he had been for a "long time".

sounds shady to me... and confusing. I think he is ***... just based on him as an individual and a performer.

(why is *** a bad word to say on this forum?)

A true inspiration to us all!
 

Definitely one of my inspirations.

lol, dude, he is not gay! He never was. He's never been known to have been in any homosexual relationship, and besides, he never claimed to be - he simply said in a 70s interview that he was bisexual (as he liked it as part of his image); he retracted it in the early 80s, admitting that he never was and expressing how much he regretted what he said in that 70s interview. He's been married to a supermodel for many many years and has kids.

Hey, I don't know and neither do you... ya never know what kind of marriage arrangements people make, his wife could swing both ways for all you know. Anyway, I always assumed Bowie could be both and he probably could... what he says doesn't mean much because people will always BS to cover their own asses and the asses of their family.

See, even more proof he is probably g a y... he likes to cover asses :)

I'm rocking the **** out to Crocodile Rock right now!

Elton John is awesome, especially cause he made a song about Philly!!



i also love Tiny Dancer, Benny and the Jets, and Crocodile Rock

anyone know any good albums i could get from him?

Elton John is abundantly talented and it's pity he's thrown it away doing mainstream pop drivel. He reminds me of Paul McCartney, another talented singer and awesome bass player who done nothing but saccharine muck since 1970.

Tumbleweed Connection is my favorite Elton John album which ironically is overlooked by many of Elton's biggest fans. For me, Tumbleweed Connection is the high musical standard by which his later work fails so miserably to measure up to.

I think that early Elton is fantastic Tiny Dancer is one of my all time favorite tunes, also Your Song, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and i think his version of Pinball Wizard from The Who's Tommy was excellent. But i am not too keen on his material from the 80's onwards.

I'm just listening to his classic 70's stuff. I've beenn listening to Radiohead a lot lately and have overdoesed on it so as a reaction, or over-reaction I'm going to listen to some really middle of the rd. unpretencious music for a while.

...I simply love this song...


Can You Feel the Love Tonight



...and can You feel the Love tonight
it is where We are...
...it's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
that We've got this far...
...and can You feel the Love tonight
how it's laid to rest...
...it's enough to make Kings and vagabonds
believe the very best...


...but I'm mostly a fan of his early songs...


Your Song




I know it's not much...
...but it's the best I can do
my gift is my song...
...and this one's for You

I hope You don't mind...
...that I put down in words
how wonderful life is...
...while You're in the world

Except that they did 'conventional pop' (what's wrong with that? most things have conventions) when they were younger as well, they were just more consistently good at doing it.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of the greatest albums made by anyone ever.

It gets a bit of ave. towards the end.
I just listen to my playlist version


Goodbye yellow brick rd.
Candle in the wind
Bennie and the jets
This song has no title
Grey seal
Jamaica jerk-off
Sweet painted lady
I've seen that movie too
Harmony

Ballad of Danny Bailey? Roy Rodgers? Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding?

I'm not sure that it has a single terrible track and for a double album that is really unusual.

One of the most brilliant pop musicians of our time for sure. He was a fountain of creativity back in the days, spilling out melodies for immortal songs like Your Song in a matter of minutes. Not enough of the younger crowd today acknowledge or appreciate his genius, I think!

don't like 'em. I hate cowboys and songs about cow boys so can't listen to RR.I hate gangsters and songs about gangster so can't listen to TBODB. Funeral for a friends just a mess plus I hate songs about funerals...and friends for that matter. :laughing:

nice voice

I love Elton John.
I love how he once said:

"There is nothing wrong with going to bed with someone of your own sex. People should be very free with sex, they should draw the line at goats"

dunno why but i hate him very much

If it's as a person, then that wouldn't relate to me as I just want to look at his music as music. Other people may have other agendas but I prefer to just judge the music on it's own terms apart from other issues.