Even on a day when much of America was hoping to see the sun go out, there’s still an ongoing need to hear someone sing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” That, among many other things, is what’s offered in tonight’s PBS broadcast of a tribute special for Elton John and Bernie Taupin, two of the worthiest talents ever to be awarded the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize. If you’re a fan — and who isn’t?, as they say — the two-hour show will provide a total eclipse of all your other most pressing entertainment needs.
Three words: “Joni Mitchell” and “Metallica.” If this salute never moved out of the M’s, it would be worthy enough just based on those two highlights alone, neither of whom probably seemed like the likeliest Elton interpreter. But there they are, on the very same bingo card.
Three words: “Joni Mitchell” and “Metallica.” If this salute never moved out of the M’s, it would be worthy enough just based on those two highlights alone, neither of whom probably seemed like the likeliest Elton interpreter. But there they are, on the very same bingo card.
- 4/9/2024
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Available this week, a three song EP titled Prayers, featuring a collaboration of multi-grammy award winning singer, songwriter and producer Joe Walsh and preeminent classical Sarod virtuoso and composer Amjad Ali Khan.
Joe Walsh Collaborates With Amjad Ali Khan On Prayers
Sonically the difference between rock and roll and classic Indian music could not be bigger – and it was exactly that which compelled them: what would happen if they came together and let their instruments do the talking? The result is music that is truly collaborative, and unlike any Joe has ever created, infused with a spiritual feel, fittingly titled Prayers.
Net Proceeds will go to Intrahealth International.
The two first met while Joe was visiting India. After playing together at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai (at the suggestion of Amjad’s son) Joe invited them all, Amjad and his two sons, to come to Los Angeles and record...
Joe Walsh Collaborates With Amjad Ali Khan On Prayers
Sonically the difference between rock and roll and classic Indian music could not be bigger – and it was exactly that which compelled them: what would happen if they came together and let their instruments do the talking? The result is music that is truly collaborative, and unlike any Joe has ever created, infused with a spiritual feel, fittingly titled Prayers.
Net Proceeds will go to Intrahealth International.
The two first met while Joe was visiting India. After playing together at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai (at the suggestion of Amjad’s son) Joe invited them all, Amjad and his two sons, to come to Los Angeles and record...
- 6/10/2021
- Look to the Stars
Now that moviegoers are finally getting to see “Rocketman,” casual Elton John fans may wonder which key moments are fiction. That’s not easy in a film staged more as a movie musical than traditional biopic. Is the “Tiny Dancer” singer’s story riddled with tiny fibs, or should we be surprised by what it gets right? Put on your levitatin’ shoes as we dig in and separate fact from fancy.
John headed out of a concert and straight into rehab dressed as a horned demon.
True. He was so hopped up on cocaine at the time, he believed he was going to a “Fantasia” party, hence the full “Night on Bald Mountain” regalia.
When Elton was a lad, he and the other members of his family retreated to separate rooms to sing about how lonely they were, trading verses on “I Want Love.”
False. “I Want Love” would not be written for another 45 years,...
John headed out of a concert and straight into rehab dressed as a horned demon.
True. He was so hopped up on cocaine at the time, he believed he was going to a “Fantasia” party, hence the full “Night on Bald Mountain” regalia.
When Elton was a lad, he and the other members of his family retreated to separate rooms to sing about how lonely they were, trading verses on “I Want Love.”
False. “I Want Love” would not be written for another 45 years,...
- 6/3/2019
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The new Elton John movie Rocketman never pretends to be a traditional biopic. It’s a fantasy musical told from the perspective of a burned-out, drug-addled Elton reflecting on his wild life from a rehab facility in the early 1990s. Characters frequently burst into elaborately choreographed song and dance routines, songs are played long before he wrote them, the timeline is off much of the time and facts are disregarded in favor of creating a compelling narrative and capturing the emotional truth of Elton’s life.
“What I care about...
“What I care about...
- 6/1/2019
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Elton John was at the absolute pinnacle of his fame when he appeared on the Gilbert O’Sullivan Show in late 1973 to perform his new holiday song “Step Into Christmas.” The clip was placed into the ITV archives after the initial airing and presumed lost forever, but it was recently discovered and is available to watch above.
The original Christmas song was released a couple of months after Goodbye Yellow Brick Road landed on shelves and hit Number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, but it’s had a long afterlife...
The original Christmas song was released a couple of months after Goodbye Yellow Brick Road landed on shelves and hit Number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, but it’s had a long afterlife...
- 12/7/2018
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Elton John was about two-thirds of the way though his set on the opening night of his farewell tour at Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Ppl Center when he paused the tell the audience why he’s calling it quits. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve given to me these past 50 years,” he said. “But I have the most beautiful family and I really need to spend more time with them. I know you understand since a lot of you have children of your own.
- 9/9/2018
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Davey Johnstone was watching Top of the Pops with his father one night in 1970 when a young singer-songwriter named Elton John came onto the screen. Johnstone was a folkie guitarist into artists like Bert Jansch and John Martyn, but he was still extremely intrigued by this eccentric young piano player. “I remember thinking, ‘Holy shit,'” he says. “‘I love this. This is really cool. We need more of this around!'”
In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined that mere months later he’d not only play...
In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined that mere months later he’d not only play...
- 9/7/2018
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Veteran musical director Adam Blackstone is no stranger to awards recognition. The 36-year-old Trenton, New Jersey, native has earned a number of Grammy nominations as a songwriter, musical director or arranger with Pharrell Williams (“Happy [Live]”), Musiq Soulchild (“Teachme”) and Al Green with the Roots (“Lay It Down” album), and was recently the Music Director and bassist for “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack album as well as the Oscar telecast performance of its Best Song nominee “This is Me.”
Blackstone recently earned his first-ever Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction of Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl Lii Halftime Show at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis last February for NBC, a dynamic performance that culminated in a duet accompanying a projected image of the late hometown hero Prince singing “I Will Die 4 U.” More than 110 million viewers watched, scoring a higher rating than the game itself. Adam goes up against fellow music...
Blackstone recently earned his first-ever Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction of Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl Lii Halftime Show at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis last February for NBC, a dynamic performance that culminated in a duet accompanying a projected image of the late hometown hero Prince singing “I Will Die 4 U.” More than 110 million viewers watched, scoring a higher rating than the game itself. Adam goes up against fellow music...
- 8/23/2018
- by Roy Trakin
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Emmy race in the music categories takes on greater interest because a win in the song category could instantly give songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul an Egot, having already won Oscar, Tony and Grammy awards.
Pasek and Paul — whose “La La Land,” “Greatest Showman” and “Dear Evan Hansen” songs have catapulted them into the front ranks of American songwriters in the past two years — are nominated for their new song, “In the Market for a Miracle,” written for Fox’s “A Christmas Story Live,” an adaptation of their 2012 stage musical.
They are just two of 28 first-time nominees in the six music categories, announced Thursday morning by the Television Academy for 2017-18 programs. Nearly 60 percent of all the music nominees are newcomers to the Emmy race. Ironically, several musicians were nominated for non-music categories: Donald Glover (“Atlanta”), John Legend and Sara Bareilles all received acting nods — and...
Pasek and Paul — whose “La La Land,” “Greatest Showman” and “Dear Evan Hansen” songs have catapulted them into the front ranks of American songwriters in the past two years — are nominated for their new song, “In the Market for a Miracle,” written for Fox’s “A Christmas Story Live,” an adaptation of their 2012 stage musical.
They are just two of 28 first-time nominees in the six music categories, announced Thursday morning by the Television Academy for 2017-18 programs. Nearly 60 percent of all the music nominees are newcomers to the Emmy race. Ironically, several musicians were nominated for non-music categories: Donald Glover (“Atlanta”), John Legend and Sara Bareilles all received acting nods — and...
- 7/12/2018
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas
You may not know the name Guy Babylon but you definitelyhave heard him play. Babylon was the keyboardist with the Elton John band,recording and touring with the legendary musician for 21 years. When he died suddenlyin September of 2009, he left behind not only a musical legacy, but a wife, two sons and a daughter. The 53-year-old musician, composer and arranger also passed down hisincredible talent to his youngest child, then 11-year-old Ben.
We were fortunate to spend a bit of time with the young Babylon and his mother,Kathy, also a singer-songwriter. And we were excited to get a glimpse of atalented boy, who is clearly on the cusp of becoming an international sensation.
Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas
When we asked Kathy to tell us how she and Guy met, she recounted, “He wasworking with my brother at the time, and I came in to show them a song.
You may not know the name Guy Babylon but you definitelyhave heard him play. Babylon was the keyboardist with the Elton John band,recording and touring with the legendary musician for 21 years. When he died suddenlyin September of 2009, he left behind not only a musical legacy, but a wife, two sons and a daughter. The 53-year-old musician, composer and arranger also passed down hisincredible talent to his youngest child, then 11-year-old Ben.
We were fortunate to spend a bit of time with the young Babylon and his mother,Kathy, also a singer-songwriter. And we were excited to get a glimpse of atalented boy, who is clearly on the cusp of becoming an international sensation.
Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas
When we asked Kathy to tell us how she and Guy met, she recounted, “He wasworking with my brother at the time, and I came in to show them a song.
- 12/15/2010
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Sir Elton John has confirmed he turned down the chance to join the "American Idol" judging panel, because he finds the show "boring" and "brain crippling". The "Rocket Man" was said to have been among the front runners to take over a vacant seat following the departure of Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi.
The places were eventually handed to Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler and actress/singer Jennifer Lopez. John admits he was approached about the role, but refused to sign up because of his disdain for TV talent shows. He tells Britain's Radio Times magazine, "I'm not a fan of talent shows. I probably wouldn't have lasted if I'd gone on one."
"I was asked to judge American Idol. I couldn't do it because I won't slag (criticize) anyone off. Also I don't want to be on television. It's become boring, a**e-paralyzingly brain crippling." And the singer...
The places were eventually handed to Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler and actress/singer Jennifer Lopez. John admits he was approached about the role, but refused to sign up because of his disdain for TV talent shows. He tells Britain's Radio Times magazine, "I'm not a fan of talent shows. I probably wouldn't have lasted if I'd gone on one."
"I was asked to judge American Idol. I couldn't do it because I won't slag (criticize) anyone off. Also I don't want to be on television. It's become boring, a**e-paralyzingly brain crippling." And the singer...
- 10/20/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Elton John has "no regrets". The flamboyant singer, who previously battled addictions with alcohol and cocaine, and suffered a drug overdose in 1975, admits he has made many mistakes but believes all his previous actions have contributed to the life he has today.
"I've had a great career, but f***ed up my private life doing drugs," Elton, who has been sober for over 20 years, said. "I'm too old for regrets: everything that happened was for a reason - even the bad times. The trials and tribulations were my fault. I've managed to transcend the bad stuff."
"I've been sober for 20 years and it's been the best time of my life. I'm a better person - forget the career. That has nothing to do with it. I'm very happy. It's taken a lot of work, but with the love I receive from my partner David Furnish and friends, it's the best...
"I've had a great career, but f***ed up my private life doing drugs," Elton, who has been sober for over 20 years, said. "I'm too old for regrets: everything that happened was for a reason - even the bad times. The trials and tribulations were my fault. I've managed to transcend the bad stuff."
"I've been sober for 20 years and it's been the best time of my life. I'm a better person - forget the career. That has nothing to do with it. I'm very happy. It's taken a lot of work, but with the love I receive from my partner David Furnish and friends, it's the best...
- 10/19/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Thanks to IndieWire I was alerted to the following music video featuring Hans Zimmer and Robert Downey Jr. as a last second campaign to earn Zimmer's Sherlock Holmes score an Original Score Oscar.
Uploaded by Metrophonics11 to YouTube, the video was directed by Rachel McDonald and on top of Zimmer and Downey it features director Guy Ritchie and Lorne Balfe, Diego Stocco, Ann Marie Calhoun, Atli Örvarsson, Aleksey Igudesman Noah Sorota, Tina Guo, Davey Johnstone, Satnam S. Ramgotra, Ryeland Allison and Bob Badami.
It's titled "Discombobulate" and you can watch it directly below.
Uploaded by Metrophonics11 to YouTube, the video was directed by Rachel McDonald and on top of Zimmer and Downey it features director Guy Ritchie and Lorne Balfe, Diego Stocco, Ann Marie Calhoun, Atli Örvarsson, Aleksey Igudesman Noah Sorota, Tina Guo, Davey Johnstone, Satnam S. Ramgotra, Ryeland Allison and Bob Badami.
It's titled "Discombobulate" and you can watch it directly below.
- 2/26/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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