What makes Elton special?
Elvis feels the need to ( gulp!) share
Todays Observer (London) has its monthly music supplement. Its big feature is on Elton John , how his forthcoming new album is ' his best in years ', 'how
great he is', blah , blah ,blah , the usual old guff that his record company somehow manage to persuade some semi-serious publication to spout every few years.
In side columns to the feature some 'celebs' are rounded up to say nice things about Reg. Along with Sam Taylor-Wood ,Rod Stewart , Rufus Wainwright and
(football manager) Graham Taylor , Elvis is somehow roped in .
Elvis Costello:
OMM: What makes Elton special?
His joy, his knowledge of the musical past, and an
impressive curiosity for new music; he knows much more
about new releases than many more self-consciously hip
artists.
What's your favourite song of his?
It changes all the time. One of the more well-known
titles would be 'Sorry ...' I heard Ray Charles do it
two years ago and it knocked everyone out and made me
want to sing it myself. 'Tiny Dancer' has an amazing
stucture, too, and a great lift to the chorus. These
songs are hard! There are a couple of melodies on the
new record which are up there with his best,
particularly 'My Elusive Drug' and 'Turn the Lights
Out'. Full of unexpected changes. I also love some of
those delicate songs from way back, such as 'Come Down
in Time' or 'Sixty Years On'...
What is he like as a friend?
Elton (and David) have been very loving friends to my
wife in the past few years; we have no words to
describe their kindness to us as a couple. It is
amazing that anyone who works so hard could find time
to check in on friends not doing so well or simply to
be so gracious, courteous and wickedly humoured. This
life often makes people much more selfish.
Todays Observer (London) has its monthly music
supplement. Its big feature is on Elton John , how his
forthcoming new album is ' his best in years ', 'how
great he is', blah , blah ,blah , the usual old guff
that his record company somehow manage to persuade
some semi-serious publication to spout every few
years.
In side columns to the feature some 'celebs' are
rounded up to say nice things about Reg. Along with
Sam Taylor-Wood ,Rod Stewart , Rufus Wainwright and
(football manager) Graham Taylor , Elvis is somehow
roped in .
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,13887,1304453,00.html
Elvis Costello:
OMM: What makes Elton special?
His joy, his knowledge of the musical past, and an
impressive curiosity for new music; he knows much more
about new releases than many more self-consciously hip
artists.
What's your favourite song of his?
It changes all the time. One of the more well-known
titles would be 'Sorry ...' I heard Ray Charles do it
two years ago and it knocked everyone out and made me
want to sing it myself. 'Tiny Dancer' has an amazing
stucture, too, and a great lift to the chorus. These
songs are hard! There are a couple of melodies on the
new record which are up there with his best,
particularly 'My Elusive Drug' and 'Turn the Lights
Out'. Full of unexpected changes. I also love some of
those delicate songs from way back, such as 'Come Down
in Time' or 'Sixty Years On'...
What is he like as a friend?
Elton (and David) have been very loving friends to my
wife in the past few years; we have no words to
describe their kindness to us as a couple. It is
amazing that anyone who works so hard could find time
to check in on friends not doing so well or simply to
be so gracious, courteous and wickedly humoured. This
life often makes people much more selfish.