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ELTON JOHN NEWS
Pepsi unleashes Elton John, Melanie Amaro Super Bowl ad
Saturday, February 4 2012
Well here it is. And it is quite the extravagant production.
Created by TBWA\Chiat\Day and titled King's Court, the ad features X Factor winner Melanie Amaro singing a version of Otis Redding's "Respect" recorded specifically for the ad to a kingly Elton John. The ad was directed by Noam Murro.
Elton and REM produce most depressing songs
Thursday, February 2 2012
REM and Elton John have produced two of the most depressing songs in the world. Isn't that a wonderful way to be remembered?
A man named David King wanted to figure out what makes people cry, musically that is, and conducted a survey that asked all kinds of personal questions. The results are not all that shocking, but many will be amazed so many guys admitted to crying like a baby when they heard a sad song.
According to the survey results printed in the British paper, The Telegraph, 90 percent of women say they have cried while listening to an especially emotional song. Young men between 18 and 24 are also prone to tears when hearing sad songs. In fact, 84 percent of the guys admitted to shedding a tear when they hear an emotionally charged song.
As the poll stands right now, REM's tear-jerker, "Everybody Hurts," is the leader of the depressing song pack. Elton John lands at number two with his, "Candle in the Wind." REM's Michael Stipe just has that tone that can reduce even the toughest person to tears, but Elton's (or Bernie's rather) lyrics are a little more touching. It could be hard to buy into the sadness of Elton's song due to the colorful, playful image that coincides with the man. Michael Stipe's bald head and melancholy attitude are easier to associate with depression.
King says he wanted to do the survey to find out the power of music. The survey also questions where people are more apt to break down in tears when they hear a sad song. Not surprising, 40 percent of women say wedding songs could make them cry. Men, not so much. A lot of people prefer to cry in the privacy of their own home or while driving in the car.
"The Union" on HBO - previews & interviews
Tuesday, January 31 2012
As reported earlier, on February 2, 2012, HBO Documentary Films presents THE UNION.
THE UNION takes an unprecedented look at the creative life of Elton John and his remarkable collaborative album with his early-career idol, Leon Russell, produced by award-winning music producer T Bone Burnett. Never before filmed in his composing process, Elton is captured by Crowe in this candid portrait of one of the world’s most treasured artists and performers. Begun in November 2009, THE UNION chronicles the entire writing and recording process of the heralded album Elton recorded with Leon.
Elton keeps Madonna feud alive with not-so-friendly Super Bowl advice
Monday, January 30 2012
Who needs Saturday night? For Elton John, Super Bowl Sunday's just as all right (if not better) for his fighting ways, reports eonline.com.
Because just when it seemed like his partner David Furnish had wrapped up his feud with frenemy extraordinaire Madonna, along comes Elton to spark it back up—this time under the guise of offering up some not-so-friendly advice to this year's half-time show entertainment.
While speaking to Good Morning America from the set of his own Super Bowl Pepsi commercial (along with The Voice winner Melanie Amaro), Elton was asked for his ever-cutting opinion on the traditionally all-out half-time shows. "I've never seen a decent one," he said. "Never ever."
Ouch. Then again, the preemptively harsh words seem par for the course when you consider who's set to hit the gridiron come this Sunday. So does Elton have any advice for Madonna? Does he ever. "Make sure you lip-sync good," he said. Ouch again. Luckily, Elton quickly softened up his stance.
"Of course you have to play live, but I don't think you can. In all fairness to everyone who's done it before, I think you may be able to sing live, but it's really hard to play live."
And the caustic pop icon isn't completely immune to being impressed by his fellow performers. "To be honest with you, I saw the Stones and I saw Prince and I thought they were pretty good." And that's about as effusive as he's going to get.
Behind-the-Scenes Preview: Melanie Amaro & Elton star in Pepsi Super Bowl Commercial
Monday, January 30 2012
Though Melanie Amaro was “crowned” the winner of the first American season of “The X Factor” - the 19 year-old chanteuse must please “King” Elton John in a humorous new Pepsi commercial which will air during the broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012.
In addition to her $5 million dollar recording contract with L.A. Reid’s Epic Records, the British Virgin Islands singer was granted a starring role in her own Pepsi commercial as a reward for her victory on “The X Factor.”
In their first encounter on the set, Melanie and Elton hugged and kissed as the rock superstar congratulated her on winning “The X Factor” in the United States. Between takes, Elton expressed his admiration for Amaro’s considerable vocal talents and her “cheeky” personality, noting that she has a bright future as a live performer.
“King’s Court,” takes place sometime during the Middle Ages, and opens with a series of court jesters trying in vain to entertain and amuse the ornately attired King atop his throne, portrayed by Elton John. None of them succeed...until Melanie Amaro appears!
Amaro removes her hood and belts out a funky rendition of the classic Otis Redding penned Aretha Franklin hit “Respect.” (“Respect” - is also Amaro’s new single. Viewers who “Shazam” the spot during game will receive a video of the song on their smart phone.)
Also, pay attention to towards the end of the spot during the broadcast, when you see a celebrity make a surprise appearance.
Elton to appear on ABC's Good Morning America
Saturday, January 28 2012
Actor Daniel Radcliffe and Elton John will appear as guests on ABC's GOOD MORNING AMERICA on January 30, 2012.
Radcliffe will be discussing his upcoming film 'The Woman in Black', while Elton will chat about his new Super Bowl ad. Also on the show will be reality star and stylist Brad Goreski with all the highlights from last night's SAG Awards; "GMA" begins its count down to the Academy Awards with a profile of actor Jonah Hill.
Good Morning America is a two-hour, live program anchored by Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. Josh Elliott is the news anchor, Lara Spencer is lifestyle anchor and Sam Champion is the weather anchor. The morning news program airs MONDAY-FRIDAY (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Sir Elton film about pop hopeful
Thursday, January 26 2012
Elton's film company is bringing to life a pop hopeful's tale of record company rejection.
Lotte Mullan chronicled her efforts to make it big, as well as her eye-opening tales of the time she spent working for a record label, in a warts-and-all online blog. And now, still without her own major record deal, her tale is to be dramatised by Elton's Rock Pictures, which was behind box office hit Gnomeo And Juliet.
Lotte, 27, used her online diary to tell tales of rejection and give an insight into her experiences of the music business, attracting the eye of screenwriter Nick Moorhouse. The singer, who has also seen her version of Labi Siffre song "It Must Be Love" in a Lovefilm ad campaign, said: "My original dream was for the big recording contract, but real-life experience can really shatter the dream. I never imagined that my blog would be discovered instead. It's even more ironic that a musician owns the film company. My first album was Elton John's greatest hits on cassette in 1989, so it's a huge honour that Sir Elton John's film company is going to make a film based on my life."
Lotte has rejected one offer from a major label and is due to release a single I'm Alright With Me on her own label Raindog Records next month. Her self-released album Plain Jane is out at the end of January 2012.
Oscar music snubs: Were songs by Elton and others really that bad?
Thursday, January 26 2012
It's safe to say that when looking at the music nominations for the Academy Awards this morning, literally thousands of people thought, "That's IT?"
While the Academy's rules for the Best Original Song and Best Original Score categories are surely very thoroughly thought through, it's difficult to imagine the thinking that deemed only two songs worthy of 2012 Oscar consideration.
A look at the 39 songs and - wow - 97 scores officially in contention for the Oscars demonstrates just how thorough the initial vetting process is. A deeper dive on the songs list - which doesn't name songwriters or singers on the Oscars site - gives an idea of the artists who didn't pass muster: Elton John (two songs from "Gnomeo & Juliet"), Mary J. Blige ("The Living Proof" from "The Help"), Pink ("Bridge of Light" from "Happy Feet Two"), She & Him ("So Long" from "Winnie the Pooh"), the National ("Think You Can Wait" from "Win Win"), Elvis Costello ("Sparkling Day" from "One Day"), She & Him featuring Zoey Deschanel ("Winnie the Pooh"), Chris Cornell ("The Keeper" from "Machine Gun Preacher"), Willie Nelson ("Hell and Back" from "Hell and Back Again"), even Jordin Sparks ("The World I Knew" from "African Cats") and Sinead O'Connor ("Lay Your Head Down" from "Albert Nobbs").
Was it really that bad a year for original songs in films? Mary J. Blige wonders the same thing, tweeting on January 24, 2012: "I'm so thankful for true fans like you all. It saddens me & feels like the Academy is being mean. 2 only nominate 2 of the 5 slots is......."
And while some eyebrow-raising names were excluded from the Best Original Score list - last year's winners, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" along with perennial nominees like Danny Elfman, Mark Isham, Thomas Newman and Alan Silvestri - at least weren't passed over for, well, no one.
While there's hardly been the kind of outcry and calls for reform that greeted, say, Jethro Tull winning a Grammy for Best Heavy Metal Album, it is hard to believe that the esteemed ears of the Academy could only find two original songs worth nominating for this year's awards.
Leon Russell celebrates 70th birthday at Brady Theater bash
Wednesday, January 25 2012
Tickets are now on sale for the Tulsa Sound's biggest annual gala. Leon Russell's birthday bash will be 7 p.m. April 14, 2012 at the Brady Theater, reports The Tulsa World.
According to the newspaper, it's the 26th consecutive year the legendary pianoman's celebrated his birthday in Green Country. Opening act will be Glen Templeton. Russell turns 70 this year. Raised in Tulsa, Russell once ran his Shelter records from the Church Studio in the Pearl District near downtown Tulsa.
"The night will include special video messages from friends such as Willie Nelson and Elton John, and include performances by Templeton with Russell as his own headliner," event promoter Steve Todoroff told The Tulsa World. Russell recorded on Templeton's single "Fixer Upper." This will be their first concert appearance together since the recording, Templeton's publicist said.
Russell is a well-known studio musician and in 2011 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by one of his biggest fans, Elton John. The show is all-ages. Tickets are $35 and $40, plus fees, available at tulsaworld.com/protix.
As reported earlier, "The Union," a documentary about the making of the Grammy award-winning 2010 album of that same name by Elton and Leon, makes its broadcast premiere on February 2, 2012 on HBO.
Phish, Elton lead Hot Tours with biggest box office numbers
Tuesday, January 24 2012
Legendary jam band Phish tops Hot Tours with ticket sales totals reported from its traditional year ending run of concerts at the partially refurbished Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Elton John ranks second on Billboard's tally with $1.2 million in box office grosses reported from performances on January 6 and 7, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii. A two-show stint at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center drew a total of 13,822 fans for both nights. This year's concerts in Hawaii continue a tradition for Elton. He has played multiple-show runs at the 8,700-seat Honolulu arena during January in three previous years, according to box office totals reported to Billboard.
In 2010, he performed on January 6 and 9, selling 13,880 tickets for both concerts. A decade earlier, he sold 25,191 tickets for a three show run on January 7-9, 2000 and 13,125 tickets the following year for shows on January 12-13, 2001.
Mr. Kraft, Elton's on the line for you
Monday, January 23 2012
As Robert Kraft was holding the new-fangled Lamar Hunt trophy as AFC champions and talking about his late wife being the heavenly force that blew Billy Cundiff‘s 32-yard field goal wide left, he was handed a cell phone.
“It’s my pal Elton John,” Kraft announced, after hosting Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in his owner’s suite as the Patriots beat the Ravens, 23-20, to advance to Super Bowl XLVI. “Hello, Elton! How are you my friend,” Kraft said. “You’re so kind.”
As the conversation wrapped up, Kraft again expressed his appreciation. “Thank you, your call means a great deal. I love you, man,” Kraft told Elton. Turns out, a phone call from Sir Elton John has been a tradition of sorts.
“He always used to call and he’d speak to my wife first, when we won a Super Bowl,” Kraft said. “He’s never won for an AFC championship. Whether he’s in Dubai or wherever he is in the world, he watches our games. He’s a huge Patriots fan and been a good friend of our family for over 25 years. I promise you he’ll be at our game in London. We’ll try to get him to Indy.”
Fancy bidding on Elton's old Jaguar?
Sunday, January 22 2012
A red E-Type Jaguar that belonged to Elton John is up for sale at an Oxford auctioneers.
The popstar’s 1965 sports car is expected sell for up to £70,000 when it goes under the hammer at Bonhams in Banbury Road. The vehicle is the highlight of the classic car sale on March 3, 2012.
Elton bought the car in 1987 and nicknamed it ‘OK Elton’ as its number plate is OKE 1. He sold it in 2001 to a private collector.
Rob Hubbard, senior specialist at Bonhams, said: “This is a fantastic example of a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1, which has been carefully looked after since its original purchase and is in excellent condition. We are expecting much interest from both national and international clients, particularly as a result of the E-Type’s provenance.”