# Elton John **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 5, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062 "2003-02-05T22:47:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Consuela\_Bobuela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Consuela\_Bobuela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Consuela_Bobuela)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/41 "2003-02-06T12:12:54Z")
Forgot to mention I saw Elton in concert in May 2001. Crappy seats, but he was marvelous. I will stand in line to see him again any day. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/42 "2003-02-06T14:03:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Actually, DavidB wrote that. He had e-mailed me, and I gave him some information that I knew as well as information that I got from East End Lights. \*\* _D’oh!_ Sorry, **DavidB** and **Libertarian**. If I’d linked to the article like I planned I would have noticed that and not made the misattribution. That’ll teach me to be lazy. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/43 "2003-02-06T18:52:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Consuela Bobuela \* > \*\*Forgot to mention I saw Elton in concert in May 2001. Crappy seats, but he was marvelous. I will stand in line to see him again any day. \*\* My husband and I saw him a concert a few years ago, too. Just Elton John and his piano, no other accompaniment. He was _fantastic_. I can’t imagine there are very many current pop stars who could pull that off now, let alone in their 50s. ---
**Author:** ![cagiva650](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cagiva650](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cagiva650)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/44 "2003-02-06T19:08:23Z")
I have been a fan of EJ’s and BJ’s for decades but have never seen either one in concert. But this May 3 in Auburn Hills Michigan I will see them both! From section 219 excellent seats with my lil sis too! E X C I T E D !!! I love those guys! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/45 "2003-02-06T22:53:07Z")
I’m a fan of BJ’s too. What? No, really. My wife and I saw the Face-to-Face show a year or two ago. Great, just great. I loved when the big monitors went to dueling closeups of their hands doing crazy solos on their respective ivories. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/46 "2003-02-07T14:44:08Z")
Wow. I wish I could have seen that. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/47 "2003-02-07T16:35:44Z")
I’m not a great big Elton John fan, but did at one point own his Life in Australia album - piano and full orchestra… What I _am_ a big fan of, though, are Bernie Taupin’s lyrics for Elton John. Songs like The Greatest Discovery, or 60 Years On… especially with the full orchestral score? Booyeah. Taupin’s lyrics have… content. Something most modern music lacks. Let’s not even get into the non-lyrics of boy bands and dime a dozen pop stars. Elton John is unique. He’s different. He’s not one of those cookie cutter singers the world seems to be line-producing lately. You may like him, you may dislike him, you may loathe or adore… truth of the matter is, he blazed many new trails in his career. Respect him for his accomplishments, for they are numerous, even if you don’t like the music. E. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/48 "2003-02-07T16:37:49Z")
I don’t have anything against Elton John, but that Bennie and the Jets song makes me want to go on a murderous rampage everytime I hear it. I hate that song. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/49 "2003-02-07T18:07:01Z")
Quite the post **Lib**. I don’t hate Elton John, although he’s certainly not a favorite either. Pay a hundred bucks to see him? Umm, never, but my problem isn’t so much with EJ, but with the local radio stations that only play the same tired songs: \* Bennie and the Jets, Tiny Dancer, Rocketman, Levon, Candle in the Wind, I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, Daniel, and Crocodile Rock\*. If I heard something different once in awhile I might not immediately change the channel. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/50 "2003-02-07T19:09:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lout \* > \*\*Elton John is nothing more or less than the British version of Liberace. > \*\* What I appreciate is that unlike Liberace Elton came out of the closet LONG before it was fashionable. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/51 "2003-02-07T19:13:08Z")
I’m not a huge fan. I haven’t heard a lot of his stuff, though; only what gets played on the radio. Now I have “Bennie and the Jets” running through my head – ARRRRRGH! I’ll give him this – he can write melody. The man knows more than four notes. Many pop singers seemingly don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/52 "2003-02-07T19:40:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > \*\*I don’t have anything against Elton John, but that Bennie and the Jets song makes me want to go on a murderous rampage everytime I hear it. I hate that song. :mad: \*\* It might help to know that _Bennie and the Jets_ is a parody. Elton and Bernie have several such parody songs, like _I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself_, _I’m Going To Be A Teenage Idol_, _Texan Love Song_, _Crocodile Rock_, _Solar Prestige A Gammon_, and others. With _Bennie_, the parody is of Ziggy-inspired anthems from the period, especially those of Jonathan Rhys Meyers (David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust) and Ewan McGregor (Iggy Pop). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/53 "2003-02-07T20:03:29Z")
I guess… count me as a fan. I agree with the sentiment, that you should at least be able to see the talent behind the music, even if you detest the music. I’ve never been a big fan of Tool for example… but I do think they are talented musicians. (FYI, I pulled Tool out of the hat. No specific reason for picking on them.) I also saw Elton in concert several years ago. This is when he really won me over. Being a veteran hard rock concert goer… I liked his music, but I thought the show would be tepid. It was amazing. I had so much fun. He’s such a good performer, so much energy. The place was alive! I wish I could have seen Billy and Elton (Billy is one of my top 3 fave artists) when they were in Portland, but I was broke broke broke at the time. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/54 "2003-02-07T20:45:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*Why does no one ever hope that of me? \*\* I was thinking the same thing, myself! ---
**Author:** ![Monalisa9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@Monalisa9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monalisa9)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/55 "2003-02-07T20:49:15Z")
What really galled me about this talentless cliche of a flamboyant washed up little creep is that, when called upon to write a tribute to the late, lovely Princess, he pulls out of mothballs a tune originally composed for a glitzed-up Hollywood floozie, throws in a few new words, and everyone says what a genius. It seems to me, that if one of the most lovely creatures in the world was actually a fan of mine (I will forgive you this one flaw, dear lady), I would knock myself out trying to create for her something so perfect, so unique and unforgettable, that it would become synonymous with her very name. What a lazy shit! ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/56 "2003-02-07T21:02:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monalisa9 \* > \*\*What really galled me about this talentless cliche of a flamboyant washed up little creep is that, when called upon to write a tribute to the late, lovely Princess, he pulls out of mothballs a tune originally composed for a glitzed-up Hollywood floozie, throws in a few new words, and everyone says what a genius. It seems to me, that if one of the most lovely creatures in the world was actually a fan of mine (I will forgive you this one flaw, dear lady), I would knock myself out trying to create for her something so perfect, so unique and unforgettable, that it would become synonymous with her very name. What a lazy shit! \*\* I’m not going to search out the cite for you but it was Bernie that rewrote the lyrics to that song for Elton based on a miscommunication. Still, not bad for the best selling single in music history (again find your own cite) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/57 "2003-02-07T21:14:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monalisa9 \* > \*\*What really galled me about this talentless cliche of a flamboyant washed up little creep is that, when called upon to write a tribute to the late, lovely Princess, he pulls out of mothballs a tune originally composed for a glitzed-up Hollywood floozie, throws in a few new words, and everyone says what a genius. It seems to me, that if one of the most lovely creatures in the world was actually a fan of mine (I will forgive you this one flaw, dear lady), I would knock myself out trying to create for her something so perfect, so unique and unforgettable, that it would become synonymous with her very name. What a lazy shit! \*\* I’ve been at Straight Dope for more than three years, and yours is the stupidest post I’ve ever seen. It is sub-Neanderthal. It is a rhetorical enema, an incredibly vast confession of ignorance about everything it mentions — from Marilyn Monroe, to Diana, to Elton John. It’s too late to salvage anything from your brain, so here is what you are to do: grab a sledge hammer and smash your computer with it. Do it now. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/58 "2003-02-07T22:45:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Troy McClure SF \* > \*\*Yeah, but what has he done for us _lately_? > > 😃 > > I like Elton, BTW. \*\* \*\* Lion King \*\* and \*\* AIDA \*\* for starters. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/59 "2003-02-07T23:02:47Z")
Would those who keep saying Elton John has written some great songs please at least get their facts right? He’s seldom written a song in his life. He’s _co-written_ some very good pop music, though. I agree that his consistency and longevity in the business is remarkable, and a good indication of his talent. However, why on earth should I have any respect for a man who, blessed with success and wealth, chose to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars that _could_ have been put to some good use on illegal drugs that rendered him sick and unable to function? Are we are so cool and hip and trendy round here, in a juvenile sense, that near-enough snorting yourself into oblivion is just something to have a laugh at? That pouring this much cash into the cocaine trade - with all that that entails in terms of crime, exploitation and cruelty - is just something to be filed away under ‘we all make mistakes’ while we admire the fact that he wrote some good tunes and gives good concerts? If a man with that much talent and success can’t think of something better to do with a few hundred thousand dollars, then frankly I think I can find other people to admire. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062/60 "2003-02-07T23:15:27Z")
You’re number two. Find an entertainer who has spent more on charity than Elton John in the past ten years. His brief flirtation with cocaine was induced by depression. He got better. He’s been better for a long, long time. With respect to his writing songs, he writes the songs. Bernie will be the first to tell you that. Bernie writes poems. He sends them to Elton. Elton puts music to the poems. He is classically trained. His music is highly sophisticated and complex. You can go back to sleep now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john/153062.md?page=4)