Elton John: The Rocket Man Returns
July 19, 2013 Leave a comment
After 46 Years In Music ‘Are You Ready For’ Elton John?
Why does Elton John bother with music anymore, after all, he has an estimated fortune of over £240 million? If David Bowie can achieve such a magnificent return to form in 2013, can Elton John also pull it off?
The Rocketman is back with all rockets highly polished and bother he certainly does as his next album, The Diving Board, is released on September the 16th. It’s John’s first new recording since 2006’s The Captain and The Kid. Seriously, it actually doesn’t make any difference how good or bad the new material turns out to be, as everything the man produces literally turns to gold. Elton John’s first album, called Empty Sky from 1969, is his only one to not achieve at least Gold sales status but did reach number 6 in the US Billboard album chart, so it wasn’t all bad and was also his career launching pad.
Whether from singles, albums, soundtracks, as a featured artist, a remix artist, from compilations, live albums or via any other format, Sir Elton John is a prolific record seller and that goes without saying.
Isn’t it all a bit weird then when both Elton and his partner David Furnish appear in public with their two adopted sons? Daddy and Daddy has to be strange for any child to grow up with, let alone when one of those daddies is one of the richest and most successful recording artists ever. For the time being at least Zachary is just a baby and Elijah isn’t that much older but life’s going to be tough for them as they grow older and start asking interesting questions of their ‘so-called’ parents, “Where’s mummy?” springs to mind for starters!
Nothing’s new for ‘Sir’ Elton on the new album as his life long lyrical writing partner Bernie Taupin was as involved as ever before on the new material. Having a writing partner has never really made sense to many fans and the general public alike. Many fans are confused why such a celebrated artist needs someone to write something as simple as his song lyrics? It’s a very good question but what’s even stranger of late is why has Elton been appearing with other credible recording artists? Namely, Queens Of The Stone Age and also with Fallout Boy, two US bands who quite simply rock and by rights should have absolutely nothing to do with Elton John. It makes absolutely no credible sense whatsoever.
Elton John has also been assisting in the careers of some heavyweight artists via his Rocket Music company; the roster includes Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen who’s returning to the music scene in 2014 by the way (treat that as your first official warning), James Blunt as well as the hotly tipped Irish band, The Strypes, who are also newly signed to Elton’s label.
Of the new album, The Diving Board, Elton says, “It’s a very musical album. There’s a lot to take in. I’m not going to be chasing One Direction up the charts. I’m just making music I feel good about.” Hang on a minute, what’s worse than a new song by an aging queen or one by a bunch of desperate and sexually confused teenagers?
Elton John and ‘diving’ are two words most of us would rather not think about thank you.
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