Elton John may have turned into a parody of himself, but by God, he was

[Redstone]

a formidable musician when he started out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLMotU8Tu9E

Sorry, I'm having one of those nights where I really, REALLY miss being able to play the guitar, or Autoharp, or banjo, or mandolin, or dulcimer. Or anything.

I was a musician once.

Redstone

[mountainvue]

1. I don't think of him as a

parady of himself. He's still the incredibly talented man he always was. If he was still like he was in the 70's and 0's I'd be worried. He is 60ish now. He still likes to have fun. And I love Davey Johnstone.

[PeaceNikki]

2. He's still a formidable musician.

And I think it's rather short-sighted and mean-spirited to call him a "parody of himself".

[Redstone]

3. I stand corrected. If you can use the word "formidable" to describe him,

I stand corrected indeed; that's a strong word.

I'm going to go now, and take my guitar out of its case. No matter how much it will hurt after I do so.

Redstone

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Yeah, it's too bad. He just got kinda stuck in a certain personality,

and a certain level of skill, and hasn't really gone beyond it or outside of it.

He seems to be in the same group as Charo, Yakov Smirnoff, or Jon-Luc Ponty.

Good stuff, but shtick. Granted, it's higher-functioning than most, but still shtick. more of a "listen to me because I'm famous" instead of a "listen to me because I'm doing something new".

[harmonicon]

5. why can't you play anymore?

Not even autoharp or dulcimer?

[Redstone]

7. Can't hold my left arm in an upright position. Nerve damage. Also,

arthritis in my hands.

You've seen those commercials for aspirin and such that say the medicines work for "the minor pains of arthritis?"

Bullshit. If the pain was really minor, you could ignore it.

But it's not.

Redstone

[harmonicon]

10. man, that sucks

I'm really sorry.

[lost-in-nj]

6. I don't think he is a parody

I was so lucky to see him at MDG for his 60th bday party.....

his voice was awesome and he wore "normal" clothes

love him

and I am so glad I got to see this


:hi:

as far as how you feel

:hug:

I can not comprehend because I NEVER really played an instrument
but I know how I would feel if I could never ride my DOC again.....



sorry friend
gosh I wish things were different


lost

[abq e streeter]

8. His first few albums were magnificent, but I found him somewhere between boring and annoying

after that. And on the other subject of your post, it seems you once told me you also wrote songs but stopped when injuries prevented you from playing anymore. Wasn't sure if a PM reply would've been welcome , so never did, but had wanted to say that I assumed the injuries or disabilities didn't prevent you from writing, and you could still sing your own stuff and/or give the songs to friends' bands to play ( assuming you still have musician friends where you are). Doesn't matter if you have a good voice or not; if you miss making music , even on your own at home, why don't you crank up some old ( or not so old) record that you always loved, and sing along till you're hoarse. Hope this didn't sound preachy or whatever, just hoping you can find some way to have the joy of creating music be part of your life again, within whatever physical limitations you have.

[AlCzervik]

9. he puts on one hell of a concert, i saw him at the Worcester Centrum about 20 some odd years

ago and it was one of the best sshows i've ever seen.

[Clear Blue Sky]

11. He was great back in the 70s.

I saw him play at Madison Square Garden after Goodbye Yellowbrick Road was released. What a great show. Kiki Dee, who he did a duet with, joined him on stage for their hit song.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. I wish I could find a version of "dirty little girl" on Youtube --

I've seen a lot of women who haven't had much luck
I've seen you looking like you've been run down by a truck
That ain't nice to say sometimes I guess I'm really hard
But I'm gonna put buckshots in your pants if you step into my yard

When I watch the police come by and move you on
Well I sometimes wonder what's beneath the mess you've become
Well you may have been a pioneer in the trade of women's wear
But all you got was a mop up job washing other people's stairs

I'm gonna tell the world, you're a dirty little girl
Someone grab that bitch by the ears
Rub her down scrub her back
And turn her inside out
`Cause I bet she hasn't had a bath in years

Here's my own belief about all the dirty girls
That you have to clean the oyster to find the pearl
And like rags that belong to you I belong to myself
So don't show up around here till your social worker's helped

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. That and 'Sweet Painted Lady' are among my favorites

of his "inner cuts." In fact, "Sweet Painted Lady" is one of my top shower songs, with Queen's "Melancholy Blues." :)



I'm back on dry land once again
Opportunity awaits me like a rat in the drain
We're all huntin' honey with money to burn
Just a short time to show you the tricks that we've learned

If the boys all behave themselves here
Well, there's pretty young ladies and beer in the rear
You won't need a gutter to sleep in tonight
Oh, the prices I charge here will see you all right

So, she lays down beside me again
My sweet painted lady, the one with no name
Many have used her; many still do
There's a place in the world for a woman like you

Oh, sweet painted lady
Seems it's always been the same
Gettin' paid for being laid
Guess that's the name of the game

Forget us, we'll have gone very soon
Just forget we ever slept in your rooms
And we'll leave the smell of the sea in your beds
Where love's just a job and nothing is said

So, she lays down beside me again
My sweet painted lady, the one with no name
Many have used her; many still do
There's a place in the world for a woman like you

Oh, sweet painted lady
Seems it's always been the same
Gettin' paid for being laid
Guess that's the name of the game

[Tuesday Afternoon]

20. Madman Across The Water and Tumbleweed Connection are

two of my very favorite albums...not to mention this Goodbye Yellowbrick Road.

[Shine]

13. He's still a pretty kick ass musician in my opinion

Redstone, once you're a Music Man, you're always a Music Man....even if it's just in your heart.

:loveya:

[samdogmom]

14. Elton John is great in so many ways except for his Hillary concert.

That was probably a mistake in retrospect. But, Oh Well! While I personally hate his taste in candidates, I still love his music. So....All is forgiven.

[newmajority]

15. Holy Moses!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VIH11m6QGk

Border Song
(Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

Holy Moses I have been removed
I have seen the spectre he has been here too
Distant cousin from down the line
Brand of people who ain't my kind
Holy Moses I have been removed

Holy Moses I have been deceived
Now the wind has changed direction and I'll have to leave
Won't you please excuse my frankness but it's not my cup of tea
Holy Moses I have been deceived

I'm going back to the border
Where my affairs, my affairs ain't abused
I can't take any more bad water
I've been poisoned from my head down to my shoes

Holy Moses I have been deceived
Holy Moses let us live in peace
Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease
There's a man over there what's his colour I don't care
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace

[mitchum]

16. He was great, but he hasn't written a good song in 35 years

the early material was astounding

[Blue_In_AK]

17. Elton John's coming to Anchorage for two shows

The first one sold out almost instantly. People started lining up at the ticket office Friday for tickets to the second show that go on sale tomorrow. We don't get much "big-time" entertainment up here, so people are going a little crazy.

[nytemare]

18. I love his progressive era.

Holiday Inn, Mona Lisa, Tiny Dancer, Levon, Razor Face, Rocket Man....these songs and the rest from that era were spectacular. I really just discovered them a few years back. Those songs are timeless.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

21. About two months ago

I happened to catch a two hour biography of Elton John. I was flabbergasted by this mans talent and the road(s) he has taken to achieve his success. He has co-written so many excellent songs that I could never think of him as anything except for a talented and beautiful human being. He faced a lot of shit for coming out at a time when being a homosexual was a certain death sentence for an entertainer. He kept a happy and cheerful attitude when the world tried to shit on him. He told people that he had to be true to who he was and that being gay was an aspect of his life that he did not wish to hide.

He has had long friendships which speak volumes. He is extraordinarily generous and wickedly witty and smart.

I love this man.

He has contributed in such positive ways to the world that Reginald Dwight will always have a place in my heart and in my vast music collection.

Redstone... I am very sorry for the loss of your passion... I hope you can find an outlet for your creativity.

Peace.