eltonjohnallsongslist

The Origin And Meaning Of Names

2009-07-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, I love Bernie's lyrics. I am a fan of him and I'd never find a lyricist like him. Me too, I analyze his lyrics over and over, trying to find the meanings of the words, of the poetry. I always was wondering about how he chose the name of some of his characters... By chance? Really by meaning? And what about Elton's name? Hercules??? Reg, why not instead of Elton? So, I have to bring on an expert. She is an open encyclopedia on names and meanings.

So, thank you for the acceptation, really a pleasure to have you... Could you tell us, please, who are you and where are you from?

My name is Mònica Font and I'm from Barcelona (Catalonia), currently living in Ireland.

Great!!! One of Bernie’s lyrics reads: “I'll pick a star from the sky, Pull your name from a hat”... you’ll pick a lot of names from a hat... You are an expert in the origins and meanings of names. You've been writing several articles and you have a book on your desk, ready to be published... Why are you interested in names?

Well, I'm a linguist and given names are an element present in every single world language. A very special element, since, in some way, the given name is part of the subject who bears it: it singles out the bearer and, at the same time, the bearer identifies it as part of himself. That is why if someone criticizes our name or makes fun of it, we will feel outraged, criticized and mocked ourselves and will take offence.

Yes, certainly. In our case, for example... if we’re talking about two names... “Elton” and “John”... What’s the meaning and origin of those names?

Elton is a family name turned into a given name but its origins are dark. It clearly comes from a place name, but since there are several places named Elton in England, from different origins, it is not possible to attribute it a single meaning.

In some cases, the name comes from the Old English ael, "eel", and tun or ton, "town", that is, a town in an area rich in eels, but this one, despite being the most common explanation in baby names books and websites, it is not accurate for most of the places named Elton.

The second part of the name is not that complex: it is the aforesaid tun or ton, "town". In regards to the first part, it can come from the Anglo Saxon given name Elle, different from the modern feminine English Elle and originally a nickname for names beginning by Ælf- (Ælfwine, Ælfheah...), which was an Anglo Saxon element, ælf, "elf". But it can also come from the Anglo Saxon given name Æðel, originally a nickname for names beginning this way (Æðelfrid, Æðelwine...), from the element æðel, "noble". So, usually, we would have "Elle's town" or "Ethel's town", so to say.

The use of family names as given names in English appeared in 18th and 19th centuries among noble families, which used noble surnames from the feminine lineages in order to show the familial bonds in an exhibition of lineage pride. This custom, very common in Scotland, evolved and, at the end of the 19th century, the use of surnames as given names had spread out lto the ower classes without familiar relation with the surnames. Elton, for instance, has been regularly used as given name in the United States since at least the 1880s (the first decade with available data).

On the other hand, John has a clear etymology: it is an evolution, through the Greek and later the Latin, of the Biblical Hebrew Yochanan, coming from yeho, an abbreviation of Yahweh, "God", in the first spot of given names, and chanan, "he has forgiven" or "he has been merciful" (from the verb ch-n-n, "to forgive" or "to be merciful"). That is "God has forgiven" or "God is merciful".

Wow!!! Very interesting!!! You know Elton’s birthday name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight. For Elton, "Reg Dwight (name) was hopeless... it sounded like a library assistant (...) Reggie Jackson, for example, it sounds different”. Really “Reginald” and “Kenneth” are not very strong names, in artistic terms... aren’t they?

Well, Kenneth is very well represented in artistic field by the actors Kenneth Branagh and Kenneth Williams or the saxophonist Kenny G, Reginald by the actor Sir Reginald Denny and even Dwight has its well known bearers, as the actor Dwight Schultz or the singer Dwight Twilley. And if Elton John had stuck on his original name, we will have another very famous Reginald or Reg.

But if Reg Dwight sounded as a library assistant to him, it is very possible that to most of his coetaneous in England this combination suggested exactly this kind of character. So it is understable his urge to change it.

In another time or in another place, Reginald Dwight could be a cool name for a musician (for instance, in a vacuum, this combination brings me the image of a jazz musician) or an actor; I can easily see someone giving up his real name to take Reginald Dwight as stage name to honour Reginald Denny and Dwight Schultz.

Well, don’t mention Elton “Hercules” John his legal name registered in 1972. Hercules was the name of the horse in the British comedy series Steptoe and Son...

Since Hercules is a real human name, I don't have any problem with Elton John using it for himself to honour an animal. It would be very different to do that with a son or a daughter (honour an animal) or if it was a pet name, as Fluffy.

And we can consider Hercules a talisman name, because it contains the Greek root kléos, "fame, glory", and Elton John clearly has reached it.

Right. When Bernie wrote “Nikita”’s lyric, it was a controversial about a russian male’s name being in a song dedicated, so it seems, to a caucasian blond girl, for the influence of Ken Russell’s video clip. Has “Nikita” developed to a female name for that song?

The use of Nikita in the wrong gender is not that song's fault, but it certainly has played an initial and main role. I will make myself clear.

Just listening...

Outside of Russia and its influence area, Nikita was discovered by most of the population in the late 50s, early 60s, when Nikita Khrushchev was the premier of the Soviet Union. Since the main association, and probably the only one in that moment, was a man, despite to sound feminine in most of the European languages because of the a ending, Nikita was not used for girls; and, to be frank, neither for boys.

As the association with the Russian politician grew weak and the knowledge of the name remained, Nikita begun to be used for girls, notoriously in India; two of the most notable female Nikitas are Indian and were born before Elton John's song: Nikita Thukral (b. 1981) and Nikita Anand (b. 1983), both actresses and models. That is not puzzling if we bear in mind that in that country there is a trend for feminine Western names that sound Indian (Natasha, Monica, Tania, Sonia...) and that Nikita ends in A.

It is possible that the memory of Khrushchev was more vivid in Western countries that in India and that is why the Indian use of Nikita in feminine predates the Western one, generally speaking, but it looks more or less clear that by the early 80s all countries but Russia were ready to use Nikita as a feminine name because the new generation of parents-to-be didn't remember the Soviet leader, the name sounded feminine to their ears and it seemed as a refreshing replacement for some feminine names, as Nicole.

Just in that moment, the song "Nikita" (1985) appeared and spread the name in its feminine use all around the world. But the major boost was because of the French film "Nikita" (1990), by Luc Besson, and the TV series "La Femme Nikita" (1997-2001), based on Besson's film: they reached a large majority of the population, people who knew John's song and video and people who didn't.

It is possible that John (born in 1947) or Taupin (born in 1950) didn't know that Nikita was a masculine name, because during Khrushchev's term of office they were very young. But, honestly, it is hard to believe that Russell, who is twenty years older that John, didn't remember the historical character and the shoe-banging incident at the UN General Assembly in 1960, for example.

In any case, after the song, the film, and the TV series, Nikita grew in its feminine use and I would say that right now it is a unisex name, mainly feminine, for Western countries.

On Elton’s songs, there also very significative names... Could you analize briefly some of that names, please, for us, eltonites, Mònica?

So, if I tell you... for example... “Daniel”... the man Bernie saw as a dissillusioned Vietnam veteran and was inspired by an article he had read in Newsweek magazine...

Daniel is a Biblical name, coming from the Hebrew noun d-n, "judge" or "justice", and the suffix el, abbreviation of Elohim, "God"; that is: "God judges", "God is my judge" or even "God's justice".

The differences in naming taste between the United States and the United Kingdom are notables (Bernard Shaw said that England and America are two countries separated by a common language), but in the case of Daniel, it has been one of the favourites in both sides of the Atlantic ocean across the entire 20th century: it has been in the top 100 without interruption since 1900, which means that it is a traditional and solid choice for boys, but, more important, since the 80s it has been in the top 10 also in both countries, which means that it still is attractive for the parents.

So, not only Daniel is an absolutely accurate and plausible name for an American Vietnam veteran but it allows that both American and British of all ages can bond with the song: Daniel, the main character, can be them, or a school friend, a sibling, the neighbour next door...

“Emily”? The old and lonely woman who “(comes) and go(es)”. Some of the lines reads: “But Emily don't be afraid, When the weight of angels weighs you down. Emily prays to a faded hero, In a little frame clutched to her gown, Hears the voice of promise in his memory, Tonight's the night they let the ladder down”

Emily comes from the Latin Aemilia, feminine form of Aemilius, name of an ancient Roman gens (a kind of clan or caste) and, as many of the old Roman names, its origins are dark, probably Etruscan, a dead language not related to Latin. Since Etruscan was already an obscure language in Roman times, the folk etymologies linking it with one well known language were not unusual: from the Latin aemulus, "rival", or the Greek aimydios, "flattering, polite".

These explanations have remained until our time and some others have appeared, for instance a derivation from the Sabine given name Aemidius (related to the Latin aemidus, "swollen"), and until now it is not possible to point a clear origin or meaning.

What is important about Emily is that since the late 90s it is not only one of the most popular names for girls but its popularity is so huge that in some moments it seems that is THE name.

“Alice”? A teen year old yo-yo “raised to be a lady by the golden rule, Alice was the spawn of a public school, With a double barrel name in the back of her brain, And a simple case of Mummy-doesn't-love-me blues”...

Alice is a Germanic name. In fact, it is an English adaptation from a French name (Aalis or Alis), coming from a Germanic one (Adalhaid or Adelheid), compound of adal, "noble" and a second element hard to identify; maybe haid or heid, "wasteland", or maybe *heid, "class, condition, lineage, quality".

It was a very popular name among the Medieval French nobility, who introduced it in England after the Norman Conquest (1066). By the 17th c., in England Alice was seen as rustic and old-fashioned and it was not until the 19th c. that it was revived along with other medieval names. The name was chosen by Queen Victoria for one of her daughters, Princess Alice (1943-1876), making Alice a royal name, fashionable among nobility and high classes, who attend public schools and have double barrelled names, two particular identifying elements of the highest classes in the English social scale.

Of course the name was also popular among other classes, popularized by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), by Lewis Carroll, but it still has a regal flavour and easily brings up the picture of a high class member.

Finally, “Chloe”? “How you handle what you live through, I can never hope to learn, Taking all the pain I give you, Loving blindly in return”...

Chloe is a Greek name meaning "green grass, green shoot". It was very unusual until the 90s (not making it to the 100 more common names), but has been growing up in popularity since then and now it is in the top 10.

It is curious that in these questions the four main sources of English given names are represented: the Biblical (Daniel), the Latin (Emily), the Greek (Chloe) and the Germanic (Alice).

Yes, I knew. Just documentation... Thank you very much, Mònica. I know it’s an effort to be concrete because that could be so extensive...

My pleasure, absolutely

Oh, could you tell me your favourite Elton's songs, for my AllSongsList, basically?

"Candle in the Wind".

Marylin Monroe's tribute. Yes. I am absolutely impress!!! Although I knew that you were the expert I needed, you fullfill all of my expectations. I am sure we eltonites loved and enjoyed to read those explanations about names. Oh, I just write to Bernie to notice him about this interview and how appropiated he searched the names of the characters of his songs. Not for Chloe, I mean, because that's a Gary Osborne song. Ok, I will tell him that too!!!

1984: Elton In Croatia For First Time

2009-07-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

Veljko Despot, born March 4, 1948 in Belgrade, he is a well-known record business entrepreneur, product manager, music producer and record company executive, a journalist... He wrote in "Plavi Vjesnik", "Arena", "Studio", and specially "Pop Express", one of first music papers in Yugoslavia. Since 1971 also he contributed abroad, New Musical Express. He had published interviews with many big artists such as Pink Floyd, The Hollies, Bee Gees, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Marc Bolan etc. He signed in 1967 a producer agreement with the biggest Yugoslav record label Jugoton, a first record producer agreement in Yugoslav recording industry, produced in 1967 an EP release for famous Slovenian rock group Kameleoni and founded in 1968 in Zagreb the Jugoslavenski Beatles Fan Club/Yugoslav Beatles Fan Club, a branch of The Official Beatles Fan Club from Liverpool, covering most of East European countries. Throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties had numerous music reports on television, interviews, portraits and special programs, all concerning international popular music. In the mid-seventies brings first music videos on Yugoslav television and in eighties introduces first music advertising on TV.

Jugoton in seventies through eighties and up to beginning of nineties had licence for majority of international repertoire and had exclusive deals with majors and many independent international record companies, such as EMI, Warner Music, BMG, Decca, Island, Chrysalis, Virgin, Motown and many more, covering majority of best international music production. This was the only record company in this part of Europe and all of Eastern Europe which has been releasing consecutive for decades international repertoire, much due to own mission by Veljko Despot.

At his post in record business in Croatia he initiated and helped bringing to Yugoslavia many important artists, like Deep Purple in 1975, The Rolling Stones (1976), Paul McCartney & Wings (1976), Queen (1979) and Elton John, in 1984.

Elton's first visit, was on 19th April, 1984, in Zagreb. Dom Sportova, the venue built in 1972 on Trešnjevka, in the western part of the city, was the place. Along with Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Fred Mandel, they presented the "European Express Tour". The set list was the following:

Tiny dancer, Herkules, Rocket man, Daniel, Teacher I Need You, Candle in the wind, The bitch is back, Don't let the sun go down on me, Island girl, Bennie and the jets, Sorry seems to be the hardest word Philadelphia freedom, Blue eyes, I guess that's why they call it the blues, Kiss the bride, One more arrow, Too low for zero, I'm still standing, Your song, Saturday night's alright, Goodbye yellow brick road and Crocodile rock. The encores: Pinball Wizard and Song for guy.

That year, Elton married with sound engineer Renate Blauel and Croatia was former part of Yugoslavia. Recently this week, Elton returned to Croatia. Twenty-five years after, enough to see how things have changed: on 25 June 1991 Croatia declared independence and became a sovereign state, and Elton, he was divorced and married again, now with David, and we lose Dee Murray... and some tracks still remaining on the set list.

Famous Croatians Eltonites

2009-07-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Slavica Radić is a former Armani model and was the wife of Formula 1 racing magnate Bernie Ecclestone. She was born in 1958 in Rijeka, Croatia (former Yugoslavia) and is the Patron of the croatian community based in London. The couple have two daughters, Tamara (born 1986) and Petra (born 1990). On March this year, she was given a ‘quickie divorce’ and granted a decree nisi in just 58 seconds on the grounds that the marriage with Bernie had “irretrievably” broken down due to the 78-year-old’s “unreasonable behaviour”.

She announced her arrival to the concert by Elton in Pula’s area, but what surprised the organizers of the festival is that she bought all 50 entrance tickets to the VIP area for that concert.

The Story Behind... Caribou Ranch!!!

2009-07-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Caribou is a former silver-mining town, now a ghost town near Nederland in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. It was named after the Caribou silver mine nearby. Known as "The Place were winds were born", Caribou is located at 9800 feet. Sam Conger was the discoverer of the Caribou mine. He found out from the Araphahoe indians about their "Treasure Mountain" but was unable to search until they were moved by the government. Thriving silver mining town of 5000 persons until epidemics, fire and silver busts broke the town in the late 1800's. The Caribou Ranch recording studio is several miles away, on the road from Nederland up to Caribou. Nederland is a scenic mountain town in Boulder County, Colorado.

Before it gained fame as a destination studio, it was the largest privately owned Arabian stud farm in the country. Moreafter, and known as the Lazy VV ranch, the ranch was a destination for celebrities and made history long before its '70s recording-studio days. It became world famous, with Warner Brothers filming three short documentaries there, including Arabians in the Rockies, a 1945 short showing the ranch and its horses in glorious color.

Jim Guercio, then the producer of Chicago, bought Caribou Ranch for a reported $1 million in 1971 and installed the studio in 1973. James Guercio first saw the Rocky Mountains in the '60s, while touring as a guitarist for Chad & Jeremy and fell in love with the place. The first music recorded at Caribou was Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way". In addition to Chicago (starting with Chicago VI), the studio has been used by numerous other artists: Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Carole King, Stephen Stills, Waylon Jennings and Supertramp.

Caribou Ranch gained additional prominence when Elton John recorded his album “Caribou” there in 1974. Kenny Passarelli remembered “Elton John came to Caribou for the Caribou sound - a sound that was like no other sound in the world, and "Caribou" was all written here". Yes, during January of 1974, Elton and the band were at the Caribou Ranch, Colorado for the recording of: "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "The Bitch Is Back" and "Cold Highway". Unfortunately, no one had taken into account the totally different process of recording an album in America. It took precious days at Caribou to adjust to the studio unfamiliar monitor system. Repeated technical hitches threw Elton into a bad mood lasting a day and a half: "I want to take it to the highest f***ing mountain on your f***ing ranch and push it over". Finally, Elton John recorded several other classic albums at Caribou Ranch, including “Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy” and “Rock of the Westies”. Also it was there when Elton was simulating to play a guitar, an instrument he is just starting to pick up.

He also recorded the Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” with John Lennon there, who used the pseudonym Dr. Winston O'Boogie, and also "One Day (At at Time)", the original of which John Lennon released on his Mind Games. Being in the studio, it was a nice break for Lennon, particularly because the U.S. government was trying to have him deported for his antiwar stance. The Caribou staff made Lennon feel at home, and Elton wanted to be sure that John had fun. And he had.

Neil Sedaka also spent time at Caribou ranch during the planning of Neil's first American release on Rocket. And songs of Billy Joel's album "Turnstiles", 1976, were initially recorded at Caribou Ranch too with members of Elton John's band, and produced by James Guercio, but Joel was dissatisfied with the results. The songs were re-recorded in New York, and Joel took over, producing the album himself.

The studio was in operation until it was damaged in a fire in March 1985. The fire destroyed the control room and caused about US$ 3 million in damage. According to the Nederland Fire Chief, while the fire department was doing overhaul on the fire to make sure it was out, several Gold Record plaques awarded to Guercio's group Chicago that were hanging on the wall of the studio, were damaged by a chain saw. After the split-up with Chicago and the Caribou Ranch fire, Guercio became disenchanted with the recording industry and shifted gears, pursuing a successful career in large-scale cattle ranching, property development, and oil and gas exploration, drilling and production, particularly coalbed methane wells. Also, he donated the remaining equipment to the University of Colorado-Denver in 1986.

Photos by Rocky Mountain News

Famous Coloradans Eltonites

2009-07-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Brett Asa "Ace" Young was born on November 15, 1980 in Denver, Colorado. Young, who has been singing since the age of nine, attended voice lessons and performed at local shopping malls and recreation centers during his youth.[5] He performed at various venues in Colorado and other western states, most notably at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Young graduated from Fairview High School, his local high school, in 1999, having participated in athletics, choir, and International Baccalaureate classes during his school years.

He was contestant on season five of "American Idol". He received a GRAMMY NOMINATION for his co-write on DAUGHTRY's first single "IT'S NOT OVER". He referred to Elton as the one of his biggest musical influences growing up.

The Eltonite's day... Tanja_Friend!!!!

2009-06-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

"Elton John is amazing! He heals and changes people. But what is most important is that he is not just a huge well-known superstar. He is actually a great individual person, who touches us all with his music and personality"... Someone, on my side, wrote this words when she saw Elton in Sundswall, Sweden, in 2003. Elton was on concert but he was suffering a bad cold. I couldn't find more appropiated words referring to Elton as the true professional he is. We have the chance to have here a very special guest... the woman who's been writing the reviews when Elton is in Sweden, along with Ulf Olby, another one of the greatest eltonites... Ladies & gentlemen, a big applause to the fantastic... Tanja_Friend!!!!

Thank you for the acceptation, really a pleasure to have you... Could you tell us, please, who are you and where are you from?

My name is Tanja. I live in Stockholm, Sweden.

Thanks!!! When did you become an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton's music and what moves you to buy his music?

I became an Elton fan around 1995 when I saw the animated movie The Lion King for the first time and was absolutely fascinated hearing Can You Feel The Love Tonight. I bought the soundtrack and the newly released Made in England and since then I've collected all the passed and new albums and singles. The lyrics are so important to me. I could always asociate events in my life with what Elton was singing - sadness, loss, love, longing for love. It's as if Elton and Bernie were describing my own private world. That's why it moves me.

Great!!! What was it like seeing Elton for the first time and how many concerts have you been at? And also, could you tell us if you have ever been in touch with him, got a signed autograph or even, spoken with him or with other members of his band?

I've seen Elton 16 times, mostly in Sweden, but also in England and Norway. My first concert was in Oslo, Norway in the year 2000. It was a solo show and I felt shivers down my spine throughout the whole concert. Elton's voice was so pure and powerful. So full of energy and passion. I couldn't believe how those piano sounds and that voice could sink through my skin and make my heart beat faster. Through the years I've got many autographs, around 20, I think. I've never met Elton in person but did get a chance to meet Nigel and Davey backstage in Stockholm in 2002.

Which could be a great set list, in your opinion? Is there any song that Elton hasn’t played yet, and you think that he should do it? And you prefer the Elton’s solo tours or better with band? And, for you, which member of the band is (or was) irreplaceable? Miss someone, now?

The best set list would be the one with a lot of variety and spontaneity. If Elton could pick a few different songs for each concert that he played. And some b-sides as well. I am tired of the same monotoneous set lists which have repeated themselves during the last 10 years, it seems like. I would really like to hear songs like Mellow or Slave or Salvation or Yell Help... anything old and hardly ever played live. I prefer band shows and I think that Davey and Nigel are irreplacable.

Since 00s, Elton's had recorded good albums which weren't successful in music charts terms. "Peachtree road", "The Captain and the Kid", "Rocket man Collection"... Why you think that so? Are people tired of Elton’s music?

People are not tired of Elton but they think that he's lost his energy and left it in the 70's. They can't see that he's developed and changed since then. Not for worse or better. He's just changed his style.

And how was the success of Elton John in your country? Which references had swedish about Elton, specially in the 70s and 80s? And the most succesful albums? Could you still hear Elton´s music now on radio stations?

Elton was very successful in Sweden in the 70's but has lost his edge since then. What you hear on the radio are mostly Sacrifice and The One - never anything new or old. It's strange. I don't really know what references Elton had here in Sweden in the 70's and 80's as I am too young to judge it.

As allsongslist informed: “Bernie and Elton are planning on getting to work in a Los Angeles studio in February of 2010 for a special project. That will be a collaboration of old and new friends and will represent a direction that has been fermenting for years in the heads of its perpetrators”... What do you expect about this new project? What it could be?

It could be yet another album of duets, probably Elton's songs sung by other artists with Elton on piano...

Ok! Which is your Elton's item that you really appreciate, for being hard to get or for the happiness you've got to have it?

It's a very hard question. Maybe it was a T-shirt with Elton on it. When I started as a fan, I wanted all the world to know I loved Elton and was searching everywhere for a T-shirt with his image. Obviously, I couldn't find it anywhere and made an order on the internet, which was not so frequent back in 1995. When I got a package with the shirt, I put it on directly and went out on the street. Actually, all the CDs and videos I've bought with Elton brought me a lot of happiness, especially if it was a new release and the expectations were high.

Fabulous!! And finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList?

1. The One 2. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 3. Rocket Man 4. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 5. Mansfield.

Thanks so much. Would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to your other eltonites?

Well... all the fans of Elton I've known through the years have been marvellous and hospitable and kind. I want to thank Elton for the people I got to know through his music.

Thank you very much Tanja. Really a pleasure to chat with you. I get funny doing this interview with you, it was an enjoyable and worth experience. Keep Well.

Elton John In Swedish Charts

2009-06-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

Top 1

Something about the way you look tonight / Candle in the wind 1997

Top 2

Can you feel the love tonight / Can you feel the love tonight (instrumental)

Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Sweet thing

Don't let the sun go down on me / I Believe

Top 3

Circle of life / Circle of life

Don't Go Breaking My Heart / Snow queen

Top 7

Nikita / The man who never died

That's what friends are for / Two ships passing in the night

Sacrifice / Love is a cannibal

Famous Swedish Eltonites

2009-06-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria, Victoria Ingrid Alice Desirée (born July 14, 1977), Duchess of Westrogothia, is the heir apparent of Sweden, being the first-born child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. She was born a Princess, however constitutional reform, reportedly enacted over the objections of her father, created her crown princess and heir apparent on January 1, 1980. Victoria has worked as a trainee at the United Nations in New York and at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, DC, and she has also participated in a three week introductory course to the Swedish Defence Forces that aims to prepare its participants for international missions. Victoria has also studied conflict solving and international peacekeeping, completed an educational programme with the SIDA, Swedish International Development Agency, interned at the Swedish Trade Council in Berlin and Paris, and studied forestry and agriculture.

Mainstreet of Sweden started in the late fall of 2001. Since the start the band has been playing frequently around Sweden. During the spring of 2004, Mainstreet went into the studio and recorded their first album. At this time Mainstreet was an unsigned band. They decided to put in their own cash and managed to finish the first album by themselves. During 2005 Mainstreet got in contact with the record label Talking Music and were able to get signed and release their selftitled first album. It came out in May 2005. Mainstreet influences are Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Ryan Adams.

Elton Chinese Dreams!!!

2009-06-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

Elton John said he was delighted to perform in China for the first time, saying it was always his ambition to play music here: "I'm delighted to be here, this is a culturally electric city, full of life, full of creativity, and I'm very honored to be here," the singer-composer told reporters at a press conference when he arrived in 2004. He said he visited Shanghai in 1988 and 1984, but had never performed in China.

In 1984 Watford F.C. became the only second team to tour China (West Bromwich were the first in 1978). Two games against the Chinese National Team were watched by crowds of over 70.000 whilst 40.000 fans watched Watford take on Shangai. All Three matches resulted in Watford wins. In 1988 Watford returned to China to compete in the Great Wall Of China Cup. They won all five matches. All of players were a bit shell-shocked because Graham Taylor had just left the club to take over at Aston Villa. They didn't have a manager so Elton decided to go to China with the team. Perhaps feeling a bit fed-up for being long way home, Elton took the players to one side on this particular evening and asked if they could get all the lads together in the next room. Elton was sitting at this piano. And for the next hour he gave them a personal concert.

Elton John and Tim Rice's stylistically eclectic rock musical AIDA kicked off 11 city China tour in Shanghai. Starring Marja Harmon as Aida, Casey Elliott as Radames, and Leah Allers as Amneris, all three of whom were part of the North American tour of the show in 2006 and 2007. The show run in Shanghai, after which it moved on to Suzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, Wuhan, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Beijing, Chengdu and Tianjin. "It's truly a pop musical with spoken dialogue and all kinds of recognizable song types: urban-based rhythm and blues, gospel-inspired songs, ballads and, of course, the rock songs," says Chen Jixin, CEO of Beijing Oriental Broadway International Theater Management Company, which has brought the production to China. "This Aida is a modern musical about the classic tale with a pop twist. When I watched it on Broadway a few years ago, I saw the audiences were responding wonderfully to the mythic story of fated love in a contemporary scene," says the reporter and critic Lun Bing, of Beijing Youth Daily.

Famous Chinese Eltonites

2009-06-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

Zhang Ziyi was born the 9th of February 1980, in Beijing, China. When she was 11, she enrolled in the Central Drama Academy in Beijing where she received her dramatic training. Zhang Ziyi's calling was answered when she auditioned for a shampoo commercial, directed by Zhang Yimou, who used the commercial as a way to audition actresses for his upcoming film. Zhang Ziyi was the perfect choice for the part of a young, rural schoolgirl in love with a schoolteacher, and she was cast in the lead role of 1999's The Road Home, which won the Silver Bear award in the 2000 Berlin Film Festival, propelling Ziyi into the international limelight.

Zhang Ziyi attended the 2008 Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

The Eltonite's Day... With Boogie Pilgrim!!!!

2009-06-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

It's great to share our time with one of the greatest eltonites we could find out there. He has so many to explain, he has been an Elton John fan since 1970 and realised his childhood ambition by going to America to see Elton in concert Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, US. As the song lyrics says... "But I know that you all want something. Just like Boogie Pilgrim!!!!"

I am from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Retired and enjoying life travelling around the world after Elton at every available concert that I can afford.

Thank you! And when you became an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton's music and what moves you to buy his music?

Many years ago,back in 1969,I heard "Lady Samantha" on the radio. However it was seeing Elton John perform "Your Song" on "Top of the Pops" that sealed my mission to buy his records and to go too as many concerts of Elton`s as possible.

Elton brings a lot of happiness into my life,and my first album that I bought was "Captain Fantistic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy".

Perfect! What was it like seeing Elton for the first time and how many concerts have you been? And also, could you tell us if you ever have been in touch with him? Have ever exchanged words with him?

My first concert was during March,1979. Elton was on tour accompanied by Mr. Ray Cooper. I was absolutely "spazzed out" to hear and see the mighty Elton John perform in such an intimate venue.

In November 1982 I meet Elton, Davey, Dee, Nigel and John Reid in Scotland at a very smart hotel that I happened to be staying in. Indeed they were all very pleasant,and I got to speak to Elton.

During a concert in Belfast, 1986 Elton stopped the show to dedicate a song for me. It was in response to a letter I had written to Elton whilst in London the previous December after seeing him in concert at the Wembley Pool Arena,London.

The Elton John concerts I have attended total (at the time of writing) fifteen, and there is more to follow. Croatia, London and Paris are all scheduled for this year.

Honestly, my dream concert was realised during January,2008. It was an outdoor show held at the Sahara Newlands Cricket Club, Cape Town, South Africa. The weather was warm and hot. I also met up with another Elton John Forum member(thanks Marian for an unforgetable concert and various trips through Cape Town and surrounding areas of South Africa).

Wow!!! And how should be your dream concert? And which one of Elton's live shows you thought you should have been at, if you could, even back in time?

My dream concerts is without a doubt going to be three this year.One being held at the Roman Ampitheatre, Pula, Croatia. The others are Elton and Ray at the Royal Albert Hall, London and Elton and Ray at the Palais des Congres, Paris, France.

Definately any concert that I would like to have been present at was any Elton John concert held in the United States of America in the early to mid 1970`s.

Right! Which is your Elton's item that you really appreciate, for being hard to get or for the happiness you've got to have it?

It is the programme and the pen Elton used to sign it with. The young Elton was more than pleasant as were his band and manager at the time.

True. What is like being an eltonite in your country? Which are the irish preferences in music and which is Elton's place there?

It is with much sadness that during the seventies and eighties I got odd comments made to me because of my admiration for Elton John.

I think a lot of youngsters are missing out on Elton`s music because they are being exposed to music that is inferior to the tunes of the 70`s and 80`s.

Every time is a discussion between "GYBR" and "Captain Fantastic" in eltonites boards about the best original album. The double album has some of Elton's best ever composed songs and with Bernie's fine lyrics... GYBR may should had other hits if the record company should have released "Harmony", "Roy Rogers" or "Grey Seal" as other singles, along the great success of singles like "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" or "Bennie And The Jets". Do you think that record company made a mistake with that? Should the album may had been a great Grammy winner then, in the same category of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, for example?

Elton`s management was correct to leave the singles being released from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" to the required mimimum. The management didn`t over-play their hand,they let word-of-mouth do the advertising,along with the exposure of radio meriting the content of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

OK! “Bernie and Elton are planning on getting to work in a Los Angeles studio in February of 2010 for a special project. That will be a collaboration of old and new friends and will represent a direction that has been fermenting for years in the heads of its perpetrators”... What do you expect about this new project? What it could be?

Elton and Bernie have a solid fan base (which they should aim to keep). As long as this proposed venture isn`t as frivilous,such as the offering "Victim Of Love", then the proposed collaboration with Leon Russell and friends should prove enjoyable and successful.
However, I am not to keen on duet albums.

Finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton John's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList, please?

WOW, this one is a difficult question to answer. Obviously my preferances change from time to time, but I will do the honours.

1: Michelle`s Song.
2: Shoulder Holster.
3: Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters(Part Two)
4: Blue Eyes.
5: Where Have All the Good Times Gone.
6: Boogie Pilgrim.

Thank you. Would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to other eltonites?

Yeah,I really enjoy the Elton John Forum and listening to other peoples visits to various Elton concerts. The members I have met in person through the Forum have proved to be good people in their own right. I have enjoyed meeting each and every one of them.

Thanks a bunch, Stephen. Really a pleasure to chat with you. I get funny doing this interview with you, it was an enjoyable and worth experience.

Miquel, its been my utmost pleasure to participate in your questionaire. I know you asked for five favourite songs, but I just couldn`t help myself getting the sixth one in,HaHaHa!!!

That one should be on your favourite list, really... HaHaHa!!! Thank you very much. Take care.

Elton John In Irish Music Charts

2009-06-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Top 1

Something about the way you look tonight / Candle in the wind 1997 1997

Ghetto Gospel feat. Indian sunset / Thugs get lonely too

Perfect day (BBC Promotional) / Perfect day - Perfect day (BBC Promotional)

Nikita / The man who never died

Don't Go Breaking My Heart / Snow queen

Top 2

Sacrifice - Healing Hands

True love / The show must go on

Don't let the sun go down on me / I Believe

I'm Still Standing / Earn while you learn

Sad songs / A simple man

Top 3

Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Sweet thing

Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Shoulder holster

Top 4

Are you ready for love / Three way to love affair

Candle in the wind / Sorry seems to be the hardest word

Daniel / Skyline pigeon

Goodbye yellow brick road / Screw you

Top 5

I guess that's why they call it the blues / Lord choc ice goes mental

Top 6

Rocket man / Holiday inn - Goodbye

Top 7

That's what friends are for / Two ships passing in the night

Song for guy / Lovesick

Top 8

The One / Suit of wolves

Blue eyes / Hey papa legba

Candle in the wind / Bennie and the jets

Top 9

Circle of life / Circle of life

Can you feel the love tonight / Can you feel the love tonight

Passengers / Lonely boy

Top 10

Crocodile Rock / Elderberry wine

Famous Irish Eltonites

2009-06-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

Pierce Brosnan was born on May 16, 1953 in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. At 20, he enrolled in drama school and while in London, performed in several West End stage productions. After graduating from the Drama Centre in 1975, Brosnan began working as an acting assistant stage manager at the York Theatre Royal, making his acting debut in Wait Until Dark. Within six months, he was selected by playwright Tennessee Williams to play the role of McCabe in the British première of The Red Devil Battery Sign. In 1982, Brosnan moved to southern California and rose to popularity in the United States playing the title role in the NBC romantic detective series Remington Steele. He first appeared as Bond in 1995's GoldenEye to much critical praise. His most successful and delightful non-Bond outing came in 1999, when he played the title role of the millionaire art thief in director John McTiernan's classy remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair".

He attended the Elton John's 60th Birthday Party.

The Duet Interview!!!!! From Canada... I have to bring two of the most famous eltonites from the country!!!

2009-06-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

I love this country. Can't do nothing about that. When I am viewing the list of singles charts successes in the country, I found more number ones than everywhere else... I found songs like "Some Other World (My God!!!) in the list!!! I thought about doing a duet interview. I did it last year with the greaest Sue.Uk and Lukesbox. In this new edition, I had to bring on two of the greatest eltonites, from Canada of course. Inmediatily I thought about two people. Both accepted the invitation. So, here on my side, I would like to ask a big applause to... Mookie and BlueBird!!!!!!!!

But first... Could you tell us, please, who are you and where are you from?

Blue Bird: Marilyn from Toronto

Mookie: Name is Maureen Young Beintema from Kitchener, Ontario Canada

Ok!! When did you became an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton's music and what moves you to buy his music?

Mookie: I've been a fan since the early 70's when I heard his music on the radio. I just love his music, his voice, his sound... everything about him.

Blue Bird: I first heard Elton way back in the 70's. Your Song was the first Elton song I remember. I have bought his music in the various formats, 8 track, cassette, CD, I hope they don't come up with another format. I am now buying old albums (only on CD) so I can discover songs I have never heard or forgotten. Elton's music as well as most music makes me happy and I believe it is good for your soul.

Nice. What was it like seeing Elton for the first time and how many concerts have you been? And also, could you tell us if you ever have been in touch with him, get a signed autograph or even, speak with him or with other member of his band?

Blue Bird: When I was young I was not allowed to attend concerts, now that I am well in my 50's and my own family is grown I can do what I like when I can afford it. I have seen Elton 8 times over the last 5 years. I saw The Red Piano in Las Vegas 6 times and Elton and the band in Toronto in 2006 and on May 26,2009 Elton and Billy Joel, again here in Toronto. I don't know where I will see him again now he is no longer in Vegas. I am thinking I will have to travel abroad finally, vacation according to Elton's tour schedule. I have never gotten closer to Elton than row 4 in Vegas but I did get up on stage my last Red Piano show this April and I have Davey Johnstone's guitar pick which is now my prized possession. As I went up the stairs towards the stage Davey was right in front of me, I mouthed PICK and he nodded at me. At the end of the song security surrounded him so I thought I was done for, he flicked his pick from the top of his Captain Fantastic guitar so that it landed in front of where he was. I know he knew I was watching so as I walked by to leave the stage I picked it up. Not quite the same as his handing it to me I guess, but I have it and can now cross it off my list of things to do before I die.

Mookie: It was in the early 80s when I first saw him. I'll have to dig up the old ticket stub for the exact date and tour. I was in heaven. Could not believe that I finally got to see my idol in person. I've been to 15 or 16 concerts now. I've not been lucky to get an autograph but he did speak to me once.

Mookie, Which songs Elton should added to his current set list, that songs you thought you would never hear it live in yours 40 years of elton fan and, suddenly, he played it? And you Blue Bird, your favourite songs to be on? And, for you, which member of the band is (or was) irreplaceable? Miss someone, now?

Mookie: I would love to hear Cage The Songbird, Elderberry Wine, and Hercules perform live. Hearing Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, Empty Garden and The Greatest Discovery were some of my favourites that I was lucky to hear live. I miss Dee Murray and would love to see Elton with Ray Cooper again.

Blue Bird: If I have to pick just one favourite it would have to be Funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding. Davey Johnstone is my favourite band member for all time but I miss Dee Murray and love Ray Cooper. I enjoy seeing all the members of the current band, Nigel, Guy, Bob and John.

Great! Well, you know that’s the “Duets” Interview. Do you like duets, or prefer an Elton “Duet For One”? In that case, which song and which partner have Elton to duet with? Which Duet have not to be happened? Do you detested anyone?

Blue Bird: I really enjoyed seeing Elton with Billy Joel, I hope they will put Face to Face out as as DVD. I can't say that I detested it but I really didn't care so much for Elton with Mary J Blige on I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues.

Mookie:I like most ot the duets with Elton except Idid not care for Mary J. Blige on I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. I really enjoyed the one with Ray Charles.

What about Kiki Dee? Are you a Kiki Dee’s fan? Do you have her records? And, for extension, do you follow band member’s solo careers, for example Nigel as a singer, or Bernie singing his own songs, or Davey with Magna Carta?

Mookie: I do like Kiki's voice and have one of her earliest LP. I also Nigel's first solo and Bernies' first 2 solos plus 2 with FarmDogs.

Blue Bird: I loved Don't go Breaking My Heart at the time it came out. I have not followed any of the band members or Kiki's solo careers.

Ok! How it was, and still is, the success of Elton in your country? Which have been his hits in sales terms? Songs like “Some other world”, “Levon” or “Love Song” charted in Canadian Singles charts. Then, which are the canadian's favourite Elton's albums or songs? And could you still hear Elton's music in the radio, nowadays?

Blue Bird: Elton is on the radio every day in Toronto. CHFI is on the radio at the place I go for lunch and they play soft rock music, Elton is still tops on their play list. I would think Yellow Brick Road was the favourite Canadian album, I hear those songs a lot but of course Your Song, Candle in the Wind, Crocodile Rock are still played. I can't say I hear any Elton played on the new music stations, he is not quite what the kids are listening to these days. He played Levon at the concert May 26 here in Toronto, it was great to hear it live. Elton's concerts sell out wherever he plays in Canada still so he stills has millions of fans here. There is a mix of ages at the concerts, most of the young people know his music because it is their parents music. My three kids ( now adults themselves actually) know his music. Actually, my 31 year old son came to see Elton and Billy with me and said it is one of the best concerts he has ever seen.

Mookie: All I can say is Elton's music are classics...and have no time limit. There's not many artists and songs of current that would be around in 10, 20 years. Quality stuff stays around forever. There have been many hits over the years and I hear Elton's songs played daily on our local radio stations. Your Song, Bennie and The Jets, Crocodile Rock, Don't Let The Sun...., Goodbye Yellow BR.... among others are on current playlist.

Right! And which is your Elton's item that you really appreciate, for being hard to get or for the happiness you've got to have it?

Mookie: I really don't have a special item. If anything it would be something autographed but since I don't have one....I would have to say that the only other things that I cherish are the concert souvenirs and the photos that I have taken and the many newspaper clippings of Elton.

Blue Bird: Davey's guitar pick is now my favourite item. My friends and family spoil me each year at Christmas with Elton items. This year I received Terry O'Neill"s Eltonography which has the most amazing pictures. They have given me a signed picture of Elton, an Elton watch, picture frame, Red Piano mugs, picture frame.I have t shirts galore. I don't have an Elton room but I do have an Elton "shrine" with all my wonderful gifts. My husband gives me a Ticketmaster gift card each year so I can purchase my concert tickets to see Elton. Years ago I told him please don't buy me " things", I want to see Elton , that is what makes me happy.

Fabulous!! And finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList?

Blue Bird: 1. Funeral for a frined/Love lies bleeding 2. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 3.Believe 4.I'm Still Standing 5.Rocket Man

Mookie: Funeral For A Friend, The Border Song, Levon, Something About The Way You Look Tonight, Harmony...(no fair that we can only choose 5)

Thank you very much. Would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to your other partner of the interview?

Mookie: Thank for the opportunity to do this with you.

Blue Bird: Mookie, I can't wait to read your replies. Canada loves Elton and as he says he is now 1/2 Canadian so I hope we get to see him again soon.

As allsongslist informed, “Bernie and Elton are planning on getting to work in a Los Angeles studio in February of 2010 for a special project. That will be a collaboration of old and new friends and will represent a direction that has been fermenting for years in the heads of its perpetrators”... What do you expect about this new project? What it could be?

Blue Bird: Maybe it will be a stage play using their music like We Will Rock You, or Momma Mia although they will probably want to come up with something that has not been done before. I can't wait to see what it is.

Thank you very much Marylin and Maureen, really a worth experience this interview. Wow!!! It was a funny thing and my great priviledge to meet you two. An honour you share your time with AllSongsList. I have no words, to tell thank you is just a little thing, you deserved more. Take care and good luck.

Elton in Canadian Music Charts

2009-06-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Top 1

Crocodile rock / Elderberry wine
Daniel / Skyline pigeon
Goodbye yellow brick road / Young man's blues
Bennie and the jets / Candle in the wind
Don't let the sun go down on me / Sick city
The bitch is back / Cold highway
Lucy in the sky / One day at a time
Philadelphia freedom / I saw her standing there
Don't go breaking my heart / Snow queen
Little Jeannie / Conquer the sun
I'm still standing / Love so cold
That's what friends are for / Two ships passing in the night
I don't wanna go on with you like that / Rope around a fool
You gotta love someone / Medecine man
Don't let the sun go down on me / I Believe
The One / Suit of wolves
Can you feel the love tonight / Can you feel the love tonight (instrumental)
Something about the way you look tonight / Candle in the wind 1997

Top 2

Whatever gets you thru the night / Beef Jerky
Someone saved my live tonight / House of cards
Nikita / The man who never died

Top 3

Your Song / Into The Old Man's Shoes
Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Shoulder holster
Simple life / The north

Top 4

Island girl / Sugar on the floor
Sad songs / A simple man
Healing hands / Dancing in the end zone
Written in the stars / Written in the stars (Alternate version)

Top 5

Blue eyes / Hey papa legba
Candle in the wind / Sorry seems to be the hardest word

Top 6

Levon / Goodbye

Top 7

The last song / The man who never died - Song for guy
Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Sweet thing

Top 8

Rocket man / Susie (Dramas)
I fell like a bullet - Grow some funk of your own
I want love / The north star
Your song / Your song - Your song
Empty garden / Take me down to the ocean

Top 9

I guess that's why they call it the blues / The retreat

Top 10

Honky cat / Slave
Bad blood / Your favourite entertainment
Mama can't buy you love / Three way to love affair
A word in spanish / Heavy traffic

Famous Canadian Eltonites

2009-06-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Shania Twain was born in Windsor Ontario, Canada, on the 28th augoust 1965. Music was Shania's life, she would skip classes in school to write songs in the music room and after graduation she played in bar bands that played anything from pop to rock. When she was 21 she moved to Toronto, to be a secretary by day and singer by night. Shania was just 22 when she had terrible news that her parents had be killed in a car accident. Twain cares for her three teenage siblings by singing at the upscale Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. Twain pursues her dreams in Nashville, signing a record deal with Mercury Nashville, which releases her 1993 self-titled debut album. Around that time, Twain begins writing songs over the phone with reclusive London-based producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange. In June 1993, after months of working together, they finally meet in person. By December, they're married.

She counts Elton John as her ''single most important musical influence''. The duo sang her "You're Still the One" and his "Something About The Way You Look Tonight" in this excerpt from "Shania Twain's Winter Break", during her concert in Miami in 1999.

Born James Eugene Carrey, on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Jim Carrey grew up in a house full of fun and laughter and being the youngest of four children, he would often clown around to stand out from his siblings. When Jim was 15 he performed at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, wearing a bright yellow suit made for him by his mother. At first he went down badly but with time and perseverance he soon began performing regularly on the Toronto club circuit, while supporting his family. After receiving positive feedback Jim decided to move to LA in 1979. Carrey began to look around for other performance outlets. He landed a part as a novice cartoonist in the short-lived sitcom "The Duck Factory" (1984); but hedidn't have a big success until 1994's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. From there, Carrey's expressive face, expert mimicry skills, and physical brandof comedy kept the hits coming. He followed with The Mask (1994), Dumb andDumber (1994), Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995), Batman Forever (1995),The CableGuy(1996), and Liar Liar (1997).

Jim joined in 1998 Elton in a rousing duet rendition of Elton's classic "Rocket Man." He came out on stage wearing one of Eltons red leather jackets with gold crosses adorend on it, and a pair of EJ's green glasses, with a red rose between his teeth. Elton started off the song and then two lines into it Jim started singing. He matched Elton note for note as they traded off verses, and split into harmony when the chorus came along. Jim messed up on a line of a song, but Elton corrected it. Then instead of singing "I think it's going to be a long long time" Jim said "I think it's going to be, friggin forever!" And then at the end Jim helped Elton by banging his head on the piano. After the show, Carrey was telling Elton about Kaufman, and explaining how the late comedian would get carried away by his alter ego, Vegas lounge lizard Tony Clifton. The vegetarian Kaufman, while channeling Clifton, would eat prime rib, drink Jack Daniels, and smoke. But when the Taxi star was back to his old self, he would clean out his polluted system by—get this—swallowing 30 feet of cheesecloth. John found the entire story fascinating, and decided to send Carrey a gift that would pay tribute to all three parts of his current psyche. The entertainer sent expensive red wine for the Carrey, Limburger cheese and magazines of large, naked over-50 women for Clifton, and 10 packages of cheesecloth for Kaufman.

During the happy 60th birthday evening Elton's partner David Furnish, who organised the glamorous event, introduced a short film tribute, featuring messages from Sir Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion and Jim Carrey.

Ladies & gentlemen, please, this is one of the greatest fans out there.... the fantastic... Andrea!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

I've met very interesting eltonites over there. What is amazing is that everyone have their own history and it's great to listen those stories. I went to Italy to the promo of "Peachtree Road" in 2004. More than the concert, which it was great, it was meeting great people, fantastic and passionate elton fans, ... One of them is the man on my side... AllSongsList has the honour to receive the fantastic, the incredible, the unrepeatable... Andrea Grassooooo!!!!!!! Hello Andrea... Nice you are here... Thank you for the acceptation, really a pleasure to have you... Could you tell us, please, who are you and where are you from?

I’m a 32 year old boy from Italy… to be precise I was born and live in Sicily, the island at the end of Italy.

I’m a fan/collector of Elton and currently I’m one of the three admins of the Italian forum (http://eltonjohn.forumfree.net), that we like to see as a sort of an Italian Fan Club.

Also, I sometimes help Beppe, the owner of the Italian site (http://www.eltonjohnitaly.com), with the translations of the lyrics and other stuff.

I also had the idea (and developed it along with Beppe and Simona) of a site entirely dedicated to Elton’s collectors, that right now is still at its start (www.eltonjohncollection.tk); if one day we will manage to at least half-complete it, it will be very interesting for every Elton fan!

Great! When did you become an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton's music and what moves you to buy his music?

I remember having first seen Elton in an Italian TV show in 1988 singing “A word in Spanish”, but being very young at the time I wasn’t really interested in music, but that’s when I knew who he was!

Then I became interested in his music in 1992; when The One came out, it was very successful in Italy, so I was lent both The One and The Very Best from classmates; useless to say that I got mainly caught by The Very Best. After one year of hearing few Elton albums from tapes copied from someone else’s CDs, in 1993 I actually started to buy Elton’s records, and soon I was keen to have them all!

Ok!!! What was it like seeing Elton for the first time and how many concerts have you been at? And also, could you tell us if you have ever been in touch with him, got a signed autograph or even, spoken with him or with other members of his band?

Although my first aborted plan to see Elton live was in 1994 (it was a show with Ray Cooper in Rome), I was still too young and with no money to travel, so the first time I actually went to see him was in 1998 in Pesaro. I can’t remember exactly the feeling when I saw him for the first time, but I was surelly very excited and couldn’t believe that the man that I followed for many years was right in front of me.

Until now I’ve seen 9 concerts, and hopefully very soon I will see his 10th.

I know maybe 9 concerts are not much for a huge fan, but the main problem for me is that he often plays in the North of Italy, while I live in the South, so going to see him in the North involves big money (flights, hotels…) and also his tickets were always very expensive!

At the concerts I had several autographs from him, and also I shortly met him in Venice, but that’s a long story and somehow I’d like to keep it for myself. Never had any physical contact with any musician of his band, but as you know, I interviewed some musician of his past bands through Internet.

And how should be your dream concert? And which one of Elton's live shows you thought you should have been at, if you could, even back in time?

My dreamed concert would be Elton (with or without his band) playing only songs that he never played live so far! Mainly B-sides but also some unknown or long-forgotten album track! NO HITS at all!
If I could go back in time, I’d probably go to any concert from 1973; apart from that, Troubadour 1970, Dodger 1975 and even Central Park 1980.

Fine! Which are your favourite albums, or the Elton´s must to have songs that should be in an eltonite's ipod?

My favourite three albums are GYBR, Captain Fantastic and Made in England, but I like every Elton’s album, apart from Victim of love (which anyway I listen to every now and then); I also like Ice on fire and Leather Jackets; of course I can’t consider them among his best, but I like them.

As far as an i-Pod compilation, I have done in the past compilations for friends for trying to “convert” them to the EJ world, and usually I do a “personalized” compilation depending on which kind of music my friend likes.But myself, I prefer not to “mix” Elton songs in an i-Pod, I just prefer to listen to the whole albums with all the songs in their original running order (without “skipping” anything)!

If I should listen to “mixed” Elton songs, I would choose only demos and unreleased songs.

How was the success of Elton John in your country? Which references had italians about Elton, specially in the 70s and 80s? And the most succesful albums? Could you still hear Elton´s music now on radio stations?

Well, Elton’s success in Italy is very strange. I can’t really say much about the 70s/80s because I was a child not following music, but I think Elton was never much a mainstream artist here, rather a “cult” artist.

I can tell you that “A word in Spanish” was a big hit here (as I said before I watched the performance of this song in an italian TV show) and also “Town of plenty”, since its videoclip was used to end everyday a very popular show for children; consequently, Reg Strikes Back had a big success here, probably more than in England! Another album that had a huge success here was The One, along with the title-track.

Also, in 1995 Believe topped the italian single chart, but I never understood why….and The Big Picture was a huge success here as it was in every other country. But after that, I think that the following albums didn’t have a big success in Italy, just one or two weeks appearance in the TOP10 and then disappearing.

Anyway, everytime Elton plays in Italy, it’s almost a sold-out….but when you search for Italian fans in the streets or in the Net, you rarely find any of them!

Yes, we can hear Elton’s songs in Italian radio stations, but mainly the 70s/80s hits. When “The heart of every girl” was released, though, a radio station that you can define “AOR” passed this song very often, and so they did with "Electricity"! Once in the car late at night I was VERY surprised to hear "Mellow" on this station… but it’s a case of a clever radio station (Radio Capital), the other common stations only pass the usual hit every now and then.

Which is your Elton's item that you really appreciate, for being hard to get or for the happiness you've got to have it?

Probably the first autograph that he did on an LP of mine was the item that gave me most happiness.

Talking of rarities, the most hard to get for me were three Cdsingles: Duets for one (Spanish promo), Stan (with Eminem) and Flames of paradise (French promo).

And finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList?

1.Funeral/Love lies bleeding
2.Believe
3.Someone saved my life tonight
4.Goodbye yellow brick road
5.The one

Thank you very much. Would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to your other eltonites?

To Italian fans: please visit our forum! ;)

To the hard-core fans/collectors from all over the world: why not gather ourselves in a forum or somewhere else to discuss Elton’s music in deep? Nothing against the new fans (I was one of them many years ago) but I got a little tired of forums where people asks where this certain B-side can be found or if someone can pass them for free as MP3! I’d like to talk and discuss with real experts and with longtime fans to compare our collections or to discuss Elton’s life and music to an higher level than usual; and of course to trade unofficial material! ;)

Thank you very much, Andrea, really a worth experience for me to do this interview. An honour you share your time with AllSongsList. Take care and good luck.

Elton In Italian Music Charts

2009-05-23T12:07:00.001-07:00

Top 1

Crocodile Rock / Elderberry wine
Something about the way you look tonight / Candle in the wind 1997
Don't let the sun go down on me / I Believe
Believe / The one (Live)

Top 2

The One / Suit of wolves

Top 3

Don't Go Breaking My Heart / Snow queen

Top 4

Daniel / Have mercy on the criminal
Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Sweet thing

Top 5

Healing hands / Dancing in the end zone
That's what friends are for / Two ships passing in the night

Top 6

Rocket man / Tiny dancer
Through the storm / Come to me

Top 9

Sorry seems to be the hardest word / Shoulder holster

Top 10

Blue eyes / Hey papa legba
Runaway Train / Understanding women

Happy Birthday, Bernie!!!!!!!!! AllSongsList Homage To The Most Greatest LyricWriter Of The World

2009-05-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Bernie Taupin was born May 22, 1950, at Flatters, a farm house, between the village of Anwick and the town of Sleaford in the southern part of Lincolnshire, England. Taupin left school at age 16 and held various jobs as a young man. He worked as a farm laborer, in a factory, and as an apprentice printer. Taupin admitted to Billboard that he was "insubordinate" and got himself fired from the printing job, partially because it seemed like an eternity before he would be a full-fledged printer. As a young man, Taupin enjoyed writing and was encouraged in this effort by his mother. In 1967, after working at various jobs unsuccessfully, he went to London to respond to an ad in the New Musical Express. Placed by the new independent label Liberty Records, it sought artists and composers.

Taupin began working with Elton John at age 17. His first lyric written in this joint effort was called "Scarecrow," a demo that was never recorded. John had been making demos at Dick James's studio and used some of Taupin's lyrics before they met in person. Finally, they were introduced at the studio; afterwards, they went to the nearby Lancaster Grill on Tottenham Court Road, where they agreed to do some songs together.

By the time they worked together on the Tumbleweed album, which was released in 1970, Taupin and John had developed a style of collaboration in which Taupin worked alone, giving the lyrics to John who then developed the melodies. Taupin's writing habits have since changed; where once he simply sat down and wrote unaccompanied, he now finds using a guitar helpful in the creative process. He plays chords on the guitar as he writes the lyrics.

In 1980, Taupin recorded his first album as a singer, "He Who Rides the Tiger". Although he demonstrated a more-than-adequate vocal ability, the album failed to make a dent in the charts. Taupin later suggested in interviews that he didn't have the creative control he would have liked over the album.

In 1987, he recorded another album entitled "Tribe". The songs were co-written with Martin Page. "Citizen Jane" and "Friend of the Flag" were released as singles. Videos of both singles featured Rene Russo the sister of Toni his wife at that time.

Bernie married Maxine Feibelman in 1971. The two divorced in 1976 and Taupin remarried in 1979 to mentioned Toni Lynn Russo. He and Russo divorced in 1991. Taupin then married Stephanie Haymes on 21 August 1993 and has two stepdaughters with her. They divorced in 1998. Bernie is now married to Heather Lynn Hodgins Kidd, whom he wed 27 March 2004 and has fathered two daughters, Charley Indiana and Georgey Devon.

Taupin had a fascination with the American West as a child. He was interested in the history and, particularly, the people who lived during the time of the gunslingers. He read books about Billy The Kid and Wyatt Earp. This interest eventually led him to move to the United States, where he has lived for over 20 years. He settled in California, became a United States citizen, and now raises cutting horses on a ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California. With his new lifestyle, Taupin has become the image of the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

"Bernie Taupin to me is the greatest lyric writer that ever lived on the face of the planet." W. Axl Rose, singer.

"Without Bernie, basically, there wouldn’t have been an Elton John. I mean, without that stroke of good fortune and kismet as it were, Elton John probably wouldn’t have happened. I’m just a purveyor of Bernie’s feelings, Bernie’s thoughts" Elton John, Captain Fantastic

Read more: http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608000136/Bernie-Taupin.html#ixzz0GGb0sVMu&B

Peachtree Road: Elton's Quiet Place

2009-05-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

One of America's best known streets, Peachtree winds north from downtown Atlanta through the heart of Buckhead, closely following the Chattahoochee ridge route of the Indian-era Peachtree Trail. Downtown, it's Peachtree Street, but after it merges with West Peachtree and heads north, it becomes Peachtree Road.

Some of Atlanta's grandest churches, such as the Cathedral of St. Philip, are on Peachtree, as well as some of the region's glitziest shopping centers: Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza. Writers have always found Peachtree irresistible, and it's almost a character in Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind" and Anne Rivers Siddons' "Peachtree Road." One of the city's most recognizable skyscrapers is the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, with a cylindrical design and all-glass exterior. Atlanta's Hard Rock Cafe is across the street, at Peachtree and Andrew Young International Boulevard.

About the origin of Peachtree Road name, it all started in the 18th century, according to Donald Rooney, a curator at the Atlanta History Center, when an Indian trail emerged along the route. It started as a raised land ridge that was convenient to natives seeking a high observation point during floods. "It can be debated if Peachtree was actually named for a peach tree" Rooney said. "Peach trees were not indigenous to the area." Historians speculate that a large peach tree might have grown at the site of a military fort once anchoring the route. Others theorize that Indians used a pine tree there for resin, also known as sap or pitch, and called it a "pitch tree."

Scotty Greene, president of the Buckhead Community Improvement District, said to atlantapaperintown.com that Peachtree is "exploding." "The evolution of this is what’s interesting," he said. "In 1997 there was one tower...then you had the classic Wakefield [Peachtree and West Paces Ferry] and Elton John’s building [Park Place] and the one across from The Peach [The Phoenix] and now that stretch all the way to Peachtree Battle will have more modern-day projects – the new urban ecology."

Elton has 1 1/2 floors in the Park Place building. His entire photography collection is placed there. He fell in love with the city when he went to do some recording many years ago. He has said Atlanta is the only city in the world where he can just live a normal life because the locals pretty much leave him alone and are not overly impressed by his celebrity.

Paul Diaz owns Tree Sound Studios in Norcross, located just 20 minutes from Buckhead. Around Diaz on the wall are albums by artists who have worked with Tree Sound Studios, including Usher, Backstreet Boys, Trey Lorenz or Elton John. Elton John's "Peachtree Road" album was recorded there.

Marlena Jeter's Beatiful Songs!!!! A must have!!!

2009-05-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Marlena Jeter aka LENA J’S debut album entitled “LOVE STORIES” is a diverse collection of songs that will appeal to R&B purists and the Hip-Hop Community as well. Well known for his collaboration with Elton, among other artists like Lionel Richie, this very talented R&B singer is currently featured on the Dr. Martin Luther King tribute album "The Message In Music". Her song on the album, "Live The Dream", is currently the most downloaded song off the album on iTunes. The track was produced by Kirv, who is one of Dr. Dre's co-producers.

"Love Stories" is set to drop in June 2009 through her label Lady J Enterprises. Besides Kirv, Lena is also working with Battlecat and Beatmasta Wes (UGK, India Arie). "Think I Might", "What Would I Do?", "Love Me Up" and, specially, "The Promise"... I really love the richness and smoothness of her voice. Very recommendable!!!

Available on sites like iTunes, Rhapsody.com, EMusic.com and Amazon.com. A must have for eltonites and music fans in general who appreciates the beatiful melodies!!!

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/lenajmusic
http://eltonjohnallsongslist.blogspot.com/2009/02/eltonites-please-get-up-stand-up-and_13.html

Missy "Three Gold" Gymns done it!!!!

2009-05-11T11:57:00.001-07:00

Allsongslist is proud to have one of the greatest gymnastics of the US. She did it again: three medal golds in a row!!! She's an eltonite, she gave us an interview days ago, and we're so happy for her because she is a champion.

Here's an extract of his thoughts about this wonderful new:

"It is all wonderful. We went there on Friday night and chilled out. I met with both of my sponsors from Reebok and NIKE and share with them all about my routines and using Eltons music. Then the next day, it was time to finally put Eltons two new routines to the test. First was the Balance Beam. I was a bit nervous, but the judges were great and then I was ready to go. I scored very high on that apparatus using Eltons Tiny Dancer. By this time, I was calm. A while later, I was watching the scores of the other gymnasts. They were all great. I thought to myself, " Oh Wow!, they are awsome. An hour later, it was my turn to do the Floor routine. That is a new routine as well. It is to Eltons Saturday Nights Alright for Fightin. As soon as I heard that song come on, I pulled it together and hammered out that routine. As soon as I was finished with that routine, I new I had the toughest routine coming up. A bit later, I received my score for the floor routine and it was Awsome as well. A judge approached me and said " Missy, take it all" Next and finally, was the routine that I was a bit nervous about. It was my Uneven Bar routine to Eltons "Burn Down the Mission" I not only had my work cut out for me on the apparatus, it was the last routine of the night so all eyes were on this routine. I knew as soon as that song started, I focused and pulled everything I had and went for it. As I went through the routine, I was in total focus and I thought to myself, come on Missy, nail it. The audience as well as judges were supporting me and then I came to my final element which was my dismount. I knew I had to go for it and pulled the double layout dismount and nailed that and I had a standing ovation from the judges as well as the audience. I thought "perfect, I nailed everything. As soon as I left the mat, they had my score and I new I had my third Gold Medal of the night.

After the meet, both my sponsors came up to me and congradulated me and I will now be headed off to Reebok and NIKE to visit. That's when there will be more discussion on everything".

Without question... She's the best!!!

Ladies & gentlemen, please welcome one of the most greatest, beatiful and talented woman... Ana!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-10T11:09:00.003-07:00

Elton is well known every where, every country, because he is a worldwide artist... But, being an eltonite in Colombia have merit. Those countries like Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, even Spain, the predominance is latin music. So, I would like to interview someone who really adores Elton... I have to bring one of the greatest fans Elton has in Southamerica... Ladies and gentlemen, a big applause for the person next to me... the beatiful, the fantastic, the incredible... Ana!!!!!!!

So thank you for the acceptation, really a pleasure to have you... Could you tell us, please more, who are you

First of all thanks to you for giving me the chance to talk about Elton John's music, it is a topic I really enjoy to talk about. My name is Ana Milena Yance, I am 18 yeard old, I am a student and I live in a city called Barranquilla in Colombia, South America.

Great! When did you became an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton's music and what moves you to buy his music?

Well...it all started one day at school. My english teacher used to bring songs for our listening activity and we were supossed to listen to the song and fill the blank spaces in the lyrics she gave us. So this day she brought Sacrifice and once she played it I just fell in love with the song. I had heard it many times before,but it was that time when I really payed attention to its beautiful melody and lyrics and I just loved it. I just thought the song was so pure and perfect and since then I got more interested in Elton John's music and became a fan.

Ok!!! What was it like seeing Elton for the first time and how many concerts have you been? And also, could you tell us if you ever have been in touch with him, get a signed autograph or even, speak with him or with other member of his band?

This question makes me sad, because I have never really gone to an Elton concert. I had the chance to go 3 months ago. I had been waiting for that all my life, because Colombia is not a place where Elton gives concerts as often as in other countries. It was the first time he came here after so many years and I was so excited about finally having the chance to go, but for many reasons I could not make it and I got really upset, but I keep hoping that someday I will. And well...the closest contact I have had with him is an autographed picture I got from him 3 years ago. I sent him a letter and he just sent me that picture back and I thought it was awsome!! I can not explain how happy I was when I got it and I consider it one of the most valuable treasures I have.

And how should be your dreamed concert? And which one of Elton's live shows you thought you should be there, if you could, even back in time?

My dream concert would be a concert where I am in the front row and Elton invites me to the stage to sing with him haha, and after the show is over he lets me go backstage to have some nice talk.I know it sounds crazy but that's how I picture the concert of my dreams. And if I could go back in time to assist to any EJ live show I would definetly go to the one I missed this year in my country. I think I will always wish I had been there.

Which is your Elton's item that you really appreciate, for being hard to get or for the happiness you've got to have it?

The autographed picture he sent me, as I said it is a very important treasure for me, because the day I got it was one of the happiest days of my life.

True. What is like being an eltonite in your country? Which are the colombians preferences in music and which is Elton's place there?

I haven't really met so many eltonites here. I have met people who like his music, but most of them aren't as crazy as me hahaha. Besides they just play a very few of his songs here. In fact I have only heard Sacrifice being played here on the radio, that's why it is the song people know the most. To be honest everybody here knows who is Elton John, but most of them don't know much about his music. I think he might have more fans in other cities though.

Any colombian compilation or recording on Elton to remark?

I just know about an LP that was released here in Colombia, it was called The New Great Talent – Elton John, but there are probably a few more.

Oh, once you said "I am really really good at memorizing lyrics. There are LOTS of songs that I can sing exactly as they are written..." What do you think about Bernie's lyrics?

Well, yeah I am very good at memorizing lyrics and things in general and I love singing Elton John songs out loud when I am alone at home haha. I think Bernie's lyrics are very deep and hard to understand sometimes, you really need to analyse them because most of the time the real meaning or what they are trying to say is not what you think they say when you first read them. I must admit that many times I just sing the songs without knowing what they really mean.

Also you said: "OF COURSE I find Elton attractive. He's really really handsome"... really is he?

Yes, of course he is. But you also need to take into account that you asked me that a long time ago. When I was arround 13 or 14 years old I wanted to marry him haha I had one of those crushes people have on singers, actors and famous people in general. Now I am more grown up and I see him more like a great artist and someone I admire very much, but I still think he is an attractive man.

Perfect!!! And finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList?

Without a doubt Sacrifice is in the first place , because that song made me an Elton fan and it has been my all time favorite, followed by Daniel, Rocket Man, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Crocodile Rock. I always tend to change the last 3 places, but the first 2 have always stayed the same.

Thank you very much. Would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to your other eltonites?

Well, to all the Eltonites out there I would like to say congratulations, I think we are all loyal fans. We are doing a great job, we have a lot of websites and a lot of Elton John groups, blogs and spaces to exchange opinions, information, pictures and all kind of stuff, it's like an EJ universe haha, I love it!!. And I would also like to tell Elton, if he ever reads this, to please come down here and give more concerts, he doesn't come that often to this country and it would be really great if he did.

Thank you very much, Ann, really a worth experience for me to do this interview. An honour you share your time with AllSongsList. Take care and good luck.

Eltonites about David Paton's Week...

2009-05-02T05:28:00.000-07:00

"Back in 1995 Bob Birch (EJ's bassist) was hit by a vehicle in Montreal on the MADE IN ENGLAND tour. Bob was badly hurt and David Paton received a call from the Elton John HQ and was asked to fill in IMMEDIATELY on the tour! David graciously agreed and helped save the rest of the tour. In fact, David was the bassist at the next city (Detroit - Palace of Auburn Hills) and was excellent...I was fortunate enough to be there for it. I was worried that he wouldn't be able to play that huge 2 3/4 hour setlist but he was simply great.

That 1995 performance wasn't the only time that I was fortunate enough to see David Paton. I also went to see EJ and the Band in an all-time record rainfall in August of 1986 at the Toronto CNE. Whoa! Lightning, thunder, and buckets of cold rain! But a really hot show!

The band's version of "One Horse Town" remains, to this moment, one of my most enjoyable concert memories. After the eerie intro to the song, they just blew us away. "Can I Get A Witness" as an encore was pure heaven - David Paton always seemed to enjoy playing live and the band had a great sound on that tour. Songs like "Sad Songs" and "This Town" (check the great live version of this from 1985 on Youtube) really excelled live with this line-up."

Doug

Please, Eltonites, get up, stand up to receive one of the greatest musicians of the world... the fabulous... David Paton!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I bought my first record. It was by Alan Parson project. Songs like "Eye In The Sky", "Ammonia Avenue" and "Let's Talk About Me", were some of the most played in my jukebox. One of the members of Alan Parsons Band was a guy called David Paton. When I became an Eltonite, I found that name again in Elton's band as a bassist. Being a member of Elton's band, it was my way to learn more about him and I discovered Pilot, really a great group from the 70s, and it was great to discover that he sings really well. I always wondered why he didn't sing backing vocals with Elton. All we remember the Australian Tour de Force with Elton and his solo bassist lines on "Rocket Man"... Now, we have the opportunity to learn more about him... his thoughts, his memories, his projects... the doors of AllSongsLIst are all wide open to receive one of the greatest bassist of world music and a really talented guy... Ladies and gentlemen... the fantastic... David Paton!!!!

Welcome David, nice to have you here, it is really an honour, and thank you for being my guest in the Week Of Scotland... First, I would like to ask you at what age you decide you wanted to be a musician, David? And what were your musical influences?

I was 11 years old and travelled to San Sebastian with my parents for a vacation. One big impression left on me and a kind of awakening was seeing a Spanish boy about my age playing a guitar. He was sitting on a window sill and I sat on the pavement watching and listening to this beautiful sound. I pestered my parents to buy me a guitar until they relented. It was placed in a cardboard box for the journey back to Edinburgh and amazingly emerged on the airport conveyor belt without a scratch. I sat for months learning how to play from the guitar tutors, and any kind of tablature I could get my hands on ‘The big Rock candy Mountain’ ‘ It’s a long long road a winding’ ‘On top of old Smokey’ just a few of the titles I practised back then.

I remember when I was very young my parents going out for the evening and I was looked after by a neighbour. She played me her Elvis records. I wanted to hear the albums over and over again. Then the Beatles came along and they really had a huge influence on me.

You were starting out in a number of bands including Boots and Christian, but the band that launched your career was Pilot, a truly fantastic pop group, where you were the vocalist. Pilot first hit was the single "Magic" (1974) and had the biggest British hit with “January”, that reached #1 in 1975, without forgetting the fantastic 'Just A Smile'. Both songs written by you, precisely. After releasing four albums, Pilot broke up in 1977... What do you recall from that period? In 2002, with Ian Bairnson, you were re-visiting an old Pilot album "Two’s A Crowd", if I am not wrong...

Billy Lyall (keyboards player with Pilot) and I did spend a lot of time listening to and playing music together. Elton John was a big favourite and we loved his album “Madman across the water”. Pilot signed to EMI and we recorded in Abbey Road, studio 2 with Alan Parsons producing. I was so excited, the Beatles meant everything to me and here I was in their workshop and about to record my own music, using the same microphones, pianos, seats, floor, banister, toilets, canteen, we even had the use of the Mellotron they used on ‘Strawberry Fields’.

I achieved my lifetime ambition so in that respect it was a dream come true. The biggest pity is that it was the best time of my life but it was also the worst. We had many problems with management and they made it impossible for us to continue. The only escape from the management was to finish with Pilot and move on to session work. The reason for re-recording “Two’s a crowd” is that it was deleted and many Pilot fans were asking where they could get it, so we recorded it again together with a few bonus tracks.

In 1975, you joined Alan Parsons in the making of the first of many Project albums up to the 1986 "Stereotomy" album, playing bass most of the albums and doing vocals in some tracks as “Let’s Talk About Me” for example, a favourite of mine. On the “Eve” album, along with other ex-Pilot players, Lesley Duncan, well-known for being the writter of “Love Song” from “Tumbleweed Connection”, featured as vocalist. How it was to work with a producer like Parsons? Why do you think he did a selection of guest vocalists in his albums, from Woolfson, you or David Townshend to Gary Brooker? And why he didn’t go on tour with a band playing live, in your opinion?

Alan is a quiet man, no, reserved, and only spoke when necessary. You could sit for hours with him on a mix and after a while you’d get “any thoughts?” no Alan it sounds great, and it did, very seldom, if ever, did we have any negative comments about the mixes. Alan generally let me play what I wanted to play and always seemed happy with the ideas the musicians came up with. He was very easy to work with and excellent at his job. Having a variety of singers was a good move. A lot of the names you mentioned had a good fan following so they would add to the AP album sales.

The recordings got off to a great start and I was very impressed with Eric Woolfsons song writing and piano playing. He had a happy way of putting over his music to us, sitting at the piano playing one note and saying “right guys, what can you do with that?” We did spend a lot of time reshaping the songs and arrangements. We had a great working relationship and most of the times the music went well. I remember recording the thunderclap for “Tales of mystery”. Eric and I were outside the back door of studio 2 with an umbrella and an android head on a stand with a mike built into each of its ears. We were in the middle of one of the best thunder storms London had seen or heard in a long time. Alan was up in the control room with the tape running in record and waiting for the ideal thunderclap. It came and was so spectacular that Eric and I looked at each other and burst into uncontrollable laughter, like a couple of school kids. Needless to say we ruined the recording. Alan was none to chuffed and stormed down the stairs very angry, a rare sight. We did capture another clap just a few minutes later and all was forgiven, Eric and I always had a smile on our faces whenever we listened to the playback.

I tried my hardest to convince everyone that it would be a great idea to take the Project on the road, my voice fell on deaf ears, Alan and Eric didn’t have much enthusiasm for live work at that time and the band wouldn’t make a move as they thought Alan and Eric would object. I knew it was possible and was very frustrated with all of them. It wasn’t until record sales tailed off that Alan approached me to do a one off gig in Antwerp in 1990 with the original line up. It could have happened 15 years earlier when the Project was going strong.

You also played guitar on the McCartney classic 'Mull of Kintyre', a very Scottish kind of track...

No, I sang on “Mull of Kintyre. I’d met Paul a couple of times and he invited me to sing on the track.

You had the challenge of working with more variety of main stream artists through the 80's and 90's, from Camel to The Pretenders, from Kate Bush to Chris DeBurgh, Jimmy Page or Chris Rea, to name a few. What about all those experiences?

It’s the variety that I enjoyed and the challenge of working in different styles of music. I never really wanted to commit full time to one particular band. Working with such talented people is a joy. They are at the top of their profession because they are really good at what they do and for me to be invited to play for them is an honour. There is nothing better than working with people you have great respect for and knowing they like my playing.

Could you tell us please, how you got involved with Elton and how you ended up recording and touring with him? Also, how do you value that experience from a personal point of view?

I was asked to do the session by Rocket records. I think Gus Dudgeon might have had something to do with it as I’d worked with him before. I was in the studio setting up my bass when Elton appeared. He said hello and sat down at the piano. I was tuning my fretless bass at the time and Elton started to play a sequence of chords. I played along with him for about 20 minutes. He stopped and said “I think you’ve got it, the chords he’d been playing were for “Nikita” and we were going to record that song first. Elton is a wonderful person and he knew I was a bit tense and he went out of his way to make sure I felt relaxed and comfortable. When he had the playback for “Ice on fire” he invited my wife and I along. When “Nikita” was played he jumped up and said to everyone ”a big round of applause please for an excellent bass player”. I felt on top of the world as the room was full of notable musicians. My time with Elton was like a fantasy world. Every whim was taken care of and the concerts and music were wonderful. I was asked to continue with the band after the world tour in 1986/87. It couldn’t be done for one reason or another. I think Elton was angry with me for not being able to rejoin the band so I was delighted to play when he asked me back in 1996. He did make it plain to me that Bob Birch was his bass player now and I was only there to fill in until Bob was better, I was happy with that. I signed Bob’s get well card and genuinely wished him a speedy recovery.

Have you been an Elton fan before? Remember the first time you heard Elton’s music and what moves you to buy his music, in that case?

I was always an Elton fan. As I said earlier, Billy and I listened to “Madman across the water” many times together. It was the skill of his songwriting that attracted me. I was learning how to write my own music and was attracted toward good song writers. Also the production and orchestrations were fantastic for that time.

The “Ice On Fire” sessions were under the influence of so many problems with Geffen Records. Because Chris Thomas wasn’t available, they ended up with Gus Dudgeon and also, Elton decided to change the rhytm section, with a new drummer and a new bass player. But it surprised the diversity of musicians who recorded the album: Charlie Morgan/Paul Westwood, Roger Taylor/John Deacon, Mel Gaynor/Deon Estus or Dave Mattacks/David Paton... Do you know the reason? Was it difficult to replace Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson as the original band members? On “Tell Me What The Papers Say”, “Candy By The Pound” or specially “Nikita”, your bass licks were simply brilliant...

Well I know that Elton was looking to replace his rhythm section and he chose Charlie and myself. I don’t know the reason why he chose me but I suspect it was for many reasons. I’d always liked Dee’s playing and it was a great thrill to play classic bass parts like “Rocket man” with Elton. I find I play better when I’m working with great players. The better the song is the better the performance from me. I was inspired by Elton and wanted to play well for him. The quality of the songs demand a quality bass part and I gave my best.

Duets were rumored to have been recorded during these sessions and it was talked abounded that Elton would release an album of them... Do you have any info in particular? Tina Turner rejected “Act Of War” while George Michael and Elton recorded a Roy Orbison’s cover of “Dream Baby”. Elton’s alliance with Cher, on that time, yillded several songs... Were you involved in those sessions? If so, do you have in mind the name of some of the tracks they were recording? And you know why these projects didn't come out?

I wasn’t involved with any of these sessions. I did an award show in New York in 1996 and Tina joined Elton on stage, that was fun. I met many stars while I was with Elton, Roy Orbison, George Michael, Tina Turner, there are too many to list here but it was always a great thrill to meet these people. Elton made a point of introducing us to Princess Diana. I think he knew how much a thrill it was for us and that gave him pleasure.

Leather Jackets sessions were in the middle of Elton's worst drugs days. Lot of material from those sessions weren't as good as Gus Dudgeon should expected, and Elton's mood was up and down. Also Elton wrote songs not only with Bernie’s lyrics, Gary Osborne was there too... What do you remember about that period? And how it was to work with Elton recording in the studio?

I lived fairly close to Elton and he’d phone me when he’d written a new song and ask me round to demo it with him at his house. He’d be at the piano when I arrived and when we stopped for lunch he’d still be at the piano. When I left to go home in the evening he’d still be at the piano. Such dedication is rarely seen. Elton could muster more enthusiasm then younger guys I know. But that’s what sets him apart from the others. I arrived at Air studios one day and Elton was at the piano in the studio. He’d just written “Heavy Traffic” and motioned me into the studio. I listened and thought it was excellent. He said “I need another verse, will someone get Bernie on the phone”. They got hold of Bernie in LA and I could hear Elton saying to him that he needed another verse. Elton motioned and said “pen, pen” Bernie dictated another verse to him over the phone there and then. When the others arrived we recorded the song, written and recorded in the same day.

If that wasn't enough, Elton began to have serious problems with his voice, at the America's leg of the Tour. How the band received Elton’s announcement of his throat problems and he had to been operate? It should be hard when he collapsed in the middle of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra introduction on december 9, 1986...

He had to cancel a couple of gig’s at MSG in New York. Yes it was worrying from a health point of view.

Renata called me while we were in New York and asked me to come up to their penthouse with my video camera. Elton was dressed as Harpo Marx, complete with wig, trench coat and Klaxon horn. He also had an etcha sketch and he wrote on it “follow me” I followed him along corridors as he knocked on various doors and looked at the surprised faces when they were confronted with Harpo Marx.

Elton’s live performances were reminded for its band, with a new brass section since 1974 Muscle Hornets, new backing vocalists since 1976, and because Ray Cooper was back. Also for Elton’s costumes, one time dressed as Tina Turner, other time with a facsimile of Mozart... Do you remember one show in particular for some of Elton’s wigs? And how it was to play live with a full orchestra? A lot of rehearsals, I suppose... Any experience playing live with Elton you could share with us, David?

I particularly remember the Australian gigs. The Mozart look was very impressive. I’d watch him on the monitor backstage as he performed with the orchestra. He is fantastic and it really was an important part of my musical career being with him, I only have happy memories. We also had some great jam sessions during rehearsals. When we performed “rocket man” in Australia I didn’t realise that Elton was saying “Play a little bass Davie Paton” The song would run for about 20 minutes and he wanted a bass solo. I was improvising, well all of us were, but I never really heard what he was saying so didn’t really launch into a solo. It wasn’t until the tour was over and I heard a monitor mix of one of the gigs, then I heard him “play a little bass Davie Paton”.

“Reg Strickes Back” marked a new start for Elton in a personal point of view. He was separate from Renate, he battled against the tabloids for untruth reports, ... The album was originally recorded at James Newton Howard’s House in L.A. and twenty-two songs were recorded, in addition to older material already selected for the album. How it was the recording of that new album? Was really Bernie writing in the same room as Elton, for first time? And do you know the name of any Elton’s unreleased track that you were working on and didn’t see the light? “The Ballad Of William Howard”, “Welcome To My Haunted Heart”...

Sorry I don’t remember much about extra tracks and Elton and Bernie writing together in the same room.

In 1995, while “Made In England Tour”, Bob Birch crushed his legs and his lower back was broken when a truck spun out of control while he was walking down a Montreal sidewalk. You replaced him and you had to boarded from Scotland to Detroit... Should it be a surprise when they called you for joinin’ the band again, really? Remember what you were doing then and how it was to reunite with the band again?

I had just finished a strenuous tour of Eastern Europe with Fish. It wasn’t a happy tour and the offer to play with Elton was refreshing. Yes I was surprised to be asked to help out but I wasn’t the first bass player they asked, I was the first bass player they asked who was able to do the tour at such short notice. Of course I was delighted. It was a very different tour from the one I did in 1986. Nobody wanted to party! I came off stage after the first gig and I was buzzing. I really expected everyone to say “see you in the bar at the hotel”, it never happened, they locked their room doors and probably went off to sleep. Sleep! That was the last thing on my mind. I went down to the bar and was delighted to see Davey sitting there with his roll-up cigarettes and a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice. I didn’t really feel a part of the band in the same way I did on the world tour in 85/86. Well it was understandable. I just made the best of it. John Jorgenson and I got on well and had a couple of nights out together but all in all it was quite a solitary experience. I shopped a lot on my own. Sorry, I do have a habit of telling it like it is. But don’t be mistaken, it was still a lot of fun for me, I loved touring in such luxury and for that brief moment I was the bass player for Elton John, an honour.

In 1991, you released the first solo album called "Passion's Cry", which was in the style of traditional Scottish music. Why the best tracks were re-recorded onto 1997's "Fragments" album? I listened your “The Search” solo 2003 album, where you played all the instruments on it... A really peace of art...

I had recorded the Scottish songs with my father in mind. He was a singer and would sing in clubs around Scotland. When he died I recorded the songs as a kind of tribute to him, he was very happy that I was a successful musician and I know he would have been delighted to hear me sing these Scottish songs. I was proud of “Passions cry”, the initial pressing sold out and when the record company decided not to re-press the CD I asked them if I could licence it from them. The said “no we have plans for Passions cry”. I felt anger with that response. The songs were recorded with passion and they wouldn’t let me release them. So, I recorded them again as “Fragments”. I’m happy to hear you like “The Search”. I’m not searching any more, I have more in my life than I ever dreamed would be possible.

What about your future projects, David? You’re a singer, songwriter, producer... what it will be next?

I toured Australia and Japan last year as Pilot and had a great time doing it. It helped blow away all the bad memories and I felt good singing all these songs again. I have my own record label and I’m writing and recording for my next CD to be released at the end of the year. I’m gigging and working as much as I want to, I have been married to Mary for 37 years and we are very happy together. There is nothing more to wish for I’m in a very happy place.

I really like your official website... specially the David’s live studio diary. Could you explain us, please, what we fans could find there? That’s on www.davidpatonsongs.com

I write about what is happening to me now. I include mp3’s of the songs I’m writing and who I’m working with. Many CDs are available on the site. My other web site is www.davidpaton.com and here is my past, my history as a musician, discography, etcetera.

Oh, finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList, where I tried to find the best of Elton’s songs ever?

I’m still standing
Blue eyes
Madman across the water
Blessed
Nikita

Would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to the eltonites?

Maybe I already said enough. Thanks. must go.

David

Well, it was fantastic to be in touch with you, David. You were so kind with me, and, before we go, I would like to give you a little surprise. I have here three dear friends of you, that they left me some words in your honour... Please, read it, and if we make you smile, then, I will be very happy... Thanks for your patiente and, specially, for being in the music...

Kenny Herbert, musician: ”Over the last few years David Paton has supported and helped me improve both my writing and musical ability. We have formed a great friendship and through his musical talent and help I now have a catalogue of self penned songs that I really love, as being able to make your own music is the greatest reward. Davie has been a real inspiration to me time and again and working with him is a real joy and something that I always look forward too. For me it is the fulfilment of a life long ambition to play with someone as talented as Davie, long may we continue". Davie is a great friend and someone that I wish I had met many years before we did"

Charlie Morgan, drummer: “David Paton? One of the best bass players out there! What a great singer, too. I really enjoyed the time we had together in Elton's band. We were very close friends. One of the nicest people in the Music Business!"

Eric Woolfson, songwriter / musician: "David Paton is one of the great un-sung heros of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-talented individual - songwriter, singer and bass player. His work with PILOT was an important milestone - not only did they have a number 1 chart record, but more importantly from my point of view, it brought him into contact with Alan Parsons. When The Project began, David was the natural choice as the bass player Alan most wanted to be involved. David played bass on nine of the ten Project albums, sang lead on several tracks and backing vocals on many. I have nothing but the highest regard for David's talents, despite the fact that he comes from Edinburgh and I am from Glasgow!"

Thank you Kenny. Thank you Charlie. Thank you Eric...