Eltonite Day. First Sunday: midnight creeper

Hi midnight creeper. Nice to “see” you. Well, as you might know, you’re the first to start the Eltonite Day. With that iniciative, every Sunday, I would like to make my little homage to the great Eltonites, that fortunetly, are all over the world, and you are one of those.

So... Could you tell us who are you and where are you from?

Ian Hills I was born 29th March 1963 in Carshalton, Surrey, England, I live in Woecester Park (near Epsom) surrey England and I am a fan of AFC Wimbledon and rock music, and my favourite artist is Elton John.

Right. When you became an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton’s music and what moves you to buy his music?

My love of music goes back to before I could walk, I was a Beatles fanatic at a very early age and had all their 45's (well they were my Dads but he gave them to me) and I used to play them on my chad valley record player.
The first song to really move me though and turn me onto rock 'n' roll was from the Beatles compilation album "Oldies But Goldies" that song was a cover of the Larry Williams track Bad Boy, previously only available in America until it was put onto this compilation album.
In the 1970's I used to follow the pop charts and tape the top 40 every sunday and buy my favourite record each week. The first record I bought was Jeepster by T.Rex.
So the first Elton John song that I would have heard would have been Your Song, but I don't have any recollection of actually liking the song at the time, I was more into the uptempo songs and T.Rex were my favourites at the time (and I still love them now).
The first Elton John record I bought was Crocodile Rock, but I wasn't a fan just yet.
In 1972 I started to hear albums that my older brother was buying, by rock acts such as Uriah Heep and Black sabbath. But there were albums that really changed my life as far as being a music fan, these were Led Zeppelin II and Honky Chateau by Elton John, both albums I fell in love with instantly. In 1973 I heard Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album and I was a fan, this album was so stunning.

I see... And which is your favourite Album, or the album you may have played the most?

Captain fantastic and The Brown Dirt cowboy is my personal favourite, but I can understand why Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is regarded as his best album

Great. Which was your first Elton concert and how many concerts have you been?

My first Elton John concert was at the Rainbow Theatre in London in May 1977, this was a solo concert with Ray Cooper, my second was the same year at the empire Pool Wembley with China. I have seen about 30 Elton John concerts the last one was at Hove Cricket ground in 2007, the next one will be at Weymouth in Surrey next year.

Wow!! 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?

My records, but I wish my collection was more complete, the rarist Elton John record that I have is Lady Samantha on the Phillips label.

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

1.Curtains
2.Between Seventeen & Twenty
3.Blues for Baby My & Me
4.Indian Sunset
5.Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

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

I would just like to say what a great pleasure it has given me over the years listening to the music of elton John and the concerts I have attended, and long may this continue. I hope all Eltonites out there get the same pleasure as I do listenning to his music, and I am sure they do.

Thank you Ian, really a pleasure to chat with you. Take care.

The Story Behind "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That"

Elton had his annus horribilis in 1987 with what Q magazine described as the "the worst year a pop star has ever been through". Elton's crisis began with a throat operation in Australia to remove nodules, then The Sun miserable campaign against Elton accusing Elton to pay rent boys for sex, and finally lying about Elton's dogs with their oices box being removed. That song, in particular, has all the hallmarks of a man with a brave face putting it on.

Bernie's lyrics relate a bland tale of serial betrayal except for one verse that alludes to things getting out of hand.

A remixed and extended version of the song, by Shep Pettibone, became a danceball hit.

I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

"I've always said that one's enough to love
Now I hear you're bragging one is not enough
Something tells me you're not satisfied
You got plans to make me one of four or five

I guess this kind of thing's just in your blood
But you won't catch me carving up my love
I ain't no puzzle piece that needs to fit
If it takes more than me let's call it quits

`Cause I don't wanna go on with you like that
Don't wanna be a feather in your cap
I just wanna tell you honey I ain't mad
But I don't wanna go on with you like that

It gets so hard sometimes to understand
This vicious circle's getting out of hand
Don't need an extra eye to see
That the fire spreads faster in a breeze

And I don't wanna go on with you like that
Don't wanna be a feather in your cap
I just wanna tell you honey I ain't mad
But I don't wanna go on with you like that
No I don't wanna go on with you like that
One more set of boots on your welcome mat
You'll just have to quit them if you want me back
`Cause I don't wanna go on with you like that

Oh if you wanna spread it around sister that's just fine
But I don't want no second hand feeding me lines
If you wanna hold someone in the middle of the night
Call out the guards, turn out the light"

The Story Behind "A Word In Spanish"

"A Word In Spanish" still retains the intelligence of Elton & Bernie's older romantic songs. The song was recorded early in 1988 at James Newton-Howard's house in L.A. and played a spanish-flavored acoustic guitar by Davey Johnstone.

The song referred to an imagined movie scene where Bernie became a would-be lover, but he doesn't know how to tell the affection he feels for his love, so he reminded a film he once saw. Although he didn't understand the word, he mimic the performance for his real life hoping it will work for him too.

A Word In Spanish's lyrics
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

"I don't know why
I just know I do
I just can't explain
In this language that I use
Something leaves me speechless
Each time that you approach
Each time you glide right through me
As if I was a ghost

If I only could tell you
If you only would listen
I've got a line or two to use on you
I've got a romance we could christen

And there's a word in Spanish I don't understand
But I heard it in a film one time spoken by the leading man
He said it with devotion, he sounded so sincere
And the words he spoke in Spanish brought the female lead to tears
A word in Spanish, a word in Spanish

If you can't comprehend
Read it in my eyes
If you don't understand it's love
In a thin disguise
And what it takes to move you
Each time that you resist
Is more than just a pretty face
To prove that I exist

When manners make no difference
And my gifts all lay undone
I trade my accent in on chance
And fall back on a foreign tongue"

The Story Behind "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (part two)"

In contrast of the mood of the original, this is an upbeat dance number, with a hot solo sax by jazz artist Freddie Hubbard. In this occasion, Bernie decided to give a second chance to New York City.

The 1972 original song is a haunting track as evocative of Spanish Harlem; when Bernie submitted the sequel, Elton knew he had to make it vigorously uptempo, in stark contrast to the original tune.

The new 1988 lyric is a walk to the Big City: Broadway, Swing Street, Lincoln Tunnel, Fifth Avenue. And this new Mona Lisas is older and presumably wiser, even Bernie had learnt to look over the bag people as he walked and observed the City. "New York seemed like the bowels of the hell" were Bernie's feeling the first time he came to the City. "Now, years later, I've experienced New York and there's good sides and bad sides" reminded Bernie.

Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters(Part Two)'s Lyrics
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

"I used to think that New York City
Fell from grace with God
And innocence abroad
Waged a war for the underdog
When the snow falls
And Central Park looks like a Christmas card
I just looked beyond the bagman
And the madness that makes this city hard

I heard a basketball
Somewhere out beyond a chain link fence
Inner city prisoners
Argue for the right of self-defense
But there's a fast break
And every work of art wakes something in the soul
Just focus on the brush strokes
And the bouquets that the dancers hold

Spanish Harlem still sounds good to me
Yeah Mona Lisa's getting older
Standing in the shadow of Miss Liberty
While I walk along the west side
Down through Little Italy
Searching for the city that
That took away the kid in me"

Next To Be Projects: In Development

Gnomeo And Juliet
Elton John appeared in support of "Gnomeo" at the Walt Disney Studios Showcase September 2005 when the studio offered members of the press a sneak peek of its slate through 2008. Elton marked the occasion by playing "Crocodile Rock" on a trademark red piano. But the crews at Walt Disney Feature Animation who were in production on the project had reassigned to other projects. Elton then had taken his project to Miramax Films with an exclusive deal with Elton's Rocket Pictures: "I am very excited about working with Miramax," John said. "'Gnomeo' is an edgy concept, and Miramax is the perfect home to push the envelope in animation." The animated twist on Shakespeare's tragic romance is set in the world of tacky garden gnomes. It will be produced in Britain, with lyricist Tim Rice to collaborate on the songs, and Kate Winslet attached to voice Juliet. U.S. Release Date: TBA, 2008 (Estimated)

Him & Us
This comedy follows the life and entourage of a larger-than-life rock star named "Max Flash" and his entourage of staff/friends. Aging rock star Max Flash is played with style and wit by Anthony Stewart Head. Max is handsome, unbelievably charming, and a bit petulant. He walks around with a little dog in his arms, and grins boyishly at anyone who tries to reign him in. Kim Cattrall plays Freddie Lazarus, his manager, who for 25 years has kept Max's show on the road. Freddie is tired, she's burned out, and she's counting the minutes until his final concert. It opens with Cattrall's character having a panic attack in her doctor's office, and closes with her sitting on a jet with Max and his entourage, trying to figure out how she got there, considering she'd quit in the previous scene. Max, it seems, is a hard guy to say “no” to. The supporting cast is dazzling, with Max's gay valet Sidney (Hugh Sachs) pretty much stealing the show. His flashback to an earlier relationship with a mob hit man includes the show's only man-on-man kiss, a quick smooch in a dark car.

Rocket Man
Elton is penning his life story with long time writing partner Bernie Taupin. The movie will cover Elton's drug and alcohol battles, his marriage to german Renate Blauel, his relationship with partner canadian David Furnish and his friendship with tragic British royal Lady Diana Spencer. The story will be near to "Tommy" opera-rock with Elton's songs not in cronological order but as the argument develops.

Elton John Music In Soundtracks (1997-2007)

Sliding Doors Honky Cat


Dick Crocodile Rock


Almost Famous Tiny Dancer, Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters


Women Talking Dirty Sofa Love



The Country Bears
Friends

Mona Lisa Smile
The Heart Of Every Girl



Elizabethtown My Father's Gun



Garfield:
The Movie
Honky Cat


Running With Scissors Bennie And The Jets


It's A Boy Girl Thing Candle In The Wind

The Story Behind "Pinball Wizard"

Director's Ken Russell approached to Elton, when he wasn't even a star, to appear in the opera-rock "Tommy" movie, first as The Uncle Ernie, but Elton was not going to put pleasing and declined the offer. Russell then offered the role of pinball wizard to Rod Stewart but Rod, following Elton's advice, declined the acceptation. Elton reminded the situation: "Rod approached me and said: "they're going to do a film and I said: oh no! not a film now! Bloody hell, what are they going to do next?"" explained Elton "I said to him: I should knock it on the head if I was you".

About a year later, Pete Townshend was still having trouble finding a suitable pinball wizard for the project and approached again to Elton. "I ended up doing pinball wizard and Rod couldn't believe it: "you bastard..."". Rod was angry to learn that Elton had taken the part: "he was really furious and quite rightly so. But Pete has always been a very good supporter and I should do things back for him".


The track was the last recording for nine years by the band featuring Davey, Dee and Nigel. Elton throw in a little of Who's song "I Can't Explain".

Elton enjoyed the film experience. He had to wear giant Doc Marten boots attached by callipers, which allowed him to move as if on stilts.

Elton John Music In Soundtracks (1991-1996)

Peter's Friends I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

Rocky V
The Measure Of A Man



Ferngully Some Other World

Four Weddings And A Funeral But not for me. Crocodile Rock. Chapel Of Love



Breaking The Waves Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

The Story Behind "Friends"

On October 1969, Elton and Bernie signed with Paramount Pictures to write three songs from the Gilbert Lewis film "Friends" before they weren't famous as then it would be. After hearing the "Elton John" album, Lewis' son John approached the pair about scoring the film. The three songs were "Friends", "Michelle's Song" and "Seasons".

They finished the composition process in Augoust 1970, after re-recording some of the songs and, as a result, some of them had different versions in film and soundtrack. Several instrumentals for the project were written by Paul Buckmaster, not Elton. The soundtrack album were completed with some of the "Tumbleweed Connection" outtakes. "I didn't want only three songs on the album and fill it out with garbage" said Elton.

But the songs were written for the film in a strict of sense, in fact, Bernie addmitted not even reading the whole movie script.

"Friends" became a hit in the U.S.; "Seasons" was used in an episode of the The Wonder Years TV serie and "Can I Put You On" became a concert standard in the 1970-1973 period.

Elton John Music In Soundtracks (1970-1990)

"The Games" From Denver to L.A.



"Friends" Friends; The honey roll; Can I put you on; Theme (first kiss) season; Michelle's song


"Tommy" Pinball wizard


"Oh, Heavenly Dog" Return to paradise; Song for guy





"Summer lovers"
Take me down to the ocean



"Ghostbusters II" Love is a cannibal



"Days of thunder" You gotta love someone

The Story Behind "The Muse"

Stephen Thomas Erlewine (reviewer from All Music Guide) found the score such a delightful little score, though the title track "is a solid, if not particularly memorable, exercise in late '90s mid-tempo adult contemporary craftsmanship, but the majority of the album is devoted to the wonderful, lighthearted, orchestrated score from John. It's never deep, but it's nimble, clever, and engaging, even when taken on its own terms, apart from the film".

In the film argument, Albert Brooks is Steven Phillips, a veteran screenwriter who is told he has lost his edge. A fellow writer with a string of successes under his belt (Jeff Bridges) refers Phillips to Sarah (Sharon Stone), a professional muse. The Elton John music is brief, as they were written to fit short part of scenes or to augment transitions scenes and establish shots.

Asked to be involved in the film by friend Sharon Stone, Elton return to his most orchestral and classic roots. The title track, written by Bernie Taupin, lack of inspiration, ironically enough, the bland vocals are all about artistic creativity.

The Story Behind "The Lion King"

"The Lion King" opened so many doors for me in the '90s" exposed Elton in a recent interview. "Up to that point I was just making albums and touring and promoting them, which was OK, but "The Lion King" obviously enabled me to write for animation". And that's it is. In the list of more selling soundtracks album in the U.S., the album became third:

"The Bodyguard," (1992, 11.8 million)
"Titanic" (1997, 10.0 million)
"The Lion King" (1994, 7.7 million)

In 1991 Walt Disney company recruited lyricist Tim Rice to write lyrics for an animated musical about the life of a lion. "Elton was my first choice" said Tim when they asked about who should do the music. "I actually jumped at the chance. John Reid (the manager) told me "If you don't do this, I'll kill you"".

"Circle Of Life" was the first song written for Elton and then, Hans Zimmer added the african sensivility. In the album, Carmen Twillie, who collaborated with Elton in the 21 At 33 sessions, lead the vocals. The song succesfully set the spiritual tone of the movie: the saga of cub Simba began here.

Elton had to do a song called "The Warthog Rhapsody": "That's the end of my career" joked Elton while composing. The song were replaced in the film by "Hakuna Matata" which means "No Worries" in Swahili.

But the most famous song from the album is the Oscar-winner "Can You Feel The Love Tonight", though he had three songs nominated in the best song category. This romantic song suggested a romance between exiled Simba and his childhood friend Nala. Disney first thought was to drop the song from the movie but Elton insisted the song romance should be restored, because he couldn't imagine a Disney film without a love song in it.

"It's probably been the most pleasurable experience of my career" confessed Elton about the experience.

The Story Behind "The Road To El Dorado"

Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer teamed again in this non traditional soundtrack enterprise, a collection of songs almost wholly written for the film but able to stand on their own: "I said: Let's make an album with not only the five usual songs on a soundtrack album and the rest being score, but include songs we wrote that didn't make the movie" explained Elton in the presentation of the Dreamworks' film "The Road to El Dorado". Zimmer also collaborated with Elton for the first time co-writing music for "The Panic In Me". In the tradition of classic buddy movies, the film is a comedic tale of friendship and adventure,but didn't had the success Dreamworks company expected and the worlwide sales were poor. Where The Lion King, with its vague African underpinning, felt as if it was designed for the film itself, the music on The Road to El Dorado never quite evokes the South America of the film.


The last song written for the film was single "Someday Out Of The Blue". The song's origin go back to Patrick Leonard composing a chord sequence and rough drum track and giving them to Elton, who said "he kept it in a drawer. So late in the day I gave the track to Tim asking him to write a lyric" said the producer in an interview. But finally, Elton couldn't turn this delightful song into a hit, without breaking the record to turn his 2000's the 31st consecutive year with top 40 hits on The Billboard Hot 100.


The brilliant "Friends Never Say Goodbye", featured the Backstreet Boys on uncredited backing vocals, didn't even reach the singles charts, in another dissapointment in sales terms.

Hard To Find Lyrics From Movies Week

But Not For Me
Written by George and Ira Gershwin
Available on the soundtrack Four Weddings and a Funeral

"They're writing songs of love, but not for me
A lucky star's above, but not for me
With love to lead the way, I've found more clouds are grey
Than any Russian play could guarantee

I was a fool to fall and get that way
Heigh ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of her kiss
I guess she's not for me

It all began so well, but what an end
This is the time a feller needs a friend
When every happy plot ends with a marriage knot
And there's no knot for me"

Chapel Of Love
Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
Available on the soundtrack Four Weddings and a Funeral

"Spring is here, the sky is blue
Birds will sing as if they knew
Today's the day, we'll say "I do"
And we'll never be lonely any more

Because we're going to the chapel
And we're gonna to get married
Going to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Gee I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel of love

Bells will ring, the sun will shine
I will be hers, and she'll be mine
We'll love until the end of time
And we'll never be lonely any more"

The Measure Of A Man
Written by Alan Menken
Available on the soundtrack Rocky V

"These battered hand are all you own
This broken heart has turned to stone
Go hang your glory on the wall
There comes a time when castles fall
And all that's left is shifting in the sand

You're out of time, you're out of place
Look at your face
That's the measure of a man

This coat that fits you like a glove
These dirty streets you learned to love
So welcome back my long lost friend
You've been to hell and back again
God alone knows how you crossed that span

Back on the beat, back to the start
Trust in your heart
That's the measure of a man

It's the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand
It's the things you understand
Permanent ties from which you once ran
That's the measure of a man

You've come full circle, now you're home
Without the gold, without the chrome
And this is where you've always been
You had to lose so you could win
And rise above your troubles while you can

Now you can love, now you can lose
Now you can choose
That's the measure of a man"

The Heart Of Every Girl
Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Available on the Mona Lisa Smile Soundtrack

"In the heart of every girl
There's a woman waking up
Like sunlight spreads across the world
A smile for us is just enough
But in the heart of every girl
There's a homespun family dream
A light that's filled with so much joy
From a curly-head beauty to a teenage queen

And honeymoons in summer prove
We'll always love a bride
The gift you give us all
Is the one you hold inside
This lucky life, this crazy mixed up world
Is all because we love what lives
In the heart of every girl

In the heart of every girl
There's always room for valentines
And boys to kneel and tip their hands
With words as sweet as summer wine
And in the heart of every girl
There is a rose for every spring
A peach that's fragrant and divine
She shines just like a wedding ring

Eyes can light up any room
The moment she steps in
Intoxicating everyone
A life alone should be a sin"

From Denver To L.A.
Written by Francis Lai and Hal Sharper
Available on the US soundtrack "The Games"

"If I say goodbye it'll grieve you
Denver means the whole world to you
Girl it breaks me up just to leave you
But I got things that I gotta do

Got to take my guitar
With one break I'm a star
Girl I'll love you forever more
But today I've got to make my way
From Denver to L.A.

Girl I know that you'll make me stay
But today I've got to make my way
From Denver to L.A.

There's a whole new life to be led there
That's the place that I gotta be
Guys are making mountains of bread there
Reckon it could happen to me

Lots of guys make the grade
Just one break and I may
And I'll bring it on home"

Some Other World
Written by Elton John and Bruce Roberts
Available on the soundtrack Ferngully

"You stare through a tunnel of
Solid wall that should be broken down
And you can't see the field of green
Has been turned into a raging battleground
And you'll live with the consequence
Tell me why don't you understand
You'll destroy all the love that's been created
Be a miser with an empty hand
And it's all such a simple thing
Changing everything
Listen to the one who brings all this love to you

Some other world, some other world, that's where you live
Some other world, some other world, that's where you live
Don't you care, stop and think about us and what you feel
I'll be there, don't you cut yourself off from what is real
Don't live in some other world
You don't live in some other world

There's a boat bound for paradise
If you hurry you can ride it back
'Cause once the bait hits the water
It don't take long 'till the sharks attack
Oh but it's all such a simple thing
Change is everything
Let me be the one who brings all this love to you

Some other world, some other world, that's where you live
Some other world, some other world, that's where you live
Don't you care, stop and think about us and what you feel
I'll be there, don't you cut yourself off from what is real
Don't live in some other world, in some other world
Oh you don't live in some other world, in some other world
Got to stop living in some other world

Let me help you with a change of mind
And it's all such a simple thing
Changing everything
Listen to the one who brings all this love to you

This is our world, not some other world
You don't live in some other world
Live in our world, not some other world
You don't live in some other world"

Elton John In Languages

Elton John (Eu,tr)
Елтън Джон (bg)
التون جان (fa)
Элтон Джон (ru)
Eltonas Džonas (lt)
إلتون جون (ar)
אלטון ג'ון (he)
Элтан Джон (be)
エルトン・ジョン (ja)
艾頓莊 (zh)
엘튼 존 (Ko)