AP - Akon who has gone through legal woes and bad publicity himself says he'd be willing to work with pop's latest problem child, Chris Brown.
Sorry, Billy Joel and Elton John fans. You will have to wait until next year to come face to face with the "Face to Face" tour in the New York area
Elton John, Billy Joel play same old songs
Tue Mar 3, 2009 9:51pm EST
By Jeff Vrabel
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Billboard) - Elton John and Billy Joel's latest tour kicked off to a packed house in Jacksonville, Fla., on Monday, operating under the simple business model: maximized reward, exceedingly minimized risk.
The three-plus-hour event was steeped in hits and nostalgia. The youngest song was the title track from Joel's last pop album, 1993's "River of Dreams."
After a timely spin through "Allentown," Joel's 1982 ballad of economic gloom, Joel said: "Speaking of unemployment, we're just happy you're keeping us in business. We're happy to have a job."
Joel's words rang true, but there wasn't much worry about that: They last toured together in 2003, when they grossed $45.8 million from just 24 shows, all sellouts. Top tickets prices for this tour are similar to those of the 2003 dates: around $175.
"Our ticket prices are the same as you'd see anyone else, but there's two of us," John said in a November 2008 appearance on "The View." "In this day and age, we hope to be getting people value for their money."
Many of the dates on the tour are configured in 360 degrees, significantly boosting capacity in those arenas.
As on previous treks, the two men performed together at the top of the show, with their individual bands for hour-long sets, and then reunited for encores that included John's "The Bitch Is Back," a Beatles medley, and Joel's "Piano Man."
The itinerary, which includes two summer performances at Chicago's Wrigley Field, is still under construction, and will be for some time yet. During his set, John said he was looking forward to "a couple of years" of dates. The tour next visits Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday.
(Editing by Dean Goodman at Reuters)
Maybe it's just because this is my favorite Elton John song anyway, but it was one of the only tracks that didn't seem completely bloated and overblown with the 88-piece orchestra booming behind it.
It’s Elton John’s crowning achievement, the very peak of his career. It’s also one of the best double albums ever released, and should no doubt be held at the same level of prestige as other LPs that utilize four sides of vinyl such as Blonde on Blonde from Bob Dylan.
Elton John For Emenim album?
It’s claimed the wig haired star will appear on Relapse when it’s released this year…
Sir Elton John could feature on the new album by rapper Eminem- according to reports.
The Independent newspaper says the pair were spotted together in a Detroit studio late last year and may have recorded together. A source told them: “He stayed half a week… No one realised the significance, though the Detroit Free Press did mention that Elton had been in town.
“He and Em worked together before, when they did that duet at the Grammys, and had always said that they'd record something original together. Em has huge respect for Elton, and the feeling is mutual.”
Elton John is a long time fan of Shady despite accusations of homophobia leveled at the rapper.
The unlikely friends performed Stan at the Grammys way back in 2001.
The witness told the paper: “Elton really gets his music. Anything they produce will be total dope.
“Some of Em's biggest records have been collaborations with mainstream pop stars – Dido on Stan, for example – and they really don't come much bigger, or more mainstream, than the man with the red piano."
50 Cent and Dr Dre are already confirmed to appear on Relapse when it’s released this Spring.
Senator Settles BCS Bet by Singing 'Rocket Man'
By BEN EVANS – 1 day ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Forget all those inaugural concerts. The most pressing musical issue in the nation's capital is whether a stone-face senator from Oklahoma will hit the high notes in "Rocket Man" to pay off a college football bet.
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn is slated to serenade Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida with his very own rendition of Elton John's 1970s classic Wednesday afternoon.
Coburn owes Nelson because the Florida Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 in last week's BCS title game. Nelson chose "Rocket Man" because he is a former astronaut who flew on the space shuttle Columbia in the 1980s.
If Oklahoma had won, Nelson would have had to sing the title song from the musical "Oklahoma!" It also happens to be the official state song.
Coburn spokesman John Hart said his boss won't wear a leisure suit for the performance but would be ready. He acknowledged the vocal range for "Rocket Man" is a "bit more expansive" than for the song Nelson would've had to sing.
Coburn's singing talents may be untested, but he does have a family pedigree. His daughter, Sarah Coburn, is a nationally acclaimed opera singer who has performed alongside the likes of Placido Domingo.
Coburn, a physician, is best known as a budget hawk who has given Senate Democrats headaches for years by using procedural tactics to block new spending measures.
Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said the senator "is looking forward to settling the wager in good spirit and with a sense of humor."
It's not the first time Nelson has won an unusual football bet with a Senate colleague. Two years ago, he perched on one knee over Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and counted as Brown tried to do 55 push-ups. The number equaled the total score of that season's BCS title game in which Florida beat Ohio State 44-14.
Brown only made it to 43, and Nelson finished the rest.
Billy Joel and Elton John to play Conseco - News- msnbc.com
Indianapolis - In a big announcement, two music legends are coming to Conseco Fieldhouse together.
Elton John and Billy Joel are extending their concert tour and coming to Indianapolis in May. According to promoters, they'll open on twin pianos and trade vocals on a series of duets. A headlining set by each artist with his own band will follow. The shows will end with an encore featuring both headliners and their backing bands.
The concert is set for Conseco Fieldhouse on May 19th. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10:00 am.
Sir Elton John 'Requests Helicopter Pad For New Years Eve Gig' - GIGWISE
At the O2 Arena...
* by Jason Gregory
* Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sir Elton John has requested a helicopter pad for his New Years Eve concert at London’s O2 Arena.
The singer is apparently keen to arrive at the venue “in style” from his country home.
“Elton hasn't requested anything outrageous, all he's asked for is a helipad - he simply wasn't up for getting the Tube,” a source told the Mirror newspaper.
Joel, John Tour Tickets Selling Briskly
December 19, 2008 11:44 AM ET
In a positive sign for the 2009 touring season, sales for the upcoming Billy Joel/Elton John co-headlining tour are "through the roof," according to Wilson Howard, president, Live Nation Music Southeast, who calls the tour "a smash."
The configuration for the upcoming tour, which begins March 2 in Jacksonville, Fla., is 360 degrees, significantly boosting capacity in the arenas. Tickets range from $49.50-$175.
In addition to Jacksonville, the tour will play Tampa (March 5), Charlotte (7), Cincinnati (10), Atlanta (14), Tulsa, Okla. (17), Houston (19), San Antonio (21), Phoenix 26, and Anaheim (28, 30).
Live Nation is promoting most of the shows on the tour, and AEG Live will promote in Anaheim, which has almost sold out the second show.
Before the trek, Joel is set for a six-show run at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., spread out between Jan. 2 and Feb. 8. John has international shows on tap through late January, to be followed by a two-week engagement with his Red Piano show at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace.
Elton John and Billy Joel may record together before tour
02:53 PM PT, Dec 16 2008Elton John is looking to whip up a little something special for his upcoming Face 2 Face tour with fellow '70s piano man Billy Joel to make it more than just a greatest-hits outing. Returning to the
concert trail next spring for the first time in six years, John and Joel want to inject some new music into the mix."We're thinking about recording three songs together," John told Pop & Hiss on Tuesday. "Definitely not our own songs, or oldies, but we're interested in getting some people to write new songs for us. I've got Raphael Saadiq and Nile Rodgers working on something, so we're booking some time to go into the studio and record."
On their previous joint road trips in 1995, 2001-2002 and 2003, the Face 2 Face tour turned into one of the top 10 grossing tours of those years. The 2009 tour is scheduled to open March 2 in Jacksonville, Fla., and will include two Southland performances March 28 and 30 at
the Honda Center in Anaheim.-- Randy Lewis
Photo: John and Joel in 2001. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
A victory for irony as Elton John loses Guardian libel case | Media | The Guardian
Sir Elton John is well known for his quick temper and outrageous behaviour. A documentary of his life said it all - it was called, knowingly, Tantrums and Tiaras.
But a high court judge ruled yesterday that the singer's sense of humour failure over a satirical piece by a Guardian columnist was a tantrum too far.
In a groundbreaking libel decision, the judge said that "irony" and "teasing" do not amount to defamation. The ruling offers protection to writers of satirical articles clearly not meant to be taken seriously and was welcomed last night by media lawyers and journalists.
The Guardian was awarded costs and the singer, who brought the action, was refused leave to appeal by Mr Justice Tugendhat. John's legal team indicated that he might now seek leave to appeal.
John brought the action following the publication in Guardian Weekend magazine, in July this year, of a spoof diary written by Marina Hyde. "A peek at the diary of Sir Elton John" recorded his fictional thoughts about his annual White Tie and Tiara ball, which raises millions of pounds for the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Elton John Mulling Ronson Collaboration
December 03, 2008 01:37 PM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Elton John may enlist producer Mark Ronson to work on his next studio album, which is being penciled in for release in late 2009 by Universal.
"They like each other and know each other well. There's been lots and lots of conversation, but nothing is finalized yet," a source close to the artists tells Billboard.
The as-yet-untitled album will be the follow-up to 2006's "The Captain & The Kid," which has sold 151,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
As usual, John is busy with numerous projects. His collaboration with the Killers and the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, "Joseph, Better You Than Me," is available through the new (RED)WIRE digital service, and will see wide release on Dec. 16.
Meanwhile, John is the first guest on Elvis Costello's new show, "Spectacle," which premiered tonight (Dec. 3) on the Sundance Channel. And his New Year's Eve show at London's O2 Arena will be broadcast live on ITV1.
As previously reported, John and Billy Joel will reprise their successful co-headlining tour beginning March 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Pop singing icon Elton John is set to perform a huge New Year’s Eve celebration concert in London.The star will belt out an selection of his classic hits in front of 17,000 fans at the O2 Arena in the English capital. Celebrity photographer David LaChapelle will produce the concert, which comes a year after British boyband Take That staged a similar event at the famous venue. Sir Elton says, "I can’t wait to spend New Year’s Eve with 17,000 of my biggest fans."
"What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage." He went on to say, "I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership...You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."
38 | Elton John
Photo: Redfern/Redferns/RetnaBorn
March 25th,
1947
Key
Tracks
"Your Song," "Goodbye
Yellow Brick Road," "Tiny Dancer"
Influenced
Rivers Cuomo, George
Michael, Axl RoseJohn Lennon once told Rolling Stone that when he heard Elton John singing "Your Song" — the 1970 breakthrough ballad that spotlighted John's voice and its union of rock & roll grandness with deep soul feeling — he thought, "Great, that's the first new thing that's happened since we happened." Only a few years earlier, John had claimed, "I can't really sing." Once he found his voice, though, he quickly turned out to have a dumbfounding stylistic range, unleashing his singsong falsetto and his ferocious hard-rock bellow. "He was mixing his falsetto and his chest voice to really fantastic effect in the Seventies," says Ben Folds. "There's that point in 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,' where he sings, 'on the grooound' — his voice is all over the shop. It's like jumping off a diving board when he did that."
Playlist
1.
Your Song2.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road3.
Tiny Dancer4.
Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long Long Time)5.
Don't Go Breaking My Heart6.
Candle in the Wind7.
Crocodile Rock8.
Levon9. I
Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues10.
Bennie and the Jets
The Killers have confirmed they are releasing a Christmas single with Elton John.
The Las Vegas group previously said they were unsure whether the track would be ready for the festive season but are now preparing to head into the studio with the 'Rocket Man' singer to begin work on 'Better You Than Me' and say they expect to start work very soon.
Drummer Ronnie Vannucci revealed: "I have a sneaky suspicion Elton is just going to want to get us in a room and just do a straight recording."
The release will be the third seasonal single in a row that the 'Mr. Brightside' hitmakers have released.
Proceeds from download-only previous efforts 'Great Big Sled' and 'Don't Shoot Me Santa' were donated to charity.
The Killers release their next album 'Day and Age' on November 24.
