The Elton Blog was off last week, so we’re happy to be back. And pleased to announce Radio Elton John’s guest on 25 May: none other than Ray Williams, the music executive who first brought Elton and Bernie Taupin together!
We are also interested in the 300+ prints which have gone on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England. These are from the photo collection of Elton and David Furnish. Curator Duncan Forbes told ABC News that Elton himself came up with the title of the exhibit, Fragile Beauty. He recalled that Elton wanted the show to be serious, yet playful.
As you’ve probably heard, Elton doesn’t enjoy getting his picture taken. It’s unavoidable, with his level of fame.
One of Elton’s most recent photos was taken at the V&A preview, where he was accompanied by David, Paul McCartney, and Paul’s daughters Stella and Mary.
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Time Out was dazzled by the show. Yet some celebrity portraits, such as ”a lost Marilyn Monroe,” were sad. We’d imagine the steep admission price of 20 pounds would lead to some long faces as well!
Those preferring a keepsake are in luck, as an exhibition book has been published by the V&A, and includes interviews with Elton and David.
Across the pond, in Denver, Colorado, Bernie Taupin is having his own exhibit. He will be in attendance at Fascination St Fine Art, on the 24th and 25th of May. Reflections Redux consists of pieces inspired by Elton and Bernie’s collaborations. So there are titles like I Want Love, Hold Me Closer, Blue Jean Baby, Goodbye, and Still Standing.
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Gallery director Brinley Miller Scanland told the Elton Blog that the pieces should be up for a few weeks. In addition, he stressed that purchases are required for those hoping to reserve a personal meet and greet with the artist. After all, as Bernie disclosed to Artspace in 2014, he has lost patience with ”guitar pickers who turn up with the brown bags full of record albums.”
Bernie is in the UK tonight, celebrating the art of the songwriter, at the London Palladium. We’ve been told that at The Other Songs Live, an up-and-coming band will perform some of Elton and Bernie’s music at the Other Songs Live concert. It’s also a benefit, with proceeds going to the BRIT School, the Ivors Academy Trust, and Nordoff & Robbins.
Elton John and Tim Rice songs like Can You Feel The Love Tonight and Circle of Life are considered Disney classics. So Elton is hurt that he wasn’t approached to work on Disney’s Lion King prequel, a source told In Touch. Mufasa: The Lion King, due on 20 December, will instead feature new music from Lin-Manuel Miranda. Maybe Disney remembers how Elton criticised Jon Favreau‘s live-action remake in 2019. However, we think they just wanted a change, and it was nothing personal. After all, Disney+ teamed up with the star for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.
At any rate, Lin-Manuel acknowledged The Lion King‘s rich musical legacy, saying he’s humbled when thinking about predecessors such as Elton, Tim, Hans Zimmer, and Lebo M.
Lebo M and Heather Headley are among the performers taking part in another Lion King event: the 30th Anniversary Live-to-Film Concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, on the 24th and 25th of May.
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Speaking of anniversaries, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy came out this week (23 May) in 1975. Elton told Melody Maker that because he and Bernie were writing about themselves, some critics thought they were egomaniacs.
Yet Elton just wanted to be honest, and was ”laying himself on the line.” They were not saying, ”Here we are, we’re wonderful!”
