Music And Magic
Elton will perform in an unexpected setting.
On Friday he’s to appear on the South Lawn of the White House for A Night When Hope And History Rhyme, according to Deadline. More details will soon be announced.
This past Friday night, Elton and his band played PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me is often used to pay tribute to someone, this time he opted for Tiny Dancer. As you can see here the vocalist dedicated the song to Jaime Guttenberg, a 14-year-old who was among the seventeen students and teachers murdered at a Parkland, Florida, high school in 2018. Seventeen others were wounded in the shooting. Elton explained that he got an email shortly before taking the stage, explaining that Jaime loved to dance to Tiny Dancer.
Two young singers, Rina Sawayama and Marcus Mumford, recently spoke about how they’ve been impacted by Sir Elton. According to Variety, the former considers her friend to be genuine and generous.
”At first I thought, Oh, he’s gonna give me a shout-out and that’s gonna be it, but he calls every two weeks, checking in. And he introduces me to people and he’s helped so much behind the scenes. He’ll just be like, ‘Okay, what do you need?’ And then he’ll call the people you need, and two minutes later you’ll get a call back from him.” Rina also said that he makes ”dreams come true. He’s like Santa Claus. Actually–strike that. He’s more like a fairy godmother.”
Doesn’t that phrase ring a bell? It should. . . . This website reported in 2012 that Anastacia considered Elton to be ”like her fairy godmother” during her battle against cancer. She had been diagnosed nine years earlier and the Rocket Man devoted a good deal of time and energy to help while she was at her ”lowest.”
This may also bring to mind Ryan Adams‘ Answering Bell video, released in January 2002, and loosely based on The Wizard of Oz. Check out here to catch Elton’s cameo in which he wears a purple cape with matching specs and, like a fairy godmother, waves a wand.
Back to Rina, who offered NME an example of a time in which Elton helped an important communication. She noticed that a song on her latest album, Hold the Girl, had a guitar riff which resembled ABBA‘s Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight). She figured she wouldn’t be able to use the part, and turned to Elton for help. Since he knows the Swedish group, he was able to initiate contact, and Rina got approval from Benny Andersson to keep the riff.
As for Mumford, he has released his solo debut and the first track, Cannibal, the singer recounts his alleged experience being sexually abused when he was 6 years old. He let Billboard know he was backed by both Elton and Brandi Carlile [the latter appears on his album’s closing track, How], telling Marcus they would be there for him.
On Twitter, Elton is also supporting the Global Fund: The organisation is hoping that at least $18 billion can be raised worldwide to save millions of people from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. The campaign asks, ”Can we count on you?” If the answer is yes, join Elton in adding your name to the #FightForWhatCounts petition.
The previous MT revealed that Bernie Taupin would be appearing at the Off the Wall gallery in Houston, Texas, in November. According to a press release sent to EJW, the songwriter’s paintings ”range from thought-provoking to minimalist Pop Art concepts.” He also has an assortment of hand-signed prints with text inspired by words from some of his classic songs. Originals and prints will be available for sale.
”Fans often share that my lyrics and Elton’s melodies have shaped and changed their lives in dramatic, everlasting ways. How can I express my gratitude to the millions of fans who have impacted my life? These works of art are my best effort,” explained the artist.
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