Dude!
Let's give it up for Elton John:
A concert by Elton John has given Israelis a boost after a string of cancellations by other world-famous artists.
The British rocker performed late Thursday in front of a screaming crowd of nearly 50,000 fans at a Tel Aviv stadium.
John, who wore blue-tinted sunglasses, told the audience those cancellations "ain't gonna stop me from playing here, baby."
This, of course, right on the heels of his playing at the wedding of Rush Limbaugh, whom some have accused of being a right-winger. Now, I'll admit, I'm not a big Elton fan music-wise. I'm more of a Sinatra and Bach guy. If there were a CD called, "Sinatra Swings Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," I'd be the one camped outside the music store the night before its release. But many years ago, Elton sued some tabloid for writing a scurrilous and dishonest story about him. He won his suit--and in the aftermath, he told the media (quoting from memory), "You can call me a fat, untalented poof--but you can't lie about me!" Ever since then, I've had nothing but admiration and respect for the man.
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May '10
Re: Dude!
Elton's fantastic. I didn't get a sense of who he was until I got his perfect, somewhat autobiographical '75 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Even then, Bernie wrote those lyrics, leaving us to wonder who Elton really is. It's nice to know he's come up on the right side of fame on this.
May '10
Re: Dude!
Not a huge fan, musically (I mean, Rush is deaf and all, so he probably didn't notice). The Lion King had the worst soundtrack in that string of Disney musical hits, and I can't support Princess Di songs. But hey, he's got to be a better act than "Elvis Costello and the Pixies", which, as Blackadder would say, is the worst excuse for entertainment since St Paul the Evangelist toured Palestine with his trampoline act, So the Israelis lucked out there.
Doesn't take much to make us happy. Conservatives are inherently low maintenance. Just don't go insane and don't be actively anti-semitic, and you're OK in our book.
May '10
Re: Dude!
I'd give him more credit than that, Kennedy. In a culture that conditions gays to think of themselves as little else but gay and curses any homosexual who does not accept the prescribed politics, it takes an admirable degree of honesty and courage to publicly stand against that wave. It also takes great strength of character to allow oneself to befriend one of the most noted enemies of that culture (Rush Limbaugh). Few make an effort to care about people who fundamentally disagree with their worldview. Color me impressed.
"Your Song" and "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" are great songs. Even if he didn't write the lyrics, he did a good job with the music.
May '10
Re: Dude!
Pfui! I will not allow a line drawing to shame me into embracing the auteur of Rocket Man, sir! There can be no excuse for tormenting a generation of wedding guests with Can You Feel the Love Tonight.
Guess the larger point is that we don't insist upon purity in our artistes, so long as they don't attack us all that often. And come on, when you make that much money, it doesn't take much courage to ignore a few whingeing pansies.
Re: Dude!
Some of my best friends are whinging pansies.
May '10
Re: Dude!
Respect for Elton John, from the man who thinks soccer is boring and effeminate.
Sometimes I think people like you just like to be arbitrarily contrary. ;-)
May '10
Re: Dude!
I stand athwart Elton John and yell "stop!". Hmm, that may have come out wrong. Nothing against Sir Elton the man. Sure we'd get on like a house on fire. Just wish I was afflicted with Rush's throbbing vuvuzela when he started singing.
Whingeing pansies make for excellent dinner-party company. When are you throwing your next small do?