Elton John

[backontrack]

Isaac Hayes did sing "Shaft", is that at all relevant to this discussion?

If we wanted, we could go full circle and link to the Father Ted thread. Unfortunately, I can't find the video...

 

[507021]

I've always been a big fan of Elton John (I get it from my mother!) and his music. My favourite records of his have to be "Philadelphia Freedom", "Club At The End Of The Street", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "Are You Ready For Love" and "I'm Still Standing".

 

[ilkestonian]

Today I listened to some random albums that I bought cheap on vinyl, not knowing for certain if I'd like them. Turns out I did so perhaps I should buy some 70s Elton albums on vinyl as I'll probably find I like them.

Crocodile Rock is certainly very good song.

I'm showing my age here, but I bought the album that was on when it first came out, and I think all in all, it ranks with the best of his stuff.

Look out for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It's a double album on vinyl and if you like Crocodile Rock, I think you'll find there's not a bad track on it

 

[talltim]

I thought I saw Elton in the back of a car on the Hanger Lane Gyratory a couple of weeks ago. My, that's a super junction.

 

[me123]

I wish I could comment further..... but does this forum operate under English law?

I'm sure it does, which means that unlike here in Scotland, there's something we can't discuss on here. At least not until 13:00 tomorrow.

Although, to be honest, I know what it's all about (as will most of you), and I really don't care.

Although, for legal purposes, I may (or may not) be going off the topic of the original thread.

 

[bb21]

He is a very very naughty boy.

I do like a selection of his music - very soothing, although the thought of him having a three-gy gives me nightmares.

(Sorry, someone has to do it - three-gy: three people singing a song together. )

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Although, for legal purposes, I may (or may not) be going off the topic of the original thread.

I don't think so.

One of the signs of Elton John's elevated status in the world of wealthy celebrities is his choice of law firm. He chose Carter-Ruck, who are renowned for their ability to secure advantages for entertainers suffering from the poisonous pens of the investigative journalist [a law firm whose name is unfortunately often mis-spelled by Private Eye: they often confuse the 'R' of 'Ruck' with an 'F', or they did until the firm asked them to stop. Sadly, the 'F' then just moved to the position of the 'C' in 'Carter'].

But to be fair, the firm is very good at what it does. For example, it is swift in ensuring that Google removes unwanted references to its clients in minutes. All you would have to do is to post on a forum that someone called XXX who was one of their clients, and had been involved in some scandal, and minutes later, that post would be removed from Google's index.
If you want to quantify their effectiveness, you could try it yourself (though not on this forum, please). All you would have to do is make some unsavoury allegation about the personal life of one of their clients, such as Elton John, whom they are actively protecting at the time, and wait for it to be removed from Google's results.

Now I don't know how much time Elton John spends speaking with his lawyers, but I do hope he leaves them alone for a few minutes on Thursday morning, because they'll be busy. Busy on something in the Supreme Court to do with an irrelevant injunction on behalf of one of their mysterious clients; whereas I'll guess that Elton will be much more interested in speaking to them about another matter, involving a breach of confidence and a misuse of private information by a newspaper. But I guess he'll be able get though to them on the phone after 11 am when they're free to discuss his problem.

. . . we can't discuss on here. At least not until 13:00 tomorrow.

Now Thursday morning.

But in the meantime, I'm sure we all wish him well, and the law firm, Carter-Ruck (or with however many 'F's should go in there).

 

[DarloRich]

They are VERY good and VERY VERY VERY expensive. I would like to make no comment about who may, or may not, retain their services

 

[DaleCooper]

When I Googled something totally unrelated to Elton John the first item was an Australian newpaper article about a British musician.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Popbitch recently had a very interesting article about how newspapers make innuendos if they've been gagged by an injunction (NB: superinjunctions are very specifically those injunctions where you can't even report you've got an injunction against you; most "superinjunctions" are merely injunctions).

http://popbitch.com/home/2016/03/31/up-the-injunction/

They then followed it up with a discussion about the expensive letters Carter-Ruck send out: http://popbitch.com/home/2016/04/14/the-letter-of-the-law/

Since we're talking about Carter-Ruck, they're expensive but necessarily that good. If I were PJS, to choose a recent case at random, I would be distinctly unimpressed that my lawyers forgot to extend the injunction to Scotland, for instance.

 

[Phil.]

To be fair, Elton wrote the tunes, which to my mind are the most important part of the song.

The most important part of a song is the words - or text as singers refer. The text always comes first then the melody is written around it. Unfortunately because most people including singers nowadays spend too much time making sure that they sound and look good the text gets overlooked. Only really great performers like Rod Stewart and Shirley Bassey still consider the text which is why whatever number they perform you'll hear every word.

 

[bb21]

The most important part of a song is the words - or text as singers refer.

I don't think you can compare them.

Not being able to make out every word does not spoil my enjoyment of great tunes.

 

[DaleCooper]

The most important part of a song is the words - or text as singers refer. The text always comes first then the melody is written around it. Unfortunately because most people including singers nowadays spend too much time making sure that they sound and look good the text gets overlooked. Only really great performers like Rod Stewart and Shirley Bassey still consider the text which is why whatever number they perform you'll hear every word.

A lot of songs have great tunes but completely banal lyrics, on the other hand a song by Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen is really a poem put to music so it best not to make sweeping statements about which is most important, tune or lyrics, nor is it correct to say the lyrics always come first, sometimes a tune exists long before someone writes accompanying lyrics.

 

[infobleep]

The most important part of a song is the words - or text as singers refer. The text always comes first then the melody is written around it. Unfortunately because most people including singers nowadays spend too much time making sure that they sound and look good the text gets overlooked. Only really great performers like Rod Stewart and Shirley Bassey still consider the text which is why whatever number they perform you'll hear every word.

I disagree. For me the most important part is the tune. I won't care or bother about the lyrics if I don't like the tune. I don't care how famous an artist is in this respect.

Some artists even write tunes and then lyrics but it's more common I think to write the lyrics first.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[IanD]

Had to laugh when one of the bonus subjects on this morning's PopMaster Quiz (Ken Bruce, Radio 2, showing my age) was Elton John and Friends. Did wonder what would come up. It was only about duets in the end.

 

[overthewater]

I'm sure it does, which means that unlike here in Scotland, there's something we can't discuss on here. At least not until 13:00 tomorrow.

Although, to be honest, I know what it's all about (as will most of you), and I really don't care.

Although, for legal purposes, I may (or may not) be going off the topic of the original thread.

Do you care that the current legal system in England and wales is complete mess in dealing with such issues? You can look on twitter, Non English news site, etc its like a worse kept secret.

 

[infobleep]

Had to laugh when one of the bonus subjects on this morning's PopMaster Quiz (Ken Bruce, Radio 2, showing my age) was Elton John and Friends. Did wonder what would come up. It was only about duets in the end.

I heard this and though what a strange coincidence that a thread should exist here and that come up on radio 2 within the space of one week!

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[Phil.]

I don't think you can compare them.

Not being able to make out every word does not spoil my enjoyment of great tunes.

The whole point - which virtually everyone misses and, indeed, you've fallen into that category - is that a song is a story or poem set to music.
You wouldn't be very chuffed if you'd written a beautiful poem, had someone set it to music and then have a performer warble it out without being able to hear the word that you'd painstakingly composed. It's then just a tune with garbled words. This is true of all genres of music from hand-on-the-ear folk to screeching operatic sopranos via wailing country and rap.

 

[yorksrob]

The whole point - which virtually everyone misses and, indeed, you've fallen into that category - is that a song is a story or poem set to music.
You wouldn't be very chuffed if you'd written a beautiful poem, had someone set it to music and then have a performer warble it out without being able to hear the word that you'd painstakingly composed. It's then just a tune with garbled words. This is true of all genres of music from hand-on-the-ear folk to screeching operatic sopranos via wailing country and rap.

Well, I don't go around listening to poems on my mp3 player, whereas I do sometimes find myself listening to instrumental songs, so to me a song must be a wonderful melody. Words, wonderful or not, are an optional extra.

 

[DaleCooper]

The whole point - which virtually everyone misses and, indeed, you've fallen into that category - is that a song is a story or poem set to music.
You wouldn't be very chuffed if you'd written a beautiful poem, had someone set it to music and then have a performer warble it out without being able to hear the word that you'd painstakingly composed. It's then just a tune with garbled words. This is true of all genres of music from hand-on-the-ear folk to screeching operatic sopranos via wailing country and rap.

How is it that I, and many others, can enjoy a song in a foreign language without understanding a single word? I would also suggest that scat singing doesn't fit your narrow definition, I feel rather sorry for you.
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I also listen to, and very much enjoy, Jamaican reggae but quite often have no idea what the words mean e.g. Dem a laugh and a kiki - The Pioneers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpWeixFNams

 

[bb21]

The whole point - which virtually everyone misses and, indeed, you've fallen into that category - is that a song is a story or poem set to music.

I am intrigued as to whether this is an official definition, a scientifically proven correct interpretation, or just an opinion, much like everyone else's opinions.

 

[DaleCooper]

I am intrigued as to whether this is an official definition, a scientifically proven correct interpretation, or just an opinion, much like everyone else's opinions.

I can help you there - it's an opinion, well that's my opinion anyway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just to show I can be magnanimous here's a couple of songs that support Phil.'s viewpoint.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXrtZ3IXDDs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kKU1S0lWxo
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
an even better version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7dQ5jA0RE

 

[Gutfright]

I can help you there - it's an opinion, well that's my opinion anyway.

Is it your opinion, or is it your opinion that the original "opinion" is an opinion?

In my opinion, the original opinion is both an opinion and your opinion of an example of an opinion. This would, in my opinion, make your opinion of the status of the original opinion as an opinion the correct opinion.

 

[DaleCooper]

Is it your opinion, or is it your opinion that the original "opinion" is an opinion?

In my opinion, the original opinion is both an opinion and your opinion of an example of an opinion. This would, in my opinion, make your opinion of the status of the original opinion as an opinion the correct opinion.

That's what 1 was try1Ng t0 say but 1 br0ke the i, n ,o and p keys 0N my keyb0ard.

 

[bb21]

Is it your opinion, or is it your opinion that the original "opinion" is an opinion?

In my opinion, the original opinion is both an opinion and your opinion of an example of an opinion. This would, in my opinion, make your opinion of the status of the original opinion as an opinion the correct opinion.

Ah, my head hurts.

 

[backontrack]

I'm sure it does, which means that unlike here in Scotland, there's something we can't discuss on here. At least not until 13:00 tomorrow.

Well, I know the allegations. They're pretty bad - but they're not true - they are bad, but they're a LIE! The lawyers will help clean this up - there have been some pretty bad allegations thrown about there. So, one last time:

The money was just resting in my account. It was just resting in my account before I moved it on. It was just resting there.




In all seriousness, this is the best thread of the year so far.

 

[Phil.]

I am intrigued as to whether this is an official definition, a scientifically proven correct interpretation, or just an opinion, much like everyone else's opinions.

It's the description/definition. Think about it for a moment.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

How is it that I, and many others, can enjoy a song in a foreign language without understanding a single word? I would also suggest that scat singing doesn't fit your narrow definition, I feel rather sorry for you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I also listen to, and very much enjoy, Jamaican reggae but quite often have no idea what the words mean e.g. Dem a laugh and a kiki - The Pioneers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpWeixFNams

Well, to quote the late Sir Thomas Beecham, "The English don't really appreciate music, they just like the noise it makes".
Don't feel sorry for me, feel sorry for people who can't appreciate words. Look at this way. If you went to see a play and you couldn't hear what the actors were saying would you still enjoy it because the scenery and costumes were great?
I don't have a narrow definition. Scat singing - a development of jazz - is not in the same category because it doesn't use words.

 

[Tetchytyke]

If you went to see a play and you couldn't hear what the actors were saying would you still enjoy it because the scenery and costumes were great?

I went to the Opera, couldn't understand a word of it, had a great time.

 

[Phil.]

Is it your opinion, or is it your opinion that the original "opinion" is an opinion?

In my opinion, the original opinion is both an opinion and your opinion of an example of an opinion. This would, in my opinion, make your opinion of the status of the original opinion as an opinion the correct opinion.

Your opinion is also an opinion of what you mistakenly identify as an opinion. An opinion is not a definition which I gave. Your opinion is simply a mis-judged opinion.
Is that opiniated enough?

 

[backontrack]

Your opinion is also an opinion of what you mistakenly identify as an opinion. An opinion is not a definition which I gave. Your opinion is simply a mis-judged opinion.
Is that opiniated enough?

However opinionated your opinion, it is important, in my opinion, to remember that it is only an opinion - in my opinion. The definition of opinion stays the same, no matter what your opinion, and is not affected by your opinion. Now, identifying an opinion is easy - in my opinion. However, in your opinion, it might not be see easy to identify an opinion - though the measure of how opinionated your argument is remains to be seen. If I'm wrong, which I may be, certainly in your opinion, perhaps not in your opinion, then it could be hard to discern whether I'm wrong in your opinion, in my opinion, or indeed in both of our opinions. However, there would have to be some opinionated person who, in my opinion, would express their opinion, which would be that my opinion about the identification of opinions is wrong. However, that does not help to discern whether or not my opinion of their opinion on my opinion, or even their opinion of my opinion of their opinion on my opinion, is correct, and, whether or not it is, in either my opinion or their opinion or your opinion or all our opinions, which are the most opinionated. Therefore, from this discussion, whether this matches your opinion, my opinion, both of our opinions, or neither of our opinions, we can conclude - fairly solidly, in my opinion - that an opinion is an opinion. Got all that?