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Elton John

300 replies

GreenLunchBox · 03/10/2021 23:34

I love the Dua Lupa song and there is a Blue song I love. But please can people tell me why Elton John is so legendary. He doesn't have the best singing voice, does he?

OP posts:
Stroopwaffle5000 · 04/10/2021 14:38

I have to admit that I don't like his singing voice. I feel like he ruins any song he sings on.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 04/10/2021 15:02

@tofuschnitzel

Basically what Havering said. At no point did I say he wrote the score.

Quirrelsotherface · 04/10/2021 17:04

Check out: Tonight

Oh it's a beauty.

Clawdy · 04/10/2021 17:16

Skyline Pigeon is one of his less well-known songs, it's beautiful.

Greatdomestic · 04/10/2021 17:42

Listen to albums like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic and you may get his appeal. Or not.

The above and others were a background to my childhood, and that's why I rate him.

And those albums were released at a time when album artwork was a thing, you could spend time just looking at the covers.

He's not everyone's cup of tea, but tracks like Tiny Dancer and Love Lies Bleeding I never tire of.

Elderflower14 · 04/10/2021 17:57

I was lucky enough to see Sir Elton at Ipswich in 2004. A then unknown James Blunt was the support. I was v unimpressed as Scissor Sisters were support for the rest of the tour.
My friends husband drew the short straw and had to sit next to me. He booted me into the aisle halfway through as I was dancing so much.
The next morning he reckoned he Parkinsons from me jiggling, was deaf in one ear from my whistle and had cracked ribs from my elbows!!
Sir E was fabulous!!

ShagMeRiggins · 04/10/2021 18:15

[quote orangeautumnleaves]@Innocenta totally agree about Freddie's voice. Astonishing range and thought of highly amongst many opera singers.

As much as l like Elton, just no comparison! [/quote]
I’m not disagreeing with your perception, or innocenta’s, but basically some music fans with lots of time on their hands got together and assembled all the notes both artists hit soundly in recordings.

Freddie Mercury was at 2.83 octave range, I believe, and Elton John was at 3 octaves. Hence slightly wider range.

By contrast I think Ariana Grande has 4 octaves and Mariah Carey is reputed to have 5 octaves.

4 octaves is basically what one would expect from a decent singer, but the variety of voices mentioned shows how much the time and timbre and delivery matters.

As I said, I’ve no real argument here. It’s just interesting.

Innocenta · 04/10/2021 18:37

@ShagMeRiggins I am unfamiliar with the specific work you're referring to, but I do understand the concept of range (as do all the people with whom I've discussed this, since they are professional musicians and critics too!), and certainly my understanding has been that Freddie has the greater range - and a particularly large one for a male singer in his genre(s). I'm also not especially interested in going back and forth on this extensively, but it's far from a given that EJ is established to have the greater range.

Innocenta · 04/10/2021 18:45

@ShagMeRiggins I've just run this by a couple of people and I think you must be referring to the 2016 study which reportedly "debunks" the "popular" idea that Mercury had a 4-octave range? I can see that if you're going by that you'd have doubts - but that's been disputed since, it's far from definitive and I know many, many practitioners and working theorists who will literally demonstrate with examples that he does have a 4-octave range. Accessible technology for musicians interested in analysing this sort of thing is improving all the time.

Ciaram55 · 04/10/2021 18:59

I always liked his voice.

ShagMeRiggins · 04/10/2021 19:27

[quote Innocenta]@ShagMeRiggins I am unfamiliar with the specific work you're referring to, but I do understand the concept of range (as do all the people with whom I've discussed this, since they are professional musicians and critics too!), and certainly my understanding has been that Freddie has the greater range - and a particularly large one for a male singer in his genre(s). I'm also not especially interested in going back and forth on this extensively, but it's far from a given that EJ is established to have the greater range. [/quote]
Okay.

Also, I meant to say a 3 octave range is what a decent singer has, not a 4 octave. My mistake and typo.

Also, I have no interest in being right, was just having a conversation.

ShagMeRiggins · 04/10/2021 19:29

[quote Innocenta]@ShagMeRiggins I've just run this by a couple of people and I think you must be referring to the 2016 study which reportedly "debunks" the "popular" idea that Mercury had a 4-octave range? I can see that if you're going by that you'd have doubts - but that's been disputed since, it's far from definitive and I know many, many practitioners and working theorists who will literally demonstrate with examples that he does have a 4-octave range. Accessible technology for musicians interested in analysing this sort of thing is improving all the time. [/quote]
Cool. I didn’t run this by anyone, but still like both their voices. Cheers.

Innocenta · 04/10/2021 19:34

All I meant by running it by someone was that I'm not a musician or anything myself, @ShagMeRiggins ! Sorry, I guess that came off as some kind of weird put down, but I really did just mean it as "I don't know enough about this on my own"! My apologies, and yes, both amazing voices Thanks

Pedallleur · 04/10/2021 19:50

His first albums up to and incl yellow brick road were stunning. He and Taupin were great writers of fabulous songs that went from pop to ballads to rock. Couple that with his outrageous flamboyance his stardom was assured. Yes his voice is failing but his influence is strong. From a time when talent was required not a manufactured pop puppet. Earned his success the hard way, touring, recording, touring and nearly dying.

maddiemookins16mum · 04/10/2021 19:53

He writes a good tune despite being a bit of a knob. Love Cocoa Heart (as DMIL calls it).

residentkaleidoscope · 04/10/2021 19:57

Elton John's greatest hits album is one of my go to albums!

yacketyyak · 04/10/2021 19:59

I don't like him any more. He said a few things about George Michael, that he was uncomfortable being gay... not true!

Simonjt · 04/10/2021 20:01

Hes an amazing song writer and performer, tiny dancer is possibly my all time favourite song. We saw him rehearsing for his performance at the Brits this year, he was brilliant.

Yes his voice has changed, but that happens to us all as we age, even a singer at 30 will sound different compared to their voice at 20.

Elderflower14 · 04/10/2021 20:02

@Clawdy

Skyline Pigeon is one of his less well-known songs, it's beautiful.
I read EJ autobography he made friends with a young American boy who had Aids and was ostracised by his local community. EJ played Skyline Pigeon at his funeral. 😔 😔 😔
StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 04/10/2021 20:03

Tiny Dancer is such a good song.

Emanchego · 04/10/2021 20:08

Tldr:Philadelphia Freedom 🎧

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 04/10/2021 20:10

His songs were catchy. He’s a fun performer who knows how to entertain a crowd. He released a lot of music back to back. I’m not a big fan of Elton the man but I do enjoy a cheesy 80’s Elton tune.

SpindleWhirl · 04/10/2021 20:10

Tiny Dancer is a beautiful song. Philadelphia Freedom is so powerful. Your Song is moving. So many.

SalsaLove · 04/10/2021 20:30

Do you know who Dolly Parton is?

bridgeofslides · 04/10/2021 20:35

@Raaaaaaarr

I'm the other way round. I think Elton is magic/legendary and that Dua Lupa is just another manufactured poptart who can't sing.
Completely agree.

Things I love about Elton - hes from that magical time when you didn't have to look insta perfect to be famous. When hard work gigging everywhere and finally developing a following was how you got successful in music.

Elton is a bit of a caricature now in the 20's but he's worked very hard in the industry and been part of the development of pop,

He's not even that much my kind of music but he's great.