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Original poster

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:
MyPatronusIsACat · 04/10/2021 01:10

@StarryNightSparkles

Singer Song writer Massive charity giver Massive charity fundraising person Has and still does a lot for HIV/Aids Has and still does a lot for human rights A shoulder to cry on and a place of refuge for many people. Made music videos that were groundbreaking Fought for gay marriage The list goes on Fought for gay adoption Has done a lot for many different additions Gives a lot of money to many different charities Is the face/person to attract people/money to a lot of charities And on and on

Sorry op you sound really young and shallow.

All of this ^
MyPatronusIsACat · 04/10/2021 01:11

@SequinsandStiIettos

First two I think his voice is decent
Last two I think are choons

CHOONS Grin
Redsquirrel5 · 04/10/2021 01:18

I went to an outdoor concert and he was absolutely brilliant. He is a real showman. His voice was great that day. I wasn’t a big fan quite liked some of his songs as a teenager and very few big stars come to the city near me so quite a lot of us from work decided to go and we really enjoyed it.

Went to Leonard Cohen in Leeds and he was fantastic, he was 73.

TedImgoingmad · 04/10/2021 01:27

@GreenLunchBox back in the day (ie 30 years or so ago when Elton rose to fame) singers never had to have the outstanding voices that they have today.

Elton John rose to fame 50 years ago in the early 70s. All the more remarkable that he is still going. Perfect voices aren't everything in pop music. There have always been music stars with unique voices and interesting personalities to go with them, pop stars that captured the zeitgeist, pop stars who defined eras, or simply singers who were in the right place at the right time. His music is loved by many. I didn't particularly like him as a child/teen during the 70s and 80s, but now I love to hear his music from that era as it is so evocative of my childhood.

RobertaFirmino · 04/10/2021 01:43

@SpindleWhirl

I think the OP's just been written out of the will.
She's definitely not feeling the love tonight.
clarepetal · 04/10/2021 01:52

Song for Guy is beautiful and he doesn't even sing on it! But he's very talented on the piano, and his back catalogue is great.
Have heard stories of him being an entitled arse, although I saw him live a few years back and he came across as modest to me, when he performed.
As for the person rating his voice, it may not be special but there are lots of singers who are successful with bad voices, Kylie for one I find nasal and irritating although she's done some cracking pop tunes.
It's all a matter or taste.

Original poster
GreenLunchBox · 04/10/2021 02:01

And you sound very stupid
@MrsRobbieHart
Everyone on this thread has given me what I wanted apart from you. They explained why they like him or not.

There are lots of great examples of his talent, and similarly people that don't understand why he's a gazillionaire.

Then there's you who thinks a woman who questions a man is 'aggressive'

OP posts:
Immaculatemisconception · 04/10/2021 02:10

I’ve never been a fan. 🤷‍♀️

Mariell · 04/10/2021 02:23

Elton sounded great until he developed an American twang to his voice.

Dua Leper is beyond dreadful.

Kiki Dee partnered with Elton was fantastic.

Mariell · 04/10/2021 02:27
LobsterNapkin · 04/10/2021 02:29

EJ was never a bad singer, I mean what are you comparing him to? At a time when you actually had to be able to sing in tune yourself he dis, while playing piano, and his songs are not always easy to sing.

He hasn't a great voice now but that is pretty normal at over 70! After middle age the singing voice can deteriorate a lot, especially if you don't live well and keep singing regularly. And it's not like EJ lived like a choirboy.

In any case, plenty of great pop stars don't have conventionally amazing singing voices, they have great songs, and a distinctive or compelling voice, and maybe presence. I would never have classed EJ in that group though.

50ShadesOfCatholic · 04/10/2021 02:36

Seriously? He has been writing chart topping songs for decades, he is an icon of our time. His songwriting and performance skills are legendary. How have you managed to miss this?

Original poster
GreenLunchBox · 04/10/2021 02:39

@50ShadesOfCatholic

Seriously? He has been writing chart topping songs for decades, he is an icon of our time. His songwriting and performance skills are legendary. How have you managed to miss this?
Nobody has missed that he's popular...we're just asking for reasons why.
OP posts:
ColdColdWinter · 04/10/2021 02:48

@MyPatronusIsACat @PastMyBestBeforeDate

I once played a Bob Dylan record on the wrong speed, and didn't realise until I put another record on afterwards!

SalsaLove · 04/10/2021 02:48

Tiny Dancer

MimiDaisy11 · 04/10/2021 02:58

I’m sure there are lots of song writers who sang their own songs who could have been replaced with a more “talented voice” but their songs were so good no one minded. Though I have never thought of EJ as being particularly worse than any others who sing their own songs. I’m not a massive fan but songs like Tiny Dancer, Rocketman and Your Song are such classics amongst others.

RantyAunty · 04/10/2021 03:02

He was age 23 or 24 here. Before his throat surgery.
Just him and a piano.

Tiny Dancer

Your Song

SpidersAreShitheads · 04/10/2021 03:17

@MyPatronusIsACat @PastMyBestBeforeDate - I had an ex who was a massive, massive Bob Dylan fan. I was born mid-70s so wasn't born when Dylan causeed the huge scandal by plugging in, and he never really featured when I was growing up.

My ex introduced me to Dylan's giant back catalogue and I was very, very surprised to discover that I really loved some of his music. I mean, really loved it. What I didn't love was his voice so I used to seek out cover versions - eg/Sophie B Hawkins did an amazing version of Simple Twist of Fate.

But then somehow something changed. It must have been gradual as I didn't notice it happening, but somehow over time, I first got used to his voice and then realised that I preferred his version to the covers. I think I must have been brainwashed by the ex 😅😅 I went from hating his voice to really appreciating it. And you can hear it change from one album to another - when he gave up smoking, his voice was smoother and richer (listen to Lay Lady Lay and you'll hear the difference).

So I TOTALLY get why you'd dislike Dylan's voice because that was me. I honestly never understood how anyone could like it, but here I am, totally converted and I have no idea how or why 🤷‍♀️😅

Conversely, my ex was also a big Smiths fan and I am happy to report that the sound of their music still makes me want to run headfirst into a brick wall. So I'm clearly not completely suggestible! 😅

mathanxiety · 04/10/2021 04:05

I'm 56, and have heard him on the radio all my life. I don't get him either.

Or Phil Collins.

Scramblinghealingdreaming · 04/10/2021 04:15

We saw him in concert and he was awful. Entitled, special. So disappointed, just went to the bar and got drunk instead, missed the train home the next day ;( wouldn't bother again.

BrownCurlsAmberEyes · 04/10/2021 04:36

Not being able to sing never held Madonna back Grin

I think the most famous singers are more than their voice. The ability to invoke emotion and entertain are equally as important and Elton could do both. Not so sure he can anymore - age has really had an impact on his voice but when he was younger he was one of the greats at it. Imho anyway.

torquewench · 04/10/2021 04:44

@toomuchlaundry

Many pop singers can’t sing, just think of Robbie Williams.
Also Kylie and Madonna.
MrsLargeEmbodied · 04/10/2021 04:58

op you are being very ignorant.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 04/10/2021 05:06

I am only posting to suggest everyone watch/rewatch STAR STORIES elton john

We inadvertently watched half of the (frankly awful) elton john movie at the weekend and watched star stories after to cheer ourselves up - Its absolutely brilliant.

LaurenKelsey · 04/10/2021 05:28

Elton John had a great voice back in the day. He is a very talented singer/songwriter/keyboardist who has written a large number of hit songs. I read that Elton John has had 57 top 40 hits in the United States, second only to Elvis Presley in total, with 27 of these hitting the top ten and nine reaching number one. Listen to his old stuff. There is a lot of it and it’s readily available on Youtube.