Tag: Elton John (11-20 of 28)

Jan 2 2012 04:29 PM ET

Elton John wants Justin Timberlake to play him in a 'surreal' biopic? We second that

justin-timberlake-elton-john

Image Credit: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Elton John talked about the status of a number of projects he plans to work on in 2012, including a new album.

But perhaps the most exciting deal on the horizon is his forthcoming biopic, which John describes as “a surreal look at my life, and not just a factual look at my life, more in the manner of a Moulin Rouge.” There’s a script (penned by Billy Elliot scribe Lee Hall), and a director and star will both be chosen in the next few months.

So who is John’s number top choice to play him in the film? “I’ve got a wish list of people. No. 1 on my wish list is Justin Timberlake,” he told the paper.

There is one key reason why that casting choice wouldn’t work: Timberlake and John don’t look anything like one another, even considering what Elton looked like when he was 30 (the age Timberlake is now).

However, there are so many reasons why this would be an awesome casting choice that we hope that Elton didn’t jinx it by saying Timberlake’s name out loud. (In this way, JT is like Candyman or Beetlejuice.)

If we ignore In Time (and based on box office receipts, most of you did), Timberlake has the acting chops to inhabit John’s whirlwind persona the same way he gave life to Sean Parker in The Social Network. We know he can sing, and he can certainly tickle the ivories.

We don’t even have to worry about Timberlake carrying a full-length movie, if indeed it’s not a straightforward biography (in our minds, it looks a lot like Across the Universe) — all JT would have to do is strap a series of music videos on his back.

Most importantly, Timberlake has already played the role, pretty exquisitely: READ FULL STORY »

Oct 14 2011 01:17 PM ET

Bill Clinton's favorite music -- check out his presidential playlist

Bill-Clinton

Image Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Was Bill Clinton the most musical president in the history of the United States? He’s an accomplished jazz saxophonist, openly embraced MTV during his campaign (back when the “M” still stood for “Music”), spent plenty of quality time with rock stars (it was Bono’s beginning as a White House regular), and he even has two Grammys (admittedly, both for Best Spoken Word performances on audiobooks).

This Saturday night, some of the biggest stars in music — Bono and the Edge, Lady Gaga, Usher, Kenny Chesney among them — are going to tip their hats back to Clinton at the “A Decade of Difference” concert at the Hollywood Bowl in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the William J. Clinton Foundation. As a lead-up to the show, Clinton opened up his iPod and let Yahoo take a look at his 20 favorite songs of all time.

The full list is here, and a handful of things stand out. Of course, there’s plenty of jazz on there, as well as an expected number of rock names from the ’60s and ’70s, like Van Morrison, Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, and Carly Simon.

The newest song on there is Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel,” which suggests that Clinton either has a weakness for trilling Canadians or simply can’t get that ASPCA commercial that makes everybody cry out of his mind.

Interestingly, there are parallels to current president Barack Obama’s playlist, mostly the shout-out to Miles Davis. Perhaps they’ll both find his recent Live Europe 1967: The Bootleg series Vol. 1 under the Christmas tree this year (EW gave it an A, Commanders!)

Disappointingly, Clinton didn’t make any nods to hip-hop the way Obama did when he shouted out Jay-Z and Lil Wayne in his Rolling Stone interview. If Bill would like a little rap education, we have a suggestion where he should start.

What do you think of Clinton’s picks? Let us know in the comments.

More on the Music Mix:
Bill Clinton pens new book ‘Back to Work’ about America’s economic future
Stars Celebrate Tony Bennett
‘Dancer-in-Chief’: Bill Clinton on ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

Jun 17 2011 01:18 PM ET

Age Before Beauty: 'Forbes' releases 2011 top earners list

bon_jovi

Image Credit: Lise Aserud/Scanpix/ZUMAPRESS.com

As expected, Gaga was golden when Forbes released its 2011 World’s Highest-Paid Musicians List this past Wednesday. Yet, despite banking $90 million, Gaga found on herself on “The Edge of Glory” as she landed in fourth place. She probably could have secured a higher position if she had been more conservative in spending for her stage show. Then again, girl loves a concept costume and a flaming piano… Plus, the words “Gaga” and “conservative” really should never inhabit the same sentence, right?

So who scored the top slot? READ FULL STORY »

Apr 21 2011 03:01 PM ET

Elton John premieres Cameron Crowe-directed music doc starring himself and Leon Russell, plays the hits at Tribeca Film Festival

elton-john-leon-russell

Image Credit: Joseph Guay

Surrounded by the after-hours glow of Lower Manhattan skyscrapers and buffeted by winds rolling in off of New York Harbor, Elton John wrapped up the opening night of the tenth annual Tribeca Film Festival with performances of such evergreen Elton classics as “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man” and “Your Song.”

His solo piano performance followed the world premiere of Cameron Crowe’s The Union, a music documentary that followed Sir John and legendary rock pianist Leon Russell as the two Rock Hall of Famers recorded an album together last year.

The Union turned out to be a pleasantly affecting surprise. What could have merely been a music doc about two aging rockers recording a late-career album was instead a heartfelt, decades-belated love letter from Elton John to his early career idol and one of his greatest influences, Leon Russell. Plus, it was fun to watch the flick sitting behind a group that included the uncommonly talented actors Anna Kendrick (Twilight, Up in the Air), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), and Zoe Kazan (It’s Complicated). Kendrick’s eyes were glued to the screen while Dano and Kazan were smoochily glued to each other—that’s what the PortaPotties are there for, you crazy kids!) READ FULL STORY »

Apr 19 2011 12:32 PM ET

Elton John returning to Las Vegas for three-year run of shows

Elton-LV

Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Sin City veteran Elton John has signed on for another three-year run of shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas which he is calling The Million Dollar Piano.

The “Pinball Wizard” star will return to Nevada in September and tickets for the first 16 shows go on sale April 25. “The show will be a gargantuan feast of music and imagery,” John was quoted as saying in a statement on his website. “I’m going to have a fabulous piano that Yamaha has been working on for four years, and that’s the reason why the show is called ‘The Million Dollar Piano.’”

John’s previous stint at Caesars Palace lasted five years and concluded in April, 2009.

More from EW.com:
Matthew Morrison unveils Elton John duet
‘Saturday Night Live’ recap: Elton John hosts

Apr 18 2011 02:53 PM ET

Matthew Morrison unveils Elton John duet

morrison-elton-john

Image Credit: John Shearer/Wireimage.com; Jamie McCarthy/Wireimamge.com

You can’t hide from Matthew Morrison these days. He’s on Glee. He’s on talk shows. He’s live in concert. He’s on record. And now he’s in an Elton John song sandwich.

Morrison just dropped his duet with John, which mashes up “Rocket Man” and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” into one blast of classic Elton; listen here. (The song will be available for download on Amazon tomorrow).

Morrison’s clean tenor pairs well with the Rocket Man’s, though his pipes lack the signature oomph of Elton’s elastic instrument.

Plus, “Rocket” has been covered to death, and Morrison’s version lacks the strangeness of William Shatner’s, the spookiness of Maynard James Keenan’s, or the meta-hilarity of Stewie Griffin’s.

What do you think, readers? Tell us in the comments below.

Read more on EW.com:
Hear Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow duet on ‘Over the Rainbow’ — EXCLUSIVE
Matthew Morrison announces tour dates, details, and his surprise opening act(s)
‘Saturday Night Live’ recap: Host Elton John, plus Tom Hanks, Carmelo Anthony, Jake Gyllenhaal… oh, and a few jokes, too

Mar 25 2011 11:52 AM ET

All-star Japan Relief album on iTunes now: Madonna, Gaga, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Eminem, U2, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, and more contribute 38 hits to $9.99 comp

japan-relief-artists

Image Credit: Lennon: Susan Wood/Getty Images; Timberlake: Bob Charlotte/PR Photos; Beyonce: Janet Mayer/PR Photos

Dozens of the world’s best-known recording artists have come together for a digital-only album—downloadable today on iTunes for $9.99—with 100% of profits dedicated to relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Japan. (To preview or purchase, click here.)

Songs for Japan features 38 tracks, the majority of them well-known hits, from a remastered version of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Bob Dylan’s “Shelter from the Storm” to Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” and Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable.”

Find a full tracklisting after the jump: READ FULL STORY »

Jan 27 2011 07:32 PM ET

Lady Gaga releases full lyrics to forthcoming single 'Born This Way': Read them here

Lady-GagaImage Credit: Nam Y. Huh/AP ImagesLady Gaga memorably sang a couple bars from her forthcoming, and much-anticipated single “Born This Way” at last fall’s MTV Video Music Awards and released album art, but now she’s giving up everything but the actual song itself, as today pop’s reigning queen released the song’s full lyrics via a Tweet just about an hour ago. Based on what she released—and as expected—the song is very empowerment focused, with the first verse going, “My mama told me when I was young / We were all born superstars.” Hello, yes we were! A few bars later, the chorus really drives home her point: “I’m beautiful in my way / ‘Cause God makes no mistakes / I’m on the right track baby / I was born this way.” Basically, she’s saying: Make no apologies, be who you are, don’t be ashamed of whatever/whoever that is! Of course, I love it. Elton John told EW earlier this year: “‘Born This Way’…will completely get rid of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive.’ This is the new ‘I Will Survive.’ That was the gay anthem. This is the new gay anthem. Actually, it’s not a gay anthem—it can apply to anybody.” Based on what’s here, I’d say that’s certainly true—gays and straights alike will most certainly love this. Now we just need to hear the actual song! But we won’t hear it until Feb. 13, the same day as the Grammys, which will feature a performance by Gaga.

In the Tweet, Lady Gaga also revealed the song’s credits. ‘Born This Way’ was written by Lady Gaga; produced by Lady Gaga, Fernando Garibay, and DJ White Shadow; and mixed and engineered by David Russel. Take a gander at Gaga’s full lyrics here:

READ FULL STORY »

Jan 25 2011 12:07 PM ET

Elton John's advice for 'American Idol': 'Let's change the format a little'

elton-johnImage Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage.comHe famously turned down a chance to join the luxuriously coiffed panel—”I was asked to judge American Idol,” he told the Daily Mail last fall. “I couldn’t do it because I won’t slag anyone off”—but Elton John does have a few ideas for improving the show, now in its tenth season.

MTV spoke to the music legend about the upcoming American version of X Factor, a.k.a. the project that lured Simon Cowell and his fitted tees away from Idol, and he had this to say:

X Factor is going to be a huge show. It’s going to be huge, because you can have bands on there, and that’s one thing I wanted to change, if I had been on American Idol, ” John told the channel. “Get away from the solo stuff. Let’s have bands, let’s have writers, let’s have songwriters, let’s change the format a little, and that’s why X Factor is going to do so well, because it’s a different lineup. You can have bands and groups. That’s more interesting, I think.”

Do you agree, Idol-izers? Tell us what you think, in the comments below.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW.com:
‘American Idol’ recap: The Big Easy Listening
Jennifer Hudson releases new single, ‘Where You At.’ I’m ‘at’ a point where I don’t like song titles that end with prepositions.

Oct 27 2010 12:11 PM ET

Sugarland leads this week's Billboard 200 albums chart

Country duo Sugarland’s The Incredible Machine comes in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week. Selling 203,000 copies, it beats out Kings of Leon‘s Come Around Sundown, which is No. 2 with 184,000 records sold.

At No. 3, Elton John and Leon Russell’s collab album, The Union with 80,000 albums sold. Rod Stewart’s Fly Me To The Moon follows with 79,000 records moved. Last week’s No. 1, Lil Wayne‘s I Am Not a Human Being, drops to No. 5, moving 65,000 units this go around. No. 6 is Glee: the Rocky Horror Glee Show with 48,000 records sold. No. 7 is Shakira’s new Spanish album, Sale El Sol, which sold 46,000 units.

Eminem‘s Recovery drops to No. 8 with 43,000 records, while Third Day’s Move debuts at No. 9 with 37,000 sets sold. Rounding out the top 10 is Darius Rucker’s Charleston, SC 1966 falls eight spots to No. 10 in its sophomore week selling just under 37,000 albums.

What do you think of this week’s chart? Any surprises? Let us know.

(Follow The Music Mix on Twitter:@EWMusicMix.)

More on the Music Mix:
Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’: The 10 best lines from her new album
Taylor Swift covers Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’: Watch!
Taylor Swift, vinyl lover: She tells EW why she’s releasing ‘Speak Now’ as an LP
Kanye West says Taylor Swift, Ray Charles didn’t deserve Grammys
Taylor Swift takes on a bully (and John Mayer?) on new album

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP
'Star Trek': I'd rather be...