Tag: Elton John

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Musique

Elton John begins 3-year gig in Las Vegas

Grammy-winning British musician Elton John has returned to the gambling capital of Las Vegas to begin a new 3-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Between 2005 and 2009, the singer-songwriter performed 241 concerts in Las Vegas as part of his first residency concert series entitled The Red Piano.

As a new father, John may have decided to take Celine Dion’s advice to heart. As the new mother of twins, Dion recommends residency shows in Vegas as a way to spend more time with family instead of touring on the road. On Christmas Day last year, John and partner David Furnish became parents to their son, Zachary, born via a surrogate.

The new concert series is entitled The Million Dollar Piano, in honor of a piano that Yamaha has been working on for the last four years especially for the show.

The 2011 concert series debuted on Wednesday (September 28) and 16 concerts are planned through to October 23. The shows pick up again on February 9, 2012, with dates currently listed through to February 18.

During his first stay in Las Vegas, 75 concerts were planned over three years, however, demand was so great that his stay was stretched over five years.

John will be accompanied by his band, which includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums and Kim Bullard on keyboards with a special appearance by percussionist Ray Cooper.

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Musique

Elton John planning Olympic-size performance

Singer-songwriter and new father, Elton John, 64, is planning an Olympic gig in honor of the 2012 Olympics in London, reports the Sun.

The British artist wants to take the Olympic opportunity to celebrate British music and is hoping the band Muse joins him.

"Elton has never put on subtle live shows but he wants the Olympic gig to be even more overblown and spectacular than ever,” a source told the Sun. "He’s been a huge fan of Matt Bellamy’s band for years and is desperate to collaborate with them.

"A show during the London Olympics will be the ideal opportunity. And with Muse’s reputation as one of the best live groups in the world it’s bound to be special."

Organizers want other famous British artists to help promote British culture and the Games. Rumored attendees include Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and perhaps younger artists like Adele and Jessie J.

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Musique

Elton John plans two new recordings

Last week, it was announced that T Bone Burnett Presents: The Speaking Clock Revue live album from the benefit concert organized at New York’s Beacon Theatre will be released October 18, according to Elton John’s website.

In addition to Elton John and Leon Russell performing Monkey Suit, the 11-song disc will include performances by Elvis Costello, Gregg Allman, Jeff Bridges, among others.

And, according to an in-depth interview now appearing in Music Week magazine, John will be returning to the studio in January 2012 to record new songs (for which Bernie Taupin is currently writing lyrics) with producer T Bone Burnett.

“We’ve booked two weeks in the studio in January and Bernie is writing as we speak and I just want to make an album of good songs,” John said. “I’m just going to go in the studio and write and see what happens and maybe just write before I go in and I really enjoyed working with T Bone and look forward to that experience again.”

The legendary British singer-songriter will be performing in North America this fall, with U.S. and Canadian dates planned from September 3 to October 23, wrapping up with a 3-week stint in Vegas at Caesars Palace.

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Musique

Shuttle astronauts wake up to Elton John

Currently undertaking the 135th and final mission of its space shuttle program, which began in 1981, NASA has planned some pleasant surprises for its team of astronauts as they orbit in space.

Yesterday (July 14), the space shuttle crew of Atlantis were surprised to hear a recorded message from legendary British singer-songwriter Elton John.

"Good morning Atlantis, this is Elton John. We wish you much success on your mission. A huge thank you to all the men and women at NASA who worked on the shuttle for the last three decades."

Once the message was over, the crew was treated to a sample of the song Rocket Man, with lyrics written by John’s longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, inspired by a Ray Bradbury short story about a Mars-bound astronaut’s mixed feelings about leaving his family in order to do his job.

Other wakeup calls for the mission so far have included Coldplay’s La Vida Loca, ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky, Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping, and Matthew West’s More.

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Musique

Quebec City Summer Festival unveils official line-up

The official line-up for the Quebec City Summer Festival (Festival d’été de Québec) was announced today, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from the massive concert series taking place July 7-17.

Festival organizers announced earlier this month that Elton John will be headlining on July 9 and Metallica will take the stage on July 16. Other previously announced acts include Cage the Elephant, Girl Talk and The Black Keys on July 10, and Thomas Fersen on July 17.

With a few artists still to be confirmed, the roster is already full of big-name acts, including Buddy Guy, John Fogerty, Marianne Faithfull, Joe Satriani, Matt Schofield, Ben Harper, Wanda Jackson, Dropick Murphys, Emilie Clepper, 10 Years, Hollywood Undead, Simple Plan, Jonas, Death From Above 1979, Duchess Says, Cut Copy, Buck 65, and The Low Anthem.

Francophone artists are also well-represented with Marie-Mai, Éric Lapointe, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Champion et ses G-Strings, Karkwa, Malajube, Les Charbonniers de l’enfer, Michel Pagliaro, Grand Corps Malade, Patrick Norman, Gaëtan Roussel, Booba, Gatineau and many more.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday (April 30). A $65 pass provides access to all festival events, and single-evening tickets will be available for $30 each.

 

 

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Musique

Elton John rejoins Celine in Las Vegas

British musician Elton John, who performed 241 concerts in Las Vegas between 2005 and 2009 as part of a first residency concert series entitled The Red Piano, is returning to the gambling capital to begin a new 3-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

As a new father, John may have decided to take Celine Dion’s advice to heart. As the new mother of twins, Dion recommends residency shows in Vegas as a way to spend more time with family instead of touring on the road. On Christmas Day last year, John and partner David Furnish became parents to their son, Zachary, born via a surrogate.

The new concert series is entitled The Million Dollar Piano, in honor of a piano that Yamaha has been working on for the last four years especially for the show.

The 2011 concert series will debut September 28 with 16 concerts planned through to October 23. The number of shows for 2012 and 2013 are still unknown at this time. During his first stay in Las Vegas, 75 concerts were planned over three years, however, the demand was so great that his stay was stretched over five years, with a total of 241 performances.

John will be accompanied by his band, which includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums and Kim Bullard on keyboards with a special appearance by percussionist Ray Cooper.

Tickets for the first 16 concerts go on sale next Monday (April 25).

Categories
Musique

News April 15 – Neil Young tribute charity DVD launches May 31

 

Last year at the MusiCares concert, a group of artists met to pay tribute to one of the greatest rockers, Canadian Neil Young, 65, reports Gibson.

Now the all-star covers will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on May 31. Named Person of the Year, last year the organization celebrated his lengthy career with a tribute performance by artists like Elton John, Elvis Costello, Keith Urban, John Fogerty, Booker T. Jones, Lady Antebellum, and Dave Matthews among others

All proceeds from the sale will go to MusiCares Foundadtion, which was established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to give musicians a place to turn to, in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis. Programs include emergency financial assistance, addiction recovery, outreach and leadership activities, and seniors’ housing.

The full DVD tracklist for A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young:

1. Keith Urban, John Fogerty and Booker T. Jones: “Rockin’ in the Free World”
2. Lady Antebellum: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
3. Dave Matthews: “The Needle and the Damage Done”
4. Norah Jones: “Tell Me Why”
5. Dierks Bentley and Booker T. Jones: “Cinnamon Girl”
6. Josh Groban: “Harvest Moon”
7. Ben Harper: “Ohio”
8. Jackson Browne: “Don’t Let it Bring You Down”
9. Wilco: “Broken Arrow”
10. Jason Mraz and Shawn Colvin: “Lotta Love”
11. Elvis Costello: “(When You’re On) The Losing End”
12. James Taylor: “Heart of Gold”
13. John Mellencamp and T-Bone Burnett: “Down By the River”
14. Crosby, Stills & Nash: “Human Highway”
15. Elton John, Leon Russell, Neko Case and Sheryl Crow: “Helpless”
16. Ozomatli: “Mr. Soul”*
17. Everest: “Revolution Blues”*

*Indicates bonus performances

 

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Musique

Elton John to play Quebec this summer?

Legendary musician Elton John is rumored to be headlining the show on July 9 according to a leak from the organizers of the upcoming Quebec City Summer Festival (Festival d’été de Québec) , reports Le Soleil.

The official announcement is expected this afternoon (April 13) at a press event, however, their newsfeed yesterday let slip that that Elton John would be performing on the Plains of Abraham on July 9.

The show organizers would not confirm or deny the news until the press conference this afternoon. If true, it will be the first time in a decade that the legendary British singer-songwriter has played in Quebec.

The full and final line-up for the 2011 festival is expected to be announced soon. So far, Cage the Elephant, Girl Talk and The Black Keys are confirmed for July 10, and Thomas Fersen is confirmed for July 17, according to the festival website.

About 1.5 million people attend the festival each year. The eleven-day extravaganza includes more than 1,000 artists performing almost 300 shows at 12 venues throughout the city.

 

Categories
Musique

Metallica and Elton John at Quebec’s Summer Festival?

As anxious fans wait for the official line-up to be announced, Metallica and Elton John are two of the most-mentioned names rumored to be performing at the upcoming Quebec City Summer Festival (Festival d’été de Québec), taking place July 7-17 this year.

Although a stretch, such major acts are not completely out of the reach of the massive festival, which has, in the past, booked popular artists such as ZZ Top, Simple Plan, Billy Talent, Kanye West, Nickelback, Rush, Plácido Domingo, Sting and Loreena McKennitt among many others.

In 2008, for Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, festival organizer Daniel Gélinas was even able to book former Beatle Paul McCartney and Quebec’s own Céline Dion.

The final line-up for the 2011 festival is expected to be announced soon. So far, Cage the Elephant, Girl Talk and The Black Keys are confirmed for July 10, and Thomas Fersen is confirmed for July 17, according to the festival website.

About 1.5 million people attend the festival each year. The eleven-day extravaganza includes more than 1,000 artists performing almost 300 shows at 12 venues throughout the city.

Categories
Musique

Matthew Morrison debut album features Gwyneth Paltrow, Elton John

Glee star Matthew Morrison has recruited actress Gwyneth Paltrow and pop star Elton John to feature on his debut solo album, due out May 10, reports MTV.

As TV glee club coach Will Schuester, Morrison has previously dueted with Paltrow when she was a guest on the show. During Paltrow’s first appearance, the two performed a mash-up of Rihanna’s Umbrella and the classic Broadway number Singing in the Rain – and during a recent episode, they paired up again to perform a cover of Prince’s Kiss.

The two will record a duet of Over the Rainbow, a song which Morrison has become known for ever since his performance won him a Glee audition. The singer-actor went on to perform the famous tune for the season one finale.

"I wanted to do a duet with a female. I thought that was a good song to do, and we really did a different arrangement of it," Morrison explained. "It’s a lot of strings, and it’s beautiful."

Along with Paltrow, Sir Elton John, and N’Sync member JC Chasez are also lined up to feature on the as-yet-untitled album.

"The hardest part of doing this album was asking these people favors, like Elton [John]…," revealed Morrison. "I’m so not that guy."