Elton John Calls Today's Songwriters 'Pretty Awful'

Came across this Random Note:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/223518

For the most part, Elton is right. There are a few well written songs out there. But in general, the writing is pretty awful.

I have to say... I constantly marvel at how Elton would take a lyric of Bernie's, which was fine, but nothing amazing... how Elton would turn that prose into... Elton John songs. Some very amazing songs at that.

If anyone knows today's state, Elton does. He's not particularly a get off my lawn sort of guy from what I've seen. He is full of praise for some current writers. But by and large, I agree, they ain't what they used to be.

Who could ever forget:

Don't give us none of your aggravation

We had it with your discipline

Saturday night's alright for fighting

Get a little action in

Get about as oiled as a diesel train

Gonna set this dance alight

'Cause Saturday night's the night I like

Saturday night's alright, alright, alright

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, night's alright

. . . , rinse and repeat.

Elton John is ok, but Bernie Taupin is quite possibly my least favorite well known lyricist. :vomit:

He is now.

GET OFF MY LAWN, ELTON JOHN.

Mainstream pop is in one of those lull's it hits every few years. It'll bounce back. Always does.

And whatever the old cogger says - a lot of really great, kicking tunes have done well this year. Songs as good as anything that's ever charted: Katy Perry's California Gurls (and before you cast the first stone, Google what the Legend Himself Brian Wilson has to say about this gem), Lady Gaga's Bad Romance, Tik Tok by Kesha, Black Key's Tighten Up. Last year: Jay-Z's New York State of Mind, Beyonce's Single Ladies, My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson, Day n Nite by Kid Cudi, Zac Brown's Chicken Fried, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz... many many more...

And EJ should watch his mouth. His stuff has been tired for years. And being Rush Limbaugh's little Birthday Surprise is "pretty awful" way to destroy your credibility as an elder statesman of pop.

I'm 53, but fed up with older musicians bemoaning how things suck nowadays. They're a bunch of curmudgeons. Elton is no doubt a very capable musician and songwriter, but there was plenty of crap in the 70s. Always has been, always will.

And today, surprise, surprise, there's plenty of crap too. Today, there's more crap and more hidden jewels. It's up to the discerning ear to search out the good stuff, but please stop this revisionist nostalgia.

To be fair, the overwhelming majority of pop during Elton's heyday was pretty awful, too. It's just that the worst of it has been mercifully forgotten.

EG

I can't say I was ever particularly crazy about EJ, although there were a few things that did grab me. I certainly liked the haunted quality of "Madman Across the Water."

He was, of course, enormously popular in the 70s, and the relentlessness of that kind of celebrity and ubiquity becomes pretty wearing when you're not a fan. Any girl who didn't like EJ got an extra five points in my book.

That doesn't endear the current radio fodder to me, though.

Then again, I haven't liked the radio fodder of the moment since the sixties. And I was pretty impatient with that, for the most part. I liked the real underground radio and when it got coopted into an organ of the music industry by the big broadcasters going into the 70s, I knew we were on the slippery slope.

I'm older. But I'm with ya on that one.

I think most people's taste is pretty shallow when they are younger, and gets meatier as they gain life experience. But the average level of lyrical excellence in the popular music realm as a whole remains relatively consistent across time.

BOOOOOOOOO! Come on!!?? Jamaica Jerk Off? Where do you get good music like that these days? "Nowhere" that's where...

Wow. I think you guys are reading way too much into the article. As you said, Todd, EJ has been at it a while. I don't see his comments as disrespectful to the current crop of writers. I see it as an off the cuff remark made in the same spirit that every one of you guys here (myself included) has made a time or two whether you remember thinking/saying it or not.

Of course he overstated the point. Of course he contradicts himself within 2 paragraphs. But honestly, I can't think of a current, young writer doing things in pop rock with the innovation EJ did. I think the current crop of writers needs a kick in the nads. Go Elton.

Say what you will about some of his output, EJ's way with prosody, melodic sense, arranging, during his 70's period is unique as it is great. Things lacking in today's climate.

I don't consider myself a curmudgeon. I don't take Elton's comments that way either. I think he's right. Young writers need to step it up. He has demonstrated time and again his interest in younger writers and musicians. He's not a pissed off old queen, he's an elder statesman of the craft, stating his very well informed opinion.

Guys, I agree that as we get older, it's important to stay plugged in. To not distance ourselves for younger talent. But... I also believe in calling out the truth I we see fit. This isn't GET OFF MY LAWN, this is a call to arms.

Maybe he should've died young?

Naw. I don't like fan threads either. I don't have to be a fan of John Prine's to recognize his abilities and respect his insights. I'm not a fan of his. But, if he were to be the person stating the Elton quotes, I'd consider the source and see his point. Just as I have with EJ's.

It's not, do I like the artist, it's rather, is the artist qualified to make that statement with authority. I don't like Prine but believe he has the authority to make those statements.

As I believe EJ does. Regardless of who I "like" as a fan.

I actually deleted my post before your post had appeared (can-o-worms; though I certainly would not have deleted it had it been from someone else), but I'm totally agreed that EJ -- like him or lump him -- is high on the list of those qualified to way in on pop music.

His charms may have worn beyond thin for this listener, but he was, as I noted above, enormously popular in the 70s and even a little into the 80s and had a huge string of hits.

He's certainly more qualified to weigh in on pop fodder than me. (But then I tend to agree with him, so, you know.)

You know I heard Elton John is gay? I don't believe it though. He actually resides in Atlanta, not too far from me.

My daughter runs his record companie's office in NYC.....She met him and Bernie Taupin the night before last.

and no....I can't take your demo.....

I may be older still........though not as old as His Blueness, of course.......

I recall enjoying Tumbleweed Connection.....but, more to the point, I guess Elton has been around long enough to establish enough credibility to make such statements.

I have to agree that every 'era' has had its good, bad and ugly.

You may be right that we anti-curmudgeon curmudgeons are seeing this fairly glib comment as a lightening rod for similar dismissive generalizations. And I certainly didn't mean to disparage Elton's ouevre (I still think Benny and the Jets is awesomeness supreme). But I think anyone who makes a generalized statement about today's music, today's songwriters or today's musicians is really making a statement about their own laziness in not searching through current offerings (which I contend are more diverse than any other time in human history) than successfully branding a single musical zeitgeist.

You're a smart dude, Mr. Tod.

Undeniably true. Low cost integrated circuit fabrication + modern software engineering + Internet democratization of distribution and consumption FTMFW!

You're a smart dude, Mr. Tod.

No, I'm a dumbass who uses big words.

I'm a BIGass who uses dumb words.