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Sir Elton Comes Out for Hillary; Guess Which Song She Mentions
As
someone who genuinely enjoys pre-knighted Elton John music from his
'70s heyday, I can think of any number of Reggie Dwight-Bernie
Taupin tunes that might cover this situation. None is mentioned
below, though Sen. Clinton's invocation of "I'm Still Standing"
below is the worst mention of a song by a politico since Sen. Bill
Bradley once announced lunch for a bunch of New Jersey high school
newspaper editors circa 1981 by announcing to the Springsteen-savvy
crowd that "everybody
has a hungry heart."
Sez the BBC:
Pop star Sir Elton John has raised $2.5m (£1.3m) for Hillary Clinton's US presidential campaign with a concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
Former president Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea joined the former first lady at the gig.
Senator Clinton, who is fighting Barack Obama to become the Democratic party's candidate, said: "I'm still standing"—a nod to Sir Elton's 1983 hit song.
The singer told the crowd: "There is no-one more qualified to lead America."
He also accused people who think Mrs Clinton is an unsuitable candidate of being sexist.
"I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country, and I say to hell with them," he told the crowd.
"I love you Hillary, I'll be there for you."
I mention this story because a) I find celebrity endorsements/anti-endorsements genuinely hilarious (how many votes did David Crosby throw Bush's way by announcing he'd leave for Canada if the Texan beat Al Gore in 2000)?; b) I am genuinely interested in what sort of dinosaur rawk stars will come out for Barack Obama and John McCain (what are The Spokesmen up to these days?); c) I genuinely would have voted for Hillary if she had quipped instead, "I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue," and d) It's a genuine opportunity to link yet again to the ultimate Shatnerian triumph of style, substance, and schmaltz, a.k.a. his dramatic reading of Elton John's "Rocket Man" (pronounced rock-IT maaan):
|4.10.08 @ 7:59AM|#
Ouch, way to lose some cool points Gillespie. You may as well have written that you genuinely enjoy listening to Queen.
Untermensch|4.10.08 @ 8:11AM|#
Have to confess that I didn't know the lyrics for "I'm still standing," so I looked them up and have to concur that invoking that song is pretty strange unless Hillary wanted to tell the Democratic party that she's through with them or that she's moved on to the Republicans because the Dems didn't treat her right by just handing her a crown...
|4.10.08 @ 8:35AM|#
Wow, I'm trying to figure out exactly what demographic Elton's endorsement will deliver to Hillary.
Episiarch|4.10.08 @ 8:39AM|#
Nick, you rule. Tying Shatner into anything is an imperative. Next, you need to tie in Impulse using a Harold Sakata/Bond connection. Somehow.
Brett|4.10.08 @ 8:41AM|#
I guess "The Bitch is Back" was too easy.
Guess I lose cool points too, b/c 70's Elton is good stuff. "I'm
Still Standing", not so much, but it was featured the only time I
saw him in concert (late 80's).
Elemenope|4.10.08 @ 8:58AM|#
In the words of a SHatner character:
"That's what's so great about this country. Anyone can be
president. But not Hillary! -- She wins, I puke."
|4.10.08 @ 9:04AM|#
He also accused people who think Mrs Clinton is an
unsuitable candidate of being sexist.
His insight and thoughtfulness is staggering. I always admire
musicians for that.
|4.10.08 @ 9:05AM|#
That Shatner video cracks me right the hell up, every
time.
Good way to start my morning, Nick. Thanks!
|4.10.08 @ 9:29AM|#
"I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people
in this country, and I say to hell with them," he told the
crowd.
Obama supporters are misogynistic.
Clinton supporters are racist.
I guess the multitudes (hundreds?) of Edwards supporters are
both.
Damn it sure must be tough to be a Democrat these days.
|4.10.08 @ 9:30AM|#
I genuinely would have voted for Hillary if she had quipped
instead, "I get high in the evening sniffing pots of
glue,"
Oh yes Nick, I agree. In fact I think that should be the new
pledge. I pledge that I will vote for any candidate who publicly
quips ""I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue".
Will you take the pledge?
D.A. Ridgely|4.10.08 @ 9:33AM|#
Wow, I'm trying to figure out exactly what demographic
Elton's endorsement will deliver to Hillary.
The West Village?
Episiarch|4.10.08 @ 9:39AM|#
"I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the
people in this country, and I say to hell with them," he told the
crowd.
It's amazing what the voices in celebrities' heads tell them.
|4.10.08 @ 9:59AM|#
Wow, look at the young Nick Gillespie as the brooding,
standing-up guy in The Spokesmen.
http://www.atomicplatters.com/images/spokesmen_cvr_510.jpg
|4.10.08 @ 10:54AM|#
"I love you Hillary, I'll be there for you."
These five words I swear to you!
When you breathe, I want to...
Oh, sorry, that's Bon Jovi.
|4.10.08 @ 10:56AM|#
Three surviving members of the Grateful Dead played a "Rock for Barack" benefit before the California primary. They discreetly opted not to play "Casey Jones".
|4.10.08 @ 10:57AM|#
I want to know who said, "honky". It has obama as the writer. Look and see. Im pissed!
|4.10.08 @ 11:02AM|#
ok John Jackson. You are a homosexual hater. People will get you for this. The gay communities will be commenting. What a looser you are. Has any of your family members come out of the closet yet? Feed on that!
|4.10.08 @ 11:25AM|#
Love "Rocket Man", but I think the emotion Shatner brought to his beautiful rendition of Taxi makes that cover slightly better. And of course his masterful cover of "Common People" remains his magnum opus. "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" was a complete flop, while I rate "It Was A Very Good Year" as merely adequate (here, the almost spoken word nature of Sinatra's original really cut in to Shatner's ability to make a unique contribution).
ed|4.10.08 @ 11:39AM|#
Is anybody else totally creeped out by that
picture?
On the contrary, I didn't realize Hillary had such a pretty
mouth.
Episiarch|4.10.08 @ 11:46AM|#
FatDrunkAndStupid, don't forget the desperation he brought to Tambourine Man. Now that's a contribution.
BakedPenguin|4.10.08 @ 11:51AM|#
He also accused people who think Mrs Clinton is an unsuitable candidate of being sexist... "I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country..."
Following that logic, if he found out what I thought of his last 10
albums, he'd be amazed by my homophobic attitude...
|4.10.08 @ 12:05PM|#
"He also accused people who think Mrs Clinton is an unsuitable
candidate of being sexist."
Does that mean that if anybody doesn't like Elton John's music,
they must be homophobic?
the innominate one|4.10.08 @ 12:13PM|#
dbcooper | April 10, 2008, 7:59am | #
Ouch, way to lose some cool points Gillespie. You may as well have
written that you genuinely enjoy listening to Queen.
well, he did admit that he genuinely enjoys listening to a
queen.
The definitive Shatner cover performance/ interpretation is when he
covered Guns 'n Roses' "You Should Be Mine" and Color Me Badd's "I
Wanna Sex You Up" at the First MTV Peoples' Choice Movie Awards,
hosted by the then-excellent, now-pathetic Dennis Miller.
Anyone who has a link to the video I'm referencing, please post it.
Thanks.
the innominate one|4.10.08 @ 12:17PM|#
well, he did admit that he genuinely enjoys listening to a queen....not that there's anything wrong with that
|4.10.08 @ 12:46PM|#
I am genuinely interested in what sort of dinosaur rawk
stars will come out for Barack Obama and John McCain
For McCain, the only musician I can see endorsing him would be Tony
Benett.
|4.10.08 @ 2:15PM|#
"For McCain, the only musician I can see endorsing him would be
Tony Benett."
I'd like to leave McCain in San Francisco, or Bowlegs, Oklahoma, or
anywhere, just keep him out of the White House.
|4.10.08 @ 3:44PM|#
Divide & Kreate improved "Rocket Man" immensely by mashing it up with Europe's "Final Countdown." Seriously!
Kevin Carson|4.10.08 @ 11:43PM|#
I look forward to the day when he records a "Candle in the Wind" tribute for her. I hope it comes soon.
Apaulogist|4.11.08 @ 2:27AM|#
The Bitch is Back spring immediately to mind.
BTW, I enjoy listening to Queen. What's the big deal? Freddy may
have been a flaming gay camel jockey, but the man had the
pipes.
NoStar|4.11.08 @ 12:07PM|#
Jake Boone,
Thanks for sharing that mashup. As a former professional musician,
I am amazed at how well that was done.
NS
|4.11.08 @ 1:37PM|#
I look forward to the day when he records a "Candle in the Wind" tribute for her. I hope it comes soon.
That's an Elton John song I'd listen to. :)
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