Music review: Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin鈥�
Music icon Elton John will be drawing the satin curtains to a graceful close with a farewell tour that will eventually lead him along the Yellow Brick Road to retirement.
With John鈥檚 final bow approaching, several notable pop and rock artists pay a savory tribute to the man and his longtime writing partner, Bernie Taupin.
I鈥檝e been a huge fan of John since the day I heard my oldest brother playing 1972鈥檚 鈥淗onky Chateau.鈥� 鈥淕oodbye Yellow Brick Road鈥� was the next album to capture my attention. To this day, 鈥淔uneral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding鈥� still gives me goosebumps when I hear it.
However, it was with the release of 1975鈥檚 鈥淐aptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy鈥� that I truly began to understand the genius of John and Taupin. I can still sing every word to every song on this masterpiece that outlines the duo鈥檚 musical struggles and ultimate rise to superstardom.
For me, 鈥淩evamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin鈥� is a bittersweet listening experience.
The list of artists lending their signature style to reinterpret these classic John and Taupin tunes is certainly impressive.
After a rocky start on the opener 鈥淏ennie and the Jets,鈥� performed by the trio of John, Pink and Logic, I was hesitant to venture any further as I suddenly had the urge to dig through my music catalog and pull out 鈥淢adman Across the Water鈥� and lose myself in a little slice of heaven from 1971.
Determined to continue on, I was rewarded with some moving performances that should satisfy fans of the flamboyant Englishman.
Coldplay鈥檚 version of 鈥淲e All Fall in Love Sometimes鈥� matches the blue mood of the original. Ed Sheeran replaces the piano for acoustic guitar and provides a folkish vibe to 鈥淐andle in the Wind.鈥� Brandon Flowers masterfully navigates the stirring 鈥淢ona Lisas and Mad Hatters鈥� by staying true to the original with minimal modifications to this classic.
Other highlights include 鈥淕oodbye Yellow Brick Road鈥� offered by Queens of the Stone Age, 鈥淒aniel鈥� tenderly performed by Sam Smith and a mesmerizing version of 鈥淭iny Dancer鈥� by Florence + the Machine.
As much as it pains me to write this, the spotlight moment comes with Miley Cyrus simply crushing 鈥淒on鈥檛 Let the Sun Go Down on Me.鈥� Let鈥檚 face it, the woman might be a hot mess most of the time, but she certainly can sing.
The sun might be slowly going down on the British legend, but area fans will have the chance to catch him one last time when he makes a Pittsburgh appearance on October 10 at PPG Paints Arena.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.