Elton John
Page: 2
Elton John interviewed Joni Mitchell for his Apple Music 1 show on Saturday (Nov. 12), and the folk legend opened up about her legacy, performing at the Newport Folk Festival and more.
After telling Sir Elton she’s in the process of trying to release a live recording of her surprise performance at the festival this summer, Mitchell also revealed she “didn’t have any” rehearsal for what ended up being her first concert in two decades.
“And you stood up and played guitar,” John pointed out, to which she replied, ” Yeah, that I had to figure out what I did. And I couldn’t sing the key. I’ve become an alto, I’m not a soprano anymore, so I couldn’t sing the song. And I thought people might feel lighted that if I just played the guitar part but I like the guitar part to that song. So anyway, it was very well received, much to my delight.”
Mitchell also reflected on the impact of her early music from the folk movement of the 1960s and ’70s, as well as how she was compared to male singer-songwriters of the time. “At the time, no, I took a lot of flak if anything,” the singer said. “People thought that it was too intimate. It was almost like Dylan going electric.
“I think it upset the male singer/songwriters,” she continued. “They’d go, ‘Oh no. Do we have to bear our souls like this now?’ I think it made people nervous. More nervous than… It took to this generation — they seem to be able to face those emotions more easily than my generation.”
In the wake of her return to the stage, Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” re-entered the LyricFind U.S. and Global charts at No. 1. Next year, she’s set to join Brandi Carlile for their joint “Echoes Through the Canyon” shows at The Gorge in Washington state.
Watch clips from Elton’s interview with Mitchell below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Elton John is wrapping up the North American leg of his farewell tour, and tickets for the last few shows are still available. The 75-year-old British star will end the U.S. installment of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour with concerts at Chase Field in Phoenix this weekend, before wrapping up at Dodger’s Stadium in Los Angeles next week.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The Rocketman launched a final round of North American concerts in July and has played over 250 shows on the farewell tour. The jaunt has become the third biggest tour in history grossing a reported $661 million.
“Thank you for sharing this journey with me, I cherish these memories we’re making together,” John said in tour announcement video. “It’s been nothing short of incredible and I look forward to seeing you soon, one last time on my Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.”
The “Hold Me Closer” singer is slated to perform three consecutive nights at Dodger Stadium beginning next Thursday (Nov. 17). Tickets are reasonably priced at approximately $63-$69 for select dates. Fans can get passes at Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, Seat Geek, Stub Hub, etc.
Looking for tickets to the Phoenix show? You’re in luck! Tickets start at around $73 on Seat Geek and approximately $90 at Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, and Stub Hub.
The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour will head overseas to Australia and New Zealand in January, followed by dates in the U.K., including London’s O2 Arena, and other parts of Europe.
Click below to buy tickets.
Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour Tickets
$from $69
Elton John and Britney Spears unveiled a new remix of their single “Hold Me Closer” by Purple Disco Machine on Friday (Oct. 21).
The remix comes complete with an animated visualizer that depicts a couple dancing and embracing against an appropriately purple background as the two superstars croon, “I saw you dancin’ out the ocean/ Runnin’ fast along the sand/ A spirit born of earth and water/ Fire flyin’ from your hands/ Hold me closer, tiny dancer/ Count the headlights on the highway/ Lay me down in sheets of linen/ You had a busy day today.”
Interestingly, Spears’ vocals, in particular, take a much more prominent role in Purple Disco Machine’s version of the song than in the original mix, with the pop princess even treating fans to new ad libs throughout the bouncing track.
Purple Disco Machine’s reimagining of “Hold Me Closer” is actually the second remix treatment the song has received following English DJ and producer Joel Corry putting his own spin on the hit earlier this month.
Upon its August release, “Hold Me Closer” bowed at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Spears her highest entry on the chart since “Scream and Shout,” her 2012 collaboration with will.i.am, a full decade ago. Since then, the pop star has openly reveled in the song’s success, publicly thanking Sir Elton for giving her the confidence to get back in the studio for the first time in years.
Meanwhile, John’s ongoing farewell tour has officially become the third-biggest in history, grossing $661 million and counting.
Watch the music video for “Hold Me Closer (Purple Disco Machine Remix)” below.