10 Elton John Songs Playing On Repeat

As I've written a few posts ago, I just watched the Sir Elton John biopic, "Rocket Man" due to the lengthy lockdown we have been having due to the Coronavirus scare.

Not only was I given the chance of viewing the film, I also had the chance of being introduced to other Elton John songs I haven't really given any attention before. 

Here are other Elton John and Bernie Taupin masterpieces I've completely been under the influence of during the past few days. 

1. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

I first heard this song on Elton John's Live Aid performance with George Michael, and again on the Music for Montserrat concert. 

2. Tiny Dancer

3. Crocodile Rock

4. The Bitch Is Back

5. I Want Love

6. Saturday's Night Alright (For Fighting) 

7. I'm Gonna Love Me Again

8. Rocket Man

9. We All Fall In Love Sometimes

10. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

MOVIE REVIEW: Rocketman

Due to the extensive community quarantine, we have been having, I finally had the chance to watch "Rocketman", the Elton John biopic, on a Saturday night. 

"Rocketman" movie poster starring Taron Egerton as Sir Elton John from Forbes.com

After "Bohemian Rhapsody", the Freddie Mercury biopic, received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, came another biopic of a music legend. This time it was the biopic of Sir Elton John, a world-renowned musician responsible for hits such as "Your Song", "Skyline Pigeon", and "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" among many other songs that he and composer Bernie Taupin have contributed to the music industry for more than half of a century.

The film was not exactly what I expected it would be. It was more of a (A) musical film rather than a (B) film filled with musical numbers. I don't know how to better distinguish the two other than explaining what differentiates A from B.

Take for example the movie "Sing Street". This movie featured an up-and-coming band in the era of the New Wave trying to make their entry in the music scene. The musical numbers were stitched into the narrative and the band was shown playing their instruments that accompanied the songs. To cut it short, there were no multiple narratives in one song number, no characters were dancing to the songs as if they were in a musical play. That would be B.

Otherwise, it would be A, which was what "Rocketman" was. And I thought it helped in telling a complicated story easier and it also helped to squeeze in storylines in the time allotted for the movie.

What differs "Rocketman" from "Bohemian Rhapsody" was the timeline considered for the main characters, Elton John and Freddie Mercury respectively. "Bohemian Rhapsody" opted to have the Live Aid performance as the conclusion of the film. That made it hard to squeeze in 15 years, more or less, worth of backstory to cover the rise of Queen. This also created the solution of stating a false story with regards to the timeline of Freddie Mercury's illness, just to make up for a good comeback story of the band via Live Aid.

As for "Rocketman", it had a good set up for the conclusion right from the start. We already knew Elton John was seeking the help of a support group, making the conflict present already in the beginning. What we didn't know were his reasons for reaching out to the support group. And these reasons were presented afterward. It was also a good choice not to make the conclusion in any way linked to Elton John's Live Aid performance, which was also one of the best performances from the event.

As for the accuracy of the movie's events, I couldn't react to the matter because I haven't checked about it. Although I have been listening to Elton John since I was a kid, I had not been into the details of his life outside his music.

With regard to the acting, Taron Egerton made a very good job of playing Elton John. What made viewers convinced that he was playing Elton John was the acting primarily. The looks and outside appearance were just confirmations that he was indeed Reggie Dwight.

With all these biopic films being made, especially with the rumors for the David Bowie one, I'd really be expecting a Live Aid documentary/film someday. Tall order though.

On an additional note, it was really inspiring to see the songwriting relationship between Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was amazing to know that the song's words and music were written separately but were still a perfect fit when bound together. 

The best day of the week to watch this film? How about Saturday night? Why so? 

"Saturday's night alright for fighting, get a little action in!" 

"My Own Shit"

Jason Mraz released a much-awaited studio album in 2018 called "Know" and it was his sixth. However, only 10 songs made it in the album’s tracklist. Other gems from the singer/songwriter’s roster had to be still unreleased. One of those unreleased gems was a song called “My Own Shit”.

Jason Mraz from redandblack.com

LINK FROM YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ8mWOb3Pro

Judging from the title, it was not very radio-friendly with regards to the profanity of the word “shit”. In line with this, a song from that album called “Unlonely” used the word “fruck” to disguise some other word that rhymes with it. Going beyond the title, one would really feel the emotion running through the course of the whole song. I would say that “My Own Shit” could humanize whoever is singing along with it.

With only audience recordings of the song’s rare performance available, it could be said that non-concertgoers like me would be able to grasp the meaning of the song.

The song starts off with these lines.

“Everybody’s got a little bit of their own

I got voices inside

And I got fears I still hide

I’m gonna break down sometimes

‘Cause I got tears I must cry

I’ve got wrongs I get to right

Truth be told I’ve told some lies

I’ve got friends I’ve got to find

And I still need to apologize…”

Soon after, Jason leads us to this wonderful chorus.

“Everybody's got, everybody's got

Everybody's got their demons

Everybody got their reasons

Everybody goes to seasons

Trying to hold on

Everybody’s got their own shit

Everybody's got to own it

Everybody's got those hardships they're trying to let go of

I've got my own”

The song tells us about the struggle present in one’s life. There are conflicts involving friends, parents and families, and even lovers. But as for me, the most difficult one to handle would be the conflicts that one could have with their own self. Those inner demons can damage you more than anything else, and eventually be the roots of the conflicts one is bound to have with some, if not all, of the relationships and interactions needed for harmonious living.

It can be very challenging to admit that you have issues and roots of conflicts within you. What can make it work is knowing that “everybody’s got a little bit of their own”. Knowing that we all experience problems though they may not be entirely similar. It is not about the joy knowing that there is somebody else feeling the same agony that you feel, but it is instead about the thought that you are not alone. “I am not the only one who is still a work in progress.”

The worst thing that one can feel after acknowledging the existence of his/her demons and conflicts is the feeling of being alone. One shall not be a lone fighter in this world. One cannot overcome his battles alone. Being there for someone can be really instrumental in accomplishing that work in progress.

The Greatest Love Song of All Time

Love, this one's for you to read. Give the song a listen.

Love has been the subject of different songs from different genres. Still, for me, one song has stood out over that crowded room of love songs for the people that we love.

"Something" by, arguably, the greatest band of all time, The Beatles, was written by guitarist George Harrison. This song was featured on the group 1969 album, Abbey Road. (By the way, congratulations to the Beatles! And to Beatles fans also. The anniversary release of Abbey Road has been #1 on the charts! For a band that has broken up decades ago, that's something!)  Although the title could sound vague, it could be a reflection that love could be really vague, and uncertain, but still be love.

George Harrison from The Beatles' promo video for "Something" from beatlesebooks.com

Regarded by some as George Harrison's song to his wife during that era, Pattie Boyd. However, Harrison claimed in interviews during that '70s that the inspiration was just love in general.

The song starts by saying that there is something in the way she moves that attracts him like no other. For a lot of us, love starts when we start to be attracted to someone in whatever form we can be. We do not know the reason, nor do we know how it happened; but the thing is, we are being pulled deep into the attraction. And as lovers, we want it.

The second stanza opens up and implies that there is an existing interaction. The smile, as implied by the line "That I don't need no other lover", says that the woman is secured enough to know that the lover may be contented, faithful, and at least, happy being with her and seeing that something in her smile.

However, we are given a sort of a little tension in the interaction of the two, the relationship. Just as most lovers do, the characters in the song also experienced the struggle of being with another person - the adjustments, the compromises, and the drive to keep the smile on each others faces.

"You're asking me will my love grow

I don't know, I don't know

You stick around and it may show

I don't know, I don't know"

In terms of love, we do not really have a vision of what will happen between us and our lovers. The best that we can have is a projection of what can happen, of what we want to be the reflection of our love. Will my love grow? I don't know. Will I ever grow as a person, as one-half of this relationship? I don't know. Despite all that, I hope you will still stick around.

The last stanza drives us back to the reality that love is still having its effect on love. Love is sure that love is more than enough. Going back to the stanzas, the way that she woos, her style, and the things that she shows - these are enough for her lover to go head over heels for her.

"I don't want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how"

That is really something, and that is called love.

Are You Up For Not Giving Up?

The past few months have been filled with lots of hope for most Jason Mraz fans. As of this day, two songs have been available for us to listen to, "Have It All" and "Unlonely", with bits of news about the new album "Know".  

Aside from that, tour dates until December have been announced as well.

Jason Mraz is widely known as the singer/songwriter of the 2008 hit song "I'm Yours" and this song probably has displayed his positive outlook on love and life best among his long roster of songs. Good vibes!

Like most fans, it has been a habit of me to watch videos of his live performances on YouTube and of course, read comments. This one comment has gotten my attention ever since.

It's non-verbatim but it's mostly like this. It talked something about Jason Mraz songwriting. According to the statement, the singer/songwriter's recent songs have all been about being happy, staying happy and living a sadness-free life with love.

So what do I have to say about that?

Gone are the less-happy Jason Mraz songs that fans have both listened and cried to like "Absolutely Zero" and "The Boy Is Gone".

On the last album "Yes!", the only song that could fall on that category is "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" (Boyz II Men cover) since "A World With You" could be the little brother of "A Beautiful Mess" for me and still covered the subject of living life with someone you love through the ups and downs.

In his set at the 2016 Bonnaroo, he sang four new songs - "Work In Progress", "More Than Friends", "Chocolate", and "The Man Who Planted Trees". They were still jolly and easy-to-sing-along-to songs except for the last one.

Do I have an issue with him releasing songs that seek to spread the good vibes and positive outlook that he has? Not at all. In this world of endless catastrophes and inevitable perils, what we need are sources of inspiration and motivation to still move forward even if times are hard. Especially if times are hard.

His continuous supplication of songs that seek to uplift us is a sign that he is a very generous person. He continually gives us the inspiration to still get back up after a beating and to rise up after falling down multiple times.

Sometimes, we don't need to be reminded of the tragedies that we have in life, especially when we already know how tragic our life has become. Being reminded of those things through songs could either backfire or inspire. We wouldn't know. 

Being reminded of the good things in life, being appreciative, and at the same time, being compassionate would only lead to one thing:  a stress-free life.

That would be the event more often than not. So why wouldn't we want to stick with that?

Jason Still Has It All

Four years after the events of "Yes!" Jason Mraz has finally released a new single and guess what, folks, hints regarding the follow-up album and tour have also surfaced! Yes!

"Have It All" is the title of the new Jason Mraz studio single, the first one since "Love Someone" from "Yes!". Since its release days ago, this song has proven that our heat-loving friend still has it all indeed - the musicality, the wordplay, and the positivity. 

It is not a fancy song. It has no tricks nor hidden agendas. Instead, it is a treat for all of us who have been waiting for the next Jason Mraz album and concert tour. It is just a simple, easy-to-listen-to song which is the trademark of a bona fide Jason Mraz song.

It's not easy-to-sing-along though because of Jason's very playful wordplay unless it's on repeat on your music player (just like what I do). 

Based on the music video and if you are an avid Jason Mraz listener, you'd easily know that Raining Jane is a part of this song. That might mean that there would be fewer chances of having the fan-favorite Jason & Toca moment on the stage with just a guitar, a djembe, and their voices.

Nevertheless, any Jason Mraz news is a good news that fans like me would always look forward to. I hope that by 2019, Manila will be a part of their concert tour for that new music.

Here is the song from his YouTube channel, give it a listen and tell me what it does to you. Good vibes, folks!





"Have It All" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkTu8Y1KLs