I saw Elton John play at The Meadows in Hartford several years back. I was really surprised at how good a show he puts on. He played non stop for over three hours.
I would think a guy like him could get away with playing for an hour, doing a quick encore and bugging out of there. But no, he played and sung his ass off. It was definitely a great experience.
And this is coming from a guy who really didn't like him for most of my life. My ex wife wanted to go and I got the tickets for free from a friend who was a ticket broker.
I saw Elton John play at The Meadows in Hartford several years back. I was really surprised at how good a show he puts on. He played non stop for over three hours.
I would think a guy like him could get away with playing for an hour, doing a quick encore and bugging out of there. But no, he played and sung his ass off. It was definitely a great experience.
And this is coming from a guy who really didn't like him for most of my life. My ex wife wanted to go and I got the tickets for free from a friend who was a ticket broker.
I saw him live once too!! You are right, he DOES put on a show, and gave your moneys worth.
At that time, everyone was wild about him. You could cut the air of anticipation waiting for his next song. Then, he'd play one chord. Boom. That of Benny and the Jets, and the whole place erupted in craziness!!! It was fabulous! People screaming and singing and shouting at others to shut up and the 'smokers' ? just enjoying the whole deal. Fun.
"Friends" came out of that same era. I always think of Taupin's line "it seems to me a crime that we should age" whenever I see old friends from high school.
In fact, I remember first thinking this IN high school about friends who looked terribly old to me then already, as this song came out when I was a sixth grader or thereabouts.
Another homerun of a song Sam! 6th grade? Oh man. LOL! I do remember cramming 5 of us in a Toyota Corona and driving the 9 miles to 'THE' Taco Bell, and singing the chorus of this one at the top of our lungs. I think we almost tipped the car over. LOL!
I found a comment to this song on this site that sums up how I feel about it and that period of the John/Taupin collaboration as well:
Such a simple thing - to honor one's friends. This song touches me in a personal way that today still holds its effect on my life. I sang this 30 years ago with my now wife of 27 years. And, when I hear it today it still moves me. This comes out of a period of Elton John's music that exemplifies purity of thought in music. Elton and Bernie are the epitome of perfection in lyric and melody, and I am glad to have found this song so long ago.
For some reason this reminds me of Christ as he prepared to face the cross. He told his disciples that he no longer considered them servants. Instead:
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." — John 15:15
“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston
I hope the day will be a lighter highway For friends are found on every road Can you ever think of any better way For the lost and weary travellers to go
Making friends for the world to see Let the people know you got what you need With a friend at hand you will see the light If your friends are there then everything's all right
It seems to me a crime that we should age These fragile times should never slip us by A time you never can or shall erase As friends together watch their childhood fly