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Post by Al Truest on Nov 12, 2003 14:34:45 GMT
I was just listening to this Elton John cover yesterday. Kate's reggae-modified treatment and arrangement of this is brilliant. It shows, to me at least, the time-released power of her talent. My favorites keep rotating, and I find some nuance that I had missed earlier.
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Post by Lori on Nov 12, 2003 15:09:55 GMT
I wouldn't've liked this song if I'd heard Elton John's version first. Kate's is completely different though, and I'd never heard it before. Since then though I've heard EJ's version. I was singing it in the car and my mum told me it was an Elton John song... never knew until then.
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Post by Adey on Feb 22, 2004 20:09:48 GMT
I do like Kate's version of this song, despite also being a big EJ admirer. It's value to me, is in it's radically different treatment, as well as having KB as the performer. If you're going to do a cover, I see little point in just recreating the original arrangement.
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Post by beth on May 12, 2005 9:49:49 GMT
I might be alone here, but I think the reggae treatment that our beloved kate gave Rocketman, was nothing shorted that dreadful. The terrible beat detracts from what would have otherwise been a beautiful rendition of the song.
...but the exception does prove the rule, all her other work is fault less in my eyes.
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Post by Adey on May 12, 2005 10:46:59 GMT
It took me a while to get into it Beth - I think of it now as more of a calypso treatment rather than out & out reggae. It will never be a favourite for me, but then again I love EJ's original.
Fairplay to Kate for trying such a radical arrangement, but the irony is that she is one of the few people that could have pulled off a more orthodox cover of the song.
Always thought it was an unlikely choice for her on the 2 Rooms project. It's such a masculine song after all. As for her arrangement of Candle in the Wind, well it never really gets started does it..
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Post by beth on May 12, 2005 12:05:22 GMT
Always thought it was an unlikely choice for her on the 2 Rooms project. It's such a masculine song after all. As for her arrangement of Candle in the Wind, well it never really gets started does it.. :nervous: I haven't heard that one... think I might give it a very wide bearth to be honest. Hate the original with a passion!
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Post by Xanadu on May 12, 2005 18:06:45 GMT
I was just listening to this Elton John cover yesterday. Kate's reggae-modified treatment and arrangement of this is brilliant. It shows, to me at least, the time-released power of her talent. My favorites keep rotating, and I find some nuance that I had missed earlier. As a matter of fact, I just heard this again a few days ago, and while at first I was a little skeptical, I really have grown to like it. I think it was very brave of her to arrange it that way... and her appreciation of EJ shines through... have you read the liner notes from the album? If not, I have it and can post it here if you'd like.
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W.HI.P
Moving
On the edge of the labyrinth
Posts: 561
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Post by W.HI.P on May 14, 2005 0:54:41 GMT
Rocketman!!! She takes her voice where it has rarely gone in this one. Please take a listen to it again. How gracefull, how beautiful. How expressive she is!
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W.HI.P
Moving
On the edge of the labyrinth
Posts: 561
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Post by W.HI.P on May 14, 2005 0:56:00 GMT
Her beautiful chanting in the end makes me melt
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Post by Adey on May 18, 2005 10:53:37 GMT
I have the 2 rooms album (which I love) and have read the liner notes. I agree Xan, Kate's tribute is probably well worth repeating here..
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Post by Xanadu on May 18, 2005 17:18:06 GMT
I have the 2 rooms album (which I love) and have read the liner notes. I agree Xan, Kate's tribute is probably well worth repeating here.. Thanks Adey... Rocket Man (I think it's gonna be a long, long time) written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin - 1972 performed by Kate Bush on the Two Rooms Tribute Album - 1990/91 She packed my bags last night Pre-flight, Zero-hour, nine a.m. And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then. I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife. It's lonely out in space On such a timeless flight. And I think it's gonna be a long, long time Till touch down brings me round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home. Oh, no, no, no, I'm a Rocket Man, Rocket Man burning out his fuse up her alone. Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, In fact it's cold as hell And there's no one there to raise them if you did. And all this science, I don't understand. It's just my job, five days a week, A Rocket Man. Kate: "From the age of 11, Elton John was my biggest hero. I loved his music, had all his albums and I hoped one day I'd play the piano like him (I still do). When I was asked to be involved in this project and was given the choice of a track it was like being asked 'Would you like to fulfill a dream? Would you like to be Rocket Man?'... yes I would."
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Post by Xanadu on May 18, 2005 17:33:13 GMT
Personally, I have never been an Elton John fan (except for a few songs here and there). As a matter of fact... Kate had led me to an appreciation of his music. Maybe she would think it sacrilege, but I prefer her versions. I think she took the best of his influence and contributed much more. But, isn't that how art should progress.
I also love Sinead O'Connor's version of "Sacrifice" (a fave of Elton's) and George Michael's "Tonight." I also love his version of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me."
Covers and tributes are a difficult thing. Most of the time... I don't think they work. For example - only Tori Amos, Suzanne Vega, and Jennifer Warnes have ever really covered Leonard Cohen in my opinion. Odd that women could do such an excellent job. Maybe that's why I like Kate's version here better.
On the other hand... has anyone ever heard Peter Gabriel's short cover of "The Woman With The Child In Her Eyes"? Sometimes men reach a new level of vulnerability that would be obvious in the female version. One leaps to mind - Robert Palmer's version of "Don't Explain." Amazing.
Any other thoughts... if so, we can make another thread of this under Music.
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Post by Adey on May 19, 2005 20:55:52 GMT
At one time, I was more than a little obsessive about Elton John. From 15-16yrs of age, I listened to nothing else and I'd have to say his music was my real introduction to pop. Prior to that, I listened to what my parents listened to - Jazz, the great american song book and classical guitar music (I was a serious student of the instrument). I still think his first 10 albums are essential - anything upto Blue Moves in fact. He got very patchy after that. As I recall, Blue Moves started with the truly magnificent "Tonight" , already referred to by Xan, and on the strength of that, I thought it was going to be an incredible album.. only it wasn't. As good as George Michael's version is, I've always thought it would be a perfect cover for Kate - emotive, poignant and desperately fragile..
I can easily understand those people that love Elton John/Bernie Taupin's songs, but don't actually like EJ that much. For these folks I can seriously recommend Two Rooms.
And yes, Sinead's version of Sacrifice is a marvel..
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LilyWhite
Breathing
Help this blackbird! There's a stone around my leg.
Posts: 93
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Post by LilyWhite on Dec 29, 2005 21:32:05 GMT
Oh there IS a place to post this--cool! (You guys thought of everything when you made this board didn't ya! ) Would you believe that Two Rooms and the KOTM single came in on the same day??? AH nonono. I can't decide which cover I like better they are both wonderful but for now it's Rocket Man. I love the reggae but I can't stop singing "Ah nonono" I love the way she sings that! This could just possibly annoy (or maybe confuse is the better word) the hell out of my boyfriend more than when I sing "Aerial Tal" (I've found that people look at you like they want to put you away if you sing AT in public) Ah nonono! Ah nonono! Hee hee!! I can hear him already, "Uh, oh hell I'm just gonna ask it, uh, Lily, are you REALLY losing it or is that another Kate Bush thing?" And of course I shall respond with an Aerial Tal AH nonono medly!
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Sheila
Moving
Life is a minestrone served up with parmesan cheese.
Posts: 701
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Post by Sheila on Dec 30, 2005 18:24:34 GMT
LOL! I like the way she says "Oh nonono" too. Can you all see LilyWhite tomorrow at midnight? Should old acquaintance be forgot Oh nonono! When you do your Rocket Man/ Aerial Tal medley, think about throwing in a couple of Egypt squeals just for fun! It is fun to sing Kate. I assume you live near at least a few lakes living in Minnesota, right? Have you ever kissed your boyfriend and then screamed "WITH YOUR SPIT STILL ON MY LIP, YOU HIT THE WATER!!!!" and then pushed him off a dock? You seem to get enjoyment out of annoying him via Kate, I bet you that one would certainly do the trick! In fact my not boyfriend (ahem, let's leave it at that) lives right by a pond. I think I might just do that one! (when it gets warmer of course--we don't want an under ice situation! )
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