Elton John and Bernie Taupin honored with prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize

Well-deserved. Not necessarily for Sir Elton's AIDS work, although he can and should win other awards for that. It's the music of John and Taupin that has stood the test of time. I listened to it in the 70's and I still listen to it now. I was playing Take Me to the Pilot just the other day.

"All my heroes were American".

Goodby Yellow Brick Road is a masterpiece.

Anyone watching? It’s on PBS right now.

Lots of famous attendees shown so far, even Joni Mitchell showed up in her cap and braids!

Brandi Carlisle was great.

Joni was great and Annie Lennox was one of her backup singers!

“But then again…no”

Yes. Uplifting, exhilarating, and moving tribute to two giants in music. Standing O for all the musicians who are just incredible.

Their best work was ages ago. No one plays their music now.

There's just some people who manage to find each other and do something great. Bernie and Elton are a perfect example. I don't think one could have done it without the other.

[quote] Their best work was ages ago. No one plays their music now.

If they want to find another do-gooder award to give him fine but be honest about it.

Other than his dead blonde song Elton's innovative and influential music began and ended in the early to mid 70s. For decades now he has been just slightly above a Vegas lounge act doing the occasional wedding..

I love Carla Hayden.

Congrats, you two old fags!

Wow, R6 Joni Mitchell really did knock I’m Still Standing out of the park! Just a fantastic moment.

an excerpt / i'm still standing / joni

Joni sounds better as a singer now than she did in her prime. Her voice has so much grit now, like Billie Holiday's.

Joni's songs have held-up better and had more lasting influence than John-Taupin. She's always seemed like an annoying person and a very ungenerous performer (she seems to purposely avoid encores that feature what the crowd wants), but the music is more meaningful.

[quote]Goodby Yellow Brick Road is a masterpiece.

And no one sang it better than Sara

Excuse me, but **I** am the queen of this thread, not Joni!

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I was listening to Tiny Dancer in a kickboxing class the other day (our instructor will play anything and everything) and yes, it was super-saturated a few years ago, blah blah, but damn if it isn’t a gorgeously written and produced song. Their songs run from transcendent to simple and there is really no other musical partnership like theirs. They needed each other.

[quote] but damn if it isn’t a gorgeously written and produced song

It is indeed but note it was a hit 52 years ago.

Here's something I was reminded of watching parts of the program... Elton cannot enunciate well when singing. The lyrics to "Daniel" create an interesting story, but in Elton's mouth, much is lost (for me).

The same with "I'm Still Standing". I understand Joni clearly, but never caught all of Taupin's lyrics coming from Elton.

Mothing changes my opinion of him being, in the words of Spy Magazine, a "Coaster".

R25

And? The Beatles came to America 60 years ago and their music is still important and enjoyable. The point of the thread is about their receiving the Gershwin Prize for their body of work, not whether or not they’ve had recent hits.

Those complaining that Elton and Bernie peaked years ago—this is a lifetime achievement award meant to go to enduring work.