Sunday July 19, 2020 “Burn Down the Mission” Elton John
Kind of church song for a Sunday,, it has mission in the title and it also includes several unusual key and rhythm changes.
Written of course by Bernie Taupin and Sir Elton Hercules John, the Hercules taken by Reg Dwight from a horse's name in the British TV series “Steptoe & Son”. Since Elton began his career in 1969 he has performed more than 3,500 concerts. For perspective, if he played one show every night it would take nearly ten years of to get to that number.
His rewrite of “Candle in the Wind” which he played at Princess Diana’s funeral service not only moved most in attendance to tears but when released as a single it would go on to be the biggest selling single ever, replacing “White Christmas”, and “The Lion KIng” production, for which he wrote the music is the highest grossing musical in theater history earning over $1 billion and counting.
Elton John is also one of the most philanthropic of celebrities having raised or donated more than $300 million dollars for charities around the world.
Here’s a final piece to think about, Elton John auditioned to be the lead singer for progressive rock band King Crimson. What might that have sounded like?
Stay safe and well...and don’t burn anything down.
