absurd aber trotzdem gut, 11. November 2008

blu ray mit dolby sourround sound? kein dolby digital, kein dts? für einen musiker unverständlich- traurig aber wahr.......das bild: lediglich blu ray 1040 "i" "master", also kein1040 p= bluray standard- ein tolles konzert mit unverständlich amateurhafter technik- da kommt bestimmt bald noch eine "definitive edition"- das liebe geld...schade-mein elton klischee hat sich bewahrheitet- mit den minderheiten kokettieren, aber bei den mehrheiten abzocken- schade was für ein geburtstag wäre das ansonsten gewesen..

      Osterei gefunden!!!, 28. Juli 2008

Geht auf DVD 1 ins Menü: "The Concert Part 1" und dann auf "next".Also auf die Seite des Menüs, wo die Titel "Take me to the Pilot" bis "Empty Garden" aufgelistet sind.Hört euch ein bißchen "Burn down the Mission" an und wartet einfach ab, was nach ca. 2 Minuten passiert...Zum Konzert:Tolle Titelauswahl! Viele Stücke, die man nur von den alten 70er-Jahren-Alben kennt, werden geboten. Gerade im ersten Teil des Live-Konzerts werden nicht die üblichen Greatest Hits abgenudelt, sondern Raritäten, die Elton ewig nicht mehr live gebracht hat und sicher viele gar nicht kennen.Klar, Eltons Stimme ist nicht mehr so flexibel wie damals, hin und wieder umschifft er die ursprünglich vorgesehene Melodie, weil er die hohen Töne einfach nicht mehr packt. Der Gesang wirkt oft angstrengt und ist schwer zu verstehen. Aber trotzdem: Viele Stücke funktionieren immer noch ganz hervorragend. Eltons Klavierspiel sowie die Fähigkeiten seiner Band müssen sowieso nicht weiter kommentiert werden und auch der Choir ist sehr gut und nicht übertrieben eingesetzt.Insgesamt ein absolut lohnender Kauf!

       ELTON JOHN - why is he so famous?, 29. Juni 2008

Elton JohnWhy Is He Famous?He's a Grammy and Oscar-winning icon, who in the span of three decades gave us such classics as "Rocket Man," "Tiny Dancer" and "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," among many others. Then of course, there are his notorious spending habits.Elton Johns Woman MagnetismHe may be gay, but that doesn't mean women don't appreciate what he has to offer.Elton John deserves a high ranking in this area because he can communicate to women in ways most men can only dream. Common among many adult contemporary artists, Elton's ballads have the ability to melt women's hearts, a gift that goesElton Johns SuccessIt goes without saying that there aren't many artists who are as famous as Elton John or as talented, thus putting him head and shoulders above the rest. But for the sake of dishing out the facts, here are just some of the reasons why Elton is a star.He has practically had a Top 40 single every year from 1970 to 1996. He has eight Grammy Awards under his belt (including the Grammy Legend Award for lifetime achievement), an Oscar for Best Original Song, countless number one singles, and the accomplishment of over 110 million records sold, including the best-selling single in history.But more importantly, he has won the adoration of millions across the globe. Even more impressive is that he has done so while never really losing momentum. While there have been some speed bumps along the way, the mere fact that John is still at the top of his game three decades later says a lot about his abilities as an artist.Elton John seems to have found the formula for success and his future looks just as promising as his past and present. Elton Johns Quotes:"I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats though." -Elton JohnBiographyElton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England, to a middle-class family. His love for music began at an early age. When he was only four years old, he followed his mother's advice and began taking piano lessons. His natural talent eventually shone through, and Dwight won a scholarship with the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.While there, Dwight played with a couple of small rock bands like the Corvettes and Bluesology, but his dream of becoming a star led him to drop out of school shortly before graduation. He then embarked on a British tour with his Bluesology band mates and played the piano in different hotels.the meeting of a lifetimeAlthough his success thus far was modest at best, Dwight's professional life changed dramatically after his meeting with lyricist Bernard Taupin.Dwight was becoming increasingly frustrated with the direction his band was headed and began looking for another group to join. Both he and Bernie answered an ad in the paper by Liberty Records, who were looking for new talent.The two quickly realized that they shared the same musical tastes and began writing songs together, though at first they only communicated by mail. By the time they actually met six months later, Dwight had adopted the stage name, Elton "Hercules" John, which he got by using the first names of his Bluesology mates, Elton Dean and John Baldry.John and Taupin were hired by producer Dick James to become staff songwriters for DJM records. Things got off to a slow start from there, as many of Elton's first singles -- along with his first album, Empty Sky -- went largely unnoticed.things took offElton John's quest for recognition came to an end with the release of his self-titled sophomore album. Featuring the classic "Your Song," which became a hit in the US and UK, fans and critics alike became spellbound by this up-and-coming talent and songwriting team.The momentum was maintained with the release of Tumbleweed Connection and Elton John was on his way to becoming a worldwide superstar.John began touring in America in what became legendary shows, sporting outlandish costumes and giving electrifying performances.dominating the chartsSales continued to climb and between 1972 and 1975; John released 16 consecutive Top 20 hits, including "Bennie and the Jets," "Yellow Brick Road," and "Crocodile Rock," most of which have gone on to become pop classics.As if worldwide success wasn't enough, he was also featured on the cover of Time and in 1974, performed on stage at Madison Square Garden with John Lennon (Elton John later became godfather to Sean Lennon).John was now a rich man and the press had a field day digging into his private life, examining his wealth and his equally enormous purchases.elton's ups and downsIn 1977, Elton's rigorous lifestyle caught up with him and citing exhaustion, announced that he would be taking a touring hiatus and limiting the production of music. His ties with Taupin were also severed and the two eventually called it quits.Though John made a comeback in 1979 (and became the first Western artist to perform in the Communist U.S.S.R.), the Elton/Taupin breakup affected the sales of his releases. It wasn't until they joined efforts again for 1981's 21 At 33 that John became successful again. The album contained the smash hit "Little Jeannie" and John had solidified his position as a pop icon.But the '80s were a tumultuous time for Elton: a cocaine and alcohol addiction, his marriage to sound engineer Renate Blauel in 1984, throat surgery, and a court battle with DJM over royalties all took center stage, despite pumping out hits like "I'm Still Standing" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues."1988 was a turning point in Elton John's life. It was then that he divorced his wife, opened up about his homosexuality, settled his legal disputes, and in the two years that followed, battled his addictions and bulimia. He also auctioned off thousands of his personal items, making the occasion symbolic in so many ways.the roaring '90sElton John witnessed somewhat of a resurgence with the release of 1992's The One, which went double platinum. He also established the Elton John AIDS foundation in 1991, and announced that royalties would be donated to the cause.1994 was a banner year; not only was he inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, but it was the year he and Tim Rice collaborated on the Lion King soundtrack, a blockbuster album which netted Elton an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," as well as a Grammy for Best Male Pop Performance.All eyes were on Elton in 1997. Following the death of his close friend, designer Gianni Versace, in July, he grieved the loss of yet another close companion, Princess Diana. He sang a rewritten version of his "Candle in the Wind" to an estimated two billion people and gave a flawless performance. The record became the biggest-selling single of all-time, overtaking Bing Crosby's "White Christmas."That same year, Elton's The Big Picture became yet another commercial success and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.By the start of the new millennium, Elton had collaborated with Tim Rice for the soundtrack of the successful Broadway musical (Aida), received the Legends Award at the 1999 Grammy Awards, and released yet another album (2001's Songs From the West Coast), with music that reflected his earlier styles.Elton John continues to fight for his charitable causes and shows no signs of slowing down.

       Sixty Years On!, 25. Mai 2008

Elton John has produced a dozen or so concert DVD's, but this is the ultimate in entertainment. Recorded on his 60th birthday at his 60th performance at Madison Square Garden, this DVD excels in pure entertainment satisfaction. Over two DVD's you witness thirty-three classic songs from over the last five decades including such little performed gems like, "Hercules" and "Roy Rogers". The standards like, "Crocodile Rock" and "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" are also lent out in slightly new versions that more than please. Unlike the Madison Square Garden show he previously released with shots of fans over-riding the stage show; this one showcases those people as well as dozens of famous political, musical and acting celebrities. Robin Williams and Whoopie Goldberg bring on a fantastic, "Happy Birthday" and Bernie Taupin, who never appears on stage, gives a heart-felt salute to Elton on his birthday. It's all amazingly good fun and very emotional. The light show is fantastic and the sound is pin-point perfect with a large young choir singing backstage that enhances the performance like no other Elton John has given. It truly feels like the celebration in New York City that night was something very special. That's not all. This double disc set also includes eighteen "live, rare & unseen" performances from over the years that are a stunning reminder of what a fantastic musician Elton John is. On top of that, there is a section called, "Elton's New York Stories" that includes four personal emotional song videos of Elton that just pack more of a whollop you would not expect. The sound quality (DVD, dts, 5.1) is superb enough to hear audience members actually talking and the band never sounded more crisp. Add to that an extensive booklet of liner notes and you have a keeper of a Birthday celebration. Elton John - you are a spectacle of a celebration!

       Technisch hochkarätig - musikalisch sehr gut!, 11. April 2008

Für mich neben Celine Dions BluRay (für mich technisch die beste Musik-BluRay zurzeit) ist Elton Johns Konzert aus dem Madison Square Garaden im März 2007 eine absolut beeindruckende HD-Veröffentlichung. Da zur DVD-Ausgabe schon genug geschrieben wurde, beschränke ich mich auf die technischen Seiten der BluRay:BILD:Es stimmt, eine Kameraeinstellung ist leicht unscharf und lässt einen verwundert die Augen reiben, denn das Ganze ist nur so auffällig, weil die anderen HD-Cams absolut erstklassige Bildqualität liefern. Es sieht recht spektakulär aus, besonders bei Close-Ups (z.b. auf Nigel Olssons Drumkit) oder auf den LCD-Screen hinter der Bühne, man erkennt selbst feinste Staubpartikel im Scheinwerferlicht. Die Kompression arbeitet ohne Beanstandung, Schwarzwerte und Kontraste sind auf Referenz-Niveau.SOUND:Die angebotenen Spuren unterscheiden sich nicht groß, liefern aber einen authentischen, ehrlichen und erfrischend zurückhaltend abgemischten Soundtrack, der knackig und unaufdringlich die über drei (!) Stunden Konzert ins Wohnzimmer bringt. Die Instrumente sind gut zu orten und die Atmosphäre ist glaubhaft eingefangen worden.EXTRAS:Fehlanzeige, dafür darf sich das Konzert in voller Länge auf der Disc breit machen, aber ein paar Backstage-Impressionen oder eine kleine Doku hätten nicht geschadet!FAZIT:BILD: 9/10Sound 8.5/10Extras: 0/10HD-FEELING: 9/10