Pop star with 78 in top shape: Elton John’s grandiose late work with Brandi Carlile

Almost a year and a half ago, Elton John gave the last concert of his farewell tour. Even then, Sir Elton emphasized that it would not be a farewell to the music and promised individual concerts. Now the 78-year-old is back with a new album. “Who Believes in Angels?” is a duett album with the US singer Brandi Carlile, who already presented the two at a acclaimed concert in London.

Carlile has won eleven Grammys and is a star, especially in the USA. But with her close friend Elton John, the 43-year-old becomes a fangirl. “Elton and I, we have always liked ourselves. But I never thought that he would want to make an album with me,” says Carlile in the interview of the German Press Agency in London. “I could hardly believe it. Why am I? But it was a conscious musical decision from him – and I am incredibly happy about it.”

Memories of the golden era of the 1970s

“Who Believes in Angels?” is a return to the bombastic, melodic rock-” roll sound, with which Elton John became famous in the 1970s. This evokes memories of a golden era with cult albums such as “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” or “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” – without forced nostalgia and in a modern sound.

Already the prelude of “The Rose of Laura Nyro”, which is dedicated to the songwriter and queer companion, who died too early, indicates that this cooperation was fruitful. Highlights are “Little Richard’s Bible”, a tribute to the rock icon of the 50s and 60s, or “The River Man”, which inspires with wonderful double guitar harmonies, massive background choir and a piano solo à la “Pinball Wizard”.

Grammy winner learns from Songwriter legend

As usual, the texts wrote Songwriter legend Bernie Taupin – this time in collaboration with Carlile. “Bernie showed me how to react spontaneously that Elton writes so quickly. He takes out the text and starts immediately tinkering the music. And then syllables suddenly fly out, words, whole lines – simply because the melody requires it. And the texter then has to react immediately, save the song that does not fit, replace.”

The singer shines particularly in the rousing, rocking duet “Swing for the Fences” and the wonderful indie folk ballad “You Without Me”, which revolves around the time when children dissolve from their parents.

Star producer Andrew Watt (Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga) brought some prominent top musicians to the studio: drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), bassist Pino Palladino (Nine Inch Nails) and multi -instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam). Who would cancel Sir Elton?

Moments of despair in the studio

However, the recordings were not smooth. Even an old master like Elton John sometimes struggles. At the appearance in London, he allowed the audience an astonishing look behind the scenes. Scenes from the studio were recorded in which the Briton cried in which he was close to despair and scolded before the 34-year-old watts collapsed.

Carlile was impressed by Watt’s dealings with the superstar. “He had a backbone, compassion and a calm, grounded species,” she says. “I think I would have tightened a bit without Andrew. But Andrew just peaked back, laughed out loud or he went out with Elton to hug and press him tightly.”

And so the album was completed in just three weeks. “I’ve never done anything like this,” said Elton John in London. The British musician icon is “like a freight train”, says Carlile alike enthusiastically and exhausted. “It was so exhausting. My brain was tired because I tried to keep up with the music that just gets out of it.”

Elton John with 78 in top form

At the concert in the London Palladium, which will soon be broadcast on British and US television, the two also performed classics such as “Tiny Dancer”, “I’m Still Dancing” or “Bennie and the Jets”. On stage or in the studio – almost 80 -year -old Elton John impresses with his voice and energy.

But Sir Elton deals with his own mortality in songs like “When this Whis World is Done with me” and “A Little Light”. In the latter, he sings right from the start: “Maybe it’s time to hang my boots up” – “Maybe it’s time to hang my boots.” Measured on this great album, it is too early.