TNR BLOGS

July 04, 2009 | 11:58 AM
July 04, 2009 | 11:32 AM
July 04, 2009 | 8:16 AM

March 09, 2009 | 5:19 PM
March 09, 2009 | 5:16 PM
January 07, 2009 | 12:20 PM

July 01, 2009 | 10:33 PM
June 30, 2009 | 8:42 AM
June 29, 2009 | 9:09 AM

July 26, 2008 | 2:24 PM
July 23, 2008 | 1:55 PM
July 17, 2008 | 3:56 PM

July 03, 2009 | 10:13 PM
July 02, 2009 | 12:57 PM
July 01, 2009 | 7:02 PM
COLUMNISTS
TODAY'S STORIES
25.03.2008
Hillary = Elton?

Not to overanalyze, but I can't help but wonder what this Elton John fund-raising concert that Team Hillary keeps hawking tells us about her candidacy.

Sir Elton. The man is without doubt a musical legend--and a knight to boot. As celebrated in Wikipedia:

In his four decade career, John has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially during the 1970s. He has sold more than 250 million albums and over one hundred million singles, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits including seven consecutive #1 U.S. albums, 59 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, 4 #2 hits, and nine #1 hits. He has won five Grammy awards and one Academy Award. His success has had a profound impact on popular music and has contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in rock and roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #49 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. 

That said, Elton is also a guy whose glory days are clearly behind him. His best work came out of the 1970s: "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player," "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy," "Madman Across the Water," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"... By the '90s (if not late '80s), he was already a parody of himself, a kitchy symbol of a bygone era producing very little that wasn't cheesy and/or wretchedly sentimental. (Grammy aside, the 1994 "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" was absolute swill. And the Princess Diana-themed remake of Candle In the Wind? Atrocious.) Since 2000, Elton has spent much of his time collaborating with other artists or playing to nostalgic middle-aged fans (like my parents) at his Red Piano show in Vegas.

So is Hillary an enduring legend in her chosen field? Or is she a beloved but no longer terribly relevant icon whose moment has passed? Put differently, which Elton song will the end of this primary see her team singing? 

This:

This:

Or, of course, this:

--Michelle Cottle

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:18 PM with 6 comment(s)

Comments

You must be logged-in to comment.

Not a subscriber? Click here to get a digital or print and digital subscription to The New Republic!

teplukhin2you said:

TNR Obamacrush Self-Parody Alert #47

March 25, 2008 2:10 PM

tnmats said:

Maybe tep, but Elton is still cheeeeezeeeeyyyy....  It could be worse, she could have Celine do a number on us again.  (shudder......)

March 25, 2008 3:21 PM

wyllie said:

my vote's for Obama Girl...

March 25, 2008 4:07 PM

Jingu said:

One of my favorite Elton songs is "The Bitch is Back."  My hunch is he probably won't be playing that at Hillary's event...

March 26, 2008 2:53 AM

Tammy said:

You all are funny.  What a trip!  I thought the same when I heard Elton was performing for her.  However, he carries a lot of clout and a one time performance by him is likely to be received very well, kinda like Streisand or Cher or better.  Eltonfits her demographic, as you all know.  Who would perform for Obama?  Let's see.  Any number of male hip hop artists, perhaps John Maher, Fergie, but let's hope not Brittany!  Hillary's stigma of being unlikable seems profound, yet nobody in the press seems to be reporting that Obama's unfavorable rating is equal to hers for a few weeks now (see Rasmussen).  As someone who occasionally gets unfavorable ratings in the classroom, I'm not too concerned about the unfavorable ratings on character at this point.  What matters is how they do their job.  Form and substance aren't always related.  Let's stay positive or these next five weeks will doom us.

March 26, 2008 7:46 AM

amarkle said:

These posts are growing increasingly cringe-worthy...

Elton John is playing a Hillary fundraiser?  Lets knock him for not cranking out another 50 #1 hits in the last 10 years!  BTW, have you heard that he didn't even write the lyrics for many of his top hits?  Deceitful and claiming experience he doesn't have, just like Hillary!  Who might Obama be?  Billy Joel?  Maybe Hillary and Obama will end up joining up on the same ticket just like Billy Joel and Elton John did in concert!

So Elton John is past his prime and increasingly irrelevant?  Sounds like a magazine I used to like....

March 26, 2008 11:40 AM