Elton John - 'The Lockdown Sessions' Album Review

Elton John's unique blend of pop and rock styles turned him into one of the 20th century's biggest music icons. He was musically gifted from a young age, and released his first self-titled American album in 1970, making him a huge international star. Some of his chart-topping hits include "Crocodile Rock," "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Candle in the Wind." He also found success on Broadway, composing the score for Billy Elliot (2008), which went on to win 10 Tony Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and knighted in 1998. Singer, songwriter, composer and icon Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. He discovered his passion for music at an early age and taught himself how to play the piano when he was only four years old. Proving to be a great talent, he won a scholarship to a youth program at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1967 John answered an ad for a songwriter for Liberty Records. He got the job and soon teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin. The duo switched to the DJM label the following year, writing songs for other artists.John got his first break as a singer with his 1969 album Empty Sky, featuring songs by John and Taupin. While that recording failed to catch on, his 1970 self-titled effort featured John's first hit, "Your Song." More hits soon followed, including No. 1 smashes such as "Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets" and "Island Girl." While he enjoyed all of the recognition and praise, he soon found himself rocked by grief. During the summer of 1997, John lost two good friends - fashion designer Gianni Versaceand Princess Diana. He reworked one of his classic songs, "Candle in the Wind," as a tribute to Princess Diana, with the song's proceeds going to a charitable trust established in her honor. "Candle in the Wind 1997" proved to be a tremendous success, selling more than 30 million copies that year.

John met his longtime partner David Furnish at a dinner party in 1993. The pair got married in a civil ceremony on December 21, 2005 - the same day the Civil Partnership Act 2004 went into effect. With the help of a surrogate, the couple welcomed their first son, Zachary Furnish-John, in December 2010, and welcomed their second child, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, in January 2013. Nine years after their civil ceremony, on December 21, 2014, the couple wed after laws allowing gay marriage took effect the same year in Britain.

Bio taken from https://www.biography.com/musician/elton-john

The first song on Elton John's latest album, Lockdown Sessions, is Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa. This was released as the first single from the album, and whilst the first few times I heard it I did not care for it, it is fair to say that it grew on me. Sampling three of John's previous tracks, it is a catchy song which has totally catapulted John into the minds and playlists of today's young people. I have danced to it in clubs since its release, and can confirm that it is the perfect song for any mood.

Always Love You, featuring Young Thing and Nicki Minaj, starts with Elton John's signature piano-ballad sound and deep voice. I totally adored this - until Young Thing started to rap. At that point, I began to become skeptical, but quickly warmed. The combination of the rap genre and Elton John's distinct piano playing is one that has not yet been heard, but it works extremely well and after several seconds, I began to enjoy the song once more. But Nicki Minaj totally ruined this song. Her additions to the song were not necessary, and ruined any good work which had already been put in. I would have left her off of it.

Learn To Fly, which features Surfaces, gives off faint Christmas vibes, and also has a gospel sound to the backing vocals. Once again, there is a beautiful string of piano notes which really bring another level to the song, but as this is John's specialty, I expected nothing less.

The second single to be released from the album was a duet between Elton John and Charlie Puth, entitled After All. This song is simply beautiful; romantic, with the voices of John and Puth blending together perfectly. The lyrics are simple, yet delicate and without fault. This is one of the best songs which John has released in the last two decades, undoubtedly, and one of the best on the album.

Featuring Rina Sawayama, Chosen Family is a vastly enjoyable track which gives off a slight intergalactic vibe, and one that I would describe as a power ballad.

For the next song, I had very high expectations because it is by The Gorillaz, and instead features Elton John - and I was not let down! It sounded distinctly like the band's sound, which I was pleased with as I am usually disappointed when artists sell out on their original sound in order to sell more records. This song adds yet another genre to the ever-increasing list of ones on The Lockdown Sessions, and is a totally new genre for John to be working on - and he aces it. The Pink Phantom is a very catchy song, and is sure to become a staple of every indie playlist from now on.

The piano at the beginning of It's A Sin sounds quite like that of Rocket Man (1972), and yet this also combines a very science fiction-like sound with an electro beat. It is quite exciting as a song, because it sounds so different to a lot of what I have heard recently - it's also quite a fun song, and I don't think anybody could help but like it.

Nothing Else Matters by Miley Cyrus and featuring WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith is borderline haunting. Miley Cyrus sounds like she's smoked one too many cigarettes, but that's just her, isn't it? Her voice is croaky and deep - people apparently like that - I can't see why, but it sounds okay on this song so I am willing to let it slide. The introduction to this song is annoyingly long, but when it all comes together, you will get a strong urge to shout along with Cyrus and her host of features. It's a powerful song.

Orbit, featuring SG Lewis, is an infectious little earworm which sweeps you off your feet and forces you to move along to it. It's catchy, and a song that I really enjoy singing along to - yes, I know the words already. However, I don't think that the way in which the lyrics are sung matches the actual musical track, which is a shame because it would be superior if it did.

Brandi Carlile is the next in the long line of artists which feature on The Lockdown Sessions. The song Simple Things is cute, and quite simply the exact kind of song which one would expect Brandi Carlile to be singing. It has a country sound to it, and John and Carlile's voices sound amazing together. Simple Things, I think, would make a good couples karaoke song.

Beauty In The Bones, featuring Jimmie Allen, has a very simple beginning and is somewhat cheesy throughout the entire thing - nevertheless, it is quite enjoyable, and Jimmie Allen has an incredible voice. However, there was too much of an electric sound for the song, and sometimes less is more.

On Lil Nas X's new album, Montero, as well as Elton John's, One Of Us is definitely not my cup of tea. I didn't enjoy it at all. The lyrics were extremely simple and uninteresting.

My favourite song on the entire album is E-Ticket, featuring Eddie Vedder. It is fun and upbeat, easy to dance to and super catchy. The sheer energy and passion that both artists have put into this song is obvious, and because of this there is just a different sort of energy to this song than there is to any other on the album. This is just... more exciting, more encouraging and more energetic.

Two piano maestros work together on a song, and you expect great things, right? Imagine my disappointment when I heard Finish Line, featuring Stevie Wonder. It has a very different tempo to the previous song, which shocked me at first. It is a romantic song (I think), but is just simply boring. I found it impossible to enjoy it.

I expected such great things from a song with both Stevie Nicks [of Fleetwood Mac] and Elton John on it, and I wasn't too pleased. Stevie's voice is very deep - as is Cyrus' - and whilst this is Stevie's trademark, it did not sound good on this song. The whole song, in fact, entitled Stolen Car, just sounded too overdone and exaggerated to be listenable.

The final song on the album is a duet with Glen Campbell, who is one of my all time favourite artists. Again, Campbell is a legend, and so I had high expectations for this song, I'm Not Gonna Miss You. John and Campbell met them - barely. It was a good end to the album, with a different sound that was certainly intriguing if nothing else.

Overall, The Lockdown Sessions, was a disappointment. It seemed to be more of a flex on Elton John's part as to who he could get to work with him. The album was eclectic at the best of times, with too many genres to count and enjoy, and certainly does not compare to other lockdown albums which other artists have released during the pandemic. It's a let down from Elton John, but still better than 99% of what is released these days.