Elton Daily

Elton John Scaling Back Touring in 3 Years

2012-01-31T20:19:00.000+11:00

Sir Elton John is planning to cut back on his tour commitments in the coming years so he can be by his young son's side when he starts school.

The I'm Still Standing hitmaker has been busy travelling the globe with his partner David Furnish and their 13-month-old son Zachary ever since the tot was born, but John admits that's all going to stop soon.

He explains, "At the moment, he's portable so he can come with us. He's been to Hawaii twice, Australia, Italy, France, Singapore, Canada. He comes where we go. That's going to be a little more difficult when he's four years old and we take him to school. I want to be there much more when he's in school."

- Contact Music

All Hail King Elton

2012-01-31T20:08:00.000+11:00

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As Elton John knows, it's good to be the king.

The musical sovereign will play an imperious monarch in a Pepsi Super Bowl ad this Sunday, joined by "The X Factor" winner Melanie Amaro.

"I always think it's hard being a talent show winner, it's too much fame all at once," John told "Good Morning America" in an on-set interview.

"I used to love it," he admitted. "But I also had the live experience to back it up. And that's vital… It's still the same premise, if you want a career now, you have to play live and you have to try and write your own songs."

John, clad in his trademark glasses along with full royal regalia, described himself as a passionate sports fan, with year's match-up having personal significance for the rocker.

"I scream at the television," he said. "I'm hoping for a Patriots win, because [owner] Robert Kraft is my dear friend and he lost his lovely wife Myra this year and I would love the Patriots to win for her."

And he says he and partner David Furnish's son, Zachary, will follow in his sport-fan footsteps.

"He's a little young but he does like soccer already. he kicks the ball and he loves it," John said. As for the half-time show, John had some advice for Madonna, who he's had strong opinions about in recent weeks: "Make sure you lip-sync good," he chuckled.

"I've never seen a decent one," he added, then amending his opinion. "I saw the Stones and I saw Prince and I thought they were pretty good." - Billboard

Though Melanie Amaro was “crowned” the winner of the first American season of “The X Factor” - the 19 year-old chanteuse must please “King” Elton John in a humorous new Pepsi commercial which will air during the broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012.

In addition to her $5 million dollar recording contract with L.A. Reid’s Epic Records, the British Virgin Islands singer was granted a starring role in her own Pepsi commercial as a reward for her victory on “The X Factor.”

In their first encounter on the set, Melanie and Elton hugged and kissed as the rock superstar congratulated her on winning “The X Factor” in the United States. Between takes, Elton expressed his admiration for Amaro’s considerable vocal talents and her “cheeky” personality, noting that she has a bright future as a live performer.

“King’s Court,” takes place sometime during the Middle Ages, and opens with a series of court jesters trying in vain to entertain and amuse the ornately attired King atop his throne, portrayed by Elton John. None of them succeed...until Melanie Amaro appears! Amaro removes her hood and belts out a funky rendition of the classic Otis Redding penned Aretha Franklin hit “Respect.” (“Respect” - is also Amaro’s new single. Viewers who “Shazam” the spot during game will receive a video of the song on their smart phone.)

Also, pay attention to towards the end of the spot during the broadcast, when you see a celebrity make a surprise appearance. - Bader TV News

Elton Stars in Pepsi Super Bowl Ad & GMA Interview

2012-01-29T12:52:00.000+11:00

When Melanie Amaro was named the winner of "The X Factor" U.S. in 2011, part of the grand prize that she won is a starring role in a Pepsi commercial that will premiere during Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012. According to Billboard, the commercial features Amaro, Elton John and Flava Flav (of Public Enemy and reality TV fame). And the song that Amaro sings in the commercial is her version of Aretha Franklin's "Respect."

NBC will have the U.S. telecast of Super Bowl XLVI. Pepsi is one of the main sponsors of "The X Factor" U.S., which is televised in the U.S. on Fox. - Examiner

Actor Daniel Radcliffe and legendary recording artist Elton John will appear as guests on ABC'S GOOD MORNING AMERICA on Monday, January 30th. Radcliffe will be discussing his upcoming film 'The Woman in Black', while John will chat about his new Super Bowl ad. Also on the show will be reality star and stylist Brad Goreski with all the highlights from last night's SAG Awards; "GMA" begins its count down to the Academy Awards with a profile of actor Jonah Hill. - Broadwayworld

Elton Coming to Norway

2012-01-27T23:59:00.000+11:00

Sir Elton John will play a concert in the Arctic town of Tromsø in the end of March. All tickets were sold out the same day as the news was announced.

It's probably the largest pop event in Tromsø since the Norwegian pop group a-ha played there in 1987. “This is our largest booking ever, it’s really crazy”, say Hogne Rudberg and Pål Jacobsen from the Døgnvill Festival to Nordlys. “We have been trying for years to get him to come to Tromsø”.

When the organizers finally got a positive answer from Elton John’s management, the dates for the first ever winter edition of the Døgnvill Festival had to be changed. “We actually set the dates for the festival after learning when Elton John had time to play here”, they say.

The Døgnvill Festival has been arranged since 2007 and has grown to become the largest music festival in Northern Norway with 30 000 visitor annually. The festival is arranged in the end of August, when there is still midnight sun, hence the name of the festival, which means “not aware of what time of day it is”.

The Døgnvill Winter festival will take place on March 30-31. Tromsø’s largest arena suitable pop concert takes 6000 people.

All the tickets for Sir Elton John’s concert were sold out the same day as the announcement.

- Barents Observer

Leon Russell Turns 70 Soon

2012-01-27T23:53:00.001+11:00

Leon Russell's birthday bash will be 7 p.m. April 14 at the Brady Theater.

It's the 26th consecutive year the legendary pianoman's celebrated his birthday in Green Country. Opening act will be Glen Templeton.

Russell turns 70 this year. Raised in Tulsa, Russell once ran his Shelter records from the Church Studio in the Pearl District near downtown Tulsa. "The night will include special video messages from friends such as Willie Nelson and Elton John, and include performances by Templeton with Russell as his own headliner," said event promoter Steve Todoroff.

Russell recorded on Templeton's single "Fixer Upper." This will be their first concert appearance together since the recording, Templeton's publicist said. Russell is a well-known studio musician and in 2011 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by one of his biggest fans, Elton John.

The show is all-ages. Tickets are $35 and $40, plus fees, available at Reasor's and Starship Records, in Oklahoma City at Buy for Less, by calling 866-977-6849 or online at tulsaworld.com/protix Doors open at 7 p.m. - Tulsa World

Photo's of Elton Feature in San Fran Art Exhibit

2012-01-27T23:44:00.000+11:00

The San Francisco Art Exchange, an art gallery specialized in the art of popular culture located in San Francisco is currently hosting an entertainment art exhibition.

They are featuring some material on Elton John. Photographers such as Terry O'Neill who has been working with Elton for 40 years, Ed Caraeff and Mick Rock are very close friends of the owners of the gallery and have pride of place in the exhibition.

Take a look at their website.

No Oscar Nomination for Elton, Madonna or Mary

2012-01-27T23:21:00.001+11:00

Film and music industry watchers were shocked on Tuesday to find that only two songs got Oscar nominations in the song category, "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" and "Real in Rio" from "Rio," both films aimed at family audiences.

"I was surprised to see that there were only two," said Bruce Broughton, one of three governors and chair of the music branch that oversees the song category. "I thought there were several songs that could have made it."

Veteran Latin pop musician and bandleader Sergio Mendes was one of the two who did make it, for his song in the animated hit "Rio." "The movie is about Rio, which is my hometown," said Mendes, who now lives in Woodland Hills. "The song symbolized exactly the colors, the happiness, the joy, the sun, the beach and the spirit of Rio, which is why it's called 'Real in Rio.'"

"Man or Muppet" was written by Bret McKenzie, who is one half (with Jemaine Clement) of the New Zealand pop-comedy duo Flight of the Conchords. He also wrote "Life's a Happy Song" for "The Muppets."

Three songs from that movie were on the list of eligible songs, including "Pictures in My Head." If there's any consolation for Elton John, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Chris Cornell, Zooey Deschanel and other superstar pop, rock and country musicians who didn't find their songs nominated, it is that they're in pretty stellar company.

The list of also-rans includes a bounty of heavyweight performers and songwriters who nonetheless didn't score enough points with academy voters to make the final nomination list. That scoring system kept the field small. Voters had 39 songs to sort through this year, and they were asked to assign each a score on a scale of 6 to 10 points, after viewing clips from each film that included the eligible song.
Only songs that received an average of 8.25 points or more could be nominated. "Last year there were four; we've never had a situation where there were none," Broughton said.

Among the songs that fell short of that qualifying score were two Elton John songs from "Gnomeo and Juliet": "Love Builds a Garden" and his duet with Lady Gaga, "Hello Hello." Mary J. Blige's "Living Proof" from "The Help" and Elvis Costello's "Sparkling Day"" from "One Day" were under consideration, along with Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell's "The Keeper" from "Machine Gun Preacher," Deschanel's "So Long" from "Winnie the Pooh" and Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am's "Hot Wings," also from "Rio."

Even being an Academy Award veteran was no guarantee of a nomination this year: eight-time Oscar winner and 19-time nominee Alan Menken didn't make the cut with "Star Spangled Man" from "Captain America."

As others have noted, if this year's Oscar telecast runs late, it won't be because of a surfeit of nominated song performances. - LA Times

Rocket Pictures Working on Pop Music Movie

2012-01-27T22:56:00.000+11:00

Sir Elton John's film company is bringing to life a pop hopeful's tale of record company rejection.

Lotte Mullan chronicled her efforts to make it big, as well as her eye-opening tales of the time she spent working for a record label, in a warts-and-all online blog. And now, still without her own major record deal, her tale is to be dramatised by Sir Elton's Rock Pictures, which was behind box office hit Gnomeo And Juliet.

Lotte, 27, used her online diary to tell tales of rejection and give an insight into her experiences of the music business, attracting the eye of screenwriter Nick Moorhouse. The singer, who has also seen her version of Labi Siffre song It Must Be Love in a Lovefilm ad campaign, said: "My original dream was for the big recording contract, but real-life experience can really shatter the dream. "I never imagined that my blog would be discovered instead.

It's even more ironic that a musician owns the film company. My first album was Elton John's greatest hits on cassette in 1989, so it's a huge honour that Sir Elton John's film company is going to make a film based on my life."

Lotte has rejected one offer from a major label and is due to release a single I'm Alright With Me on her own label Raindog Records next month. Her self-released album Plain Jane is out next week.

- UKPA

Watch The Union Documentary Trailer

2012-01-27T21:54:00.000+11:00

The Union premiers Thursday February 2 at 9pm on HBO.

Ask Davey Johnstone Anything

2012-01-27T21:49:00.000+11:00

Here is your chance to ask Davey Johnstone any question you want directly.

Visit musinq.net to ask Elton's long serving guitarist anything.

Please keep questions to 1 or 2 and ask challenging questions!

Davey will reply when time permits.

Elton Coming to Belfast

2012-01-24T22:41:00.000+11:00

Elton and the band are to return to Northern Ireland for a concert in Belfast at the Odyssey Arena on Thursday, June 7. This will be Elton's first show in the city since 2007.

Public tickets for this concert go on sale on Thursday, February 2 at 9am, and will be available online at Ticketmaster.ie, at all usual Ticketmaster outlets, at the Odyssey Arena Box Office (phone 9073 9074), or you can call 24hr Credit Card Bookings 0844 277 4455 (NI) / 0818 719300 (ROI).

Elton Congratulates Robert Kraft

2012-01-23T21:15:00.000+11:00

As Robert Kraft was holding the new-fangled Lamar Hunt trophy as AFC champions and talking about his late wife being the heavenly force that blew Billy Cundiff‘s 32-yard field goal wide left, he was handed a cell phone. “It’s my pal Elton John,” Kraft announced, after hosting Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in his owner’s suite as the Patriots beat the Ravens, 23-20, to advance to Super Bowl XLVI.

“Hello, Elton! How are you my friend,” Kraft said. “You’re so kind.” As the conversation wrapped up, Kraft again expressed his appreciation. “Thank you, your call means a great deal. I love you, man,” Kraft told John. Turns out, a phone call from Sir Elton John has been a tradition of sorts.

“He always used to call and he’d speak to my wife first, when we won a Super Bowl,” Kraft said. “He’s never won for an AFC championship. Whether he’s in Dubai or wherever he is in the world, he watches our games. He’s a huge Patriots fan and been a good friend of our family for over 25 years. I promise you he’ll be at our game in London. We’ll try to get him to Indy.” - WEEI

Bid on Elton's Old Jag

2012-01-22T23:22:00.000+11:00

A red E-Type Jaguar that belonged to Sir Elton John is up for sale at an Oxford auctioneers.

The popstar’s 1965 sports car is expected sell for up to £70,000 when it goes under the hammer at Bonhams in Banbury Road. The vehicle is the highlight of the classic car sale on March 3.

Sir Elton bought the car in 1987 and nicknamed it ‘OK Elton’ as its number plate is OKE 1.
He sold it in 2001 to a private collector.

Rob Hubbard, senior specialist at Bonhams, said: “This is a fantastic example of a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1, which has been carefully looked after since its original purchase and is in excellent condition.

“We are expecting much interest from both national and international clients, particularly as a result of the E-Type’s provenance.” - Oxford Times

Rocket Pictures Developing NERDS

2012-01-22T00:19:00.000+11:00

Elton John’s Rocket Pictures has acquired film rights to Michael Buckley’s bestselling series Nerds, and will develop them as an animated family feature that Buckley will script. Rocket Pictures principals Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish will produce. John is exec producer.

The Nerds series follows a group of unpopular and socially inept geeks who run a spy network from inside their elementary school. They battle the Hyena, a former junior beauty pageant contestant-turned-assassin, and an array of James Bond-style villains, each with an evil plan more diabolical and more ridiculous than the last. Three books have been released in the past two years by the Abrams imprint Amulet Books, and the next one comes in the fall. “Nerds is an action-filled comedic property with a great inclusive message at its heart,” Shaw said. “We think it has huge potential as a dynamic and modern family movie.”

Rocket Pictures most recently produced the 3D animated Disney movie Gnomeo & Juliet and is developing Will Gallows And The Snake Bellied Troll, written and to be directed by Shrek 2’s Kelly Asbury. The company’s also developing Rocketman, a biographical musical-fantasy feature film about the life of Elton John that’s being written by Lee Hall. UTA reps Rocket Pictures and also brokered the book deal with publishing agent Alison Fargis of Stonesong. - Deadline

Vote for Elton at OAFC

2012-01-22T00:07:00.000+11:00

As global stars they are used to performing in front of sell-out crowds at some of the world’s top arenas. But big names such as Rod Stewart, Elton John and Noel Gallagher could be set to take the stage this summer at a rather less-heralded setting – Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park.

Latics officials say they want to put on a summer concert at the dilapidated, three-sided ground. And they claim no less than 15 acts, including Rod the Mod, the Rocketman and former Oasis star Noel have been put forward by a production company.

Now they are asking fans to vote for who they want to see rock the 106-year-old venue at the foot of the Pennines. Oldham marketing boss Jenny Warburton insisted the poll was not a gimmick. She said: “I know somebody who works for a production company and he was asking me if we could do something. I told him about the ground and he seemed excited.

A crew came up from London and were really impressed. We only have three stands and they think that’s great because they can put the stage in front of the one that’s not there. “There’s also a big car park behind it where they can put marquees and things. It all works and if we could sell it out it would make quite a bit of money.”

Jenny said 15 acts had been offered but her own favourite was unavailable. She explained: “I really wanted Michael Bublé but he said he wasn’t doing any outdoor gigs this year and I was devastated.”

The list also includes rap sensation Tinie Tempah, X-Factor star Olly Murs, boyband McFly, rockers Snow Patrol, 80s legends Madness and folk pop act Mumford and Sons. Jenny revealed that there was already an early front runner. She said: “There’s a lot of support for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds but there’s along way to go.”

Of all the acts Burnage-born Gallagher will be the one most familiar with the Latics’ decaying home. He was a former roadie to Oldham band the Inspiral Carpets, who were big fans of Athletic. But he could get a hot reception after he once labelled Oldham supporters as ‘City fans in disguise’.

To vote visit: www.facebook.com/OfficialOAFC

- Men Media

Elton Breaks Hunter Valley Record, Eran James Sends Letter to Elton

2012-01-21T23:56:00.000+11:00

THE Hunter recorded a bumper year in entertainment in 2011 with attendance and profit records smashed across the region.

Hope Estate at Pokolbin was able to secure performances from two of the world's biggest stars Elton John and Dolly Parton. Both performed two concerts each at the venue with John drawing slightly bigger crowds, securing more than 15,000 fans at each of his concerts. He topped the previous record set by Fleetwood Mac's 2009 one-off performance at the venue that brought an estimated $13.3 million to the Hunter Valley.

Michael Hope, from Hope Estate, estimates more than $20 million was injected into the Hunter Valley economy from John's performances. Mr Hope plans to continue riding the popular wave of big-name music stars performing in the Hunter well into 2012. George Michael is the latest international superstar set to perform at Hope Estate in April. - The Herald

See Eran James' letter to Elton above, thanking him for his support during the 2011 Australian tour.

Elton Coming to Charleston, Roanoke, Raleigh & Richmond

2012-01-21T22:56:00.000+11:00

Elton and band's Spring tour of the USA heads to the south, with new concerts just announced in Charleston (March 7), Roanoke (March 15), Raleigh (March 16) and Richmond (March 17).

Details on each concert are as follows:

Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 8pm, North Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, South Carolina.Tickets go on public sale on Saturday, January 28 at 10am and will be available online at ticketmaster.com, at the North Charleston Coliseum box office, or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.

Thursday, March 15, 8pm, Roanoake Civic Center Coliseum, Roanoke, Virginia. Tickets go on public sale on Saturday, January 28 at 10am and will be available online at HomeTownBankTix.com, at the Roanoke Civic Center box office or charge-by-phone at (877) 482-8496.

Friday, March 16, 8pm, RBC Center, Raleigh, North Carolina.Tickets go on public sale on Friday, January 27 at 10am and will be available online at ticketmaster.com, at the RBC Center box office, or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.

Saturday, March 17, 8pm, Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia.Tickets go on public sale on Friday, January 27 at 10am and will be available online at ticketmaster.com, at the Richmond Coliseum box office, or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000. - ej.com

David Apologises to Madonna

2012-01-21T22:49:00.000+11:00

Sir Elton John's husband David Furnish has addressed his post-Golden Globes attack on Madonna, insisting the media blew it out of all proportion.

The film producer was shocked when Madonna picked up the Best Song honour on Sunday (15Jan12) for her W.E. tune Masterpiece - and he took to his Facebook.com page to let the world know how he felt. Furnish ranted, "Madonna. Best song???? F**k off!!!"

He later added, "I think it was a fluke... When this happens you have to question the integrity of the awards. Did Madonna get the Golden Globe because she attended the awards and agreed be a presenter?" But Furnish, who was at the ceremony with fellow Best Song nominee Sir Elton, is now backtracking, calling his one-sided feud with Madonna "a tempest in a teapot".

In a new Facebook post, he writes, "My comments regarding The Golden Globes have been blown way out of proportion. My passion for our film Gnomeo & Juliet and belief in Elton's song really got my emotional juices going. But I must say for the record that I do believe Madonna is a great artist, and that Elton and I wish her all the best for next week's premiere of the film W.E." - Contact Music

Support Acts Announced for Oscar's Party & Costa Rican Gig

2012-01-19T19:34:00.000+11:00

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) announced today that the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish, will feature a special performance by the Grammy® Nominated and Billboard chart-topping band, Foster the People.

This year’s event will be sponsored by Chopard, Neuro Drinks and Wells Fargo. Best known for their edgy smash single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” off their debut album “Torches” (Sony Music Entertainment), Foster the People is one of the hottest young indie bands in the country.

The group will briefly take a break from their world tour just in time to perform at the EJAF Academy Awards Viewing Party to be held on February 26, 2012. “We were thrilled when Sir Elton John asked us to play his Academy Awards party,” said Foster the People front-man Mark Foster. ”His foundation has globally impacted the lives of millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS and we’re honored to be involved in any way we can.” “‘Torches’ by Foster the People is one of my favorite albums of 2011 and ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ was my favorite single,” says Sir Elton John. “I’m so thrilled that they are playing at our 20th anniversary Oscar party and I’m so impressed that they want to give back so early in their career.” In the fall of 2009, Mark Foster joined forces with Cubbie Fink and Mark Pontius to form Foster the People. Shortly after releasing their first single “Pumped Up Kicks,” the band received numerous accolades from high-profile print publications helping to send the track to the top of the charts.

The song reached number one on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart, number three on the Rock Songs chart, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The band is currently nominated for two GRAMMY Awards®: Best Pop/Duo Group Performance for their single “Pumped Up Kicks” and Best Alternative Album for “Torches.”

- EJAF

Costa Rican pianist and composer – and Culture Minister – Manuel Obregón will open for Elton John’s Feb. 3 concert at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibás, north of San José, the daily La Nación reported.

Obregón, a renowned musician who has composed more than 20 albums, will perform an extract from his latest work, “Simbiosis, piano y bosque tropical seco,” for the occasion, according to concert producer Evenpro. The Culture Minister assured La Nación that his performance would not affect his ministerial duties because the concert is in the evening. “I can undertake any musical activity after 4 p.m., so there is no problem,”

The concert will be John’s first in Costa Rica. Tickets cost ₡19,000-₡74,000 ($38-$148) and are available online at www.specialticket.net and at Servimás outlets and La Barbería and Bansbach stores.

- Tico Times

2Cellos on Glee Jan 31

2012-01-18T22:17:00.000+11:00

2CELLOS, the Croatian duo who have been on tour with Elton and the band, have astonished the world with their cello-only version of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.

Now the duo - Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic - are set to appear in the episode of Fox TV's GLEE, which airs in the USA on January 31. This episode is a Michael Jackson tribute, and of course 2CELLOS will be performing Smooth Criminal.

Luca and Stjepan will also be appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on January 24, on Access Hollywood on January 27 and on Huckabee on January 28. Also on January 24 they will be featured in Perez Hilton's Perez TV feature. - ej.com

David is Still Upset with Madonna

2012-01-18T22:08:00.000+11:00

Elton John's civil partner David Furnish has described Madonna's win at the Golden Globes as "a fluke" and said the "integrity" of the awards should be questioned.

Madonna scooped the Best Original Song gong at the awards ceremony held earlier this week (January 15) for her song 'Masterpiece', which is taken from the soundtrack to WE, a film she also directed. However, with Elton John nominated for his track 'Hello, Hello' from Gnomeo and Juliet, Furnish told the New York Post that the Queen of Pop didn't deserve the prize.

Furnish said: I think it was a fluke… When this happens you have to question the integrity of the awards. Did Madonna get the Golden Globe because she attended the awards and agreed to be a presenter? He went on to add: "Can you sing Madonna's song? Can you hum it? it's a song nobody has heard, from a film few have seen. The award should have gone to Mary J. Blige or Elton. I like Madonna's music, but not her movies. She should stick to what she is good at." - NME

David Furnish Blasts Madonna

2012-01-17T18:13:00.000+11:00

DAVID Furnish has launched a blistering attack on Madonna following her Golden Globes win.

The film producer lashed out at the Queen of Pop after she beat his partner Elton John's duet with Lady GaGa to the Best Original Song prize.

Before the ceremony, sharp-tongued Elton said Madonna had "no f****** chance" of winning, to which the Like A Virgin star responded: "May the best man win."

But David took to Facebook afterwards to vent his fury, also taking aim at her acceptance speech and questioning the "merit" of the Hollywood ceremony.

He wrote: "Madonna. Best song???? F*** off!!!"

According to TMZ, he continued: "Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit.

"Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism. And her criticism of GaGa shows how desperate she really is."

Madonna scooped the gong for her tune Masterpiece, which appears in her directorial debut film W.E.

Elton's song with GaGa — Hello Hello from animated flick Gnomeo and Juliet — had been tipped for victory at the awards bash.

As the pop veteran sat stony-faced in the crowd, Madonna took to the podium, saying: "I'd like to thank my manager Guy Oseary, who I spent most of my time beating up on. He harangued me for the entire time I was filming and editing my movie to write a song for the film.

"I said, 'Please Guy, I'm trying to focus on being a director and I want people to pay attention to the film. I don't have time'.

"I finished the film and I started making my record and somehow, magically and miraculously, the song emerged. So thank you Guy Oseary for being so irritating."

Backstage after the event, Madonna attempted to placate Elton, telling reporters: "I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years."

She added: "He's been known to get mad at me so I don't know. He's brilliant and I adore him so he'll win another award. I don't feel bad!"

Elton and Madonna's feud has been rumbling on since 2004 when the Your Song singer accused his nemesis of miming after she bagged the Best Live Act prize at the GQ Awards.

He ranted: "Madonna, best f****** live act? F*** off! Since when has lip-synching been live?"

- The Sun

Elton's Coming to Denmark

2012-01-17T18:05:00.000+11:00

Elton and the band are to play a concert on July 4, 2012, at Augustenborg Slotspark (Castle), Augustenborg, Denmark.

Public tickets for this concert go on sale on January 21 at 10.00 and can be bought here.

Buy a VIP EJAF Oscar's Party Tour for $15k or 2 Elton CD's for $8

2012-01-17T17:55:00.000+11:00

Hollywood’s awards season is in high gear, and thanks to Kensington Tours silver screen-loving soul mates can savor the spotlight alongside the stars during a five-day fantasy getaway to L.A.

Day One

Lovebirds will be in seventh heaven as they fly over The City of Angels and the surrounding scenic areas in an hour-long flight aboard an Astar Eurocopter. After landing, couple’s feet may be on the ground but they can still keep reaching for the stars as they explore L.A. in a luxury conversion van which will take traveling twosomes past the Hollywood sign, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, celebrity homes and much more before taking the tourists to their accommodations at the Mondrian Los Angeles.

Day Two

Sightseers can shop for souvenirs during a day spent exploring Los Angeles in a private car, then follow a personal guide at nightfall to the playground of paparazzi magnets along West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills.

Day Three

A free day allows for time to get red carpet-ready for Hollywood’s most high-profile party of the year– Elton John’s Oscar Viewing Dinner & Party, where couples can mingle with movie makers as they find out who will take the coveted gold statues home.
Day Four

Couples can sleep in after the L.A. soiree, then enjoy an afternoon on a Los Angeles adventure on one of a variety of tours offered: The L.A. Food Tasting Tour; Behind the Scenes Hollywood Tour; Historic Downtown L.A.; Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles; Contemporary Downtown L.A.; Architecture Tour of Hollywood; Architecture Tour of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills; private tours of the Getty Museum and Rodeo Drive or the Studio Tour and Santa Monica Shopping Tour.

Day Five

A private limousine and drive will take couples to the Los Angeles airport for their flight home.

A Hollywood happening with heart, Kensington Tours donates a portion of the proceeds to Kensington Cares, the company’s charitable initiative which supports education for disadvantaged children.

The five-day Elton John’s VIP Oscar Party package– which takes place February 24 -28, 2012– is available starting at $15,500 per person, based on 2 -4 people, double occupancy.

- Kensington Tours.com

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Madonna Wins Golden Globe, Elton's shocked

2012-01-16T19:46:00.000+11:00

Elton John tested the agility of the US censors before the Golden Globes show began on Sunday, using an obscenity when describing Madonna's chances against him in the best song category.

Speaking on the red carpet, the British singer - up for an award for 'Hello, Hello' from Gnomio and Juliet - was asked what he thought of his rivals in the category including Madonna.

"We've got a lot of competition. .... Madonna hasn't got a (silence)," he said, as NBC apparently used its several-second broadcast delay to edit out the offending word.

Laughing, the interviewer joked: "Those are fighting words."

"No, they're accurate words," replied the star, to more laughter.

It was not immediately clear to TV viewers exactly what he said, but a few minutes later, the interviewer was talking to Madonna, and told her about Elton's bleeped-out comments - shortening the offending word.

"He had a choice word about you ... He said you don't have an F-ing chance," he told Madonna, who is nominated for 'Masterpiece' from W.E., the film she also directed about Britain's King Edward VIII and US divorcee Wallis Simpson.

"Oh damn him," Madonna said, adding: "May the best man win."

The comments came a short time before the Globes show began, with British comic Ricky Gervais hosting for a third straight year, despite ruffling some feathers last year.

Gervais said on Twitter on the eve of the show that there was "probably" a seven-second delay on the broadcast.

"Seven-second delay is the latest rumor. True?," one fan asked Ricky. "Probably," he tweeted back. "There was last year. It's in case anyone accidentally swears."
Madonna went on to beat John for the best song award.

- SMH