•
Rating: Two absolutely disastrous studio albums, a vocal cord surgery that could have permanently ended his career, increasingly worrying drug addiction issues, a marriage that sadly fell apart, and, as if that weren't enough, his beloved Watford FC getting relegated: the 1987 Reg Dwight has nothing left to lose. He's a boxer in the corner, a wounded fox, an artist for whom all seems lost, who immerses himself in the glory of his past to escape present difficulties. This perspective is essential to fully understand this live recorded in Sydney with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: the choice of songs seems absolutely tailor-made for such a period, every single note, every single word of Bernie Taupin's lyrics perfectly reflects the personal and human moment Elton John was experiencing at the time, thus giving life to a live performance of bitter and poignant beauty, undoubtedly the highest point reached by EJ in his troubled '80s.
Scrolling through the setlist, one of the first things that stands out, proving what was previously stated, is the presence of no less than six songs from EJ's darkest album, the eponymous one from 1970; first and foremost, "Sixty Years On": hoarse and tormented voice, enveloping orchestrations, a hypnotic and majestic melody and lyrics steeped in melancholy and resignation to immediately realize the atmosphere of this live performance, but also the wonderful and underrated "I Need You To Turn To," with its smooth medieval ballad cadence, "The King Must Die," presented in all its dark and theatrical drama, the sweet and melancholic "The Greatest Discovery" and obviously a "Your Song" that starts almost quietly to gain strength in an emotional climax of great intensity; these are the songs that shape the style of "Live In Australia"; the others follow suit, shape, and blend together to form a single discourse; "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," faithful to the original with an extra touch of desperation, "Tonight," which with Elton John's "new" voice loses its melodramatic side, becoming more direct, bitter, and almost aggressive in its sung parts, an unknown masterpiece like the pressing, lively, and unpredictable "Have Mercy On The Criminal," which speaks of a lonely man, hunted and on the run from the law, with his back against the wall just like the Elton John of that time, a monument to Music like "Madman Across The Water," here much clearer, more imposing and less nuanced than in the studio version; even "Tiny Dancer" loses part of its light and ethereal appeal to become rich with pathos and "Candle In The Wind," in an orchestral live performance, sheds its sumptuous arrangement to reveal itself in its most intimate and bitter essence; "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," faithfully presented to the original, is therefore the most logical conclusion, the best, the only possible one for this wonderful and unrepeatable concept-live.
And so, if the albums "Ice On Fire" and "Leather Jackets" are the worst ever produced by the pianist from Pinner and the subsequent "Reg Strikes Back" and "Sleeping With The Past" are undoubtedly good but not memorable, "Live In Australia" is instead a unique work of art: the symphony orchestra is a wonderful co-star; Elton, his piano, and his new hoarse and raspy voice are the undisputed stars, holding the stage with unchanged class despite everything. EJ's more pop and carefree side is absolutely not contemplated, the more rock side, except for "Take Me To The Pilot" and the pyrotechnic "Burn Down The Mission" is almost absent; therefore it's not a live performance representative of his entire career and stylistic range but rather a splendid snapshot, a harmonic ensemble of songs, music, and words to capture a moment, and precisely because of this, it is unrepeatable.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Sixty Years On (05:40)
Who'll walk me down to church when I'm sixty years of age
When the ragged dog they gave me has been ten years in the grave
And señorita play guitar, play it just for you
My rosary has broken and my beads have all slipped through
You've hung up your great coat and you've laid down your gun
You know the war you fought in wasn't too much fun
And the future you're giving me holds nothing for a gun
I've no wish to be living sixty years on
Yes I'll sit with you and talk let your eyes relive again
I know my vintage prayers would be very much the same
And Magdelena plays the organ, plays it just for you
Your choral lamp that burns so low when you are passing through
And the future you're giving me holds nothing for a gun
I've no wish to be living sixty years on
02 I Need You to Turn To (02:48)
You're not a ship to carry my life
You are NAILED to my love in many lonely nights.
I've strayed from the cottages and found myself here
For I need your love. Your love protects my fears.
(Chorus)
And I wonder sometimes, and I know I'm unkind,
But I need you to turn to when I act so blind.
Oh I need you to turn to when I lose control
You're my guardian angel who keeps out the cold.
Did you paint your smile on when I said I knew
That my reason for living was for loving you
We're related in feeling, but you're high above
You're pure and you're gentle, with the grace of a dove.
(chorus)
03 The Greatest Discovery (04:27)
Peering out of tiny eyes
The grubby hands that gripped the rail
Wiped the window clean of frost
As the morning air laid on the latch
A whistle awakened someone there
Next door to the nursery just down the hall
A strange new sound you never heard before
The strange new sound that make boys explore
Tread neat so small those little feet
Amid the morning his small heart beats
So much excitement yesterday
That must be rewarded. Must be displayed.
Large hands lift him through the air
Excited eyes contain him there
The eyes of those he loves and knows
But what's this extra bed just here
His puzzled head tipped to one side
Amazement swims in those bright green eyes
Glancing down upon this thing
That makes strange sounds. Strange sounds that sing.
In those silent happy seconds
That surround the sound of this event
A parent smile is made in moments
They have made for you a friend
And all you ever learned from them
Until you grew much older
Did not compare with when they said
This is your brand new brother.
This is your brand new brother.
05 Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word (03:50)
What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you are not there
What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
what do I say when it's all over
Sorry seems to be the hardest word
chorus:
It's sad (so sad) so sad
It's a sad sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad (so sad) so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh, it seems to me
that sorry seems to be the hardest word
It's sad (so sad) so sad
It's a sad sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad (so sad) so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh, it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word
What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do?
What have I got to do?
When sorry seems to be the hardest word
07 Take Me to the Pilot (04:20)
If you feel that it's real I'm on trial
And I'm here in your prison
Like a coin in your mint
I am dented and I'm spent with high treason
Through a glass eye your throne
Is the one danger zone
Take me to the pilot for control
Take me to the pilot of your soul
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Well I know he's not old
And I'm told he's a virgin
For he may be she
But what I'm told is never for certain
08 Tiny Dancer (06:26)
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty eyes, pirate smile
You're marrying music man
Ballerina, you must've seen her
Dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks, out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man, he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the song
The words she knows
The tune she hums
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here, with no one near
Only you, and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
(repeat)
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile
You're marrying a music man
Ballerina, you must've seen her,
Dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
repeat chorus 2x
09 Have Mercy on the Criminal (06:09)
Have you heard the dogs at night,
Somewhere on the hill.
Chasing some poor criminal,
And I guess they're out to kill.
Oh, there must be shackles, on his feet,
And mother, in his eyes, stumbling through the devil-dark
With the hound pack in full cry.
Have mercy on the criminal,
Who is running from the law,
Are you blind to the
Winds of change?
Don't you hear him any more?
Praying Lord you gotta help me,
I am never gonna sin again.
Just take, these chains
From around my legs,
Sweet Jesus I'll be your friend.
Now have you ever seen
The white teeth gleam,
While you lie on a
Cold damp ground.
You're taking in the face of a rifle butt,
While the wardens hold you down.
And you're never seen a friend in years,
Oh, it turns your heart to stone.
You jump the walls,
And the dogs run free,
And the grave's gonna be your home.
10 Madman Across the Water (06:38)
I can see very well.
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well.
There's a joke and I know it very well,
It's one of those that I told you long ago.
Take my word I'm a madman don't you know.
Once a fool had a good part in the play,
If it's so would I still be here today?
It's quite peculiar in a funny sort of way,
They think it's very funny everything I say.
Get a load of him, he's so insane
You'd better get your coat dear
It looks like rain.
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon.
The inlaws hope they'll see you very soon.
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of the Madman across the Water.
I can see very well.
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well.
There's a joke and I know it very well,
It's one of those that I told you long ago.
Take my word I'm a madman don't you know.
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon.
The inlaws hope they'll see you very soon.
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of the Madman across the Water.
The ground's a long way down but I need more.
Is the nightmare black
Or are the windows painted?
Will they come again next week,
Can my mind really take it?
11 Candle in the Wind (04:00)
Goodbye Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
CHORUS:
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in.
I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
All the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
was that Marilyn was found in the nude
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in.
I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.
Goodbye Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jeane
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in.
I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.
Your candle burned out long before
your legend ever did.
13 Your Song (04:04)
It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money, but, boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, heh... but then again no
Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and... this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple, but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words...
How wonderful life is... while you're in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well, a few are the verses, well they,
they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway, the thing is... what I really mean...
Your's are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
And you can tell everybody that this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is... while you're in the world
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is... while you're in the world
14 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (06:06)
Don't go breaking my heart
I couldn't if I tried
Honey if I get restless
Baby you're not that kind
Don't go breaking my heart
You take the weight off me
Honey when you knock on my door
I gave you my key
Nobody knows it
When I was down
I was your clown
Nobody knows it
Right from the start
I gave you my heart
I gave you my heart
So don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
And nobody told us
'Cause nobody showed us
And now it's up to us babe
I think we can make it
So don't misunderstand me
You put the light in my life
You put the sparks to the flame
I've got your heart in my sights
Nobody knows it
When I was down
I was your clown
Nobody knows it, nobody knows it
But right from the start
I gave you my heart
I gave you my heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
Nobody knows it
When I was down
I was your clown
Right from the start
I gave you my heart
I gave you my heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my heart
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By metafisico
It is absolutely not true that those who sell millions of records and are stars cannot produce good music.
The album closes with 'Your Song,' the most beautiful pop and love song ever written.
