I was (once again!) very lucky on Monday 29 March to attend a French TV program live called "Nulle Part Ailleurs" among about 200 people in the audience. And guess who was the guest : Elton of course! Every fellow French rower must have noticed me on several occasions during the program, especially when I touched Elton's shoulder with my hand. But that's a long story...
I learned on Friday (26/3) that Elton was the special guest on the TV program "Nulle Part Ailleurs" (which means "Nowhere else" in French) on the Canal+ channel. As it is a live broadcast with an audience, my favorite TV program and since it is filmed in Paris at about two kilometers from where I live, I thought that I couldn't miss it. Obviously all seats are reserved from one week to the following week without even knowing who the guests will be for the show. Anyway I tried my luck on Monday morning and explained how much of an EJ fan I was, that it would be one of the greatest experiences in my life (after the Ritz show of course!) and after 10 minutes of hard talking with the woman on the phone she finally told me "OK for one seat, not two". "That's fine" I replied. I had already attended this program last year and consequently knew exactly where to sit in the pubic to be seen on TV.
The program is divided into two parts, I couldn't wait for the second part of course during the first one. During the intervall between the two parts, Elton arrived and blew a tantrum!! We couldn't see him but sure we could hear him. "I'm fucking pissed off", "No need to carry the piano, I'm not gonna do it". It really sounded like the Tantrums and Tiaras beginning. Unbelievable! Of course it was all panick in the studio, everybody thought "What are we going to do if he doesn't want to do it?". Bob Halley was seen very worried and ran backstage to see what was happening. Ten seconds after that Elton entered the studio (it was still the adds break) smiling to everybody he could see. He was wearing a blue "Nike" suit with big dark blue glasses, not the kind of suit usually seen on TV... He was welcomed by a great standing ovation from the public. Too bad it wasn't filmed.
Then began the 50 minute-long second part with tonight's megastar Elton John. An Event for sure. Next to Elton was seating his French translator (a very young woman). He answered the first question in English but then talked for the rest of the show in a clear, little-hesitating French to everybody's delight. Guillaume Durand, the program presentator had really good questions to ask him.
When asked about the Aida CD, Elton said he found it somewhat dangerous to release the CD before the musical is known by the public. He insisted that it sounds very different onstage : the order of the songs, the artists and the actual songs. Guillaume Durand made it clear he regretted not to hear more up-tempo songs on the album, as well on Elton's last studio albums. Elton explained he found it much more easier to write a slow song on the piano than an uptempo song because it's always about the same melody on piano for a Rock and Roll number. He added he was very glad about his work these days but hope to write more uptempo songs in the near future. He even mentionned his next studio album saying it will be produced by Massive Attack and Pet Shop Boys producer (Ray Orbinson I think he said). But he said his previous album before Aida, Made In England (thus forgetting The Big Picture !!) was already quite an uptempo album (which I don't agree with). That's a good news for all of us who have had enough of Chris Thomas.
Talking about his musicanship, Elton said he considered himself as he big mixture of all sorts of music, from Hair or Cassius (Techno music) to Ella Fitzgerald, from Chopin or Schumman to Pop Music.
"Being the megastar you are, how can you still be motivated in what you do" asked GD. Elton said he was involved in many different projects at the time, among them he named the score for The Muse, the production of Women Talking Dirty and a musical film he now plans to write for next year he said... No talk on concerts.
One of Elton's interesting comments went when he talked about the "arthritic monkey" Keith Richards, saying it was "pathetic" to act as a young teenager when you are more than 50. "I'm 52 now and I prefer visiting a porcelain exhibition, a church or a cathedral than attending a rock and roll show" he said.
Elton also talked about John Lennon ("he was my first friend who was killed, after him were Gianni Versace and Princess Diana"). He said it was the first time he worked with a genius and that he learned a lot observing the way a genius works. "I don't forget Mister Lennon" he said. During the news, Elton was very concentrated on what was happening in Kosovo. He listened very carefully; it was as if you could see Elton in his house watching TV. During the weather forecast part, he asked about the weather in Nice.
Then came the most memorable moment of the night. GD suddenly asked "Do you feel confortable?", making it clear "Is you tantrum really over?". "Yes" Elton said. "So, would you be so kind as to please everyone of us by playing a song; have a drink and come back in 10 or 15 minutes if you want but that would be terrific". Hearing the torrendous applause by the public and everyone (especially me I must say) screaming "Yeeeah, please Elt' ", he obviously couldn't turn down the offer, even though a pointed a virtual gun to Guillaume Durand.
As his piano wasn't installed on the stage (to Elton's asking!), GD offered him to play on the "Nulle Part Ailleurs" musical band's electric keyboard, located upstairs the TV studio. I was seating next to the stairs and consequently had Elton walking next to me to reach the keyboard. He had to play standing due to the height of the keyboard. He tried a few notes, had the microphone installed for him and then, in order to show GD he could still play uptempo songs, started playing a fantastic solo version of Philadelphia Freedom. Everyone in the public was standing, clapping in his hands which led Elton to deliver a very rock and roll version of the song. He had no problem adapting to the keyboard and was visibly enjoying it very much. When he went backstairs everybody in the audience was still standing giving an incredible ovation to the man for this unplanned song.
When Elton went next to me I was filmed (just me and him on TV) and touched his right shoulder with my hand friendly. He left the studio under incredible applause. It was all electricity. Everybody in the audience spent the rest of the program (with a third guest no one payed attention to, although he tried by reffering to Elton !) in shock.
I received about 30 phone calls after the show of friends who had seen me on TV all over the program and who all joked about how lucky I am. Just try your luck even though you might think it's impossible and you may not regret it...
Eltonly yours, Olivier.
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