His Majesty.
Regaling us with story after story, don't say the glam queen bitch is back. He's been here for years. Taking his farewell tour after decades and decades of star spangled music from the Great British national treasure-from 'The Lion King', to Princess Diana tributes-around the world and Phileas Fogg back again. And this crowning glory has been the 'Rocketman's' year of coronation with his bags packed, zero hour, nine AM. With his 'Kingsman' sequel co-star Taron Egerton taking the throne as him in a beautiful and bohemian biopic from Queen, 'Rhapsody', Rami rivalling director Dexter Fletcher. And now after all this behind the same star sunglasses Arnold Schwarzenegger donned for 'Terminator 3', Elton John gets really personal and diamond sequin and feather boa stripped down and away in 'Me', his long awaited autobiography. Not his first book, his AIDS awareness mission statement, 'Love Is The Cure' demands everyone's attention. But this in the same year as an unsanitized, coke and all biopic-as blow brutal as it is big and beautiful-is his most personal project yet. And probably the best book and most musical, amazing autobiography since Steven Tyler of Aerosmith's 'Noise In My Head', the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Anthony Kiedis' 'Scar Tissue', or Rolling Stone Keith Richards' 'Life' (we're yet to get to Prince's unfinished 'The Beautiful Ones' out now too. But can hardly wait). "Sea turtles mate". The last one was audiobook read by 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' son Johnny Depp. Even more fittingly here after a perfect prologue read by Sir Elton-before he supposedly goes off to shop-the perfectly named 'Me' is read by none other than, you guessed it, Taron Egerton himself. And this audiobook version of the autobiography (the voice keeping me company so I'm not lost in translation, trying to teach in Tokyo, Japan like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audiobooks when I was travelling Hong Kong during a depression) needs a lent ear as the relationship between actor and star muse is much more than music, or even acting. Egerton's epic and energetic reading of 'Me' (or him) like his portrayal of the pop star is an incredible dedication to the man. With just as much charismatic character as the words wrote. Dare I say the best one/two, dynamic duo since Bernie and the 'Benny and the Jets' singer? Cue the piano introduction.
You'll laugh at the fact that 'Stan' Grammy collaborator that Elton sobriety sponsors, Eminem calls him a "C U Next Tuesday' everytime he calls. You'll shed a tear at the last story about dear John Lennon. He talks about 'Heartbreaker' Ryan Adams inspiring him despite the cancelling controversy. He tells us while he still plays Russia and would rather "build a bridge" with Putin than "a wall" (take that you know who). He also speaks candidly and fairly about the queen Madonna without backing out of the corner in defending the Godmother of his first child Lady Gaga from Madge's slights. The born star is this way, his way and the highway only. From taking a truck full of bandmates across the country, backing up soul acts who told him to kill Reg Dwight as he ended up taking his bandmates names, to wanting to die on stage like a Last Vegas residency until he started a family that was worth more than all the Troubadour and trouble that got him to this point. A true lion never flickering like a candle in the wind. From Pinner to Disney. Hollywood and Buckingham Palace. A friend of the royals by decree and our king of queens by knighted appointment. The crown is his like Claire Foy or Olivia Coleman and he takes his throne in this entertainment game with a tilt and tip to everyone who helped build his musical castle. And even those who threw rocks at one of rock and rolls greatest like a Rolling Stone. There's even a hilarious story about being "high as a kite by then" and thinking the great American songbook of Bob Dylan was homeless. But much like how John has found a residence in those classic Sinatra standards at his live shows, his own epic, eclectic catalogue of a collection now belongs in the Great British rock and roll songwriting hall of fame with Bernie Taupin like the crown jewels that they are. And you get plenty of words behind the lyrics to go here for a man who has worked with everyone from Fall Out Boy to A Tribe Called Quest.
But this is his song. And none rings truer that the ode to family and matrimony to that. For better or worse, cradle to hearse. It's a little bit funny (as a matter of fact it's f###### hilarious. The amount of times I've bust out laughing in public from him telling someone to take something and shove it up their proverbial arse). But there's so much more feeling inside. Especially when it comes to the Dwight family circle of life. From the 'Tiny Dancer' days of playing in pubs were 'Saturday Night Was Alright For Fighting', to the 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and swinging days atop the piano of baseball bat knocking it out the Dodger Stadium park in a jazzled, diamond encrusted uniform, Reg has always kept his family close and the enemies he's made because of that closer. Life wasn't easy for Elton growing up with his parents and that didn't elude him when fame came his way. Coming out to the world and being a LGBT pioneer for being true to who you are before we even put those letters together with us as a society. Not to mention a groundbreaking, life changing advocate for AIDS research, in search for a cure as strong as love. But in a world were were seems to be the hardest word, Elton still gives his everyone candidly and in hindsight, honestly and reflectively in hope that we will learn from his mistakes aswell as be boldly inspired with the many things he did beautifully right. Overcoming drink and drugs was one of John's greatest struggles and challenges he overcame down the yellow brick road, but some of the people in his circle throughout his life became his true sacrifice. But it's all come back round to a love you can feel tonight like his family with David Furnish. As the man who was once lip synced by 'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. (the amazing anthem 'I Want Love') and pop superstar Justin Timberlake (the dressed up 'This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore' which showed J.T. was almost capable of playing Sir Elton like Tom Hardy) in magnificent musical videos now has his own movie and book to take on the road as the show goes on. Heartfelt and hilarious, with so much tongue for your cheek. This is the perfect program for his Farewell Tour like 'Rocketman' is the movie, musical soundtrack that scores like Watford for the chairman of this board, sure there's a lot of me in 'Me'. But what else would you expect from Elton? And I personally wouldn't have it any other way than his way. Me oh my! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
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