“There is heart and soul, gut-wrenching pain, crazy joy and silliness in the different songs he’s written. “Elton John fans, whether casual or hardcore, understand that you feel things when you hear his music,” Meyer said. John widened his appeal in the 1990s by contributing award-winning music to Disney’s “The Lion King” and “Aida.” His songs have also appeared in numerous films, including “American Hustle,” “High Fidelity” and “Dog Day Afternoon.” More recently, Dexter Fletcher directed “Rocketman,” a 2019 biopic based on the singer’s life and career.
Meyer joins Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for “Remember When Rock Was Young: The Elton John Tribute,” a Rockin’ Orchestra series concert at the Schuster Center in Dayton on Saturday, Jan. In 40 years, they’ll be doing retrospective albums of Elton John’s work like Rod Stewart and Barry Manilow have done with the Great American Songbook.”Īctor-musician Craig A. They wrote songs that will outlast all the other composers that have come along in the ‘90s and early 2000s that you can’t recall, remember or even hum. These are songs and melodies that are timeless and will be sung again and again. “His and Bernie Taupin’s music will continue to endure like Gershwin, Porter, Mozart, Bach, Brahms, and Wagner. “For the late 20th century and early 21st century, Elton John is one of the great composers of the world,” Meyer said. In December, his single with Ed Sheeran, “Merry Christmas,” became John’s 70th song to make the Billboard Hot 100. He continues to be part of the musical mainstream more than 50 years later. 1 hits with songs like “Bennie & the Jets” (1974), “That’s What Friends Are For” (1985) and “Candle in the Wind” (1997). It’s spinetingling.”Įlton John scored his first Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Border Song,” which peaked at 92 in 1970.
It’s so glorious to hear his music with an orchestra. We’re very careful when we’re setting our programs to make sure we fit in that space. “There are certain songs I don’t have symphony charts for, and symphony shows have very tight time limitations because of musicians’ unions. “The symphony show we’re doing in Dayton is its own beast,” he said. Meyer has several different variations of “Remember When Rock Was Young,” including a 45-minute show and another that runs two hours. I put the songs in an order that builds pressure and then takes pressure off, then builds pressure and then takes it off. Once we kick off the show, we’re in show mode. You’ll go see a band at a club and they’ll finish a song and there will be a lot dead air while they’re taking a drink of water and maybe retuning. Meyer’s stage experiences helped him conceptualize “Remember When Rock Was Young.”