SotW 319: Shallow Dive 2

Elton, Leon, Sara Bareilles, a 2005 film with a song by Sigur Rós, Sinatra, The Greatest Band that Never Was

Elton John, Leon Russell

Elton John’s speech installing Leon Russell popped up on YouTube this week. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Leon (SoTW 093, ‘A Song for You’), but what struck me about the clip was what a sweet guy Elton is. I never followed him closely, just the first two fine albums while I was still in the US, then the hits through all those decades.

Leon was a legend who fell on hard times. Elton felt priviledged to pick him up and initiate a collaboration that brought out the best in both of them. Check out ‘If It Wasn’t for Bad‘.

Elton John , Sara Bareilles

But I did come across him in a collaboration with Sara Bareilles, a multitalented young artist I respect a lot (SoTW 303). Her career started in a cappella in college, singer-songwriter breakthrough around 2007. Since then she’s judged on Sing Off, produced and starred in the TV show girls5eva, and on Broadway sung Sondheim (“Into the Woods”) and written the music for and starred in “Waitress”, maybe my favorite musical ever.

Whew.

But Ms Bareilles’ main gig always seems to be delicious singer-songwriter rock music, stuff that’s very palatable even to boomer ears. For example her song ‘Brave’, which was turned by some nurses into a viral anthem for kids with cancer. Or this wonderful, wonderful rereading of Elton’s ‘Yellow Brick Road’. The a cappella rock orchestra I formed, Vocalocity, did a magnificent cover of that interpretation.

Then Sir Reg returned the compliment. “I’ve never heard anyone sing one of my songs like that, ever.” He proceeds to give Ms Bareilles’ ‘Gravity’ an absolutely riveting reading. Elton got me severely hooked on the song. Here’s Sara’s original. I’ve listened to Elton’s cover and Sara’s live performances many, many times. I’ve tried to sing it—whoo! That is one hell of a song!

Bill Nighy/Kelly Macdonald, “The Girl in the Café” (Film)

I had a major rush this week, a serious vindication of my nerdist obscurism. After enjoying that BBC political drama ‘State of Play’ that I talked about last week, I dug up the 2005 film starring two excellent actors from there, “The Girl in the Café”, with the irresistible Bill Nighy and the fetching Kelly Macdonald.  He’s a senior government official, a spinster; she’s thirty years younger. Here’s the whole film. It seems to be a mismatched May-September romance, but then turns into something else.

Sigur Rós

But what really got me was that he takes her to Reykjavik for the last part of the movie, and as he’s driving her to the Iceland airport right at the end, the film employs—uncredited—the song ‘Starálfur’ by the EXCELLENT Icelandic band Sigur Rós. Which I immediately recognized, giving me major Nordic nerdic points.

I wrote about their compatriot Asgeir in SoTW 279. He has quite a similar vibe, but Sigur Rós is a much bigger name internationally, even appearing on “Game of Thrones” and successfully touring the world. Sigur Rós and their leader Jónsi have released a whole bunch of excellent albums. Their most salient appeal is the inimitable Icelandic vibe, symphonic, ethereal, mystic, enchanting. I most heartily recommend giving them a shot. Here’s a taste: ‘Hoppípolla’, ‘Glósóli’, ‘Ylur’. And here’s ‘Gobbledigook’, one of my favorite cuts even before I saw the very au naturel video.

Frank Sinatra

Last night I listened to 20 (I lead a pretty dull life) versions of a favorite standard of mine, ‘Little Girl Blue’. Findings? Here’s the original by Gloria Grafton from Rodgers and Hart’s 1935 musical, “Jumbo”. And here’s the best one, by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, from the 1954 “Songs for Young Lovers” (originally released as an 8-song, 10″ album). I confess that I’m not always as appreciative of Sinatra as I should be (SoTW 147, ‘It Was a Very Good Year’). But his performance here really couldn’t be any better. The Gold Standard.

Moi, The Greatest Band that Never Was

And on a personal note, I received the proof copy of my new novel in the mail this week. I guess you could say I’m excited. It was four intensive years in the writing, two shepherding it to publication, and now here’s the child itself, all organic paper and ink. Some back-office tinkering, and it should be available for purchase in two months or so. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you informed.