Posted on 08/02/2007 7:32:19 AM PDT by John Cena
POP legend Sir Elton John wants the internet CLOSED DOWN.
Never one to keep his opinions to himself, the Rocket Man has waded into cyberspace with all guns blazing.
He claims it is destroying good music, saying: “The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.
“Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn’t bode well for long-term artistic vision.
“It’s just a means to an end.
“We’re talking about things that are going to change the world and change the way people listen to music and that’s not going to happen with people blogging on the internet.
“I mean, get out there — communicate.
“Hopefully the next movement in music will tear down the internet.
“Let’s get out in the streets and march and protest instead of sitting at home and blogging.
“I do think it would be an incredible experiment to shut down the whole internet for five years and see what sort of art is produced over that span.
“There’s too much technology available.
“I’m sure, as far as music goes, it would be much more interesting than it is today.”
Multi-millionaire Elton, who turned 60 earlier this year, has admitted in the past that he is a bit behind the times. The Grammy award-winner was once quoted as saying: “I am the biggest technophobe of all time.
“I don’t have a mobile phone or an iPod or anything.
“I am such a Luddite when it comes to making music. All I can do is write at the piano.”
Sales of Elton’s last album The Captain & The Kid were disappointing — it barely shifted 100,000 copies. And in the past Sir Elt has opposed illegal downloading of his music from the net.
But the flamboyant singer has embraced the web in other ways.
The 60th birthday concert Sir Elton played to a 20,000-strong crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden was streamed live over the internet.
The singer also announced earlier this year that his entire back catalogue of albums would be made available for digital download.
The internet has played a huge role in kick-starting the careers of some of Britain’s best new talent.
Sandi Thom shot to fame after broadcasting webcam concerts from her London basement flat, while both the Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen acknowledge the part played by the web in their success.
But Elton also complained about the quality of music being released.
He said: “In the early Seventies there were at least ten albums released every week that were fantastic.
“Now you’re lucky to find ten albums a year of that quality.
“And there are more albums released each week now than there were then.”
I guess that’s what Sir Elt would call a net loss . . .
But if you don't like it, how about this, don't use it to write articles that criticize people who do, ya hypocrite
What a moron.
Where would Elton get all his gay porn if they shut down the internet?
He’d log on to watch the elephant show no doubt...
Elton’s a Luddite. And a queer Luddite at that!
It’s Algore’s fault.
“Now you’re lucky to find ten albums a year of that quality.
That's true.... but it has nothing to do with the internet. Sorry Elton, the sun is going down on Capitan idiot.
The old thread finally got yanked?
Better to cut out the "suits" who decide on record contracts by committee.
He makes some good points, but he cannot see that the ‘Net is just a new medium, made to explore and create new ways of doing things. Sure it makes people hermits, in a way, but some of the greatest artists in the history of the arts were hermit like people..........
right, because protesting about the Dan Rather memos would have been so much more effective.
Search amazon and iTunes for Elton John. You’ve got two guesses whether they sell his stuff or not, and I’ll save you trouble by eliminating “no.”
Er, eliminating “not.”
Mean, but lol.
Good idea! Let’s do it right now.
5 ...
4 ...
3 ...
2 ...
(It’s been a pleasure freeping with you all. Bye.)
1!
Done and done.
“Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn’t bode well for long-term artistic vision.
Elton john fear the competition. Turns out an amature at home is just as good as he is with all his hype.
I also wonder how much of his portfolio is in internet based tech.
Perhaps he should only spend investment money of buggy whips.
Wasn’t it just last week that he wanted to be religion illegal?
This from a guy who dresses like a big chicken onstage.
Elton, let me say this the kindest way I can: "You are an old poof who is so hopelessly out of date that nobody wants your music anymore. The last "hit" you had was a reworking of something you wrote ten years before that, rewritten to make Lady Di into some kind of Marylin Monroe tragic-heroine-goddess. You are in the Autumn of your Years and the December 31st of your talent, and saying outrageous things like this may get you in the media, but regular people are just going to say things like "Boy, is that old poofdah out of touch", "Elton who?, and "I thought he was dead already!"
The Grammy award-winner was once quoted as saying: “I am the biggest technophobe of all time."
Elton, I have been lectured for years by many Libs about how horrible it is to be labeled with any word that ends in "phobe." Clearly, this make you a small-minded, intolerant, short-fuzed, bigoted hate-monger, and you had better turn your views around or you are going to have to be publicly shunned and put through repeated re-education until you wise up and become "tolerant" of those around you who simply want to be left alone to make their own musical lifestyle choices.
I buy most of music direct from bands now. There is a ton of good music not processed through focus groups out there.
Poor Elton. Life seems to have passed him by in his old age.
Maceman.....Spaceman.....Rocketman. Elton, is that you?
Invest now in the Elton John Progressive Retirement Fund, heavily invested in buggy whips, rotary phones, and 78-speed records.
New, young artists can use the readily available digital technology and the internet to create both music as well as careers. And do it without a record label. Smart, talented folks can not only help to identify their local and/or regional fan base so as to focus their show dates most profitably, but they can also market their own CDs. And, believe me, selling 100,000 CDs without a record label can be done and is immensely more profitable for the artist than if it were done with a record label. I know of internet-based “radio”-type streaming broadcasts which use only independent music. Maybe Queen Elton doesn’t like the fact that his latest stuff only sold 100,000 because there are 9 other acts who each sold their own 100,000 instead of him selling a million all for himself. As an established artist, he has a deal with his label which is no doubt radically different than the kind of screwing that a new artist would get, so he is part of the problem and he doesn’t like the solution.
“I mean, get out there — communicate.
Man...I'm glad he set me straight on that. All this time I thought the Internet was a great way to communicate.
That’s because Elton’s early work was actually Bernie Taupin’s work.
Dontcha just love how when libs get an idea they think everybody has to do it?
How about if he doesn’t like the internet, he doesn’t use it and leave the rest of us alone? Or is that too easy?
"Long-term artistic vision" is not a phrase that should come from the mouth of somebody whose last good record was recorded over thirty years ago.
I don't buy that the "enlightened" (new) is always better; some things are undesireable instinctively, and there's good reason to keep it that way.
Add the megalomania that seems to come in too many cases with advancing age, add diseases that addle the brain and there you have it: Reginald Kenneth Dwight (aka Elton John).
Just saying.
Whatever happened to Bernie?
susie
Elton John: “I am such a Luddite”
No Elton, you’re a fudgepacking Luddite and you need to STFU.
What a silly old Queen.
The internet has never been better for music. Songs that were never available are now accessible, and crap the music industry tries to push on us on an albumn with one good song is no longer a required purchase.
Seriously, it doesn’t get any simplier than - “Produce something people like, and they will buy it.” No wonder I’ve not purchased a bit of new music in years. My puchases have been to fill holes in my collection.
Elton’s just mad because he can’t keep all of the money which including overcharging his customers for his concerts and records. Must be looking for a new gig. Got to keep all of those fresh flowers coming.
What is Sir Elton REALLY upset about? eh?
Why doesn’t he just shout it out,
“Pro Tools”
Musicians with real talent don’t make it in the business anymore. The ones with Magical pitch do!
By the way, Alec Baldwin should also stop referring to his daughter as a “Vile Pig”. From what I understand, she can actually sing without Pro Tools Helper. She doesn’t grunt out the lyrics.
“Let’s get out in the streets and march and protest instead of sitting at home and blogging.”
Isn’t he the guy who threw a hissy fit about having to walk fifty yards to a royal event? Who’s he kidding about going on marches?
How dare he suggests to shut down the internet after I invented it. Hey Elton, what to pull my finger???
Shame on you, why would you insult morons.
LOL!
While I think the idea could never happen in a billion years, I am technophile who would love to see that experiment. We as humans do spend too much time in front of computers. What was supposed to free us is holding us captive.
I love the internet, my mp3 player, my digital camera and the like, but I could love without out them. And I do not think that other people realize how full their live would be if they were to really talk to people instead of IM cryptic messages.
Yea well...good luck with that one Elton. Maybe you can get a ban on DaVinci’s flying machine diagrams while you are at it.
In one day on FreeRepublic, I communicate with many more people, hear their opinions, comment back and have valid discussions than I MET in a week in the real world.
Lets bann reading and writing so we can go back to verbal story telling. Oh, wait, TV’s getting close to that.
It seems to me you live your life like a candle in the wind. Now blow.
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