Gold Rush
11-15-2008, 10:28 AM
So, another bloke has released yet another blog (http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/29728/biggest-selling-singles-in-the-united-states) on what HE considers is the most popular singles of all time (even with some well reasoned numbers to back himself up).
So, given this list, he mentions the remake of "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, would have been at the top of the list, although it is not available online (legally). Given sales, figures and popularity, this should be true.
But for me, it does not deserve that position.
Yes, poor old Elton John released this song when his "friend", Princess Diana died. Boo-Hoo-Hoo! Now, I am not dissing on Diana's death, any death is sad, just the song and deeper things.
1) This song was originally written about Marilyn Monroe. Now, some of you may think, "Oh, how fitting to link this song of Marilyn's image to Diana." I say...Bull-Puckey! Isn't Marilyn's death tragic as is? Should it not stand alone on it's own? Isn't this "new" version replacing the innocence of Marilyn's loss with that of another? The original purpose of this song is pretty much null-and-void and you don't have just the public to blame, but the songwriter, Elton John, as well!
2) IF Diana's death meant SO MUCH to Elton John, why didn't he write a new song? Instead, he just trots out a retread of one of his old songs. Actually, maybe it's indicative that, during this time (and toward the present), Elton John has not written anything very original in a LONG TIME. Most of his new stuff sounds like his old stuff! He has lost his creativity and went for "the easy solution". So much for putting time and effort into a memorial, Elton! You FAIL by taking the easy way out. Maybe I should yell at the folks who made this particular version a chart topper, but they are "sheep" and it is hard to yell at all of them. They probably don't even know Marilyn Monroe or her story. And Elton has "pocketed" money from this "easy re-release", even if he was supposed to give it to some Diana fund, he has gained in PR image.
So, this lazy re-tread has once again, even if numbers support it, been named the "top single of all time". Again, I know...this blogger is just posting it "by the numbers" but....HellOnAStick! It does not DESERVE that position.
So, given this list, he mentions the remake of "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, would have been at the top of the list, although it is not available online (legally). Given sales, figures and popularity, this should be true.
But for me, it does not deserve that position.
Yes, poor old Elton John released this song when his "friend", Princess Diana died. Boo-Hoo-Hoo! Now, I am not dissing on Diana's death, any death is sad, just the song and deeper things.
1) This song was originally written about Marilyn Monroe. Now, some of you may think, "Oh, how fitting to link this song of Marilyn's image to Diana." I say...Bull-Puckey! Isn't Marilyn's death tragic as is? Should it not stand alone on it's own? Isn't this "new" version replacing the innocence of Marilyn's loss with that of another? The original purpose of this song is pretty much null-and-void and you don't have just the public to blame, but the songwriter, Elton John, as well!
2) IF Diana's death meant SO MUCH to Elton John, why didn't he write a new song? Instead, he just trots out a retread of one of his old songs. Actually, maybe it's indicative that, during this time (and toward the present), Elton John has not written anything very original in a LONG TIME. Most of his new stuff sounds like his old stuff! He has lost his creativity and went for "the easy solution". So much for putting time and effort into a memorial, Elton! You FAIL by taking the easy way out. Maybe I should yell at the folks who made this particular version a chart topper, but they are "sheep" and it is hard to yell at all of them. They probably don't even know Marilyn Monroe or her story. And Elton has "pocketed" money from this "easy re-release", even if he was supposed to give it to some Diana fund, he has gained in PR image.
So, this lazy re-tread has once again, even if numbers support it, been named the "top single of all time". Again, I know...this blogger is just posting it "by the numbers" but....HellOnAStick! It does not DESERVE that position.