Search - Elton John :: Single Man

Perhaps I am biased...

S. C. Spanoghe | California | 11/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I find it hard to accept some peoples reviews of 'Song for Guy'. A few people call it monotonous or boring, or say that they cringe when Elton John sings "Life isn't everything". I titled my review 'Perhaps I am biased' because Guy Burchett was my uncle. He was a motorcycle messenger who worked with Elton John, and at seventeen years old was killed in an accident while riding pillion on a motorcycle. Elton John's 'Song for Guy' is not only a very generous tribute to a young man who lost his life at a very young age, but also an emotional song that Elton John wrote from his heart."

A bit of a lull, but likeable

Chris Cormier | canada | 01/20/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After the crazy output of 1970-75, and the subsequent burnout, Elton was probably trying to get back to earth with this album. The emphasis is on the songs not inventive playing, and while it lacks the drive of his previous albums, it can be a good occasional listen. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. 'I Don't Care' and 'It Ain't Gonna Be Easy' come off as a bit forced, the former being a retread of some of his (more rocking) earlier songs, and the latter being an interminable slow tempo song with kind of silly vocals near the end. 'Part Time Love' sounds a bit more like he's hitting his stride with a moderately catchy keyboard and guitar hook (surprise surprise Davey Johnstone appears on that track). 'Big Dipper' probably has the most style of any song on this album, it achieves more by striving for less, with EJ's mocking vocal delivery and and arrangement that reminds me of 'Patricia the Stripper' by Chris DeBurgh. 'Shooting Star' is somewhat new jazzy territory for EJ, and of course 'Reverie' is simply a little intro to the track that follows,'Song For Guy', which starts out as a somewhat stiffly played piano riff and builds into a predictable late 70s instrumental with an admittedly haunting atmosphere (don't expect it to be rock and roll). 'Shine On Through' and 'Georgia' are simple ballads with nice melodies. 'Return To Paradise' is a nice Latin influenced ballad somewhat marred by a cheezy sounding Caribbean orchestra. No real standouts on this album. Should really get 2 3/4 stars.

"