Morning all



I love Elton. I saw him in Sheffield in the early 1990s. Just him and a piano (that's how it seemed to me, at least) and it must have been about three hours. Just brilliant.



And my favourite song - that's easy (even amid such a peerlessly stunning catalogue of work) - Tiny Dancer. Absolute perfection.

Good Morning Everybody.



Simon - you sound very happy!



Love



BP

Whoohooooooooo!



3 hours.



YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!



I am happy too :)



Morning all.



MTF.xx

Sorry Simon, I forgot the controlled Thursday bit!



MTF.xx

Morning all



Hope all poorly poppets are feeling better and well done to all who had menshes yesterday.



Won't be around much again today - still too busy!



From the previous blog - hope the hospital visit goes well KatyMac; hope the dentist is kind MCW, and happy birthday to MTF's son!



My favourite EJ song is Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.



Tortie x



PS you do sound very happy Simon - and a tad excited too!

Good morning Simon, team and Blogpoppets



I would like to hear DANIEL please. Although the reasons are a bit personal - not sure I can share on here, does that lessen my chances of it getting played? It's my son's name, but there's a bit more to it than that. I might send an email, or I may just leave it...will have to give that one some thought.



Still feeling a bit poorly today, so I've taken the day off. I need to get fit - I've got a couple of fun things coming up next month, including CiN! Not to mention my forthcoming birthday - another day older... hmm, maybe THAT'S why I'm feeling ill.



Deebee X

Thanks Tortie, I'll pass it on and the cake too Katy, now doubt, that will disappear in one mouthful!!!



I've got a busy one today too.



Will poop back later to see how everyone is.



Hope all goes well today Katy, Mcw too.



MTF.xx

Hi everyone



May I add my best wishes to the poorly poppets ... keep taking the tablets



No EJ stories from me, but I'm sure there will be lots from the rest of you



Over and out x

#6 Of course, I meant another YEAR older. D'oh!

Oh, and talking of birthdays - happy birthday to MTF's GB. Hope he has a great day.



And best wishes to KatyMac for the hospital visit. I'll be thinking of you X

Hello Again,



Aww Deebee, sorry to hear that you still feel off colour. Hope you get better soon, especially as you have your birthday coming up.



Talking of birthdays, Happy Birthday to Master MTF.



Would love to hear Can You Feel The Love Tonight as it reminds me of when my children were little.



Mcw x

morning all, no EJ story from me either....I love 'sorry seems to be the hardest word' and 'don't go breaking my heart'. My cousin and husband are at the concert tonight lucky things!

Morning Simon, team and blogpoppets



Feel fantastic aftermy acupuncture and slept like the proverbial bany last night. Firing on all cylinders this morning, and quite possibly scaring my boss into the process!



Fave Elton song is Daniel, because he's my gorgeous 6'2", 8 years younger than me, baby cuz and yes, he's a star! But I would love to hear



SONG FOR GUY



as it was one of my grad-dads favourite records ever. Whenever I hear it, I can see my grand-dad sitting in his armchair, pretending to play the piano bits. Grand-dad died in 2000 and I miss his dreadfully.



Laters gang!



Deevs

x

Back very quickly.



Thanks Deebee and Mcw.



'The Circle of life.' I love that one and can play along to it on the keyboard as well. Not that I will have the keyboard with me in the car. Or could I?



Off to check my battery supplies!!



Deebee, whats another year ;)



MTF, really out of here! xx

Morning all.



I have to be honest, I have never been all that great a fan of Elton John, although I have liked a few of his.



The best for me was his collaboration with Kiki Dee on Don't Go Breaking My Heart. (which was one of the rather many suggestions I made yesterday).

... ashamed at my typos. No excuse. Sloppy!



x

I am slow on the uptake. I've just realised - Simon is on for THREE HOURS this evening!



I'm starting to feel a bit better now...:o)

Morning All,



Hope all goes well KatyMac and also for Chickster.



Happy birthday to MTF's son



Hope you are feeling better soon Deebee

Good Morning Each!



First and foremost, love and best wishes to KatyMac on her hospital day. One more step towards the possible return of BabyDriver, I hope.



And then get well wishes to the poorly, sick and diseased amongst us. Especially Deebs, who may need all of her strength for partying tomorrow. Happy birthday for then, Deebs.



Then a wish for many happy returns to MTF jnr.



And so to Elton. I am afraid I have never been a massive fan, and although I can see he is a massively talanted man, and he has certainly produced some music that I have purchased, I am afraid that my opinion of him has been somewhat tainted by one or two Diva-like strops.



I am absolutely delighted that drivetime gets an extra hour, but an extra hour of EJ, I could do without. Plenty of other stuff to enjoy though, and I will be tuned in as usual.



Looking forward to a new fish pie recipe, as the Delia cheat recipe has become a bit tired through overuse. (Brought on by my own laziness)

Mr and Mrs MCW walked into a dentist's office.



Mr MCW told the dentist, "Can you pull a tooth quickly? I'm really late! Another couple is waiting for us at the golf course and our tee time is in thirty minutes. I don't have time to wait for anesthetic to take effect."



The dentist thought, "This is one brave man, asking to have a tooth pulled without anesthetic."



The dentist asked him, "Which tooth is it, sir?"



MCW turned The Chickster and said, "Honey, show him your tooth!"





With apologues to Mr MCW.

I've been contemplating a top five...



I think I'll go for:



1) Tiny Dancer (as mentioned)



Followed by (in no particular order)



- I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues



- Someone Saved My Life Tonight



- Mona Lisas and Madhatters



- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road



But then I've no room for 'Tinderbox'... I might have to make it a top ten.

You see, Andrew, this is what MAKES this blog. Such a divergence of tastes. I hope you are successful in your getting a mensh. Perhaps, instead of a top ten, more of a scattergun approach, sneaking further tunes in as they occur. Although, I've seen either work. It may have been Alison, I'm unsure, that got a mensh for posting a top 100(surfing tunes).

Favourite Elton John song: Tiny Dancer



I've never seen him live but for many, many years I had the Radio 1 Wembley stadium headline performance of his on tape. I think it was in the 80s sometime after Live Aid? Radio 1 broadcast the whole day live as I recall. Paul Young was on the bill, voice sounding as rough as a butcher's dog that day which was a shame. Sounded like he really struggled.



Elton was in excellent voice, the set was excellent and sounded great on FM (Tony Wilson production for the Beeb?). There was a moment (during Rocket Man perhaps?) where it sounded as though somebody accidentally started a drum machine pattern that I think was supposed to start another song (Too Low for Zero?). Somehow it kicked in at ten times the speed it was used for the later song, sounded really funny and out of place. Roadie error or drummer error? Who knows.



That was the first time I heard Tiny Dancer, great song and brilliantly performed that day. Rocket Man also excellent.

I could pick a song by a local band (now defunct, I believe), and request...



'Hannah We Know' by Tiny Dancers



A bit tenuous I guess!

Thanks, Paul. You're right, of course. Variety (of opinions and taste) is the spice of life and of this blog. I'll throw ONE more in before I have to shuffle off for a couple of hours:



The One...

Favourite Elton song Benny and the Jets



Saw EJ at Watford Football ground, Rod Stewart made a guest appearance. Nazareth were the support act and the concert was compared by John Peel



Just checked the date, Sunday May 5th 1974!! so obviously was a very young me that was there......

Agree it's a shame about the strops.



Simon talked last week about the easy-going way that the Americans have when Taylor Swift was in, and anyone that listens to Bob's shows will hear that when he has the Nashville people on. You rarely even hear a hint that they have any ego at all, and no sign of any pretentiousness. Just nice, friendly people who love what they do and are happy when other people love it and come along to listen. So many of those artists are happy to hang around after gigs having a chat with fans.



Such a contrast with some of the big names in the more mainstream popular music world.

#20 LOL!



Hope you get your tooth sorted, Mcw. Sorry I missed that earlier - blame it on my befevered state.



Re the strops - I've more than once expressed my opinion on here of the whole 'celebrity' thing. I just don't get why some people feel that because they are famous that gives them the right to behave badly and expect others to bow and scrape before them and treat them like some kind of god. Having said that, I do love Elton John's music.



I've decided not to email Simon my 'Daniel' story. Some things are too personal to share on national radio. I'm happy to FB message anyone who's desperately curious to know the story.



X

I didn't think I was a big Elton fan, but Mr Mcw and I seem to have accumulated a lot of his albums. I love Rocket Man, Kate Bush's sublime version is probably my favourite!!



#28 Thanks Deebee. I am a really big softie, so if you had told Simon the story (not that I know it all) I'd have to keep the mansize handy!



#20 Thanks Paul, that cheered me up!



And on that note I'm off to see my lovely dentist. Hope he doesn't pull

the tooth out!

#29 Mcw, I have just been messaging CSN about it on FB and started to well up. I think I've made the right decision - sounds like Simon is expecting the show to be fairly upbeat, so no room for lots of emotional stuff. Although my story does have a happy ending.



X

Late again today! But I have a good excuse. It's my birthday!



Struggling to find a connection between Elton and U2 however although I'm sure they will have done a live cover of one of his songs at some gig in the USA.



BTW congrats to all bloggers on all the mentions yesterday.



GB

Happy Birthday, Simon Ward. Not letting go of any numerical information, I see.

Just pooping briefly - Happy Birthday, Simon.



BTW - I really enjoyed the Elvis interview and songs last night.

Happy Birthday Simon

All I'll say is 1964 was a fantastic year!

Morning all!



Just on my way to work. Feel ghastly but have to go in.



Hope all goes well at hospital Katy, and at dentist, Mcw. Deebee, keep warm and snug and Deevs, glad the needle thing worked.



Elton was the soundtrack to my youth. My fave cousin was a huge fan and passed it on to me. Had my first slow dance to "Yellow Brick Road" - sash.



Think I will plump for:



Crocodile Rock - it was the first one I heard.



AG

Morning all



Deebee, thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story with me and really pleased it had such a happy ending for all your family. Must say it bought tears to my eyes.



Simon. Please can you play the song DANIEL.



Mcw and Katy, hope all goes well for both of you today.



csn. xx

Favourite EJ song has to be Tiny Dancer.My elder brother bought the Madman album and I used to listen to it when he was out.Thought Tiny Dancer was (and still is) just brilliant. Not heard enough on the radio, so now's your chance to put things right Mr Mayo!!

#31 Happy birthday Simon W! Have a great day.



#36 Alex, sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Turn around. Go home - you know it makes sense.



#37 You are very welcome, CSN.



X

Afternoon! Been a busy morning that has passed by ever so fast.

Happy birthday Simon. And MTF's son.

Well done to all menshees last night. Heard the first hour when it was 3/3 for the blog. Faberoonee.

Charity quiz night tonight so won't hear any of the show. DB/CSN Daniel also brings me to floods of tears. Sadly no happy ending to that story (not wanting to spoil the happy feel to today's blog) x

Sorry to hear you not feeling well today Alex G. Hope you can get home and snuggled up soon. Glad everyone else seems to be on the mend x

Heard your mensh on CLP show this morning Deevs x

Back and I'm still alive (and the tooth is still there, Paul!) Just a bit numb and I'm not looking forward to the next appt in two weeks time!! Eeek!



Happy Birthday Simon!

Happy Birthday Simon!



Diva strops?!? Me not strop ..... me lovely!



Deevs



x

Happy birthday Simon W! And also to Master MTF!



Wish I could turn around and go home but today, I am Alex the Martyr. Got a massive business meeting in Edinburgh tomorrow and I have to prepare for it (and be there). Not looking forward to getting up at 4.30am tomorrow!



Molineux62, welcome! Tiny Dancer is the Elton track I seem to hear the most on R2 but it is a cracking tune.



I also love "Sweet Painted Lady" - reminds me of my mother. Not that she was a SPL but she loved the song and never really got what it was about!



"Tonight" - the opener from the Tonight album is also a special favourite. The parents of a schoolfriend had the original painting of the album cover ("The Guardian Readers") hanging in their living room.

A top tenuous to Elton that I had forgotten.



I went to school in Singapore with a girl called Anya Major. Anya went on to become a model and was "Nikitika" (think that's right - sounds more like an Indian takeaway) in the video of that song. I believe Elton then helped her to get a recording deal and she released one single which did not do well. Still hear about her from friends. A very very beautiful girl.

Alex, sorry to hear that you are not on top form. I hope your colleagues appreciate your efforts when you are feeling so unwell. Hopefully you can rest up properly at the weekend. In the meantime, lots of liquids etc...

Alex, hope you feel better soon and get some rest on the weekend.



csn. xx

Thanks Madchickste. A quiet weekend is indeed planned so hopefully I will be fighting fit for next week!

Mcw - here's the missing r.



Thanks CSN! Probably not been helped by sweet Rosie deciding that the best sleeping place last night was my head!

Alex, I just love sweet Rosie, she was only keeping you warm.



xxxx

For lunch today I have had tomato soup with chunks of home-made bread dipped in it, and cheese grated over the top. Mmm - just what the doctor ordered.



#43 Glad you survived the dentist Mcw.



#40 Sorry to hear that, Mo. I guess any song with a name in the title is going to evoke memories, good or bad, in a certain number of people.



#45 Alex, that's terrible! There's not much worse than having to work when you're feeling under par. I hope you can at least get an early night tonight, and as Mcw and CSN said, a relaxing weekend.



X

And well done Alex for the 50th post! I don't have KatyMac's flair for hats, but here's a tentacle instead



ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¸„ø¤º°¨¨ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥

It seems a bit quiet in here today. Has Elton broken the blog?

#54 I'm still standing!

Ting Ting!



MTF.xx

Mcw, wish I was. LOL!



xxxx

#55. Very droll! I tried to come up with another punny song title response, but I decided that I don't wanna go on with you like that. Hows the gums?

17 years ago today, I was definitely not standing!



Thanks everyone, I have shown the birthday boy all your good wishes. Proper made his day, I think, who knows!!!



MTF.xx

I see you held onto the tooth Mcw.



Is your purse still intact too?



MTF.xx

Inci'dental'ly, MCW and MTF. There always used to be some confusion between yourselves and MTD, remember. I know that she still scrabbles, but I haven't seen her on the blog for a while. Or am I just not paying attention?

Happy Birthday Simon.



MTF.xx

I'll poop over to CLPs blog and have a look, I haven't seen her here for a while either.



MTF.xx

Yup she seems fine Paul.



MTF.xx

Just noticed the time. Gotta shoot. Hope you all enjoy the extension Simon has got for Elton.

























Oooeerrr!!!

#65 Naughty! ;o)

#53 Thank you for the tentacle Deebee! Just shows I am poorly, I hadn't even noticed that I had got the 50! Your lunch sounds lovely.



Paul - you are naughty! And your #58 was very clever!

#60 I've held on to it, just, MTF. Not looking forward to the root canal work planned, and nor is the purse!!



You ok?



Mcw x

Yes thanks Mcw.



I think my wings may be clipped this afternoon. Meaning more blog time!!!



Not 100% certain, so wont get too excited just yet!



MTF.xx

OOeeerr the blog has gawn funny. Right, will love you all and leave you all.



x

afternoon all ive met elton at the football i missed the concert he had at the vic this summer i havent been to the vic much now as i now live in northampton and i dont drive i got a story if you wont 2 here it this is true



gazza

Hi Simon and the Gang

looking forward to tonight's show there is only one EJ song to play and that is of course Tiny Dancer



thanks

I am seething. Just took the dog for a walk, and we met a woman with two small children and a big black Labrador, with no collar or lead on. I had Oscar on the lead at the time. Well the Lab went for him. Now, Oscar isn't a timid dog, he'll give as good as he gets, but the other dog was quite a lot bigger and because he had no collar on it was a while before the woman was able to grab hold of him. No harm done, and she had the grace to apologise. I said something far too nice and forgiving, but as we walked away I heard a loud slap.



Two things:

- if she knew her dog was aggressive towards other dogs, then he should at the very least have had a collar on, so he could be grabbed quickly when another dog approached.

- no wonder the poor animal behaves that way, if that's the sort of treatment he gets.



They should really bring back dog licences in my opinion. And you should have to take a test to show you are capable of being a responsible dog owner.



Grrr....



And - breathe...

#73 It wasn't even as if she'd hit the dog as soon as she'd caught him. I'm against smacking animals, but at least then he would have stood some chance of undertanding what he was being punished for. But no - she'd put his collar and lead on, and I'd started to walk away.

Deebee, how awful, what a stupid cruel dog owner she is. Glad Oscar is ok.



xx

#73 That's dreadful!



A friend of ours took his two lovely border terriers to Camber Sands for a run the other weekend. The male dog was attacked by a Pattendale terrier - again with no lead. The aggressive terrier locked his jaws onto boy dogs neck and wouldn't let go. The PT's owner grabbed him and picked him up, but the dog still wouldn't let go and poor Morris was hanging in mid-air with blood everywhere. A dog that aggressive should be at best muzzled and at least kept on a lead.

i prefer cats

Alex, I totally agree with you. It must have been awful for your friend and his dog. Must say I have never smacked any of my dogs.



xx

When my retriever was alive there used to be a little rat-like terrier that used to think it was clever to snap at my hound while just keeping out of range. Of course as soon as I let mine off the little rat would just sink to the floor in submissive mode which meant mine lost any interest in getting his own back.



Not that my dog was an angel.

Back to the Electric Proms.



Those on the mailing lost got an email from one of the BBC head honchos last night which was kinda interesting as it implied that BBC people have had some kind of say in how the shows and/or setlists have come together.



Surprised me a bit - the thought of making suggestions to legends about what they should or shouldn't do seems a bit odd. But I suppose the Electric Proms are the Beeb's baby and they have the right to commission what they do or don't want. Artits can always decline if they don't want to do it.



I'd love to know, though, what the extent of the influence on the setlists has been.

Deebee, I don't know how you bit your tongue! Mind you, at the weekend, Mr Mcw and I were out sloe picking with our Jack Russell, right in the middle of nowhere, couldn't see any houses just fields and sky. Anyway, our dog is fine until it sees another dog. Long story, but he was attacked by a very aggressive black lab when he was a puppy, and ever since then he is on the attack if he sees a strange dog. So we are quite vigilant with him , he doesn't run away, so if there are no dogs around he is off the lead. Anyway, out of nowhere, a young 'Dulux' dog (other types of paint and dog are available) bounds over, jumps up with muddy paws all over myself and Mr Mcw. Our dog thinks he is attacking us, so is barking like mad whilst we get his lead on. This stupid, ditzy woman breezes up with no lead, and says to me, as Mr Mcw is leading Marble away and her hound is still jumping up at him, "It's a shame that you can't have your dog off a lead". I was astounded at the sheer cheek, but composed myself to say "He was off the lead until your dog came charging up".



I agree, Deebee, dogs like children don't respond to a smack. Our dog is so funny, if I shout "No", he immediately rolls over and plays dead. He hates being shouted at, but I would never hit him.



xx

PS I have just come back from a lovely long dog walk, didn't see a soul.

Mcw, I am just about to take Holly on one.



xx

Hi all



I am offski now. Managed to get through the stuff I came in to do and am all prepped for Edinburgh tomorrow.



I will try to poop by later but if I don't, have a lovely evening everyone! I am unlikely to be around tomorrow due to the Edinburgh trip - will either be on a plane or in a meeting, so no opportunity to visit this lovely place.



So, be good, play nicely and here's a kiss on the nose for each of you:



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Alex-Girl

# 22 Paul, afraid 'twas not me with the surfing list. In fact I quite often have snaps with other poppets' suggestions as I add mine one or two at a time as I think of them. If you listen carefully you can hear my brain whirring as opposed to my search engine :-)



As I add them slowly I do try and use control F to check for the song title or artist, to cut out snaps, but that doesn't always work either, as in I called a song You're Just To Good To Be True by Frankie Valli after someone else called it Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Andy Williams

So Technobod from the BBC basically admits that HD Audio is simply what DAB OUGHT to be - ie. a digital stream with no dynamic range compression (as per DAB) at decent bitrates (as BBC DAB was in the early days until the Beeb launched all the extra channels and destroyed the DAB quality on everything bar Radio 3).



Judging by what he said about the response to the classical proms, there's still demand for HiFi sound on radio (although it's ironic that's from Radio 3 listeners which I think is still the only BBC station broadcast at 192kbps on DAB).



What a pity they can't actually HiFi radio on a radio.

#22 #85 I think it was Philippa Chapman. She doesn't blog very often.



#84 Hope your meeting goes well Alex, and shame you didn't get a mensh for 'Crocodile Rock'. I've just sent you a text.



X

Hi Deebee - saw text and replied!!

I'm looking forward to Judie Tzuke and her daughter Bailey who should be on around 7.45pm. I saw Judie and her daughters Bailey and Tallula on their tour last week and they were brilliant! Judie can still hit those high notes like she did in the 70s!

Whoop whoop!! Well done to Andrew and Molineux62, but particularly to Ken who never seems to get a mensh. You did today!

:-)

Evening All



I'm finding it ever so difficult to keep up with this NEVERENDINGEVERCHANGING blog! You catch up with everything then you have to go away and when you get back there's loads more!



From yesterday -



#169 Gazza - did YOU have a strop? You upset everyone. What was wrong?

Glad to hear about your extra days off. Enjoy!



#257 Paul - (whispered) It was egg & chips! And as for the keyboard - it was Broadway - again - there are so many. And I don't have the sheet music for AMERICA by The Nice. The best I can offer is HERE COME THE NICE by the Small Faces - but, as I don't have the sheet music for that either, what I suggest is - I put on the CD and sit at the keyboard with my hands just hovering. Sort of air keyboard and then your air guitar would be superb.



Back with more about today SOOOOOOOOOOOON.



Love



BP

The first time that I have heard those words clearly too Simon.



I have been making that line up for years, throwing in a babylon for good measure!!



MTF.xx

Hey, its good to be able to comment on the show while its on.



MTF.xx

Have a good trip tomorrow Alex.



Deebee, how are you feeling now?



MTF.xx

A bit better thanks MTF. A good night's sleep should help.



X

Hey, as Simon's doing a show on Saturday do you think he'll do a blog? Fingets crossed.

Today then - hope I don't miss anyone.



Hope all the poorlies are feeling better. Hope everything went well for Katy at the 'ozzy and for McW at the dentist. Good luck to AlexG for the big meeting.



Happy Birthdays to Simon Ward & Master MTF.



MTF - playing the keyboard in the car sounds like a lovely idea - as long as you're not driving at the same time.



#15 AlexH/#19 PoS - I have the same thoughts but I wasn't brave enough to say them outloud - see #2.



Pos again - Alison gave a superb fish pie recipe on this ere blog just a little while ago.



#46 AlexG - that's QI - but Gazza at #71 surely that's "A Claim To Fame"?



Love



BP

#73 Deebee - your dog story actually upset me.



I shouldn't really be surprised though cos I've seen it all before.



Were there just loads of menshes for bloggers and Tiny Dancer ? Including Molineux? Have you been welcomed?



Love



BP

Have I just missed the #100 cos I didn't notice?