Elton John Slams Super Bowl Halftime Shows, Offers Advice to Madonna
EmailMadonna and Elton John have made nice, publicly at least, after their Golden Globes spat earlier this month, but the war between the two music superstars just heated up again thanks to a bit of advice John offered to Madonna.
“Make sure you lip-sync good,” Sir Elton told “Good Morning America” of what he’d tell the Material Girl as she prepares to headline the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show Sunday in Indianapolis.
“I’ve never seen a decent one,” John, 64, said of the halftime performances that have become as much of a must-see as the game itself. “Never ever.”
John, a native Brit, finds himself in the middle of America’s game thanks to a Pepsi ad in which he’ll be starring alongside the latest “X Factor” winner, Melanie Amaro.
The ad features John wearing a crown and acting like a king, something the “Rocket Man” singer can’t deny he likes. “I love being the king,” John told “GMA.” “But it’d be too dangerous for me to be the king. I’ve got too many things inside my head that would say ‘off with their heads.’”
John directed such “off with her head” ire toward Madonna, 53, when he bluntly predicted on the Golden Globes’ red carpet that the pop icon didn’t have “[an expletive] chance of winning” the Globe for Best Original Song.
“Madonna. Best song???? F**k off!!!,” John’s husband, British filmmaker David Furnish, wrote on Facebook after she did, in fact, beat out John for the song “Masterpiece” from her film “W.E.”
“Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism,” Furnish wrote.
Backstage at the Globes, Madonna quipped, ”I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years. He’s been known to get mad at me so I don’t know. He’s brilliant and I adore him so he’ll win another award. I don’t feel bad.”
After the spat went public, and viral, Furnish jumped back on Facebook four days later to respond, “Wow! What a tempest in a teapot my comments regarding The Golden Globes have been blown way out of proportion.”
Madonna is expected to give fans an extravaganza of a performance at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, reportedly recruiting LMFAO and Nicki Minaj to make special appearances, and relying on the creative directors behind “Cirque Du Soleil” to style the show.
John says, no matter how extravagant, Super Bowl halftime shows consistently lack the one ingredient he says has been a key to his decades-long career as a performer: playing live.
“You have to play live, but I don’t think you can,” he said of the shows that have seen everything from Steven Tyler and Britney Spears rock onstage to the infamous “Nipplegate” incident unfold between Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson.
“In all fairness to everyone who’s done one before, you may be able to sing live, but it’s really hard to play live,” he said.
John’s new advice to Madonna reignites a 2004 debate in which the singer launched into a tirade when he discovered his then-friend was up for a “Best Live Act” award from England’s Q music magazine.
“Anyone who lip-synchs in public onstage when you pay 75 pounds [about $134)] to see them should be shot,” John said at the time, referencing the entrance fee to Madonna’s Reinvention tour.
“Madonna, best f—ing live act? F— off,” he added before asking: “Since when has lip-synching been live?”
Madonna’s camp quickly fired back to John’s remarks with a statement that said, “Madonna does not lip-synch nor does she spend her time trashing other artists.”
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Elton John you old tired man, its just sad if he thinks he has a say over anyone on this plannet…
Posted by: Anna | January 30, 2012, 7:28 am 7:28 am
elton who???
Posted by: ludo | January 30, 2012, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Dear Elton… I advice to you that you should buy a new life.
Posted by: Ampy | January 30, 2012, 8:02 am 8:02 am
Who does he think he is? I really dislike when people think they are above others. I used to like his music but his sour personality really is tarnishing his music for me. Starting to remind be of Kanye West. I can’t stand either of them now.
Posted by: NW | January 30, 2012, 9:07 am 9:07 am
You go Elton…tell it like it is! You have more talent in one finger than…well you know! Having Madonna on during the Super Bowl is an insult to all football fans!!!
Posted by: PaulR | January 30, 2012, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Elton… Elton… Elton U wouldnt make the halftime show because You are not relevant anymore and the King??? King of what? lol
Posted by: Virjo | January 30, 2012, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Lets remember the media are making a bigger deal out of this than Elton or Madonna are. But Madonna actually charges 300 dollars for her tickets and guess what anyone who wants to pay that much money and does not see a live performance they are crazy. We want the man or woman singing live up there that might mess up the words or sing out of tune. At least you know it’s a live performance and it reminds us these people are just that people.
As for Elton in the commercial he was in a Coke commercial before. Coke is better Elton. ha.
Posted by: shelby | January 30, 2012, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Bitter queen. LOL, yet you call yourself King. King of what? Major attitude and thinking your the best. Best at what? You ain’t all that. At least madonna has said on record that she doesn’t think she is the greatest singer. Now that takes balls. You go Madonna! I hope people do boo you, because that means secretly inside they are melting and want their inner dance floor to explode and sing and dance with you.
Rock on Madonna. Elton, get a life and stop thinking you control what anyone and everyone does in music (and elsehwere). The whole gays adopting children thing has already been done. You aint that special.
Posted by: Not Elton | January 30, 2012, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Someone who is this bitter has a lot of jealousy. Hate or love Madonna, she puts on one great show and is way more interesting than Elton John. Elton this behavior is just ugly.
Posted by: MK | January 30, 2012, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
yay. wow he is bitter! why bother saying anything at all? did the rants work for charly sheen?
Posted by: matt | January 30, 2012, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
If she called her show a play instead of a concert he probably wouldn’t have a problem with it. Personally I wouldn’t spend $3 to see her, much less $100.
Posted by: Cowcharge | January 30, 2012, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
What happened to Elton John? Sir Elton this is unbecoming of a man such as yourself. Why do you have it in for Madonna? This does not make sense. You have a whole decade before her of experience. So so sad. Is think that Madonna must be doing something right. After all She is the most successful solo artist along side MJ and Elvis. She holds the most selling albums, tickets for her Show in fact the only record she broke was hers with Confessions tour and then Sticky and sweet. Now 2012 She won another golden globe for her music from a movie ( 5 awards with every soundtrack she released.) Half time show, music video debut on American Idol New album also a world tour and last but not least another record deal worth millions oh before I forget an Academy Award Nomination…… Boo hoo Sir Elton. Watch and learn how its done….
Posted by: jason | January 30, 2012, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
Elton John has no class, tact or jurisdiction to decide who has talent and who doesn’t. Madonna has proven time and time again to be a top selling recording artist and performer. For goodness sakes, she has the highest grossing tour EVER by a solo artist! That means SHE wins Elton! Obviously people want to see her perform and listen to her music. Mr. Furnish’s comments on the juvenile Facebook were just that: juvenile. These two grown men need to GROW UP. Jealousy is an evil thing you evil Queen Elton. You and your wifey need to SERIOUSLY calm down.
Posted by: Eric Sandoval | January 30, 2012, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
An old bitter drag who has to drug his partner to do him in bed…this is a classic example in Quantum Physics that blasts a Pop Queen into a Pop Queen at unimaginable heights. MADONNA RULES…
Posted by: Dale Guerrero | January 31, 2012, 1:19 am 1:19 am
1*.why doesn’t this man seek the mental help he truly needs? him and that other dog face of a man Perice Morgan are just a few examples of the middle age male chauvinist jealous desperate NARCISSISTIC bitter teabags out there that been trying to take her down! (AND NOTICE ALL HER HATERS HAPPEN TO BE BEST OF FRIENDS ALL A SUDDEN WITH GAGA? THAT’S NO COINCIDENCE) haters like him needs to shut their pie hole! this is becoming beyond obnoxious and desperate..its well known that if u want a sound bits and some publicity u slam Madonna! and him and his love have the audacity to dare call Madonna desperate? lol what an f ucking joke!
2*.well in Ur own word u can go f *CK OFF!! I used to like him but now i can clearly see his true colors! he`s nothing but a jealous drama queen and riding on Madonna coattails and using her for publicity and sound bits. By slamming her and make false statements and misinformed slander for no real reason..while she has said or done nothing but been polite and graceful to all his and tons of others who unfairly give her this uncalled for BS!
3*Another thing i notice about ELTON is the way he always seems to have his head in new artist A$$ and business like he’s entitled or something? Same way he and his lover thought he was entitled to that award he lost to her! TALK ABOUT BEING A NARCISSIST! instead of taking the high road and be classy like she was..but he chose to be a spoiled diva about it..maybe he could learn a thing or 2 from madonna she never expects to win and if she doses then shes pleasantly surprised! If one takes a brief look back in a few music pop culture history books (like i have as Ive read every single one on the subject)
4*u would discover started to slam madonna around the time she out raking him on tons of music chart history list and was named most successful solo artist in the world around 2004-2005 lol the truth hurts dosnt it?
5* OH AND 1 MORE THING..ELTON DOESN’T WRITE HIS SONGS BERNIE DOSE AND ALWAYS HAS!
Posted by: SAYWHAT | January 31, 2012, 5:37 am 5:37 am
I have always been a fan of Elton, but what is it with him coming off more and more like a tired, bitter old queen? Because he is sinking to irrelevance while Madonna continues to soar without a misstep yet? And anyone who has seen Madonna live knows she does not lip sync. He live vocal is not nearly strong enough to sing that well. When she needs a vocal break, she either lets her dancers take over or she doesn’t even try to make it look like she is singing for a track here and there. Elton (and every other recording artist in the history of music) can only wish they encompassed the talent which Ms. Ciccone posseses. And no other artist, not one, has has such a long, consistently successful career as Madonna. M.D.N.A. comes out thirty…yes, THIRTY…years after “Everybody” first got spun in a club and went to hit #3 on the Dance chart. And she has consistently been releasing worldwide successful albums ever since. So, Elton, when was the last time YOU had a Top 5 hit and an album that hit debuted at #1 in thirty-seven countries? Madonna did that just four years ago.
And at 53, thirty years into her career, she is undoubtedly about to do it again.
So yeah, time for Elton to shut the frak up…
Posted by: Damion | January 31, 2012, 9:09 am 9:09 am
Sir Elton apparently missed U2′s 2002 Superbowl halftime show.
Posted by: Jason | January 31, 2012, 9:13 am 9:13 am
For the most part he is correct: most Superbowl halftimes are lame, over-produced productions to fit the scale of the venue and make 12 minutes seam really exciting. Due to time restraints you simply cannot set-up for a live performance in 10 minutes and tear it down in 7, You WILL have major technical issues. As far as paying to see lip sync concert; it all depends what type of entertainment you want; a live band or an extravaganza where it is impossible to sing the entire time; some like the extravaganza.
Posted by: Tony | January 31, 2012, 9:57 am 9:57 am
Actually I watched the interview on GMA and Elton did finally admit that he liked both The Rolling Stones and Prince’s halftme shows. Mainly because they both played live. Prince’s was the best in my book. The Rolling Stones and U2 were also really good. In general though the halftime show is a joke.
Posted by: Suzanne | January 31, 2012, 10:42 am 10:42 am
I think these show people should stick to playing night clubs and leave the half time shows to marching bands…either college or high school bands. Half of the people they bring in to sing the national anthem should be fined or thrown into jail for desecration of our anthem. It’s an insult to our troops in the military and veterans. What the hell does Madonna have to do with athletics. Is she going to sing in the nude?? That’s all her movies are good for!! Who in the hell selected her??
Posted by: Tom Challis | February 4, 2012, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
ELTON JOHN IS RIGHT! That’s why you are all hating on him, Madonna and MANY others HAVE lip synched. I commend him for his statements that you pay GOOD money to hear someone ACTUALLY sing NOT lip synch. Deal with it…HATERS.
Posted by: FanOfEltonFor40yrs | February 5, 2012, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
Oh Elton, the best part about the Superbowl was watching the commercial you got 86′ed in. Poof! Be gone!
Posted by: Emily | February 6, 2012, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
The word gay use to mean happy and lighthearted! Does that word really depict the gay community? All of the gays I know are vicious, angry people.
Posted by: Reasonable | February 6, 2012, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
Elton John, just thinks He knows it all. He should just concentrate on His own Life one thing about Madonna She knows what She is doing. She has always been a Marketing genius. Elton John should give it up and move one. Madonna did just fine and I enjoyed Her. She will always be the Queen and Elton John Elton John is like Queen Mary of Scott living in the tower. I like Him but He should just let it go
Posted by: Angelina | February 7, 2012, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
MY COMMENT DID NOT GO THROUGH…HERE IT IS AGAIN…ELTON JOHN HAS BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOREVER….MCARTNEY, THE STONES, BILLY JOEL, SPRINGSTEEN AND JOHN
NEVER LIP SYNC AND DO THEIR JOB AS TRUE MUSICIANS..MCCARTNEY IS ALMOST 70 YEARS OLD AND STILL PLAYS HIS HEAD OFF!….THAT’S WHY I PAY $100-$200 BUCKS TO SEE THEM. ITS ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LIVE.
Posted by: GO ELTON | February 7, 2012, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
AND PRINCE TOO!!!!…HE NEVER EVER LIP SYNCS….THESE GIVE THE AUDIENCE ALL THEY HAVE
Posted by: GO ELTON! | February 7, 2012, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Don’t you folks understand – Elton and his feuds are all in good fun. Madonna was a great artist once and may make some good albums in the future but Elton has been a superstar for 40 years. If you think he’s irrelevant you haven’t been listening – his CD’s in the past decade have been uniformly brilliant. He may not have hit records anymore but that’s more a sign of the sad state of the music industry than Elton’s talent, which is undiminished.
Posted by: Steven R | February 7, 2012, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
It was obvious from the start of her show that she was not singing live. You have to be “spot on” to pull off lip syncing and Madonna wasn’t. It was a pre-recorded track from start to finish.
Posted by: Ted | February 7, 2012, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
I am for Elton, seriously. He is right. It is also a fact that Madonna cannot sing live like the majority of performers nowadays. Madonna had a concert overseas and hosts of the show said that she tried to sing live but was out of tune. She became popular bec of her promiscuity, wieird and vulgar performance just like alot of performers nowadays and not because of being a good singer. She sucks and should just back off and retire!
Posted by: lala | February 8, 2012, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Uhhhhh! in regards to Madonnas people comment at the end. Madonna does lip-sync and she talks and has always talked about other artist. That her problem in the first place. But also, they’re all acting like children and need to grow up. Thats why I like the Jacksons!!!!
Posted by: Joy | February 9, 2012, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
madonna was amazing, I wish she would do a series of DVDs on her health maintenance, exercise, meditation and whatever else she is doing. I joined a gym (61 years old) because I want to be able to move, stretch, and look that relaxed. She gave a lot of middle aged women and even women in their 30s a lot of hope, just from that 12 minutes on stage at the super bowl. I bet Madonna won’t look like Elton when she hits 65.
Posted by: Pat | February 10, 2012, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
Elton should get over himself and come down to earth again. After all, he’s an ordinary mortal, just like all of us….
Posted by: dashing donny | February 11, 2012, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
Part right, Elton.
Three brilliant Half Time exceptions: The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Prince. Especially the Prince performance.
Hats off to Cirque du Soleil!
Posted by: Clint | February 12, 2012, 12:01 am 12:01 am
ELTON!
The roses in your windowbox have tilted to one side!
Posted by: Don | February 12, 2012, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm