Music legend Elton John has heaped praise upon a selection of his favourite Aussie artists, picking out some of his favourites during the recent Australian edition of his Rocket Hour radio program.
It’s no secret that Sir Elton John is a fan of Australia and its musicians. From hosting the inaugural ARIA Awards ceremony back in 1987 to championing Sydney’s Pnau, the musical icon has long shared an affinity with musicians from down under.
Having spent the last few months in the country as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Elton found himself in prime position to recruit some of Australia’s finest musicians for the latest edition of his Rocket Hour radio show, which premiered on Sunday via Apple Music.
Recorded in Sydney, Elton called upon some of the artists he’s previously mentioned on Rocket Hour, including Amy Shark, Toni Watson (aka Tones And I), and Winston Surfshirt, who joined the music legend to chat and share their own favourite Australian tunes.
For fans of local music, it’s a mesmerising listen, with Elton comparing Amy Shark to Alanis Morissette, sharing his fondness for Winston Surfshirt’s Steely Dan-esque style, and labelling Tones And I’s “Dance Monkey” as “one of the great pop records of all time”.
“I put it up there with “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, which is one of my favourites,” Elton stated. “They say women are being left behind. No, I don’t think so. You’re dominating and I’m glad.”
Elton John has professed his love of Aussie artists such as Tones And I, Amy Shark, and Winston Surfshirt. Photo courtesy of Apple Music
In addition to his far-reaching discussions with the trio of Aussie musicians, Elton dug deep into his playlists, sharing an array of the local tunes he’s loving, while offering his musical pals the chance to share their own picks.
Between tracks by Kasey Chambers, Adrian Eagle, Courtney Barnett, and Midnight Oil, Elton professed his love of the artists who wrote them, going so far as to call Chambers an “Australian legend”, noting Eagle has “got the most incredible voice”, and citing the Oils’ Diesel and Dust as “one of [his] favourite Australian records ever.”
For those who have paid close attention to Elton’s musical tastes, you might recall a previous episode of Rocket Hour which saw the icon sing the praises of Alex The Astronaut, The Babe Rainbow, and Angus & Julia Stone. Currently, Elton is gearing up to perform his final New Zealand dates, before he returns to Australia ahead of his tour’s finale in Sydney next month.
Elton John’s Rocket Hour Playlist
Pnau – “Baby”
Tones and I – “Dance Monkey”
Winston Surfshirt – “Since I Saw You There”
Amy Shark – “Adore”
Divinyls – “I Touch Myself”
Adrian Eagle – “17 Again” (Tones’ pick)
Genesis Owusu – “WUTD” (Winston’s pick)
Gracie Abrams – “Stay” (Amy’s pick)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – “Eyes (RÜFÜS DU SOL VIP Edit)”
Tones and I – “The Kids Are Coming”
Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – “Over Everything”
Winston Surfshirt – “FreeForYou”
Kasey Chambers – “A Little Bit More Lonesome”
Amy Shark – “The Idiot”
Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning”
