Elton John has him returning to his songwriting roots and dropped a new visuals to his latest single, "Home Again," the first premiere cut off of English rock composer/pianist's upcoming 30th solo album, "The Diving Board," which is his first studio album in seven years, scheduled to hit stores on September 24th. The familiar-sounding piano that opens "Home Again," instantly recalls the singer's hit material from the '70s, when he was the biggest pop star on the planet. More than 40 years after he first reached stardom, John remains a vibrant artist well worth hearing.
The 66-year-old British veteran artist returns to the spare piano led sound of his early solo albums and the result is a subtle gem. Bernie Taupin's moving lyrics speak of the desire to return to what feels like home, and the music sounds familiar, comfortable, and surprisingly current. Lyrically, John is in a reflective mood, looking back: "I'm counting on the memories to get me out of here," he sings in the song's opening line. By the time he gets around to the chorus - "We all dream of leaving but wind up in the end spending all of our time trying to get back home again" - "Home Again" isn't so much about returning to a place to stay there, but returning to find inspiration.
There is longing in the lyrics of "Home Again," but that is tempered by a sense that, at least musically, John is already back home. His piano work is backed by horns and subtle orchestration that gives the feeling of depth and wide open space that brings back memories of his early breakthrough pop efforts. "Home Again" brings us full circle sounding exactly like one of music's elder statesmen lovingly revisiting his earlier self. And "Home Again," thematically at least, could turn out to be his new album's anchor. John is giving fans a taste of his long-awaited upcoming album with this new video for “Home Again," as a series of actors plays a single character as he journeys home; the closer he gets to his destination, the younger he gets.
Directed by Brent Bonacorso, the beautiful three-and-a-half-minute video was shot in London, rural England and Iceland. It follows a Benjamin Button-esque man, who regresses in age as he seems to be trying to get back to the beginning, although the ending throws you off somewhat. The video opens with this older man leaving his current life and setting out on a journey to return to the place where he came from. Dragging his suitcase and walking through beautiful landscapes, the man back in time and becomes younger and younger as he gets closer to his final destination. Deep!
The 66-year-old British veteran artist returns to the spare piano led sound of his early solo albums and the result is a subtle gem. Bernie Taupin's moving lyrics speak of the desire to return to what feels like home, and the music sounds familiar, comfortable, and surprisingly current. Lyrically, John is in a reflective mood, looking back: "I'm counting on the memories to get me out of here," he sings in the song's opening line. By the time he gets around to the chorus - "We all dream of leaving but wind up in the end spending all of our time trying to get back home again" - "Home Again" isn't so much about returning to a place to stay there, but returning to find inspiration.
There is longing in the lyrics of "Home Again," but that is tempered by a sense that, at least musically, John is already back home. His piano work is backed by horns and subtle orchestration that gives the feeling of depth and wide open space that brings back memories of his early breakthrough pop efforts. "Home Again" brings us full circle sounding exactly like one of music's elder statesmen lovingly revisiting his earlier self. And "Home Again," thematically at least, could turn out to be his new album's anchor. John is giving fans a taste of his long-awaited upcoming album with this new video for “Home Again," as a series of actors plays a single character as he journeys home; the closer he gets to his destination, the younger he gets.
Directed by Brent Bonacorso, the beautiful three-and-a-half-minute video was shot in London, rural England and Iceland. It follows a Benjamin Button-esque man, who regresses in age as he seems to be trying to get back to the beginning, although the ending throws you off somewhat. The video opens with this older man leaving his current life and setting out on a journey to return to the place where he came from. Dragging his suitcase and walking through beautiful landscapes, the man back in time and becomes younger and younger as he gets closer to his final destination. Deep!
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