Joni Mitchell Rewrites ‘I’m Still Standing’ and Metallica Slays ‘Love Lies Bleeding,’ Among Standouts in PBS’ Touching Elton John/Bernie Taupin Tribute: TV Review
variety.comChris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Even on a day when much of America was hoping to see the sun go out, there’s still an ongoing need to hear someone sing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” That, among many other things, is what’s offered in tonight’s PBS broadcast of a tribute special for Elton John and Bernie Taupin, two of the worthiest talents ever to be awarded the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize.
If you’re a fan — and who isn’t?, as they say — the two-hour show will provide a total eclipse of all your other most pressing entertainment needs.
Three words: “Joni Mitchell” and “Metallica.” If this salute never moved out of the M’s, it would be worthy enough just based on those two highlights alone, neither of whom probably seemed like the likeliest Elton interpreter.
But there they are, on the very same bingo card. That’s not to slight very fine performances from Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox and the like — or Elton himself, who closes out the program with a mini-set — but sometimes it’s the novelties that stick with you when masters stack up against masters.
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