Few artists have made a lasting impact on popular music like Reginald Kenneth Dwight, known as Elton John. He started by recording demos for artists like Nick Drake and supporting soul singers like Patti LaBelle.
The shy keyboard player took his stage name from saxophonist Elton Dean and added the first name of Long John Baldry, leading to the icon we admire today.
Working with the Dick James publishing company, Elton joined with a new lyricist named Bernie Taupin. Together, they became known as Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, dominating pop music.
Elton John’s life story has been shared in many forms, including the movie Rocketman from 2019 and his autobiography, Me. The audiobook, featuring parts read by Elton himself and actor Taron Egerton, is a must-listen.
The documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, directed by R.J. Cutler and Elton’s husband, David Furnish, connects these two projects. It uses interviews from the book as narration and shows biographical elements that were creatively portrayed in the movie.
Focus on Music and Artistry
There is often concern that authorized documentaries may leave out important details or repeat what fans already know. Thankfully, Never Too Late focuses on Elton’s amazing music career, especially his popular recordings from the 1970s.
The film also highlights his long farewell tour, leading up to his final North American show at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium, a venue where he celebrated many successes nearly fifty years ago.
While other Elton John documentaries exist, few offer the same level of care and attention. While a mention of “Classic Albums: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is needed, many other films only skim the surface, focusing more on gossip than the music.
Some might worry about Furnish’s involvement, thinking he may want to keep things clean. However, both he and his collaborators tell Elton’s story with skill.
Rocketman shows some darker moments in Elton’s life, and Me offers deeper reflections. However, this documentary concentrates on the music.
It touches on difficult times when they influenced Elton’s art, such as his parents’ behavior, his anxiety about being in the closet, and his struggle with addiction.
The wild costumes and larger-than-life stage persona often hid his self-doubt, which he battled for years through alcohol and cocaine.
New Insights for All Fans
Still from Elton John Never Too Late (Credit: Disney+)
A comprehensive film covering his six-decade career would be remarkable. While there are hints of recent collaborations with artists like Dua Lipa, many of his songs are not mentioned.
Instead, the focus is on what made Elton who he is today and how he managed to perform for over 100,000 people in L.A. back in 1975, and how he remains active and successful today.
Fans who only know Elton from his hits will be pleased to hear deeper tracks included in the film. Those who recognize his later songs, such as the updated “Candle in the Wind,” will get to see him during his prime. Devoted fans will appreciate rare recordings and visuals unique to this documentary.
For anyone who loves music, there is much to admire about Elton’s talents and live performances, as well as the fascinating story of his life filled with challenges and triumphs.
A Return to the Troubadour
The documentary includes a visit to the Troubadour, a famous club in L.A. where Elton started his career in America. He visits with David and their children, reflecting on his beginnings.
The stage seems tiny compared to the grand performances he is known for. It’s hard to imagine the young artist attractive audiences while sharing the stage with stars like Neil Diamond and Neil Young. This visit highlights the start of Elton’s incredible journey to fame.
Elton John: Never Too Late feels like the ultimate authorized film biography. It fills an important gap in telling his story sincerely and engagingly.
With full access to his archives, the film dives into his music. The interviews capture Elton during moments of doubt and joy. With charming animations, montages, and incredible music, it is a film worthy of its subject.
While Rocketman offers a fictional perspective on Elton’s life, and Me gives more detailed accounts, Never Too Late provides a clear and focused look at this legendary artist’s career. It is never too late to discover Elton John, and this film reminds older fans of his immense talent while offering new fans an eye-opening experience in musical discovery.
The article shows Elton John’s remarkable legacy, tracing his journey from Reginald Kenneth Dwight to the iconic musician we know today. It highlights his collaborations with lyricist Bernie Taupin, which propelled him to fame as Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.
Still from Elton John Never Too Late (Credit: Disney+)
The documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, offers a fresh perspective on his life and artistry, focusing on his significant 1970s recordings and personal struggles without sensationalism.
It revisits key moments, including his farewell tour and early performances at the Troubadour. While some later successes are not fully shown, the film captures the essence of what made Elton a music legend.
It features rare recordings and deeper tracks, appealing to both casual and devoted fans, showcasing Elton’s enduring talent and the complex journey behind his stardom. The documentary is a heartfelt tribute to a legendary artist.
Elton John: Never Too Late premiered worldwide at the Toronto International Film Festival. It will have a limited theatrical release starting November 15 before debuting on Disney+ on December 13.
The seven Rings of Power for Dwarves appear in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2. However, problems for Khazad-dûm may continue.
King Durin III (Peter Mullan) puts on his ring for the first time. With this ring, he solves the sunlight issue in the show and finds many veins of gold deep under the mountain.
But these veins might be too deep. Before this, Dwarves found such treasures by using stone-singing, an ancient practice of singing to the mountain. Can Durin the Elder’s Ring of Power be safer and more effective than this centuries-old method?
Stone-Singing Connects Dwarves to the Mountain
We first see stone-singing in The Rings of Power Season 1, Episode 4, titled “The Great Wave.”
In this episode, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) seeks help from the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm to build Celebrimbor’s (Charles Edwards) new forge in Eregion.
This project will lead to the creation of the three Elven Rings of Power. Elrond, a skilled diplomat, visits his friend, Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur).
He is surprised by Durin’s attitude because they have not spoken for twenty years. As an Elf, Elrond feels time differently and misses many important events in Durin’s life, including his wedding to Disa (Sophia Nomvete).
Disa, a caring and sensitive wife, invites Elrond to watch her stone-singing ritual. This ritual shows how powerful the Dwarves’ connection to the mountain is.
Disa explains that stone-singing involves singing to the mountain. Also known as “resonating,” this practice helps Dwarves find hidden objects in the mountain, such as ore and tunnel routes.
Disa calls this process a “mutual respect.” It helps them recognize areas of the mountain that should remain “untouched.” For example, mining mithril can be dangerous, so the Dwarves take their time to produce small amounts.
Interestingly, stone-singing is a new idea in The Rings of Power. J.R.R. Tolkien’s original lore provides little detail about Dwarven culture, leaving many gaps.
Still from Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
However, the connection between people and nature is an important theme in Tolkien’s works, making stone-singing feel like something he would have created. Mining resources can become violent towards nature, but resonating allows both people and nature to work together.
Darkness Affects Stone-Singing in Season 2
In Season 2, darkness spreads across Middle-earth. The Elves may have found a way to keep the Light of the Eldar from fading. Still, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) grows stronger, and figures like Adar (Sam Hazeldine) pose dangers to peaceful peoples.
At the end of Season 1, Adar causes the eruption of Orodruin, also known as Mount Doom. This event changes the Southlands into the land known as Mordor. Although this happens far from Khazad-dûm, it affects all of Middle-earth.
In Episode 2, “Where the Stars Are Strange,” Narvi (Kevin Eldon) explains that the eruption sent waves through the land and rocks. These waves collapse the sun-shafts of Khazad-dûm, leaving the great Dwarven realm in darkness.
Disa and the stone-singers suggest singing to the mountain again to reopen the sun-shafts through their vibrations. King Durin the Elder allows them to try, but it does not work. Instead of reopening the shafts, the mountain collapses the small holes that still let in light.
Disa works harder than usual, but she still cannot reach the mountain. Durin the Elder praises the stone-singers, who have supported Khazad-dûm for nine centuries. Now, the bond between them and the mountain seems broken, and he notes that “the hand of darkness has closed around Khazad-dûm.”
In the next episode, “The Eagle and the Scepter,” Celebrimbor and Annatar (who is actually Sauron in disguise) reveal to Prince Durin the Younger and Disa their project for the seven Dwarven Rings of Power. This project may offer a solution for Khazad-dûm, though it may not be safe.
King Durin’s Use of the Ring Contrasts with Disa’s Stone-Singing
Desperate times lead to desperate measures, and Khazad-dûm is in a dire situation.
In “Halls of Stone,” King Durin the Elder receives his Ring of Power and immediately uses it to solve the sun-shaft issue. In an unnatural way, he spots places to dig tunnels and create new sun-shafts.
He also begins planning deeper digs to mine gold and other treasures, abandoning safety measures he had established long ago. He believes the ring has given him the ability to “see the mountain.”
The problem is that while stone-singing offers a safe method to dig in harmony with the mountain, the ring’s power does not.
Even though Durin the Elder can see through the mountain while wearing his ring, the lure of endless wealth often outweighs the risks of digging too deep.
The Rings of Power impact the Dwarves in this way. While they may resist Sauron’s direct influence, his malice still corrupts the ring, making its users extremely greedy. Stone-singing respects the mountain and its needs, while the ring encourages violations.
Still from Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
In “Halls of Stone,” Disa buys a tuning crystal, a round gem that helps her adjust her voice to its vibrations.
She quickly loses the crystal but finds it in a pond inside the mountain. When she sings to locate it, she hears the growl of the Balrog lurking deep in the mines.
Meanwhile, Durin the Elder ignores his son’s warnings and tells Narvi to dig deeper for gold and other precious ores.
Thus, the ring not only provides an unnatural way to show the mountain but also risks awakening ancient evil.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is available for streaming on Prime Video in the U.S. New episodes air weekly on Thursdays.
