Elton John & Brandi Carlile | SmartLess

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: sanitizer, Baby Driver, French Legion of Honor, HIV/AIDS
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Chicago, Glenn Ellen, London, Windsor
3. 10:00 – 15:00: Dodger Stadium, Jimmy Buffett, Robert Plant
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Buddy Holly, Disney Hall, Good Night, Oscar, Tobasco Theater
5. 20:00 – 25:00: Debbie Gibson, Disney Hall, Dodger Stadium, Eric McCormack
6. 25:00 – 30:00: Piano Man
7. 30:00 – 35:00: France, Give Up the Ghost, Indigo Girls, Japanese Hands
8. 35:00 – 40:00: Bluesology, Brian Wilson, Leon Russell, Liberty Records
9. 40:00 – 45:00: Arcade Fire, Glenn Ellen, Paul McCartney, Thomas Rhett
10. 45:00 – 47:30: Give Up the Ghost, Jimmy Buffett

Notable quotes from "Elton John & Brandi Carlile | SmartLess"

• Wondering if you would stick around and listen to Smart List. Welcome to Smart List. That was very good. Smartless.

  about SmartLess · at 0:16

• And a good guy. Yeah. But I packed my sanitizer because I'm like chasing a little bit where I have the sanitizer wiped. So I wipe down the seats before I sit down and I wipe down all Do you really? Yeah. Absolutely. I.

  about sanitizer · at 1:37

• Yeah. I'm from Glenn Ellen, which is outside of Chicago. Nothing. It means nothing to Sean. Nothing to Sean. so and you're together, too. This is I'm I'm Are you got What are you What are.

  about Glenn Ellen · at 5:34

• Yeah. Jimmy Buff, the great Jimmy Buffett who was a friend of ours and our mutual friend Jane. and Brandy what is it like? I mean you're such an accomplished singer songwriter. You've.

  about Jimmy Buffett · at 11:57

• She loves all sorts of music and she's broken. Listen, she sung Joanie Mitchell's entire blue album at Disney Hall without a teleprompter, which takes balls of [ __ ] steel, I…

  about Disney Hall · at 15:29

• Khan. You'd have Bonnie Ra. You have you no you there's that you Paul McCartney would come. Paul McCartney. Yeah.

  about Paul McCartney · at 23:39

• Vacations all the time together? They come to we have a house in Nice in the south of France and Brandy, Katherine and the girls come down every summer and we have the time of…

  about France · at 31:34

• Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For sure. And of course, Give Up the Ghost is one of my favorite albums of all time. Yeah. A Thank you. It's true. It's true. One of my favorite albums. So Brandy, grow growing up in.

  about Give Up the Ghost · at 33:54

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Jimmy Buffett — Person · 2 mentions · first at 11:57
• Paul McCartney — Person · 2 mentions · first at 23:47
• Robert Plant — Person · 1 mention · first at 14:54
  He was trying to conceptualize what it would be. And he goes, Okay, we're going to be like Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. And then he would call me a week later and go, No, no, no.
• Buddy Holly — Person · 1 mention · first at 15:02
  It's it's the rhythmics. And then he would call me a week later and go, No, it's it's Buddy Holly and Paty Klein.
• Eric McCormack — Person · 1 mention · first at 20:58
  Sold it for a bigger one. Wait, wait, wait, wait. You had his piano? I think so. Because Eric McCormack, who was on Will and Grace, he some like everybody was trading pianos or…
• Lady Gaga — Person · 1 mention · first at 22:32
  Dodger Stadium. Dodger Stadium has been my favorite when she sung Don't Let the Song Go Down on Me because she Lady Gaga had done it before and was incredible and she wasn't available. So I asked Brandy of course she was cheaper much.
• Debbie Gibson — Person · 1 mention · first at 23:52
  Debbie Gibson. That's amaz God. And you sang the whole blue record too. That's I mean that's what an incredible record that is. Well, incredible record. But she did it. I was sitting next to Joanie.
• Neil Diamond — Person · 1 mention · first at 36:15
  Just happened very quickly and so it was like it was so exciting because I came to America and there was Neil Diamond introducing me there was Brian Wilson, there was Linda…
• Brian Wilson — Person · 1 mention · first at 36:17
  It was like it was so exciting because I came to America and there was Neil Diamond introducing me there was Brian Wilson, there was Linda Ronstat, there was Leon Russell, all…
• Leon Russell — Person · 1 mention · first at 36:22
  Diamond introducing me there was Brian Wilson, there was Linda Ronstat, there was Leon Russell, all those kind of people that were my heroes. And suddenly I was there. it took…
• Thomas Rhett — Person · 1 mention · first at 44:56
  It's my long answer of Well, it's a thrill to play like I know JB is playing golf with Thomas Rhett today. Like I know his whole schedule, like just to be able to play. Am I…
• Alison Krauss — Person · 1 mention
• Bernie Taupin — Person · 1 mention
• Billy Eilish — Person · 1 mention
• Billy Joel — Person · 1 mention
• Bonnie Raitt — Person · 1 mention
• Brandi Carlile — Person · 1 mention
• Chaka Khan — Person · 1 mention
• David LaChapelle — Person · 1 mention
• Erica Jane — Person · 1 mention
• Finneas — Person · 1 mention
• Herbie Hancock — Person · 1 mention
• Jimmy Burrows — Person · 1 mention
• Joni Mitchell — Person · 1 mention
• Linda Ronstadt — Person · 1 mention
• Patsy Cline — Person · 1 mention
• Positive Sean — Person · 1 mention
• Thom Yorke — Person · 1 mention

Books & papers

• Give Up the Ghost — Book · 2 mentions · first at 33:56
• Red Strikes Back — Book · 1 mention · first at 33:21
  Neighborhood cuz you can. And I just put on this album that I bought when I think I was a senior in high school called Red Strikes Back. It's one of my favorite albums you ever…
• Blue — Book · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

• The Running Man — Company · 1 mention · first at 1:09
  Want to talk about it? No. it's a little fun cameo in a movie called The Running Man with our friend Edgar Wright is directing. Edgar Wright is directing. We should have him on…
• Indigo Girls — Company · 1 mention · first at 34:53
  Ever met. I was Oh yeah, I pictured I would get up on stage and thank Elton John and the Indigo Girls.
• Bluesology — Company · 1 mention · first at 35:44
  Successes? I never imagined myself as a solo artist. when I was in my group, Bluesology, I took the big risk of going up to Liberty Records saying, I want to write songs. I'm…
• Liberty Records — Company · 1 mention · first at 35:46
  Solo artist. when I was in my group, Bluesology, I took the big risk of going up to Liberty Records saying, I want to write songs. I'm so fed up with playing in a band that…
• Arcade Fire — Company · 1 mention · first at 42:52
  Radio and Tom York and then Arcade Fire. Arcade Fire as well. But right Yeah.
• Eurythmics — Company · 1 mention
• Radiohead — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

• sanitizer — Product · 3 mentions · first at 1:39
• SmartLess — Product · 1 mention · first at 0:22
• Hot Fuzz — Product · 1 mention · first at 1:28
  He's been They've been shooting already for a while. He for Tracy Edgar Wright directed Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver. Tons of great movies. Yeah.
• Baby Driver — Product · 1 mention · first at 1:30
  For a while. He for Tracy Edgar Wright directed Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver. Tons of great movies. Yeah.
• Good Night, Oscar — Product · 1 mention · first at 19:51
  Incredible. He played he did a good night Oscar at the Tobasco Theater, which won him a Tony last year. What a show. Yeah, baby. yeah, he did he plays Raps City and Blue all by.
• Interview with the Vampire — Product · 1 mention · first at 21:17
  Yeah. But yeah, you came over and played the music to Interview with the Vampire. I was blown away. You just sat down at my piano and started playing half the musical and I was how can you do that? It's just it was.
• Summertime — Product · 1 mention · first at 23:14
  Yes. You'll have to go. Yeah. And Joanie sang Love Potion number nine and Summertime. Yeah. And it was just one of the most Yes. And she music got Joanie back together again as…
• Piano Man — Product · 1 mention · first at 25:18
  Could you imagine? I get the I get requests from the audience. Can you play piano man? And I wrong guy. Wrong guy.
• Japanese Hands — Product · 1 mention · first at 33:43
  No, there was lots of songs on that album. Japanese Hands and stuff like that. Yes, Japanese Hands is great, too.
• Bösendorfer — Product · 1 mention
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me — Product · 1 mention
• Love Potion No. 9 — Product · 1 mention
• Rhapsody in Blue — Product · 1 mention
• Shaun of the Dead — Product · 1 mention

Concepts & topics

• immune system — Concept · 1 mention · first at 3:14
  Quick. I think they last longer, don't they? I don't know. I rely on something called my immune system. And people have been, doing this and living for What if you're smelling somebody's hair gel? my grandparents lived into their well.
• Kennedy Center Honor — Concept · 1 mention · first at 4:36
  Received six Grammys, two Oscars, a Tony, and yes, an Emmy to join the elite group of EGOT winners. He's a Kennedy Center honor. He's got honore. he's received the French…
• French Legion of Honor — Concept · 1 mention · first at 4:43
  Group of EGOT winners. He's a Kennedy Center honor. He's got honore. he's received the French Legion of Honor and a nighthood from the Queen for HIV AIDS. He's raised more than…
• HIV/AIDS — Concept · 1 mention · first at 4:45
  Center honor. He's got honore. he's received the French Legion of Honor and a nighthood from the Queen for HIV AIDS. He's raised more than $565 million. Not to be outdone, she…
• EGOT — Concept · 1 mention
• Tony Award — Concept · 1 mention

Places & events

• Glenn Ellen — Place · 2 mentions · first at 5:34
• Dodger Stadium — Place · 2 mentions · first at 12:38
  Going to do, I wouldn't have believed it. but he does and he was coming off of that massive tour, Dodger Stadium, Glastonbury, just like really highlight moments like in anyone's life.
• Disney Hall — Place · 2 mentions · first at 15:32
• France — Place · 2 mentions · first at 31:37
• United Kingdom — Place · 1 mention · first at 0:55
  You're going to England. I'm going to England. Yes. the United Kingdom.
• London — Place · 1 mention · first at 5:28
  This is pretty cool. This is really cool. Insane. And it's dark, so you must be in London. Well, Windsor. Yeah, outside of London. Yeah. Okay. Sorry.
• Windsor — Place · 1 mention · first at 5:28
  This is pretty cool. This is really cool. Insane. And it's dark, so you must be in London. Well, Windsor. Yeah, outside of London. Yeah. Okay. Sorry.
• Chicago — Place · 1 mention · first at 5:36
  Yeah. I'm from Glenn Ellen, which is outside of Chicago. Nothing. It means nothing to Sean. Nothing to Sean. so and you're together, too. This is I'm I'm Are you got What are you What are you both doing right now? This is in.
• Tobasco Theater — Place · 1 mention · first at 19:54
  Incredible. He played he did a good night Oscar at the Tobasco Theater, which won him a Tony last year. What a show. Yeah, baby. yeah, he did he plays Raps City and Blue all by himself on a grand right there, middle.
• Hancock Park — Place · 1 mention · first at 20:40
  Because we're right back where we started. I used to go around to Sean's house in Hancock Park and used to play the piano there. It was fantastic.
• Madison Square Garden — Place · 1 mention · first at 34:41
  Now, I hadn't really fantasized about, but I would close my eyes and dream of myself on stage in Madison Square Garden. I would think of myself like I would visualize myself…
• Nice — Place · 1 mention

Full transcript with timestamps

0:06 Hi Sean. No, you're Scotty. Oh, hi Scotty. How are you today? I was wondering if you would stick around and listen to Smart List. Welcome to Smart List. That was very good. Smartless. Smart L. Uh, good morning. Good morning, everybody. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Great. Sean, you all packed. Sean, you all packed? I was just gonna say I just finished packing. I hate packing. Sean, yes. You're going to England. I'm going to England. Yes. the United Kingdom. Yes. Um, what else? To work on a um to work on a fantastic new project. Do you want to talk about it? No. I mean, it's a a little fun cameo in a movie called The Running Man with our friend Edgar Wright is directing. Edgar Wright is directing. We should have him on the show, by the way. The great I know. We should. I've wanted to for a while. And And he's a fan. He's a big fan of the show. I know. He loves Yeah, we love him, too. Well, he's going to be busy

1:22 for a little while now, right? Yeah. He's been They've been shooting already for a while. He for Tracy Edgar Wright uh directed Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver. Tons of great movies. Yeah. Tons. Yeah. Really good filmmaker. He's a very good filmmaker. And a good guy. And a good guy. Yeah. But I packed my sanitizer because uh I'm like chasing a little bit where I I I have the sanitizer wiped. So I wipe down the seats before I sit down and I wipe down all Do you really? Yeah. Absolutely. I see. Don't you pass? Yeah. Like what are you talking about? I would feel embarrassed that I'm making such a big like do you try to sneak that at all?

2:00 Now you're embarrassed. I know what this is. This is the line. I don't put music on with arrows pointing at me like look as I you know I do it like you uh What about theater seats when you're at a movie theater? Do you do that as well or do you I wear a hoodie like this when I I do I do but I do bring sanitizer to a movie theater and for the armrests for the Yeah, but I don't wipe the seats and I just make sure you guys are what's wrong with this country. But but here's the truly truly I truly mean that. I do sincerely and I love Oh, that's the problem in this country. Um, but will don't you see cuz my brain goes immediately to so the back rests of of theater seats or plane seats. Uh, you lean against it and then you go right to your pillow, right? So you lean back on your pillow at home in your bed. Yeah.

2:49 And then eventually you flip over onto your side or your face and your mouth's open and you're like What are you talking about? I don't go from the connection. I don't go from seeing a movie to laying down. Well, you do eventually at the end of the night. You go home from the theater, you you you put on your little PJs, and then you climb into bed. Time for the germs to get away. But the germs don't die that quick. I think I think they last longer, don't they? I don't know. I rely on something called my immune system. And uh people have been, you know, doing this and living for What if you're smelling somebody's hair gel? You know, my grandparents lived into their well into their 90s. My great-grandmother over a hundred. And they never owned a bottle of sanitizer. They didn't do any of this. So like they should have. Yeah, they should have. You're right. You're right. You're right. Long healthy lives.

3:37 And they didn't they didn't obsess about it. I know. It's just a gross factor. I wish I could not think about it cuz I don't think I'm getting sick. I just think I'm preoccupied with gross thoughts. Yeah, I know. I know. Um, any other coffee chatter? Should we get to our guest? We should get to our guest. I I was No, I could talk about the airplane travel thing, but no, let's go. Okay. And I don't know if you heard it, but I did have an S on the end of that. Yes, guys. Today it's a special treat. It's a two for Tuesday. Oh, wow.

4:03 Two for We didn't even have to Tuesday. Yeah. Yeah. We're going to double the pleasure, double the fun because we've we've got not not just the one guest, we've got the two. And when I say two, it's kind of more like 10 because of their combined accomplishments. Oh, okay. Yeah. On one side, he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. Okay. Has 26 golds, 43 platinum, two diamond. I got to ask him what those are. Yeah, what's a diamond? He's also received six Grammys, two Oscars, a Tony, and yes, an Emmy to join the elite group of EGOT winners. He's a Kennedy Center honor. He's got honore honore. Uh he's received the French Legion of Honor and a nighthood from the Queen for HIV AIDS. He's raised more than $565 million. Not to be outdone, she is one of music's most respected voices, receiving 11 Grammy awards, two Emmy awards, an Oscar nomination, New York Times bestselling author. They've

5:01 combined their superpowers to create a new album with a birthday of April 4th. They're here to talk about that and their incredible lives. I'm very excited and honored to introduce Brandy Carile and Sir Elton John. Teric, can you believe it? Teric. Absolutely. Good morning to you both. Hi, guys. The Well, hello. Guys, can you believe this? This is pretty cool. This is really cool. Insane. And it's dark, so you must be in London. Well, Windsor. Yeah, outside of London. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. Yeah. I'm from Glenn Ellen, which is outside of Chicago. Nothing. It means nothing to Sean. Nothing to Sean. Um, so and you're together, too. This is I I'm I'm Are you got What are you What are you both doing right now? This is uh in conjunction with promoting the album that you're together. It is in conjunct with promoting the album. Um, so yeah, that's why we're talking to you guys.

5:54 We're promoting and flouting. This is so cool for us you guys. This is really cool. Huge fans. Like to say hello to Shawn, who I haven't seen for years. I know. How are you, my friend? I I know. I haven't seen you in such a long time. Sean, do you owe her money? I do owe him a little bit of money and a little bit of a good time. Yeah, he was a rent boy when I knew him. Oh, well, he's a lease boy now. So, by the way, still the same price. Yeah, cuz Wow. Wow. Um, now wait, I have a I have a great This is so kooky. So, Brandy, you know what? I'm going to tell this story when I first met you. Okay, so this is embarrassing for me. So, we were at a fundraiser and we got sat next to each other, me and Scotty and you and your wife. And I sat there and like an idiot I go and we were laughing and having a good time. I go, "I'm so sorry.

6:48 I'm an idiot. Are what what do you do?" And you and you said, "I'm in the music business." I'm like, "Oh, okay. Cool." And and then you introduced your wife who's also lovely and we had a great night. And then the next day I go to this meeting at like I don't know Warner Brothers or something and it's at in a high-rise and I look out the window and the size of a building is a billboard with your face on it and I'm like I just sat next to her last night at dinner and I had no idea. I had no idea. Now of course I listen to all your I've like went bananas on you after I've done lots of things. I've been a roofing laborer, a barista, a grocery store worker. I've done lots of things. Are those Wait, are are those things true, Randy? Yeah. What kind of barista were you? Were you Were you good at at the baristaing? I always think I would be awful at that.

7:41 It's all about tips. So, I was great. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Are you good? Are you good working for the tips? I've always secretly had a fantasy to be a waiter just so I could work each table to figure out what they need me to be to get the best tip. Like separate audiences, you know. Jesus. Yeah. We were You were great at that. Yeah, we know how to do this in the music business in in the entertainment industry. We know how to chameleon. I Yeah, I never understood why why because I worked at a restaurant. Why we all have to combine our tips like and then you split. Do you ever work in one of those places where you put all everybody pulls their tips and then you split them? I'm like, is that really the way it works? Yeah, it worked when I was a waiter.

8:20 My my my obsession is watching Jason when people describe real world jobs because and God bless you and I love you Jason but you've never he grew up in the show business he's been an actor since he was a kid and he's never had a real world right Jason you've never had Will have you ever had a job where you get tips [ __ ] no but I'm saying the point is uh I have had I have had real world jobs though so I trenches I know I know all right you guys you two let's talk about who believes leaves in Angels. This is your new album. Um, what about the the concept for the album? How how did that how did that come about? Whose great idea was this to to to get together? Who called who? Well, um, I've been a fan of Brandy and a friend of Brandis for over 20 years and her family. Wow. And I've been I've always wanted to record with her. And I had the idea of making the album when the final tour stopped in

9:13 Europe. I'd already booked the studio in Los Angeles for October 23. Yeah. Um, and I wanted to desperately make a record with her. Um, I've been a fan of hers for years. She's been a fan of mine. We included Bernie Torpin in the process, who's been my longtime lyricist, and Andrew, the producer. So, there were four of us going into the studio with nothing um, but self-doubt and hesitation and for a good album. It's And I when I got to the studio, I was really tired. I was grumpy. I was fairly lethargic. Um, and for the first few days it was the hard experience because I was not in a good place. I had so much self-doubt wondering whether I could shift this album into the way I wanted it to be. And eventually after they put we we filmed every song being written, every uh take being recorded.

10:05 So my behavior is is there for all to see. And after the first trailer, it's after the first five after the first five days, it suddenly clicked. Um, and people were really supportive of me and my behavior and they taught me around and I felt in a good place and then we just roared. We wrote 14 songs in 3 weeks and 10 which made the album and we started with nothing. So it was probably one of the greatest creative experiences I've ever had. And she is a machine. She is so incredibly inspiring. I mean her vocals, she never does a bad vocal. Her phrasing, which I had to harmonize to, was so difficult for me that I actually tore the lyric up and told her to [ __ ] off. He did. He did. Nightmare. Yeah. Nightmare. Really?

10:52 You just were like, "I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that." Yeah. Yeah. And then after I tore it up, we had to get it stuck back together again because I was being such an idiot. But wait, is that is that is that typically the way that it works? You show up in a studio and you've got nothing and you start to come up with either melodies or lyrics or whichever strikes you first. No, you go there with some things written. Um, okay. Sometimes and Brandy does that. She goes in and I sometimes go in the studio with I've had a couple of ideas, but mostly recently I've just write in the studio. But, um, and are all the songs duets or you do are there some solos on the album? Are they every is every song a duet? No, it's 10 tracks.

11:29 So, we did like an album. Um, side one finishes with Bry's solo song. Side two finishes with my solo song. And let talk a bit. Oh, well I mean Brandy Brandy I wanted to say uh you know uh hi first of all I haven't seen you in a long time. Last time I Hi, how are you? And last time I saw you were you sang beautifully at uh at Jimmy's um memorial tribute concert at the at the bowl which was just amazing. It was so incredible. Yeah. Jimmy Buff, the great Jimmy Buffett who was a friend of ours and our mutual friend Jane. Um and Brandy what is it like? I mean you're such an accomplished singer songwriter. You've done it all. an incredible performer.

12:09 But when you get a call, and I know you you guys you you've been friends with Serelton John for, as he said, 20 years, but when you get a call from Sir Elton John saying, "Let's let's make a record." That must be at risk of embarrassing you, Sir Elton John, uh what is that like when you get that call when when that comes through like, "Hey, we're going to make a record." It was if if he didn't always do what he says he's going to do, I wouldn't have believed it. Um, but he does and and he uh he was coming off of that massive tour, Dodger Stadium, Glastonbury, just like really highlight moments like in anyone's life.

12:47 And he was coming out of this all with all this adrenaline and I thought, well, he's not going to do it, you know? He says he's saying it, but does he mean it? You know, and the thing you guys got to understand is I have loved Elton John and Bernie Toppin since I was 11 years old. They're the only reason I ever wrote a song or touched an instrument. Yeah. Same. And so it feels really mystical and bizarly beautiful that at this point in my life that this is what's happened to me and Elton in our relationship, but also it kind of makes sense and that's more than I can explain, but it's also more than I could have asked for. Was it was it a difficult thing to allow yourself uh uh Brandy to to to to let all your creative instincts flow as freely as I imagine they flow when you're when you're working by yourself? um when you're collaborating with somebody that's such a hero to you. Is is were you able to

13:38 sort of like let that that barrier drop down and let all the instincts fly? Not for a long time. I mean, imagine that, you know, like think how that could have gone. It was like an existential crisis for me. It could have gone really wrong. Like that first time I put a lyric down in front of Elton John, what if he hadn't have been able to write a song to it? Right. She's so inspiring and she's so um you know I was inspired by her. I've always been inspired by her voice and her writing but her musicianship and and I think we both inspired each other. That was the whole point of doing the record to have what we have as artists and then you know put it on the other person. And she's quick. I mean she's really quick and she does a vocal in like one take.

14:22 Well, you're you're both you're both able to do so many different types of songs. Well, uh so many different sounds and genres and and rhythms. Um was it uh was there much communication about what type of sound and tone the film or the not the film, sorry, the the album would have, whether it would have a rock feel, a country feel, a ballad feel. Um was there any discussion about that? It was all down to Elton had this vision. It was like at first he was like, "Okay," he was trying to conceptualize what it would be. And he goes, "Okay, we're going to be like Robert Plant and Allison Krauss." And then he would call me a week later and go, "No, no, no.

14:59 It's it's the rhythmics." And then he would call me a week later and go, "No, it's it's Buddy Holly and Paty Klein." And and then and then one day he just called me and he said, "No, it's going to be us. Let's have it just be us, but we're not going to do anything anybody expects from us." And then the vision just came clear. And years ago, I bought her an electric guitar because I wanted to push her and nudge her to play electric and get out there and rock a little more. Um, and there's a great side of her that I could see that wasn't coming out. And she, you know, she's gr she loves all sorts of music and she's broken. Listen, she sung Joanie Mitchell's entire blue album at Disney Hall without a teleprompter, which takes balls of [ __ ] steel, I tell you. And um, so she's got big big balls, I tell you. Um, new title for the album. The unfortunate thing is she breaks wind a lot but that's okay. Yeah. Yeah. I know

15:50 believe me. Yeah. Yeah. Um it's all the out takes, right? And we will be right back. And now back to the show. How did you both first meet? I She wrote me a letter. Um yeah, and I was aware of her of her music. I was in Las Vegas doing one of my residences and she said, "Would you ever consider playing on a song of mine and I wrote back and said or phoned her, she put a phone number and I said, "Hey, yeah, if you can come to Vegas, cuz I'm stuck here, we can do something together." And she came and before I even sat at the piano, I fell in love with her. It was like it was destined to be a friendship that, you know, it's lasted for years and years and years and gotten better. Um, and it was I love that it was just happen stance or whatever it was. Um, serendipity. Yeah. You know what? I have to say the when I met you, Brandy, too, I just immediately fell in love with like you you you are one of those

16:49 personalities and people that just are so lovely and filled with light and love and a minute. Took a minute. It took me a minute. I had to warm up to her. Yeah, I did. I really just did. And she and she's creative as hell. That's what I love. No kidding. It was wild like going to see Elton in Vegas. I remember coming down that long hallway and I could hear his voice, speaking voice before I saw him. And I had spent so much time um as a kid growing up with Live in Melbourne and Tantrums and Tiaras and all of his interviews. And I was his voice and I was like, "Oh my god, I'm going to come around the corner in a minute and Elton John is going to be sitting there and it was just and a huge ball gown and a tiara and huge high heels.

17:37 in a tracksuit, but there was a lot of pink. There was a lot of pink. About about 25 maybe 30 years ago, I was in Los Angeles, young unemployed or barely employed actor, and I was at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. I don't know why. And Selton John, you came in and you sat at a table with a friend and then you had like a a security guy with you at a table next to you and the phone rang and uh his phone and he took the call, handed it to you, you spoke on the phone for like 30 seconds and handed back to the guy and I thought that's what I want. I want a guy sitting at a table behind me. He feels the call. Um but were were there songs on the were there songs on the album? By the way, when you're doing that, when you're collaborating like that, how isn't it difficult to come up with like a lyric or a melody or whatever and through discussion have to get rid of something that you love so much? Like how do you

18:27 get there's no discussion? If Elton doesn't like it, he just yells, "Cut the line and it's gone." Really? Yeah. But it was very easy. There wasn't anything I didn't like. All the 10 songs that we chose were the obvious songs and the rest Yeah. Okay. the 10 that we had were fantastic. So, no, I mean, no, I would never say that. I mean, all the songs she gave to me were amazing. He makes decisions very very quickly. It's not really even to be thought about. So, there's no time to really stew in your kind of artistic um you know, whatever.

18:59 He just it it happens very quickly. He's a quick quick songwriter. Yeah. And there'll be and there'll be no touring of this, right? There'll be because there's no more touring for you, correct, sir? No, there's no more touring for me. Yeah. And I'm very happy about that. Now, what about Well, you've you've you've you've you've done it. Thank you very much for all your all your shows. My god. I s I I went to one of the shows on this last tour. It's incredible. Um what about what about videos? Do folks make videos still, right? Is it? Yeah, we made a video.

19:27 We've made a video for this. Um and it's really great. David Lashel did the video. He did the album, Steve. Um yeah. Um of course we'll do videos and of course we'll do some TVs and we may even do, you know, play on a TV show. But um I love that. Yeah. And Sean, how's your piano playing coming along? It's going okay. It's going okay. Won him a Tony. Yeah, he won a Tony. Yeah, he did. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he did. Incredible. He played he did a good night Oscar at the Tobasco Theater, uh which won him a Tony last year. What a show. Yeah, baby. Um yeah, he did he plays uh uh Raps City and Blue all by himself on a grand right there, middle of the stage. Um all we we've told this story before uh uh uh so for forgive us and to our audience forgive us but but Jason was sitting right in front directly in front of me we went opening night and as it was as soon as that that was over and Sean had played Rep and

20:22 everybody was cheering and Jason turned around we both had tears in our eyes and he said our show's over. Yeah we can't make fun of Sean can't make fun of Shawn anymore. It was so good. And by the way, and that was fleeting because we're right back where we started. Uh I used to go around to Sean's house in Hancock Park and used to play the piano there. It was fantastic. This is the same house. It is. He's still there. Still here. Yes. And then I And then you the the I think the piano I had for a while was yours and then I sold it for a bigger one. Wait, wait, wait, wait. You had his piano? I think so. Because Eric McCormack, who was on Will and Grace, he some like everybody was trading pianos or something. Somehow I ended up with Elton's and then and then uh like a black market piano trade.

21:11 What's happening here amongst musicians and artists? What's going on? Or what? Yeah. But but yeah, you came over and played the music to Interview with the Vampire. I was blown away. You just sat down at my piano and started playing half the musical and I was like, how can you do that? It's just it was unbelievable to see that. It's amazing. Amazing. What What kind of piano do you have now? Uh right now I have um Oh my god, I'm so nervous. I can't remember. It's not Bo. No, Boendorfer. Borandorf. That's the best piano. Yeah. Apart from because you got the extra notes down the end of it. Yes. Yes. Yes. Extra notes. Yeah. Really? Secret notes.

21:49 Secret notes. Oh, yeah. I'm dumber than I thought I was. Um is it Where is it made? Wait, what is the name of it? Bzander. Trevor. Oh, you have a lovely Bendorfer. If I had a D. This one. This one has extra secret secret keys. This one has three extra keys. It's longer. Of course we do. Of course. Of course we have extra keys. Wouldn't you like to know where they came from? So, Brandy and Elton, you guys you you've you've you've been on stage uh together multiple times. Has is there has there been a favorite performance you guys have had together that you can think of? We haven't performed many times. We did Dodger Stadium. Dodger Stadium has been my favorite when she sung Don't Let the Song Go Down on Me because she Lady Gaga had done it before and was incredible and she wasn't available. So I asked Brandy of course she was cheaper much cheaper and but she destroyed the song.

22:45 It was incredible. Um, yeah. The first time we actually sang together though, and I don't know if you remember this exact the exact first time we actually ever sang together in real life was in Joany's living room. Jo on that country song. Not many not many people can say that, can they? What a sentence. It was an old country song that I've loved since I was a little kid called um You can tell your friend there with you, he'll have to go. Yes. You'll have to go. Yeah. And Joanie sang uh Love Potion number nine and Summertime. Yeah. And it was just one of the most Yes. And she uh music got Joanie back together again as long as well as her physio. But this girl here on my left used to instigate Joanie jams where people used to come up and you had to play. You all had to sing in front of Joanie Mitchell which is terrifying.

23:34 That's a lot. Um but it was one of the greatest things. And you'd have Hobie Hancock up there. You'd have Chucker Khan. You'd have Bonnie Ra. You have um you no uh you there's that you Paul McCartney would come. Paul McCartney. Yeah. Debbie Gibson. That's amaz God. And you sang the whole blue record too. That's I mean that's what an incredible record that is. Well, incredible record. But she did it. I was sitting next to Joanie at Disney Hall when she did it and it was faultless. And I just said, you know, balls of steel is ridiculous. and without a teleprompter. I would never have done that without a teleprompter.

24:13 And it was the most incredibly brave and courageous thing to do. And and then she did it at Carnegie Hall as well. It was phenomenal. And Joanie couldn't have been happing point. I've wondered that about the about the teleprompterss for lyrics and stuff. How common is that on on tour with musicians? It's getting more and more common. I started seeing it happen at all the tributes and stuff like that. Um, but now it's I now I think it's just kind of a part of it because they look like monitors on stage so you can't tell, you know, but I'm sure that it it's it's interesting because a lot of musicians haven't figured out how to not look at them when they're performing.

24:53 So, I hate seeing that. But at the same time, it provides some spontaneity because then a musician can take a request out of the audience and actually play a song, right? And they can just load it in. Jason uses a prompter when he goes to therapy. Isn't that right, Jason? It's hard to keep all the lies together. Yeah. Could you imagine? I I get the I get requests from the audience. Can you play piano man? And I wrong guy. Wrong guy. Wrong guy. You do not have someone asked me to play piano man once. Yeah. No way. I have played piano man with Billy many many many many times. Security and I couldn't play on my own. Security.

25:34 That's Oh my god. That is crazy. Now, what are you You say you filmed the entire recording process. What's going to happen with that? But the crazy thing is I never saw a camera. We don't know where they were. They were fixed little tiny things. So, we [ __ ] forgot about them constantly and just our behavior is reflected in that, you know? It was a very strange concept. And I I don't know. I think for that reason, it's like it's a wild ride. There's a there's a song at the end of the album, which is my solo song. Brandy has a solo song at the end of the side one about her daughter uh her eldest daughter growing up and leaving. Um tell her about it.

26:10 It's just a beautiful song. Oh, it's just it's like about that moment like when you have kids like where it's like they depart you in some way. Even it can even happen when they're young and you're so devastated and you're so proud at the same time and you don't know which feeling to pick. It's about that. I love that. You're you mean empty nesting kind of but it it can happen early on too. Like the first time that they choose something you don't believe in or pick a record you don't like or decide to stay home on a trip when you wanted. Yeah. Those moments are so sad but also so it so proud. It's so true.

26:43 My four-year-old this morning it was kind of heartbreaking. My four-year-old said to me he was just waking up and I was he was kind of snuggled up against me and I was kissing his head, kissing his hair and I was like, "Hi buddy. Good morning. Morning." And then he just his eyes weren't even open and he just goes, "No more kissing." That's what I'm talking about. And I was like I was like, "Wow." Okay. All right. Oh god, that sounds like a long marriage. I wrote a song I wrote a song at the end of the album. Um, and I've just get the lyrics and I'm just two Bernie Torbin lyrics called When This Old World is Done with Me. And so I'm writing the verse, oh, this is really pretty. And then I get to the chorus and of course it's about my death and and when you get when you get to my age which is near 100 you think I haven't how much time have I got left and you got you got children you got a wonderful

27:32 husband you just think about mortality and so when I got to the chorus I just broke down for 45 minutes and it's all on film cried hard and we just Yeah. Yeah. I I got Wait, when do we how So what do we plan with this footage? I think I want everybody to see it because it's so it's really human like deeply flawed and embarrassing and the kind of [ __ ] that you do when you forget that there is a camera on is what's really interesting. But that moment, I got to be in there and I witnessed that moment because when we were making the record, I would sit behind him when he was writing his melodies and try to like remember some of the ones that were really hitting me hard. And and I was recording him on the melody of this song because I thought, okay, well, I want to remember this melody so that in case he moves on to another one, he can remember how good it was. And he got to the end of that chorus and his voice started to

28:24 shake and I thought, "Oh, he's going like he's going to really go." And he went into a real moment of of a and she came over and she said, "Don't worry. You've got at least another six months." That's great. That's great. Hold on through promotion. The worst part is she was looking at an app that was telling you real time when it was going to happen. That was scary. And I said, "No, you're not in the will." Um, good. It's hilarious. Well, ne needless to say, not not to be modeling and we can p push past this afterwards.

28:57 If in the in the sort of the the plan of using all your years as as well as you possibly could. Uh, Sir Elton John, my goodness, what an enormous list of accomplishments you've done thus far with plenty of time left. Yeah, plenty of time left. You've you've contributed for three lifetimes. So, uh, rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest rest ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass assured you you and this is by me this is one of my biggest accomplishments with her accomplishments well we cannot wait to listen to it and do do you have selen can I just ask you quickly uh if you don't mind when you and and Brandy alluded to it before you being such a um sort of a hero of hers you know musically and and and

29:38 inspiration and Sean you too also is a musician when you and you have been such a your music is such a big part of all of our lives for so long and it in ways that we don't even know like you've just you really sort of weaved right into the fabric of of all of our lives. Do you have moments when you're moving through the world? You're in a you're you're somewhere and your song comes on, you're in a car, you're in a restaurant, you're in a shop, you're somewhere. How does it strike you uh when you hear your music, especially stuff that was that was from a long time ago? What are those moments like hearing your music? Um it's great. I don't listen to my stuff very often. I don't listen to the radio very often, but when you're in an elevator and you think, "What the [ __ ] is that?" Um, and it's Daniel. You feel very proud. Um, no, I do. I, you know, I don't listen to my stuff, but I'm very proud of what we've

30:29 written. And I love to hear it. Uh, as long as it's not being played by myself. Um, but it's, yeah, it's Yeah, I've done so much in my life, and yeah, there's so much more to do. Um um and she's inspired me to go ahead with this record and uh and and and I'm think this is the best record I've made in 40 years. So there you go. Oh wow. I love that. That's By the way, I'm glad you mentioned Daniel. I think that probably a thousand times of my life I've made the stew. Anytime I've met somebody named Daniel, I always they say Daniel say my brother, you are older than me.

31:01 Every single time. Yeah, for sure. We'll be right back. And back to the show. So you guys have you your friendship is did you say it was it's 20 years you guys have been buddies? Over than that. Is that right? Some somewhere around that. No, over that more than that. Maybe more than that. Yeah. My goodness. Cuz that was I was in Vegas. Yeah. You were in Vegas and and we had kind of Yeah. So I had about that. Yeah. Do your Do your kids know each other? They must. Yeah. You guys go on vacations all the time together? They come to we have a house in Nice in the south of France and Brandy, Katherine and the girls come down every summer and we have the time of our lives. Oh my god, I love that. I love that. I stayed in a house I stayed in a house right close to your house and John a couple years ago I was working on a job for like six months and this French caretaker of this house kept saying that

31:52 is Selton John's house right there. I didn't ring I didn't ring the bell. What about Do either one of you need any parenting tips from the other person? How does that go? Do the kids get along? Kids love each other. I mean, my boys are a little older than Brand's girls, but my boys are really good with children. And um Zachary's not here at the moment. He's at school, but Elijah's here, and he just loves playing with the girls. It's uh there's no problem with that. There's they get on like a house on fire. And Bry's girls are so Brandy and Katherine's girls, I should say, are absolute angels. I mean, they're just beautiful girls. The first time I went to go visit David and Elton in France with Katherine and my girls. We landed and um we got we went down downstairs at this table, this beautifully adorned table for breakfast. I mean, everything is like decked out. There's like designer napkins and it's like

32:41 unbelievable. You wouldn't believe it. And I had a three-year-old at the time and she was at that table for 3 seconds before without any warning she projectile vomited all over the entire thing. He didn't even pretend it was okay. He was just like, "God damn it." But no, he he and David were so sweet about it and they they calmed our anxiety. But I mean, I died a thousand deaths when that happened. Poor little fans. You remember that? That's all sweet. Um, wait, you know, I uh Elton, you know, the the I just I go for walks a lot around my neighborhood cuz you can. And I just put on this album that I bought when I think I was a senior in high school called Red Strikes Back. It's one of my favorite albums you ever did. Oh, thank you. One of my favorite songs. No, I never hear it anywhere. It's so perfectly written as the heavy traffic song. Yeah. Yeah.

33:34 Thank you. I mean, that's like a massive massive hit song that was never I don't know. Was it even released as a single? No, there was lots of songs on that album. Japanese Hands and stuff like that. Yes, Japanese Hands is great, too. There are lots of deep cuts. I mean, I've had a lot of hit singles, but the probably the best songs are on the uh are the Deep Cuts. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For sure. And of course, Give Up the Ghost is one of my favorite albums of all time. Yeah. A Thank you. It's true. It's true. One of my favorite albums. So Brandy, uh, grow growing up in in in Washington, did you did you think that you would be at this, did you allow yourself to sort of dream about where you sit now in in the industry, your the level of respect and accomplishment?

34:21 Um, and and and and how did that h how did Well, I guess just answer that that that one first. you know, did did you allow yourself to dream this high? Yes. The the nuance things like respect or credibility or things I value so much now, I hadn't really fantasized about, but I would close my eyes and dream of myself on stage in Madison Square Garden. I would think of myself like I would visualize myself um winning a Grammy and thanking Elton John before I ever met. I was like, "Oh yeah, I pictured I would get up on stage and thank Elton John and the Indigo Girls."

34:55 And I was like maybe 13 years old like visually. So, I've visualized a lot of what has happened oddly, but um and I don't understand or profess to know why that is, but yes, I did allow myself to dream really big from that single wide mobile home. I love that. Yeah. I wonder if the if the if the visualization, if you feel is a is a really important part of it, and I'd ask you the same, Sir Alton, John, is that is it did you allow yourself to dream as big as as well? and and and for our listeners, can you speak about what that kind of big word nowadays is manifestation? I don't know if you guys subscribe to that, but um you know, having those having those goals and vision and belief in yourself.

35:35 How what how what size role did that play uh do you think in both of your successes? I never imagined myself as a solo artist. Um when I was in my group, Bluesology, I took the big risk of going up to Liberty Records saying, "I want to write songs. I'm so fed up with playing in a band that doesn't want to go anywhere and I can sing to and so the guy as you know because old story gave me the envelope with burn his lyrics in it and then when we wrote songs I had to go out and nothing was happening I had to go out and play them live so I had to form a band and I really didn't have any visions of being Elton John superstar it just happened very very quickly and so it was like it was so exciting because I came to America and there was Neil Diamond introducing me there was Brian Wilson, there was um Linda Ronstat, there was Leon Russell, um all those kind of people that were my heroes. And suddenly I was there. I mean, it took me

36:30 a couple of years to establish myself all over America, but it was like I was a kid in a candy store. I never realized never really visualized Elton John being a big star. I never It all happened by accident really. It really happened by accident, which was lovely. Great question. I was wondering about that, too. Yeah. Yeah. And and I would imagine um the preservation of your smaller image, your more human image, your younger image, I would imagine is has has been remains to be a very important part of uh not only your your identity, but your ability to be creative and your ability to write and to constantly be connected to uh the person that the public does not know, the person who you started as. Um that's got to be a big part important part for both of your careers. Yeah. Um when I became successful um very quickly um and this is in the documentary Never Too Late. I we did so much work in 5 years and and

37:27 went to the uh the pinnacle of uh fame in 5 years and um I lost the person that I was originally and and and that was very hard for me and it took me loads of years to get that back and I got it back when I got sober uh which is 35 years this year hopefully. Um, great. And so, yeah, it the little boy inside of me had vanished and but the little boy has come back and everybody needs that little child inside them to keep them going. And unfortunately, I lost him and uh it made me very unhappy and very depressed. But I still kept working. I still make kept making records and touring. And so the music kept me alive until I finally came to my senses. And now my life is incredible. I mean, I couldn't have a better life in than I could. And I wake up every morning with my children and David and my, you know, all the people that work for me, the nicest people in the world. I am the luckiest person in

38:25 the world. I am blessed. So, yeah. And I that little boy is very happy. Yeah, that's great. I love that. I love that. And Brandy, I'm sure that little child in you stays vibrant and loud and she's hanging out right now. She is like riding shotgun. like this is the, you know, I've always tried to kind of like keep the the the young child in me like at bay long enough to do my job and get through the things that are important to me, you know, and but for this one, I've just let that girl come to the surface totally because I'm getting to hang out with Elton John and so cool. That's that's an unbelievable realization of of a dream. And it's it's really been like a life affirming thing, you know, and and also that young version of yourself gets more gets clearer when you have kids, too. You know, you you're just like trying not to project onto them, but it's hard not to see a mini me sometimes. Yeah. I'm sure. I'm sure. Oh,

39:20 bet. Well, God, you know, there's so there's I'm just looking at you two going there's such an in very very very small group of people in the world that have gifts they leave behind that will last forever. I mean, just for decades. Yeah. And and to have a part of you live on in music is so rare that people a lot of people try to achieve that level and they just don't. And so it's just incredible. Incredible to to see you guys and now together. It's great. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. That's it. And and now I'm going to And I'm going to try drugs for the first time.

40:00 I'm kidding. I'm kidding. You You've never tried drugs, right, Sean? Me? No. I got I would get stoned all the time. Smoke pot constantly. And now I take gummies, which is nice. But I The only hard thing I tried was Right. Yeah. They're legal. They're legal. But I would I tried mushrooms once and it was just insane. I felt like I weighed 250 lbs and it was just awful. Awful. It was terrible. 250 lb mushroom. A film coming to you soon. Yeah, it was terrible. You wish. Yeah, that was awful. Um Yeah, that's it. Wow. And then what? And so and then what's that what's that process like? So now you're done. you've you've you've completed the record and it's it's going to come out and you're not going to tour. Maybe you'll do a few dates, a few live dates and or a show here or there and then I I guess it's not unlike, you know, for us like working on a film and then you kind of go and you move on and

40:54 then it's like it's hard to say goodbye, I'm sure, when you make a connection. I mean, you're still friends obviously, but to that project, you do something that's so intensely creative. We talk every day and we see each other every chance we get. We'll always be making music together as long as we can. Wow, that's fantastic. Yeah, I love that. I ain't letting go. What? What's that? He said he ain't letting go. No, that's good. That's good. Well, we can't thank you uh both enough for for joining us uh on this and and talking to us about your album. Um we really appreciate it. Yeah, it's been a pleasure. Been an honors to you both.

41:32 Continued success to you both and specifically with this album. Uh, we can't wait for your something to to do with think of something to do with that footage. Please put it together so we can all get that view into into the process. Oh, well, I hope I hope we meet each other soon so we can give each other a big hug. And Sean, I do miss you. I love you very much. Okay. I miss you too, honey. I love you, too. Thanks. It's good to see you. Thanks you guys so much. Enjoy the rest of your day. Bye. Bye, guys. Bye. J Jason, ho how in the world I mean did you how did you quote land them? That's uh I I I'm reminded uh the same question I asked you after we had Sir Paul McCartney on the show. How did you land?

42:13 And you said it was an incoming. This was an incoming. Oh wow. And um yeah, they're promoting that album and I guess they they're doing a podcast and we were chosen I suppose. I I I don't know. I didn't I didn't I didn't question it. I just said that, you know, there was a question as to are we how do we feel about doing uh uh you know, a double double guest, you know, which we've done a couple of times. Um but it's been rare. It's been musicians. It's been musicians. It was it was Billy Eyish and her brother Fidius and and the Smile guys, Radio Head guys.

42:49 Radio and Tom York and and then Arcade um Arcade Fire. Arcade Fire as well. But right Yeah. It is odd that it has been just been music. Yeah. Um but yeah, it was really kind of just No, no doubt about it. Double shot. That that's just incredible. I mean, it's it's I know I said it already, but it's like I mean it's it's it's both those guys have Go ahead. Well, I just Sean I was I'm looking at your face and first of all, you know that that Elton John knows where you live and um and that he's been to your house and he's played on your piano, but I just want and you mention all the time Glenn Ellen, Illinois, you know, to the point that we're all so sick of it, but did you is there is there for you the novelty as a kid growing up in Glennel, Illinois who loved music, who's sitting there with, you know, four siblings, no dad Is there part of you? Wait, go back. Go back. Go back. Go back. What? Yeah. What's that?

43:48 I'm just trying to sc I'm just trying to paint a picture. But it must be for you, Sean. It must be mind-blowing that he always talking to Elton John. Yeah, it's it always is. And you know, you you you kind of suppress it because you can't believe it. So, you kind of stuff it down like you like I believe the sign off was by Honey is what you called him. You said, "Sir Elton John and you went with Honey." You know where he gets that? You know where you know where he developed that from? It's from Jimmy Burrough because you know what Burroughs calls everybody honey. Honey one more time. You're like, I'll do the scene again. Stop calling me honey in front of the crew. Yeah, it's such a habit now. I know. Everybody from Will and Grace calls everybody honey. But um Yeah. No, he Yes. Exactly. Well, thank you for saying that. Yeah. But uh when people would come on Will and Grace or I would like Elen John was on Will and Grace or

44:34 whatever it was and or whoever I meet in this business, are you just filled with always filled with gratitude when you wake up? That's that's where it all starts from. And if you're there, then everybody's on the same playing field, right? Everybody's like you as much. That's me trying to suppress like, oh my god, it's [ __ ] John, you know, but you're like, wow, it's Yeah. Anyway, it's my long answer of Well, it's a thrill to play like I know JB is playing golf with with Thomas Rhett today. Like I know his whole schedule, you know, like just to be able to play. Am I right? You are right. You are right. He texted me during the show. Tom, he's such a great guy. and he said, "Hey, a man, I wish you were playing today cuz obviously you're not enough." And and so which is which is but I mean honestly even JB you're not even a musician. You don't even know what music is for you.

45:20 Elton John and Brandy must be a thrill. I have to admit I think I was more nervous for that than I can rem I think I've probably been more nervous for some of these, but I can't remember which one. I don't remember. It's been a while. like I I I've got tons and tons and tons of questions here and I couldn't bring myself to ask any of them of either one of them. I just didn't know where to start. What the hell? I mean, right? Cuz you want to do the Chris Farley Chris Farley uh thing where he interviews famous people. He's like remember like you know when he did remember when both of them too with Brandy it's it's just like I'm just not sure what to say to people like that.

45:59 Um, I wanted to ask him about every song and like how did you think of it and where did it come from? And you just know he's so old. Well, thank God you you waited till he was gone again. Well, but I wanted to be respectful of Brandy. I didn't want to just make it all about him and I wanted to like make it about the album. Bry's Brandy gets it, too. I mean, she's such an accomplished singer songwriter. She's amazing. Honestly, that that tribute for Jimmy Buffett last year, she was un she brought the house down. She was unbelievable.

46:25 She was stunning. And Give Up the Ghost really is a great album. I love that. Anyway, yeah, she's got an incredible presence. I I I had no idea though that they were such close friends and that they vacationed together for 20 years they've been buddies. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know what? Listen, I think there's only thing one thing that I can say having them here today. And I just want to say, you know, it it's nice to say it's nice to say hello to some new friends, but it's also nice but it's also nice to say goodbye.

46:57 Bye. That That's the one I was going to use too. Smart glass. Smart glass. Smart list is 100% organic and artisally handcrafted by Michael Grant, Terry, Rob Armjarf, and Bennett Barbco. Smart less.

Questions about this episode

What is discussed in "Elton John & Brandi Carlile | SmartLess"?

In order: 0:00 sanitizer, Baby Driver, French Legion of Honor, HIV/AIDS; 5:00 Chicago, Glenn Ellen, London, Windsor; 10:00 Dodger Stadium, Jimmy Buffett, Robert Plant; 15:00 Buddy Holly, Disney Hall, Good Night, Oscar, Tobasco Theater; 20:00 Debbie Gibson, Disney Hall, Dodger Stadium, Eric McCormack; 25:00 Piano Man; 30:00 France, Give Up the Ghost, Indigo Girls, Japanese Hands; 35:00 Bluesology, Brian Wilson, Leon Russell, Liberty Records; 40:00 Arcade Fire, Glenn Ellen, Paul McCartney, Thomas Rhett; 45:00 Give Up the Ghost, Jimmy Buffett.

What is mentioned in this SmartLess episode?

70 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including sanitizer, Glenn Ellen, Jimmy Buffett, Dodger Stadium, Disney Hall, Paul McCartney. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Elton John & Brandi Carlile | SmartLess"?

The episode runs 48 min; the transcript is about 9,573 words in 63 timestamped sections.

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