Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Bright Light Bright Light dishes on ‘Enjoy Youth,’ touring with Cher & the secret to a perfect mash-up
Enjoy Youth, the latest album of pure pop bliss from Welsh singer-songwriter Bright Light Bright Light, a.k.a. Rod Thomas.“I feel like since COVID, it’s been harder to let myself be as buoyant and optimistic as I previously was,” Thomas says in a press statement. “So these songs are reminders to myself to keep embracing fun, silliness, playfulness, camp, drama—to let emotions take hold of you and run with them, and to remember the joy of connection with the people you love.”Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Well, mission accomplished, sir!
Featuring collaborations with the likes of Grammy nominee Mykal Kilgore, dance-pop legend Ultra Naté, and more, Enjoy Youth if filled wall-to-wall with anthemic synthpop featuring a throwback sound that’ll nevertheless have you looking forward… to hitting the dance floor.But, should we be surprised?
Thomas has been releasing music under the Bright Light Bright Light moniker—and turning up the party—for the past decade-plus, and his talents have brought him into the orbit of some of the biggest queer icons in music, including Sir Elton John, Cher, Erasure, Jake Shears, and Mx Justin Vivian Bond.With Enjoy Youth spinning now, we snagged some time with Thomas to have him as the latest guest in our rapid-fire Q&A series, Dishin’ It.
In our conversation, the musician reflects on the TV series that gave him hope for gay-straight unity, the friends that have inspired his uplifting new tunes, and that time food poisoning nearly ruined his biggest show ever with Sir Elton John.Is there a piece of media—whether a movie, TV series, book, album, theater, video game, etc…—that you consider a big part of your own coming-out journey, or that has played an important role in your understanding of queerness?
