By ANGELA DAWSON
Entertainment News Wire
HOLLYWOOD _ Elton John was an internationally successful pop singer-songwriter when he got a phone call out of blue from lyricist Tim Rice inviting him to write some songs with him for an animated movie featuring singing animals. That was nearly 20 years ago, and the result was the phenomenally successful 1994 Disney animated feature “The Lion King,” which subsequently became a hit Broadway show.
“In 1990, if you’d have said in 1993 I’d be writing a song about a warthog, I’d have said you’re out of your mind,” quips the music legend. “When Tim gave me lyrics that said, ‘When I was a young warthog,’ I thought I was losing my mind.”
But the Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer knows the key to success is being open-minded about new opportunities.
A generation later, John has reteamed with Disney on another family-oriented animated project. “Gnomeo & Juliet” is a music-filled action adventure about warring families of garden gnomes and a forbidden romance. The Shakespeare takeoff has a decidedly more upbeat ending than the original, though.
The animated feature is written and directed by Kelly Asbury, who previously helmed the Oscar-nominated “Shrek 2” and Disney’s “Spirit:Stallion of the Cimarron.” It features an all-star cast, including James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart and Julie Walters.
McAvoy (“The Last King of Scotland“) and Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada“) provide the voices of the star-crossed lovers, who reside in the respective English gardens of feuding neighbors Mr. Capulet and Miss Montague.
Blue garden gnome Gnomeo and red-hued ceramic beauty Juliet meet outside their walls one night, and can’t help but develop a mutual fondness for each other. They try to keep their forbidden friendship secret but inevitably are discovered by their clans, setting off a chain of events that threatens to destroy both gardens. Yep, there’s a subtle political message about tolerance and making peace with your enemy, which suits John just fine.
“This is a storyline saying we should all get along if we’re Protestant or Catholic, Muslim or Jewish, Democrat or Republican,” he says.
“Gnomeo & Juliet” showcases classic pop songs John co-wrote with Bernie Taupin in the 1970s and 1980s, including “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time),” “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Crocodile Rock” and “Your Song.” Additionally, the songwriting partners of more than 40 years wrote two new songs, “Hello Hello” and “Love Builds a Garden” for the film. They wrote two additional songs, one featuring vocalist Lily Allen, that didn’t make the cut because the story changed and they no longer fit.
“I’m a team player, really,” says John, who also composed the music for the Tony award-winning “Billy Elliot: The Musical.” “That’s why I like doing musicals. What you learn most of all is to leave your ego at the door.”
The 63-year-old also serves as executive producer on the colorful animated feature. He jokes that in that capacity, he did “absolutely nothing.” Actually, he has been in on the project since former Disney chairman Dick Cook invited him to get involved 11 years ago. He subsequently watched its evolution over the past decade.
“He suggested we write new songs for it and it should be an all Elton John-Bernie Taupin back catalog thing,” the singer recalls. “I thought it was maybe a good idea. I’d never done that before.”
John enlisted composer James Newton Howard, who had once been in John’s band, to arrange the classic songs as well as write the score with Chris Bacon.
“There was one obvious song that would fit in the movie, which was ‘Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),'” recalls John. “From that point on, I just really handed it over to James and the rest of the team. I didn’t take an active part saying ‘this (song) should go there.'”
Of course, he also co-wrote those new songs that blend with the movie’s plot. John likes the result.
“It doesn’t feel as if it’s overbearing or an Elton John movie,” he says, looking the quintessential showman in all-black and dark glasses. “It feels like ‘Gnomeo & Juliet‘ with some good music in it.”
John convinced current pop sensation Lady Gaga to duet with him on “Hello Hello.”
“I tied her down and hit her over the head, and said, ‘will you do the song with me?'” he jokes.
Actually, Gaga was a guest at John’s annual AIDS fundraising event at his home and he simply asked her if she was interested in singing with him. She didn’t hesitate in saying ‘yes,’ and recorded her part separately during her busy touring schedule.
“She’s one of my new best friends and I love her to death,” he says enthusiastically.
John says his favorite scene in the movie is when Paris, Gnomeo’s geeky rival for Juliet’s hand, sings an off-key and rewritten version of “Your Song,” which features a sparkly dressed gnome resembling a certain ‘70s-era rock singer.
“Then suddenly there I am _ Glam gnome,” he says with a chuckle, “the gnomeosexual in the film.”
John says hearing Stephen Merchant (“Extras”) sing “It’s a little bit runny,” instead of “It’s a little bit funny,” cracked him up.
“That brings back very good memories of a song I’ve sung practically every time I’ve done a show since 1970,” he says. “So I would have to say that moment was quite funny and I love it.”
With his husband, David Furnish, who also is a producer on the film, John plans to produce more films through their Rocket Pictures. They independently produced the features “Women Talking Dirty” and “It’s a Boy Girl Thing.” The two recently became parents to a son, Zachary, via a surrogate.
“As I grow older, I’m much more content in my own skin,” John says.
He reveals he no longer requires prescription eyewear after undergoing lens replacement surgery a couple of years ago.
“I don’t really need to wear them,” he says, removing the dark glasses. “I’m just being moody.”
John would next like to tackle an autobiographical feature film.
“We have a great script already by Lee Hall, who wrote ‘Billy Elliot,'” he says. “Obviously, it’s not going to be your normal run-of-the-mill film, because my life has been crazy.”
Who does he envision playing his younger self?
“James McAvoy would be good,” he says.
Having enjoyed a successful recording career and now having ventured into the movie business, what’s next for the legendary entertainer?
“I don’t really have any more ambitions other than I just want to work and do excellent stuff and enjoy it,” he says. “I’m enjoying everything in my life. The element of surprise in this business is what makes us really love it.”