ITV’s An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile, which aired on Saturday night (April 19), generated quite the buzz online as fans tuned in to see the pair perform at the London Palladium.
But viewers were quick to take to social media to share their thoughts, and reviews of the show were mixed. “Never ever heard of Brandi Carlisle #EltonJohn”, said one viewer, capturing a common reaction among the audience.
The public were left scratching their heads with quips like: “Whose this woman, I’ve never heard of her. #EltonJohn” and “Never even heard of Brandi Carlisle, but I’m watching an evening with #EltonJohn anyway.”
A tweet went as far as slamming the showcase, saying: “This #EltonJohn thing on #ITV is an absolute car crash.”
Yet, not all feedback was critical; some viewers celebrated the collaboration, evidenced by one fan remarking: “Brandie’s voice is stunning. Love this. Love the album.”
One said: “Makes me sad how few people know who Brandi Carlile is, I was raised on her music she’s great.”
During the special broadcast, Schitt’s Creek star and host Dan Levy shared a landmark moment as it was the first time Elton had granted cameras full access to his album recording process. Elton said he had no regrets about letting the cameras in: “No, not really. I’m glad it’s there because it’s painful making music sometimes.”
Brandi added her thoughts about the nature of their work in the studio, asserting: “It’s really authentic and just a little bizarre.”
ITV audiences were privy to intimate moments with Elton John in the studio, where he appeared visibly agitated at times during the creation of his album.
Elton’s frustration was palpable to ITV viewers who saw him discarding music sheets and slamming his headphones onto the piano in exasperation. Narrating the scenes himself, Elton conceded: “The reality is, I was exhausted, I had a lot of doubt. I was a nightmare. Angry, I was tired, I was irritable.”
The legendary musician also delved into his yearning for perfect vocal harmony on his album, disclosing the hurdles he encountered along the way.
An emotive point in the programme showed Elton tearfully overcome while performing one of the songs.
Elton reflected on the emotional challenges faced, saying: “To achieve what I wanted to achieve, I had to really work through the pain, it was a big push. I had to feel, for the first time.
“I just lost it. Being emotional on the record, whether it was being angry or crying, I haven’t been that for years and years and years.”