Elton John knows as much about being a pop music superstar as anybody: You get a string of hits, you're everywhere for a little while and then you settle into your career. That said, while Elton thinks highly of Ed Sheeran as a person and hitmaker, he's a little tired of hearing the 27-year-old's songs on the radio everywhere he goes!
Elton tells George Ezra & Friends: The Podcast that singles Sheeran released more than a year ago are still on the charts around the world. "It's like, 'Why?'" Elton asked. "How many times do you want to listen to these things?"
But nothing lasts forever in pop, as Sir Elton well knows. "You have a heyday and you have a rest [of your career], and a heyday can never be replaced."
There was a period when Elton remembers everything he touched musically turning to gold — that's where Sheeran is right now.
"I had the common sense to know I'm not going to have a #1 every time straight away," he said. "I knew someone else would take over. It's cyclical."
Of course Elton John has enjoyed several career-Renaissances through the years, buoyed by his work on music for films and on Broadway. Elton says he's discussed the ebbs and flows of pop stardom with Sheeran.
"I've said, 'There'll come a time where this won't happen every time and you have to accept that.'"
Elton announced earlier this year that he plans to end his touring career at the conclusion of his 300-concert Farewell, Yellow Brick Road World Tour.
"My life has changed," the singer emphasized at a news conference announcing the farewell. "The priorities in my life have changed. My priorities are my children and my husband."
Elton said he has plans to bring his family with him for at least part of the tour—the children will have a tutor so they don't fall behind on their education. But the goal is to be at home and have a somewhat normal family life.
The Grammy-award winner has sold over 300 million albums worldwide in his career. He underscored the fact that the only real break he's taken from touring or recording was one year he took to get sober.
Of retirement he said, "It doesn't mean I'm still not going to be creative. I'm just not going to travel anymore."
He says his family is excited at the idea of having him around more often, and John looks forward to his post-touring challenges.
"There's always something left to do," he said. "If you look and you're willing to accept new things, life unfolds before you."
For more information and tour dates, go here.
Photo: Getty Images