Modern songwriters 'pretty awful', says Sir Elton John

Music legend Sir Elton John has slammed today's songwriters as "pretty awful" and TV as boring.

The 63-year-old said he was not a fan of TV talent shows and confirmed

that he turned down the opportunity to be a judge on American Idol.

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He told the Radio Times that he admired contemporary stars such as Lily Allen, with whom he traded insults with at an awards ceremony two years ago, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.

But he said: "It's important they write their own songs, so they're not at the mercy of anyone. Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn't very inspiring."

The Rocket Man added: "I'm not a fan of talent shows. I probably wouldn't have lasted if I'd gone on one. I was asked to judge American Idol."

Sir Elton said he "couldn't do" American Idol, which featured Simon Cowell as a judge before he quit to launch a US version of the X Factor, "because I won't slag anyone off".

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