Musician Elton John looks at his fingers during the question and answer period with students after performing songs off his new album "The Diving Board" at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, California September 16, 2013. The new album will be out on September 24 and released by Capitol Records.[Photo/Agencies]

'COASTING IN DANGEROUS'

"If you want to coast and play 'Bennie and the Jets,' you might as well, just (expletive) off. Coasting is dangerous," he said, referring to himself and his need to constantly try new approaches and to listen to the new music of the day.

After speaking, John played a few songs from "The Diving Board," his new album that will be released on September 24.

He described the album as more mature and reflective than his earlier work.

"This is an album by a 66-year-old man," he said, noting it was not an album he would have put out in his 20s, when he wrote songs like "Rocket Man."

The new album was written by John and longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin and produced by Grammy and Oscar winner T Bone Burnett.

John played "Oscar Wilde Gets Out" and "Home Again" and "Mexican Vacation (Kids in the Candlelight)," among others from "The Diving Board."

John is also set to make his Emmys debut this Sunday with a tribute to Liberace as part of the annual television awards show. The HBO biopic of the late pianist, "Behind the Candelabra," starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, vies for 15 awards.

After playing his new songs, John dove back into some oldies but goodies like "The Bitch Is Back," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

For an encore, he waved away his guitarist for a solo performance of "Rocket Man."

For much of the performance, John was backed by his own band and also by the university's student symphony.

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