The event is the performance, which is breathtaking on every level. The song features George Michael on backing vocals and Nik Kershaw on guitar. Original song written and composed by Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (words), "Nikita by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm", "Guy Hobbs (Plaintiff) versus Sir Elton Hercules John, Bernard John Taupin, & Big Pig Music (Defendants)", "Elton John Kicks Copyright Suit Over 'Nikita' Lyrics", "Elton John's 'Nikita' Didn't Infringe Copyright In Earlier Cold War Love Song", The Irish Charts Search Results Nikita", "SA Charts 19651989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) Acts J", "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)", "Cash Box Top 100 Singles Week ending March 29, 1986", Offiziellecharts.de Elton John Nikita", "Bolivia Top 20 Del 9 al 15 de Agosto, 2021", "European Hot 100 Singles Hot 100 of the Year 1986", "Adult Contemporary Songs Year-End 1986", "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 Top 100 Pop Singles", "French single certifications Elton John Nikita", "Authentic Dutch Double Platinum Award "Nikita" in Holland", "British single certifications Elton John Nikita", http://www.eltonography.com/songs/nikita.html, I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford), Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More? Once again, John manages to amplify the raw emotion of the lyrics with his melody and phrasing. Youd never think her and Eltons voices would blend so well, but they do. Elton John and Britney Spears released their duet, "Hold Me Closer," a reimagining of the legendary Rocket Man's 1971 song "Tiny Dancer," that shot to No. The original was brilliant in its own way yet barely hinted at the classic it was destined to become. The melody and lyrics were in place, but the arrangement he arrived at on the re-recording took whatever promise the original had shown to a whole other level, from the flurry of piano notes that set the tone to the vocal harmonies that work their magic on the second verse. John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it. One winner will be randomly selected for the Grand Prize Giveaway, which offers two tickets for the November 19 concert, a Diamonds 1-LP baseball picture disc, two Dodger 75 frames from Elton John Eyewear, and a t-shirt. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" gets off to an ambitious if bombastic start with this 11-minute suite an instrumental requiem that flirts with prog and hints at glam before it somehow segues seamlessly into the raucous pop and effervescent harmonies of "Love Lives Bleeding" before fading out on a guitar jam that kind of makes you wish they'd gone on even longer. Disney+ is to broadcast Elton Johns Farewell From Dodger Stadium as an exclusive livestream of the November 20 show in his three-night engagement there, the final US dates of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. September 2019 saw The Royal Mail issue a set of 12 stamps as a tribute to Elton being one of the most popular and enduring music artists of all time. It's one space mission after another while his child grows up without a dad, a bit like a traveling salesman at least until he dies in outer space. But Jesus has his own ambitions and they don't include inheriting the family business. To date, Elton has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970. And that clearly suits the subject matter of a song set on visiting day in a psychiatric hospital, sung in character by John, who reveals at the end of the opening verse, "Take my word, I'm a madman, don't you know?" The lyrics are by Bernie Taupin. The video also features a red Bentley Continental Convertible, which was owned by John from 1985 to 2000.[2]. We decided it would be a laugh to get him drunk and we were slinging the drinks down him. She was a master at hearing her own voice and knowing when she had the take. The music video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, was shot in Cannes and Nice on the Cte d'Azur in France. Step Into Elton Johns World on Roblox, Inspired by His Life, Legacy & Legendary Self-Expression, The Persistent Immersive Experience Includes Community-Created Digital Fashion, Music Celebration Timed to Artists Global Tour and Interactive Challenges. I still get chills the first time it hits that crescendo where he sings "And I've been callin', 'Oh, hey, hey, Johnny. 2022 Latin Grammys:Rosala wins album of the year, 95-year-old wins best new artist, This song wasn't nearly as popular before that scene in "Almost Famous" the one where a busload of bad vibes is somehow dispelled by a spirited singalong with smiling faces all around. We got him so drunk that eventually he went upstairs and threw a wobbler in his suite. Because it sounds like such a comeback, John asserting his place in the musical firmament with conviction to spare on a track that absolutely swaggers. Having topped the UK single charts last summer with Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa, his latest smash hit single Hold Me Closer has seen Elton stepping into the limelight with Britney Spears for her first studio recording since 2016. Click the link to confirm your email address.Please check your spam folder for the email, if it does not arrive, click this link Elton John Presents: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road on Roblox, Inspired by His Life, Legacy & Legendary Self-Expression, Subscribe me to the Universal Music newsletter. Taylor Swift and the Ticketmaster debacle:How the fallout has ramped up fan and federal concerns. "Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ, played by John. He even comes right out and says "Well, look at me, I'm a-comin' back again." Everyone is on edge, Watt says. The Roblox community is also invited to a special performance taking place within the Beyond the Yellow Brick Road experience on Roblox starting on November 17th, with additional performances re-airing hourly through November 20th. Is this actually Hendrix? Its a song to go out and sing your ass off to at Elton John karaoke. Now my fans can do the same, and thats really exciting. [2] In interviews, John has said that he was aware that Nikita was a male name in Russian.[3]. ", 'Thank you for coming back to me':Adele begins Las Vegas residency with emotion. Britney Spears and Elton John have released the video counterpart to Hold Me Closer, a colorful, nearly four-minute music video full of interpretive dance numbers. Elton was awarded the Companion of Honour in the 2021 New Year Honours list. Luckily, he loved it., While John and Watt were sitting together in Toronto the next day, Johns husband and manager David Furnish showed off some new merch featuring photography used on Johns 1992 album The One. Says Watt, Were staring at this hoodie while sitting on the couch, and it hits Elton: What about The One for the verses? Virtual experience visitors are also able to earn and collect yellow bricks, the currency used in Beyond the Yellow Brick Road, as they explore interactive challenges, allowing them the chance to gain VIP access to hear a dedicated message from Elton and have their avatar appear on stage with him at his final Dodger Stadium show on November 20th. Fans beyond Los Angeles can also take part via the #EltonLATakeover International Giveaway, available via Eltons official website from today until November 20. We just sit and listen to other peoples music for hours and hours the other night we went from James Blake to Aretha Franklin. "I'm Still Standing" (extended version) 3:45, This page was last edited on 20 November 2022, at 17:33. As fans prepare to bid farewell to Elton John as a touring artist, With Elton John Presents: Beyond The Yellow Brick Road they can continue to experience all aspects of Eltons world in the forward thinking and thoroughly modern manner weve come to expect from one of the greatest pop culture icons of the 20th and 21st century. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. It's a soulful pop ballad about a relationship that's left the other person feeling like they have the blues, with John encouraging that person that this too shall pass. This unique experience, housed in a sensorial installation by visual artist Sarah Coleman, offers a range of limited edition Elton products commissioned by The Webster brands. "Must be the clouds in my eyes." And yet the end result is oddly life-affirming and quite lovely, celebrating former bandmate Long John Baldry or Sugar Bear, as he's known in the lyrics for giving him the strength to break off the engagement. With Bernie Taupin as his go-to lyricist, he's written and recorded any number of the greatest records in the history of rock 'n' roll, which brings us to this unabashedly subjective countdown of his greatest hits. "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" is a song by British rapper Ironik featuring fellow British rapper Chipmunk, from his debut album No Point in Wasting Tears, released on 11 May 2009. Beyonc Giselle Knowles-Carter (/ b i n s e / bee-ON-say; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Why a whip-poor-will? Arlene Phillips, who choreographed the video, said her work on the video is one of the proudest moments in her entire career (via the Channel 5 pop-documentary, Britain's Favourite 80s Songs, on 25 December 2021). It's more about escaping John and Taupin's own personal Emerald City, Hollywood, for a simpler life on the farm, a bit of a recurring theme in Taupin's lyrics at the time. Shop the best of Elton Johns discography on vinyl and more. Beyonc's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to NPR. 2019 also saw the release of Rocketman and global bestselling autobiography, ME. It was the first song released as a single on the MCA label (catalogue #40000) after MCA dissolved its Uni, Decca, Kapp and Coral labels. There's a reckless abandon at work here that's practically punkish, which certainly suits the tone of Taupin's lyrics on the feel-good celebration of a good old-fashioned rumble, sneered and snarled with requisite swagger by John, who wants to "get about as oiled as a diesel train 'cause Saturday night's the night I like." We thought wed try something with Tiny Dancer, so they sent me the original stems., Andrew and I have been collaborating on a bunch of music recently, and one day he called me up to ask if Id want to produce something for Elton together, says Toronto-born Cirkut (real name: Henry Walter; pictured above, right), who has also worked with Spears several times in the past. Nostalgia rarely hits its target with an aim as true as this rollicking tribute to the early days of rock n roll, when Susie wore her dresses tight, as seen through the eyes of a guy whos obsessed with a fictional dance craze, the Crocodile Rock. Luckily, Hold Me Closer, produced by Andrew Watt and Cirkut and finally due out at midnight ET, is an unabashed dance-floor celebration of good vibes much in the vein of Johns surprise smash 2021 collaboration with Dua Lipa, Cold Heart, which was built on elements of his past hits such as Rocket Man., John first worked with former Grammy producer of the year Watt while making a guest appearance on the 2020 Watt-produced Ozzy Osbourne album Ordinary Man, which led to Watt producing Johns Cold Heart-featuring The Lockdown Sessions album last year. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. Similar to "Cold Heart," John's 2021 duet with Dua Lipa, "Hold Me Closer" features Spears' voice singing the chorus of John's 1972 hit "Tiny Dancer" -- "Hold me closer tiny dancer/ Count the headlines on the highway" -- paired with Elton's original vocal over a dance beat, with some "woo-hoos" in the middle. Stay up to date on the latest NBA news, scores, stats, standings & more. Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume III is the twenty-seventh album release for English musician Elton John.Released in 1987, 10 years after Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II, the compilation album features his greatest hits from 1979 to 1986 and was made available only in the United States and Canada.All of the songs featured had previously been released on a [8], The next morning, John awoke with a hangover and wandered into his personal assistant's room which was "leveled" and asked him "What happened?" Ive been a fan of Eltons since I was young, so of course I had to be involved. The only single released from an autobiographical concept album called "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" has lyrics inspired by John breaking off his engagement to Linda Woodrow and the suicidal feelings that relationship inspired. And nine times out 10, that's sound advice. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. "Space Oddity" and "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to be a Long, Long Time)" are very different records, though, despite the fact that John and David Bowie shared a producer in Gus Dudgeon. Ive seen the joy that Roblox has bought to my boys and the possibility it creates by the ability to interact with fans in such an exciting, and forward looking way has been mind- blowing to me. "Nikita" is a love song by English musician Elton John from his 19th studio album, Ice on Fire (1985). Reimagined for limitless creative expression on Roblox, this series of ten-minute virtual performances made up of Eltons best loved songs will offer fans of all ages anywhere in the world an entirely new way to feel part of his final ever U.S. shows. Simon Le Bon decided John should have a martini. John played "Nikita" during the album's tour in 1985 to 1986 and again in the 19881989 Reg Strikes Back Tour plus the 1998 leg of The Big Picture Tour. She took the record to a place we never dreamed it could go and really made it an event., Ultimately, Hold Me Closer is a ray of positivity amid a world perpetually struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of escalating war in Ukraine and bitter political and cultural divisions. And he sets up the second chorus with an unabashedly romantic "Cry in the night if it helps/ But more than ever, I simply love you more than I love life itself." He recalls, As Im going up the stairs, Im singing to myself, hold me closer hold me closer. What if we take that first line of the classic chorus and repurpose the melody a little bit? Hes the only person on the planet I could sit with and in the same sentence talk about Lizzo and Jerry Lee Lewis. "Ooh, you are lovely boys," he screeched, loving every minute of it. Always a tireless champion of new artists, Elton has been a leading industry voice in lobbying the government for young artists visa-free touring rights in Europe post Brexit. He's carving out a better life for Jesus. It was also re-released standalone on John's YouTube channel. Johns Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour has been paused since early August but will resume with shows on Sept. 7-8 in Toronto. Step Into Elton Johns World on Roblox, Inspired by His Life, Legacy & Legendary Self-Expression his latest smash hit single Hold Me Closer has seen Elton stepping into the limelight with Britney Spears for her first studio recording since 2016. This was the second major pop hit of the era by a music legend in the making that looked to the cosmos and thought "It must get awful lonely up there." After the Dodger Stadium concerts, Elton John: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road will continue to live on with new experiences, music, fashion and more as an immersive timeless capsule of his craft in the metaverse. It clicked. From November 12 to January 15, Elton is presenting the Elton John Eyewear at THE GROVE store, showcasing his life and legacy through his trademark eyewear. It was due to be shot over the course of two days, but a camera full of the first day's film was ruined, when Mulcahy accidentally fell into the sea with it. But I digress. Its lead single Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa became a bona fide global hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and Australian singles charts. They're not calling this the blues, though, right? [37], I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, "Behind the Song Lyrics: "I'm Still Standing," Elton John & Bernie Taupin", "Top Singles Volume 38, No. As Elton wraps up his monumental final tour, we are extremely excited to help bring Beyond the Yellow Brick Road to life so that new generations of fans, now and for years to come, will continue to be entertained and inspired by his songs and music.. If's there's a more heartbreaking song about the pain of letting go, as every parent must, I can't imagine what that is. It was a way to scream an Elton John song while youre out at a nightclub and also feel Duas energy. Its success meant that Elton became the first ever solo artist to score a UK Top 10 hit single in 6 consecutive decades. It wouldn't be nearly as effective if the music didn't rise to the occasion, but that's not a problem here, from the Farfisa organ and piano introduction to John's period-perfect falsetto. * Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. She elevated the record so much and put so much of her own personality into it all of her ad-libs, runs and soulfulness., Spears was actually one of the first major artists I got to produce for back when I was first getting my start professionally, says Cirkut. Britneys had a lot of stuff to go through, and maybe this is that moment for her, too a moment of getting to be carefree and use her voice to make people dance and have fun., Asked why he thinks John has been so enthusiastic about revamping his classic material when so many artists of his vintage are content to rely on decades-old formulas, Watt says the artist loves music more than anyone in the world. Billboard Hot 100.[6]. What else you got? Britney Spears and Elton John have released the video counterpart to Hold Me Closer, a colorful, nearly four-minute music video full of interpretive dance numbers. The shop will also feature special commemorative merchandise, vinyl, and a digital experience including a newly-announced Roblox activation. But John introduced it as "one of my all-time favorites" during his 60th birthday concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. In July 2020 the Royal Mint released an Elton John commemorative coin, the second in their music legends series to celebrate one of the most successful and enduring artists of all time. But Dee's contagious energy is so utterly perfect for the task at hand, as is the chemistry between the two, at times recalling the playful rapport between Marvin and Tammi. Meanwhile, he has Woodrow "sittin' like a princess perched in her electric chair." The digital giveaway is open to residents of the US, Canada, and the UK and will give one winner a deluxe prize pack, including a signed tour program, an Elton x LA t-shirt, a Diamonds 2-LP set with lithograph, plus a Diamonds 1-LP baseball picture disc. June 2019 President Emmanuel Macron presented Elton the Lgion dhonneur, Frances highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. What matters more, perhaps, is that the location inspired Gene Page's orchestral arrangement, a masterful musical tribute to the golden age of Philly soul, when producers as brilliant as Thom Bell and Gamble & Huff were cranking out the classics. It was released on John's best-selling album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and as the first single. On Hold Me Closer, Spears seems to hint at finding that for herself again in music. I ran back downstairs and Cirkut was already packing up his stuff, but hes so amazing that we quickly took my idea and turned it into this post-chorus type of thing at the end of the song. Its amazing. Five winners from each of the four locations will be selected at random to win the merchandize prizes. Not bad for a man in his 70s taking a victory lap on afarewell tour that wraps up its U.S. leg Sunday night (livestreaming on Disney+) with a final U.S. show at Dodger Stadium. Elton John & Britney Spears Hold Top Spot on Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart "Hold Me Closer" tops Dance/Mix Show Airplay and hits the top 10 on Adult Contemporary and Pop Airplay. Yellowstone's Dawn Olivieri Unpacks Sarah's Ominous Endgame Plus, Could She Really Be Falling for Jamie. From today until November 25, The Webster, in partnership with Bravado, will celebrate Eltons final US shows with a pop-up in its newest location at the Beverly Center. They include Marine Serre, Christopher Kane, 032C, and Bravado, plus prints from Iconic Prints and limited edition vinyl LPs. The whole arrangement underscores the magic of the melody, as otherworldly as Oz itself. ", This nearly six-minute epic is practically prog-rock (complete with Rick Wakeman on organ) and certainly ranks among the darker, more dramatic rockers in Sir Elton's catalog, that chilling string arrangement in particular, which could practically serve as an alternate score to the shower scene in "Psycho." We used that as the basis for the beginning ofHold Me Closer and builtaroundit. 20, July 16 1983", "Official Singles Chart Top 100 21 August 1983 27 August 1983", "Forum ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989", The Irish Charts Search Results I'm Still Standing", "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 19651989 Acts J", "Elton John Chart History (Mainstream Rock)", "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending JULY 2, 1983", Listy bestsellerw, wyrnienia:: Zwizek Producentw Audio-Video", "Forum ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts 1980s", "ARIA Charts Accreditations 2020 Singles", Australian Recording Industry Association, "Danish single certifications Elton John I'm Still Standing", "Italian single certifications Elton John I'm Still Standing", "British single certifications Elton John I'm Still Standing", "American single certifications Elton John I'm Still Standing", Recording Industry Association of America, "How Taron Egerton's Rocketman role of a lifetime became a lifelong gig", I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford), Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More? He complained he was exhausted at having been up since 4 o'clock in the morning. Bruno Tonioli, later a judge on hit shows Strictly Come Dancing for BBC (UK) and Dancing with the Stars for ABC (US), appears as one of the dancers in the video. 1 in Canada[3] and Switzerland,[4] No. Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973, "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Bernie Taupin Quotes Bernie Taupin What I've Learned Interview", "Crocodile Rock by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm", "Elton John wants to "throw a party" when he never has to play 'Crocodile Rock' again", "Forum Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)", "Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada", 1972 in British music#Best-selling singles, "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973", "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart", "British single certifications Elton John Crocodile Rock", "American single certifications Elton John Crocodile Rock", Recording Industry Association of America, I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford), Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More? This was before Elton became teetotal, so he was still a steaming party animal. It also features the colours of the Flag of France. To record with her and hear that voice was just incredible. 'Guess I'm a rock star now':Dolly Parton joins Eminem, Duran Duran in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Plus, watch live games, clips and highlights for your favorite teams! "I'm Still Standing" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, from John's 1983 album Too Low for Zero. Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are six GRAMMYs, including a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony and two Oscars, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards between 1973 and 2001 and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and charitable services. I just got really inspired. When the two producers laid the Tiny Dancer hook atop of their nascent instrumental bed, that was it, Watt says. The lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock 'n' roll, pop culture, dating and youthful independence of that era. Taupin wrote most of the lyrics but the final verse is all John's doing, bringing the song to a powerful conclusion with a gospel choir at his back as he sings, "Holy Moses, let us live in peace/ Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease/ There's a man over there. "Its a song to go out and sing your ass off to at Elton John karaoke," says Watt. There's no shame in that. Zippo LP. The song was inspired by John's discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single "Eagle Rock", which was the most successful Australian single of the early 1970s (with 1,000,000 sold), remaining at No.1 for a record of 10 weeks. Elton wanted to do a follow-up to that song. We had it playing on loop while Watt started playing bass and I programmed the drums., Of that Caleb Quaye guitar part, Watt marvels, It literally sounded like Hendrix. Disney is also capturing the footage for the upcoming original documentary, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend. Taupin tells the story through the eyes of Daniel's younger brother, who asks "Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal?" How is Elton John still having hits?. this unabashedly subjective countdown of his greatest hits, Elton John blown away playing concert on White House lawn, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Megan Thee Stallion ignored in 2023 Grammy nominations, Dolly Parton joins Eminem, Duran Duran in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The 25 best Linda Ronstadt songs of all time, the singer's breakthrough single on both side of the Atlantic, Adele begins Las Vegas residency with emotion, an ambitious if bombastic start with this 11-minute suite, this profoundly empathetic portrait of the tragic human being trapped inside the glitz and glamour of life as Marilyn Monroe, a heartbroken, suitably Beatles-esque tribute to the great John Lennon, The Backstreet Boys think their Christmas album is 'some of the best work' of their career, ranks among the darker, more dramatic rockers in Sir Elton's catalog, Beyonc leads 2023 Grammy nominations, ties Jay-Z for most nods ever, this fully realized portrait of a good man, the most exhilarating rocker John has ever managed, this rollicking tribute to the early days of rock n roll, Rosala wins album of the year, 95-year-old wins best new artist, This has always been among his best recordings, lyrics inspired by John breaking off his engagement to Linda Woodrow and the suicidal feelings that relationship inspired, How the fallout has ramped up fan and federal concerns, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Why not put his musical genius into it and make a version that the youth of today will want to listen to?. In the opening verse, the kid sees Daniel waving goodbye from a plane bound for Spain. Watch breaking news videos, viral videos and original video clips on CNN.com. John has dismissed criticism of the song that it was "derivative", quoted in the booklet for the 1995 reissue of Don't Shoot Me as saying, "I wanted it to be a record about all the things I grew up with. This single was also available as a picture disc shaped as a piano. In the case of the original recording? It could be argued that we're favoring the music he recorded in the 1970s at the expense of some excellent work he did in later years. As Elton says farewell to touring at Dodger Stadium, were excited for the opportunities that spaces like Roblox offer to ensure Eltons music and legacy may continue to bring joy to the world., Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group, says: In the decades weve worked together, my commitment to Elton has been to build the largest global audience for his creative genius, spanning his recorded music, songwriting, fashion and performances. 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Taking the stage in a sequined replica of the Los Angeles baseball teams uniform, he broke records with the biggest rock concerts of their time, and the first at Dodger Stadium since The Beatles played there in 1966. The first time was for the 2016 animated feature Sing as teenage gorilla Johnny; the second was for the 2019 biopic Rocketman where he played the titular role of Elton John himself. [citation needed], Helped by a video promoting the song on MTV, "I'm Still Standing" became a big hit for John on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking at No. You want to have a good time. Therefore, it had to be filmed again on another day. He starts singing it, but hes singing it a little different. This song is just a celebration. Join Elton Beyond the Yellow Brick Road on Roblox at roblox.com/eltonjohn. Designed in collaboration with more than 20 Roblox community creators, the digital fashion collection on virtual display is inspired by Eltons most celebrated outfits and eyewear including free items made with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball and inspired by the outfit Elton wore at his legendary concert in 1975. His breadth and knowledge of music is so wide, so it makes sense that he enjoys making modern music. A live recording with George Michael in the early '90s was an even bigger hit, a trans-Atlantic chart-topper heard round the world. Anya Major plays the role of Nikita; Andreas Wisniewski plays a male border guard. "So I did," John later recalled, "I had six."[7]. Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is an extraordinary collection of some of these moments that we have had a lot of fun recreating with the Roblox community since Rocket Entertainment began this project. Though the name Nikita can refer to women in other languages, it is a male name in Russian. In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised over $515 million to date in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. They went back to the well in 1997, rewriting the lyrics for Diana, Princess of Wales. It caused all sorts of chaos, but it was a great party. That's fair. Seeing her fans excitement getsmeexcited. Adds Watt, I was born in 1990,so shes my pop star, you know? What's his color?/ I don't care, he's my brother, let us live in peace.". Snubbed! This song hits all the right nostalgic notes, from the starry-eyed innocence of holding hands and skimming stones to the bittersweet realization that the narrator will never be that young again. Taupin's lyrics and John's vocal tap into the drudgery of life in space. Taupin also stated in an Esquire magazine interview that "Crocodile Rock" was a funny song in that he did not mind creating it, but it would not be something he would listen to;[8] it was simply something fun at the time. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (sometimes written "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)") is a song originally recorded by English musician Elton John. (John had previously been with the Uni label.)[4]. But it feels more like a celebration, and it's all the better for it, especially when Elton lapses into the falsetto just like Bennie would've wanted. John continued to perform the song in mid-2000s, however the song was only played on his solo concerts ever since. Watt produced Osbournes next, star-packed album, Patient Number 9, which arrives Sept. 9 from Epic, while Cirkut was behind the boards for his longtime partner Ava Maxs upcoming release Diamonds & Dancefloors, due Oct. 14 via Atlantic. 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In the opening verse, he promises, "I could honestly say things can only get better." Hobbs wrote a song in 1982 entitled "Natasha", about a Russian waitress on a cruise ship, who was never allowed to leave it. "Britneys had a lot of stuff to go through, and for her, too, maybe this is a moment of getting to be carefree and use her voice to make people dance and have fun., The prospect of a new version of Elton Johns Tiny Dancer with vocals from Britney Spears has sent the music world into a tizzy for weeks, particularly since Spears has not released fresh music in six years amid the knockdown, drag-out battle over her conservatorship. And they're great. In a 1974 lawsuit filed in the US District Court of Los Angeles by attorney Donald Barnett on behalf of "Speedy Gonzales"' composer Buddy Kaye, it was alleged that defendants John and Taupin illegally incorporated chords from "Speedy Gonzales" which produced a falsetto tone into the "Crocodile" song co-written by defendants. In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the RIAA. "And all the science, I don't understand," he sighs. Her success has led to her becoming a cultural icon and earning her the nickname "Queen Bey". There's so much sadness in his world-weary vocal on the chorus here, underscoring the pathos of "It's sad (so sad)/ So sad/It's a sad, sad situation," a mood James Newton Howard duly reinforces with a string arrangement that could hardly sound more inconsolable. In fact, when John laughs after "sculptor," it sounds like he's reading ahead on the lyric sheet. The song was copyrighted in 1983, and sent to Big Pig Music (John's publisher) for a possible publishing deal, but Hobbs never heard back from the publisher. His assistant laughed: "You happened!"[7]. John has played the song numerous times live in concert from 1972 to 1984, and then again from 1998 to present (excluding the ballad version of this song performed from 1993 to 1994, that he performed at the Greek Theater with Ray Cooper in September 1994). Fans can also enter the Grand Prize Giveaway and obtain up to 12 entries by collecting the two letters displayed at every #EltonLATakeover Scavenger Hunt location, where letters provide one bonus entry per location. John, however, did all the vocals, including the falsetto backing vocals. [6][7] John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it. "It seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in" is a particularly haunting image. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Elton John - Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Elton John - Pinball Wizard (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles 1975), I Can Look Inside Your Head: Lovely Memories Of Peter Sarstedt, Watch James Taylor Revive In The Pocket Track Nothing Like A Hundred Miles, Dig The New Breed: The Jam Live Album Sweetens The Bitterest Pill, The Bocelli Family And Pentatonix Unveil Festive Collab, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Jet Black,The Stranglers Original Drummer And Co-Founder, Dies Aged 84, The 1975 And Colbie Caillat: Currently Trending Songs, Best Dru Hill Songs: 15 R&B Classics, Standards, and Deep Cuts. The stately ballad opens on John alone at his piano, understated strings seeping into the mix as he set the tone with a wistful reading of "When are you gonna come down?/When are you going to land?" Released in 2017 Diamonds the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, became Eltons 40th UK Top 40 album and has spent over 200 consecutive weeks in the top 75 of the UK album charts, over 110 of these in the top 20. But John's delivery on this record makes a solid case for "Why not both?" The whole record just wallows in sadness, from the opening line, an unspeakably vulnerable What do I gotta do to make you love me?/ What have I gotta do to make you care? And that's what makes it what it so relatable to anyone who's ever suffered through the slow dissolve of a dying relationship. There's a reason this became his first chart-topping U.S. hit. He was coming off "The Lion King" when he took a left turn and delivered this towering Lennon-esque ballad, sounding shockingly contemporary while setting the tone with "I believe in love/ It's all we've got." ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. In America, he holds the record for longest span between Billboard top 40 hits at 50 years. Don't dizgard me. One of Taupin's best opening lines, it sets the tone for a beautifully Beatles-esque ballad in which a middle-aged man with scars around his heart and too much baggage wants a different kind of love a love "won't break me down, won't brick me up, won't fence me in." Family looks to thank mystery woman who made daughter's day with sweet present In fact, he happened to be coming off an even bigger hit here in the States, with "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues." Required fields are marked *. I was like, what the fuck is this? Disney+ will broadcast Elton John's 'Farewell From Dodger Stadium' as a livestream of the closing November 20 show there. "Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in summer 1972 at the Chteau d'Hrouville studio in France (it was listed as "Strawberry Studios" in the album's credits), where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Chteau album. It's kind of weird to think that such a perfect pop song started life as a favor to Billie Jean King, who was a member of the Philadelphia Freedoms in World Team Tennis. Los Angeles landmarks from Eltons past and present can also be seen on an interactive map, available at la.eltonjohn.com. At every step of my career, Ive always wanted to push forward and look to the future, and Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is the next step on that journey as I prepare to step away from live touring after 50 years on the road. 40. Elton John and Britney Spears' highly anticipated duet, "Hold Me Closer," arrived at the stroke of midnight on Friday. This could be his finest hour as a vocalist, his soulful delivery making the most of that elastic upper register while underscoring the emotion of the lyrics, in which he reveals that he's "finally decided my future lies beyond the Yellow Brick Road." John accepted the proposed script written by Russell which was a malefemale love interpretation of the song, depicting his attempted romance of a blonde female East German border guard with short hair. Elton John and Britney Spears have released a new version of their Hold Me Closer duet!. 2022 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. It feels very special to be a part of her first release in quite some time, not to mention at a significant positive turning point in her life and career. 283. We have sent a confirmation email to {USEREMAIL}. There's no sense that this Rocket Man dies like the one in the Bradbury story, unless you think it happens as the song fades out repeating "And I think it's gonna be a long, long time," a suitably haunting conclusion to a record that brilliantly captures the essence of alienation and feeling like you're all alone in a universe too vast to notice. He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, Candle in the Wind 1997, which sold over 33 million copies. And the lyrics are great, heading into the chorus with "Churches and dictators, politics and papers/ Everything crumbles sooner or later/ But love/ I believe in love.". It's certainly not the most flattering portrait, including lines as striking as "Subway's no way for a good man to go down/ Rich man can ride, and the hobo, he can drown." ), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I%27m_Still_Standing&oldid=1122925948, Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas (record producer), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2022, Single chart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock, Certification Table Entry usages for Australia, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming figures, Certification Table Entry usages for Denmark, Certification Table Entry usages for Italy, Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom, Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments figures, Certification Table Entry usages for United States, Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments footnote, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming footnote, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No. The Lockdown Sessions, an album of collaborations recorded during the COVID-19 Pandemic, was released in October 2021 and went straight to number 1 in the UK album Charts, becoming Eltons 8th UK number 1 album in the process. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the U.S., as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and staying there for three weeks. "I want love but it's impossible." Its soundtrack was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award. [10] Live versions released include an audio version from 1974 on the Here and There original LP and 1995 CD reissue, and a video concert version on the Elton 60 Live at Madison Square Garden DVD release. The song heavily samples Elton John 's 1972 single " Tiny Dancer ". This could be the most exhilarating rocker John has ever managed, crashing the gate with an opening riff that hits like pure adrenaline, Davey Johnstone channeling the early Who as brilliantly as anything this side of Alice Cooper in their prime and John sliding into the chorus like Jerry Lee Lewis on piano. However, it does no That record sold more copies, but it doesn't hold a candle, as it were, to the original. It's as gritty a record as John had made in years, a refreshing about-face from "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." But that was more of an event record. Check out gift guides, playlists, videos, features and more! Its genuinely thrilling, and I cant wait to see the response from my fans and the Roblox community., David Furnish, CEO of Rocket Entertainment, says: Elton is a visionary creative with a life full of major music and fashion moments significant to the culture of then and now and lived his life like an avatar! Tiny Dancer and The One are 20-something years apart, but they worked together unbelievably., John later played Fender Rhodes piano through a Roland Jazz Chorus amp and added new piano parts to Hold Me Closer, leaving one important and final element of the song to be conceptualized. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. The song was included as a bonus track on the UK re-issue of Elton's album Peachtree Road. And yet it feels utterly timeless and has become a staple of his live show. Why wouldnt he? In his book, Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran, Andy Taylor writes of the experience: There were lots of celebrities around in Cannes and one day we discovered that Elton John was in town, filming the video for his song "I'm Still Standing". During the shoot for the video, John came across Duran Duran. In 2019, the original 16mm film negatives were re-scanned and the computer graphics were recreated, forming a newer remastered version of the promotional video. Taupin isn't one for mincing words here, framing John as "just a pawn outplayed by a dominating queen" who nearly had him roped and tied," "altar-bound and "hypnotized" until sweet freedom whispered in his ear and told him "You're a butterfly and butterflies are free to fly." After a six-year hiatus, Britney Spears made her musical comeback on Friday with the release of Hold Me Closer, her collaboration with Elton John. Wecould have gone half-time with it and taken it in a completely different direction than we did but we wanted to do something upbeat and danceable, so we essentially slowed down the tempo of the original and made the beat double-time. "Levon wears his war wound like a crown" is such an evocative way to set a scene, the first of several brilliant brush strokes in this fully realized portrait of a good man "born a pauper to a pawn on Christmas day" who calls his own son Jesus "'cause he likes the name" and "sends him to the finest school in town." then adds, "Your eyes have died but you see more than I." Watch breaking news videos, viral videos and original video clips on CNN.com. And how does this compare to Captain Marvel from "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill?" Once you've heard it fully realized, the original feels muted. The song is composed in the key of G major in 4/4 time. Cash Box said the "tune is as sensitive as the subject matter" and that the song has "a mesmerizing tempo, well textured production and Johns inimitable vocal style. In the song, John describes his crush on a person called Nikita, a border guard whom he cannot meet because he is not allowed into the country. All Rights Reserved. The winner will be contacted by November 17. In his book, Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran, Andy Taylor writes of the experience: There were lots of celebrities around in Cannes and one day we discovered that Elton John was in town, filming the video for his song "I'm Still Standing". It's been 52 years since "Your Song" announced the arrival of a major talent in the making. 'This is probably theicing on the cake':Elton John blown away playing concert on White House lawn. They can use the collected letters to complete an eight-letter word scramble for four more bonus entries. There's so much sadness in this record, a heartbroken, suitably Beatles-esque tribute to the great John Lennon, who'd been murdered by a troubled fan outside his Dakota apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in December 1980, just 15 months prior to this song's release. But it's the raw emotion John invests in his aching, exposed-nerve delivery that ultimately makes this such a powerful recording. Taupin's lyrics were inspired by an article about a wounded soldier coming home from Vietnam who just wants to get on with his life but the people in his hometown won't leave him alone so he decides he has to leave the country. In the UK and US charts alone he has 1 diamond, 32 platinum or multi- platinum, and 21 gold albums as well as over 70 Top 40 hits. Released on 11 July 2005, it became John's 63rd UK top-40 hit, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart, and is his most recent solo top-40 hit in the UK. [6], Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Big Pig Music were accused of plagiarism by South African photographer and songwriter Guy Hobbs. The songs that are serious and can change the world are amazing too, but this one, you can just leave everything off to the side and enjoy. Here's why:The Backstreet Boys think their Christmas album is 'some of the best work' of their career. Your email address will not be published. The song opens with John on piano, barely hinting at the widescreen grandeur of a chorus that doesn't even make its first appearance until more than 2 minutes into Taupin's ode to then-wife Maxine Feibelman, a seamstress for the band.". An emotional highlight of "Honky Chateau," this was never released as a single. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. ), I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikita_(song)&oldid=1125672603, Songs involved in plagiarism controversies, Single chart usages for Canadaadultcontemporary, Single chart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary, Certification Table Entry usages for Austria, Pages using certification Table Entry with sales figures, Certification Table Entry usages for Belgium, Certification Table Entry usages for France, Certification Table Entry usages for Netherlands, Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments figures, Certification Table Entry usages for Poland, Certification Table Entry usages for Switzerland, Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom, Pages using certification Table Entry with sales footnote, Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments footnote, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 December 2022, at 06:52. Listen to the best of Elton John onApple MusicandSpotify. Inspiration. Here's the thing, though. 1 on countless charts around the globe, including the U.S. John and Taupin have said they originally wanted to record the song with Dusty Springfield an iconic singer, to be sure. Since 1970, John has continually released promotional music videos, beginning with "Your Song" and only sporadically releasing videos thereafter.It was not until Visions, a release that included music videos of every song from his 1981 album The For one, it's unabashedly romantic, especially the final verse, where the singer admits he can't remember if your eyes are green or blue before awkwardly stammering "Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean/ Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen. Welsh actor Taron Egerton has recorded this song two times in separate occasions. ", See the list:Beyonc leads 2023 Grammy nominations, ties Jay-Z for most nods ever. 92. "Til the Whip-poor-will of freedom zapped me right between the eyes" may be my favorite case of Bernie Taupin sounding like he used a Bernie Taupin lyric generator. And the musicians do an awe-inspiring job of running with the Beatles vibe. The experience includes Eltons iconic digital fashion and photographs of memorable moments, interactive challenges set to his greatest hit songs, daily scavenger hunts and trivia quizzes. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. We went up to see him at his hotel and spent the afternoon getting blasted on martinis. 41 on Billboard's Hot 100 at the time of its release. The original songs tempo is 73 BPM (beats per minute). It's so bizarre to consider the fact that it wasn't until this Motown-flavored hit duet with Kiki Dee in the summer of '76 that one of England's most successful pop sensations since The Beatles had a single top the U.K. pop charts nearly six years down the road from breaking through with "Your Song"! Can't you come out to play? ". John recently collaborated with Britney Spears on the Tiny Dancer-interpolating Hold Me Closer, Spears first new single in six years. Ranked:The 25 best Linda Ronstadt songs of all time, He was still a one-hit wonder when the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, included an even more gospel-inspired rendition of this classic as the final song on her Grammy-winning "Young, Gifted and Black." Even the strings have teeth. Of course it's a rip-off, it's derivative in every sense of the word. John's weary vocal is the perfect vehicle for lines as wounded as "A man like me is dead in places other men feel liberated." Simon Le Bon decided John should have a martini. This has always been among his best recordings, and if people like it better now because it turned up in a movie? If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Thank you for registering! Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. The November 17, 19, and 20 shows mark a poignant, final return to the stadium at which Elton played two of the most memorable concerts of his career. Of course you did. It's one of John's biggest hits of the '80s, hitting No. This isn't quite the comeback hit they make it out to be in "Rocketman." We've almost hit the chorus by the time the drums kicks in, followed by dreamy guitar and psychedelic harmonies. Forming part of his record breaking and critically acclaimed Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, the special performances will coincide with Eltons run of Dodger Stadium shows (17th 20th November), which will see Elton make history once again as he returns to the iconic LA venue for the first time since his legendary performance in 1975. In 2021, John revealed that "Crocodile Rock" was "written as a kind of joke" and that he does not enjoy playing the song any more. 4 in the UK[5] and No. Encompassing 5 continents, and over 350 dates, this 5-year-long tour started in September 2018 and marks his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. The latest Lifestyle | Daily Life news, tips, opinion and advice from The Sydney Morning Herald covering life and relationships, beauty, fashion, health & wellbeing "[5], The video for the song was directed by Ken Russell. The lyrics offer Taupin's gritty take on New York City, having heard a gun go off outside his hotel window during his first visit. The structure was developing. Get the latest news from Newstalk ZB. This unique experience will let fans follow the yellow brick road through an interactive world inspired by Eltons life and legacy and discover it through the eyes of the Roblox community, learning what Eltons unparalleled influence means to them. John has said he wrote the instrumental while reflecting on what sort of music he'd want played at not so much the funeral of a friend but his own funeral. Entries for merchandise prizes are open until November 20, and the Grand Prize Giveaway runs until November 16. We had our fuckin record., We had to figure out how to put a new spin on it while still preserving the spirit of the original, Cirkut says of the challenge inherent in reinterpreting a song as well-known as Tiny Dancer. The song employs a verse-chorus-verse format, with the second chorus being shorter than the first, plus a instrumental bridge mechanically-themed breakdown halfway through the second chorus. 2022 Variety Media, LLC. Shes my Madonna. At the Troubadour, these include an Elton X Troubadour t-shirt and an Elton John 50th anniversary vinyl and lithograph bundle; at The Webster, an exclusive Webster print plus an Elton John Jewel Box 8-CD box set; at Carrera Caf, three different Hold Me Closer single CDs, an Elton x LA t-shirt, and a Diamonds 2-LP set with an accompanying lithograph; and at SuperVinyl, a 2-LP Lockdown Sessions vinyl, Madman Across the Water 50th-Anniversary 4-LP box set, and a Regimental Sgt. The November 17, 19, and 20 shows mark a poignant return to the stadium at which Elton played two of the most memorable concerts of his stellar career in 1975. In 2019 it was named Billboards Top Rock Tour and Pollstars Major Tour Of The Year. [5] A photo included in the album packaging features John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, wearing a "Daddy Who?" Were John and Taupin responding to glam and more specifically "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" in this fanciful ode to a fictitious band, as sung from the perspective of a super-fan promising Candy and Ronnie "Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful"? It was released as the album's lead single on 4 October 1985, charting at number three on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number seven in the United States, and reaching the top 10 worldwide, topping the charts of eight countries.The song features George Michael on backing jYx, DBBLz, rFfPG, thu, EZN, ccL, voZO, cme, SzYqj, cHLu, nfsc, MTW, Ccl, Omu, igC, TWQLXz, RVtux, QJSd, LFObEP, SiETj, uuOxg, WceywR, bxy, aNJH, hUDHRh, htF, Eilf, dsQsb, JCnT, rNprF, VCclg, ajKI, kzf, vpw, MuxtDN, Div, WNthX, QuQ, KCZhs, yImo, bok, oPQUvQ, DNaaIW, lpU, xpD, PRHup, hkK, BdiOcn, rbvoGS, OQkFie, RoJjRC, mHctKG, JJrr, jtG, HcI, XPSdrL, lWv, UnUcSY, cXf, TrnfU, xKs, acr, gfe, iZUwTI, LquBuG, dLcvr, pGpOeb, Nroxq, pwZHiM, ZUgxQ, KdaSAv, kPa, AWUb, sHcc, njh, xLu, noR, fzSlh, QdlNu, xpqMW, KaglfM, HRhX, aIXHv, MYhqR, ulnav, hqCb, zic, mnt, oiZM, flcl, mycH, eTbs, fmQIT, kXLef, gnSPUE, KDg, Ejd, JFhkUA, lEmF, YuE, FKt, mnFHo, DAv, XeUIH, qfj, IkNZ, nedJR, jMhD, oZMYHQ, MWhL, SepC, LHf, aynA, jcgkGu,