Rocket Man. Captain Fantastic. Reginald Dwight. We know him best as the wonderous and masterful Sir Elton John whom I consider THE musical queen of camp and the ultimate bitch with a panache for hooks (I say bitch in the best and most respectable way because I think incredibly highly of Elton Hercules John).
Deciding which ten best Elton John songs to feature from his extensive catalog of more than 30 studio albums over the course of his career was daunting. There are so many diamonds in deciding which songs to feature however I think we’ve finally managed to come up with our favorite ten tracks.
It goes without saying, yet we still will, Tiny Dancer is a fan favorite that we wouldn’t dare pass up. The midtempo melody is wistful and gorgeous thanks to B.J. Cole’s pedal steel guitar and Paul Buckmaster’s stunning orchestral arrangement which provide a stunning ebb-and-flow throughout the six-minute and 12-second track.
Tiny Dancer is one of my all-time favorite songs. I listen to it when I’m sad, happy, or am road tripping to give me that unabashedly Almost Famous vibe (which is also one of my favorite films). I breathe this song in and it immediately perks me up from any mood.
Probably the most important song in Elton John’s iconic career. Your Song was the B-side to Take Me to the Pilot yet was promoted to the lead track after radio stations persisted in plugging the track. The song skyrocketed up the charts and all over the world in late 1970, which set off a domino effect of hit songs that lasted through the decade and beyond.
I consider this the Lose Yourself of the ’80s. It’s one of my favorite EJ tracks that I can’t help but sing along to thanks to the empowering words of resiliency and the brilliant writing partnership with Bernie Taupin.
It’s one of my nephew, Atticus’, favorite songs thanks to the brilliant Taron Egerton rendition in Sing. (As serendipity would have it, Egerton was also in Kingsman: The Golden Circle with a hysterical cameo by Elton John and is starring as the main man himself in the Rocketman film.)
This cosmic gem of a pop single is instantly recognizable as an Elton John classic. Taupin’s inspiration for the tune was Ray Bradbury’s 1951 short story, The Rocket Man, that tells the story of a lonely astronaut desperately missing his family while away on a long mission. Taupin perfectly nails the humanization and poignant feeling of loneliness and alienation.
Another instantly recognizable classic. Bennie and the Jets has everything that Elton John, Taupin, and Dudgeon do best. The track is about a faux glam-rock band that echoes of a live concert audience along with vocal loops that no one can resist. It’s a wonderfully camp, sprightly, and infectiously fun track that became a smash hit thanks to radio play. The song not only was No. 1 in America but it also became Elton John’s first crossover hit, landing him on the R&B chart for the first time in 1974 and an invitation to appear on Soul Train followed.
Melancholic ballads are EJ’s m.o. and this track is another jewel. Complete with a dazzling orchestral arrangement the song takes the iconic imagery of the Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz. It expresses a man’s yearning desire for a simpler comfort with lyrics like “back to the plough” after being planted “in your penthouse.”
Chronicling Elton John and Taupin’s struggles to find their place within the music industry, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, was inspired by dark suicidal feelings Elton John had in the late ’60s. Suffering from depression, and struggling with his sexuality, the track is an ode of survival and hope while giving a nod to a special “someone” who gave him refuge (metaphorically. If you’re wondering, that someone is musician friend Long John Baldry).
So many raw emotions are coursing through the seven-minute hit song and as someone who also struggles with depression, this song has been a comforting piece of art in some ominous moments in my life.
This Goodybye Yellow Brick Road kick-off is another instrumental gem… Except the one- actually, two songs- clocks in at over 11 minutes. EJ wrote this when he tried to imagine what he’d like to hear at his funeral. It segues nicely into the riff-heavy Love Lies Bleeding so the two songs were combined into one magnum opus. It’s one of his best songs live and it’s been played at countless concerts although though it was never a single, it hasn’t stopped this grand track from being featured on Elton John fans dream setlist.
A rather obscure and bluesy track that was personally picked by Play Into It founder, and my writing partner, Nicole (if you personally knew Nicole, you know that this song is very much her type ambiguous jam).
The snarling attitude EJ has in this rocking track is worth a listen if you’re not familiar with it, especially with lyrics like “gonna tell the world you’re a dirty little girl/Someone grab that bitch by the ears/Rub her down, scrub her back, turn her inside out.”
This rousing song kicks the door down with undeniable campy-ness, punk-like sneering swagger, and fiery lyrics. Equal parts sugar and spice thanks to the high-energy horns, clangorous guitars, and female backup vocals which feature England’s queen of soul (Dusty Springfield) on the studio version.
This track is a personal favorite of mine and even consider it a theme song of mine.
We will keep the Elton John theme this weekend thanks to the fantastical film Rocketman which we are seeing an early screening of May 18th. Keep your eyes out for a review Monday, May 20th.
