The lyricist for elton johns classic hit, rocket man, was struck by inspiration. Nov 05, 2019 rocketman director dexter fletcher explains why he cut elton johns first suicide attempt as he promises more taron egerton films. Each country had a different release featuring elton s top hits, along with bonus tracks and live renditions. Other possible influences for bernie taupins lyrics may include david bowies 1969 song space oddity. A space odyssey and introduced the character of major tom.
He was a lovely man, a good father, and a loving husband. Lynn from usa rocket man is about science destroying religion. This band wrote the lyrics following a story in the book the illustrated man by ray bradbury from 1951. Everything rocketman got wrong about elton johns life 22. And now his bumpy road to superstardom is being played out on the silver screen in the new movie rocketman. While it s nearly impossible to pick the most iconic tune, one that is certainly up there is his 1972 hit song rocket man, also the name of the highly anticipated biopic premiering may 31. The lyrics in the song, written by john s longtime collaborator bernie taupin, describe a marsbound astronaut s mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job. But according to an account in elizabeth rosenthals book his song. Sir elton john has been living in the public eye for nearly all his entire adult life. Rocket man was inspired by the ray bradbury story the rocket man from his 1951 collection of scifi short stories the illustrated man, as taupin and john explained in a 2016 interview. Elton john and bernie taupin on how rocketman captures an r. Tiny dancer what is the meaning behind the song by elton. Me by elton john serves as the real story of the rocket man book.
May 12, 2019 the next single that elton released was rocket man. The british release added one track and was titled rocket man. What is the meaning of the lyrics to rocket man by elton john. The scifi authors tale is told from the perspective of a child, whose astronaut father has mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job. He thought it was gonna be a long, long time before he ever saw his life on the big screen, but rocketman, a biopic focusing on the tumultuous 20 years of elton john s rise from obscure, shy. The song first appeared on elton johns 1972 album honky chateau and became a hit single, rising to no. Elton john rocketman lyrics meaning lyric interpretations. Having met the rocket man the first time in the 1980s, bego has drawn upon his personal observations and vast research, and has been able to interview dozens of elton s collaborators and lifelong friends to produce the the ultimate story on the amazing and largerthanlife elton john. In this exclusive article, elton john writes about his extraordinary life and why he. Rocket man by elton john song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart. The title and subject matter of space oddity were inspired by stanley kubricks 2001. About rocket man rocket man officially titled rocket man i think its going to be a long, long time is a song composed by elton john and bernie taupin and originally performed by elton john.
But it was actually inspired by a story by ray bradbury, from his book of. May 31, 2019 bernie taupin is onehalf one of the most iconic songwriting duos in rock history, responsible for the lyrics to hits like goodbye yellow brick road, bennie and the jets, and rocket man, and. May 31, 2019 taron egerton and richard madden portray john and reids steamy 70s romancethe first relationship elton john had with a man. May 29, 2019 the elton john biopic is dreamy, dramatic, and filled with hits from the man himself. Rocketman, a musical film about elton john that arrives in theaters on. I think david bowie hit, star man and elton johns rocket man, were big influence to roger and the dark side of the moon. Who influenced elton john and who was influenced by rocket man.
The musical journey of elton john, the song was inspired by. In that book, there was a story called the rocket man, which was. Two singles were released worldwide from honky chateau, rocket man and honky cat. Only another recovering drug addict knows what elton is singing about in the son rocket man. While in space, the lonely astronaut misses his wife back on earth so much he cant. Elton johns your song explained bernie taupin reveals. Rocket man as written by elton john and bernie taupin my interpretation rocket man is actually about comparing the life of an astronaut to that of an everyday shlub working stiff, whether he be a traveling salesman, a factory worker, a field engineer, an oil rig dude, a trucker, an accountant, a construction worker, a doctor, or whatever. Hard to believe, but theres never been a good singledisc overview of elton johns biggest hits available in america until 2007s 17track rocket man. Jul 08, 2018 bernie taupin, eltons lyricist, got the inspiration for the rocket man lyrics from the short story the rocket man, written by ray bradbury. Elton john reveals his most difficult scenes to watch in. Me by elton john serves as the real story of the rocket man. Bernie taupin is finally getting his closeup as elton johns longtime songwriting partner in the hit movie musical rocketman. It is about a mildmannered, maybe even ineffectual or dweebish, man who feels powerful when he is taking illicit drugs. According to wiki, elton started recording the album, including this song, jan.
Elton johns tiny dancer lyrics meaning song meanings and. Rocket man was elton s first ever number one and now its your chance to create the songs first official music video for one of elton s most iconic hits. This week, our artists drew your suggestions for famous elton john song lyrics illustrated with comic book characters. But otherwise id kept well away from rocketman, letting my husband david. Elton john rocket man i think its going to be a long. Sep 25, 2018 rocket man is a 1970s song by the renowned english singer elton john. Sep 19, 2017 president donald trump likes nicknames and elton john. More songs with lyrics that are often misheard more songs inspired by books. In that book, there was a story called the rocket man, which was about. Elton john has sold 150 million albums, been famous for five decades, and is embarking on his farewell yellow brick road tour. Rocket man i think its going to be a long, long time lyrics. But as with many biopics, the writers arent going to let the truth get in the way of a good story. Elton john from az bernardin, claude, stanton, tom on. Jan 01, 2018 rocket man officially titled rocket man i think it s going to be a long, long time is a song composed by elton john and bernie taupin and originally performed by john.
Contrary to popular belief, this song is not inspired by david bowies space oddity, but rather by rocket man by the band pearls before swine. Meaning of rocket man by elton john song meanings and facts. The lyrics of rocket man tell the story of an astronaut who is filled to the brim with mixed feelings about leaving his family and friends behind to embark on a mission to space. The opening lyrics appeared fully formed in his mind. Hence while rocket man may well be an allegory of the loneliness and otherworldliness of fame, it is bernie s experience rather than or at least as well as elton s that is being represented. However, a select group of people watching the oscars at elton john s viewing party were treated to a much more intimate, and honestly much better musical performance. The mars reference in the song is referring to arrius piso. That was his interpretation of the lyrics of someone saved my life. Ive never met the man, but as i have tried to teach myself to tickle the ivories, hes the nearest thing ive had to a piano teacher. Elton john, 72, is one of the executive producers of the dexter fletcherdirected rocketman, and signed off on the films content.
Is rocketman based on elton john true story real life song. A deep dive into his body of work, assisted by rocketman, me, top 40 democracy and tom doyles captain fantastic. The rocketman himself and actor taron egerton joined good morning america live from cannes, france, where the world premiere of the film is happening tonight at the film festival. I think that the first idea of the lyrics of the song, rocket man, came from the song, called star man, written and sung by david bowie in early 1972 as same as released rocket man sung by elton john early 1972. Elton johns stepmother, edna, has spoken publicly in phillip normans biography of elton, saying that stanleys been made out as an overbearing monster. Rocketman is the first bigscreen adaptation of the life and music of singersongwriter legend, sir elton john. He would have still been a star, even if rocket man had never come along. Jun 08, 2019 the writing of elton john s your song plays a key role in rocketman, but the scene isnt 100% historically accurate. Everything rocketman got wrong about elton johns life e. Meaning of rocket man by elton john song meanings and.
A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of elton johns breakthrough years. If it doesnt win best original song at the oscars, we riot at dawn. In 1973, taupin collected all his lyrics up through the goodbye yellow brick road album into a book, bernie taupin. The rocket man a tribute to sir elton john leas cliff. Dec 19, 2016 the hidden message behind one of the greatest hits in the world. Though he was only in his early twenties when he released rocket man on the album honky chateau, elton john had already released half a dozen albums and had had a couple of successful tours. An early scene in rocketman shows taupin giving lyrics to john and then. Gavin bondparamount pictures this is a fantasy movie, more than anything, declares jamie bell, who plays the brilliant bernie taupin, lyricist and longtime friend of elton john in johns biopic, rocketman. Rocket man is a 1970s song by the renowned english singer elton john. Contrary to popular belief, this song is not inspired by david bowies space oddity, but rather by rocket man by the band pearls before swine this band wrote the lyrics following a story in the book the illustrated man. May 16, 2019 rocketman has also, in a way, had the burden of following or living up to elton johns sensational songs, the masterpieces which each seem like minimovies in themselves or at the very least. Over the span of his fourdecade, historymaking career, elton john has performed one timeless song after the other. The true story behind the elton john movie rocketman time.
The fascinating fantasy behind elton johns rocket man. Elton johns stellar trip through the 70sa useful 2017 chronicle of johns dazzling 70smakes it plain that far from being in conflict, the haunted balladeer and absurd showman are the same person. All that s left to know about the rocket man chronicles the music legend s entire career to date. Rocketmans taron egerton sings tiny dancer with elton. Elton johns songwriting partner bernie taupin is behind some. Rocket man is a song composed by elton john and bernie taupin and originally performed by. In addition to the lyrics from the albums, this book contained the lyrics to all the single bsides, various rarities, and taupins 1970 spokenword album. While the new movie rocketman uses elton johns song as a biographical device, the songs lyrics and meaning actually come from a. A brief history of president trump and elton john chicago. In that book, there was a story called the rocket man, which was about how astronauts in the future would become sort of an everyday job. The story behind elton johns rocket man ultimate classic rock. This was the final elton john album on the uni label in the us and canada before mca consolidated all of its various labels under the mca brand. Heres what the lyrics to elton john and taron egertons rocketman duet, im gonna love me again, really mean.
The film, which opens friday, was executive produced by. Rocketman 2019 covers the life of elton john during his rise to stardom. Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone and i think its gonna be a long long time elton john rocket man elton john lyricselton john rocket man elton john lyrics. Flamboyant, iconic elton john is as much part of the american musical landscape as he is in his native england. Rocket man officially titled rocket man i think its going to be a long, long time is a song composed by elton john and bernie taupin and originally performed by elton john. Taron egerton plays elton john in the recent biopic rocketman which. Elton john revealed that one line in the lyrics of his hit rocket man. Greatest hits often referred to as elton john greatest hits in north america is the eleventh official album release for elton john, and the first compilation. Hence while rocket man may well be an allegory of the loneliness and otherworldliness of fame, it is bernies experience rather than or at least as well as elton s that is being represented. Neither is his songwriting partner of more than 50 years, bernie taupin, who supplies the lyrics that inspire johns melodies. Elton john reveals emotional message behind rocketman film. The fascinating fantasy behind elton johns rocket man radio x.
Beginning with his humble, and at times disheartening, childhood in the north london suburb of pinner, readers are privy to the serendipitous meeting between john and lyricist bernie taupin, with whom hed form a songwriting. This and johns earlier uni albums were later reissued on mca records. Okay, what is the meaning behind the song rocketman by. Apr 01, 2019 elton johns tiny dancer lyrics meaning by smf published april 1, 2019 updated june 12, 2019 the lyrics of tiny dancer were written by frequent elton john collaborator bernie taupin in the early 1970s and are known to deal primarily with two topics. Bernie taupin wrote the majority of elton s lyrics, and rarely except on captain fantastic wrote as if from elton s point of view. The writing of elton john s your song plays a key role in rocketman, but the scene isnt 100% historically accurate. The film changes many details of elton johns life but captures his overall. Read on to see what actually happened in elton johns wild and crazy life.
It was just by chance that he was introduced to the lyrics of bernie. There are songs that create an immediate impact on the listening world, and there are others that take a little time to make their mark. She packed my bags last night, preflight zero hour. The real meaning of elton johns rocket man youtube. Tiny dancer written by elton john and bernie taupin. May 16, 2019 elton john says there s a deeper meaning behind the biopic drama, rocketman, which tells the story of his young life until he found sobriety. It traces johns life from a shy child in london through his stratospheric rise and.
The inspiration behind elton johns classic rocket man the sound. May 31, 2019 rocketman, a musical film about elton john that arrives in theaters on friday, looks a lot like a biopic. Dexter fletcher explains why he cut elton johns suicide. Sep 19, 2017 trumps reference to elton johns famous rocket man, during an address to the united nations, was by far the largest stage on which hes ever used the phrase. Bernie taupin wrote the lyrics to elton johns rocket man while driving. Angry over what that might mean about himself, elton. In the 1970s, when popular music on both sides of the atlantic fragmented into heres the book every pop music lover has been waiting forfull of the scandals, addictions, affairs, and tantrums that underscored the life of arguably the worlds greatest pop musician.
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