When you hear the name Elton John, what do you think of?
For most of us the name is synonymous with at least one of our favourite songs of all time, be it Disney-related, Christmas-themed, or otherwise.
For the last five decades, the master singer/songwriter has been making hit after hit and we can’t get enough. We decided to find out a little more about his life. And now, we love him even more!
So join us in celebrating 10 reasons why Elton John is the absolute best.
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1. He wrote The Circle of Life
Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba.
2. His middle name is Hercules
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, the master musician named himself after the Blues legends, Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. But he also chose a middle name – Hercules.
He chose the middle name, not after the hero of mythology, but after the horse on the British sitcom, Steptoe and Son (1962).
3. For Princess Di
John’s tribute to the late Princess Diana was originally written for Marilyn Monroe. He reworked the song for the Princess and it is now the second best-selling single of ALL time.
4. He was a childhood prodigy
Before becoming a superstar, Elton John won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
5. The King of Concerts
Since his career began in 1969, Elton John has played over 3,500 concerts in over 80 countries. If you played a concert every day, you’d need almost 10 years to catch up!
6. East Meets West
Elton John was the first western Rock Star to perform in the USSR. Ever.
7. The Elton John AIDS Foundation
Since its creation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has become one of the world’s largest non-profit AIDS organisations and has raised more than $300 million in support of projects around the world.
8. John and Lennon
In 1974, during one of Elton’s concerts at Madison Square Gardens, John Lennon joined him on stage to perform three songs. John had bet Lennon that if the song, Whatever Gets You Through The Night, went to #1, he would have to join him on stage.
Six years prior to his assassination, this was John Lennon’s last on-stage performance.
9. Greatest Hits
With over 16 million copies sold, Elton John’s Greatest Hits album is one of the 21 best-selling albums of all time.
10. Elton & Bernie
The unstoppable two, Elton John and Bernie Taupin have worked together for over 50 years. To date, they have achieved over four dozen Top Forty hits, making them one of the most successful song-writing duos in pop history.
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AVAILABLE ON
Elton John: Diamonds PVG
Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin, ‘Diamonds’ is the ultimate greatest hits collection from Elton John. Kicking off with the still-stunning ‘Your Song’, it brings together all his landmark hits including ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Candle In The Wind’, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Sacrifice’, ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight?’ and many more.
For the first time on an Elton hits collection it also features his duet with George Michael on the classic ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’.
