In this video we hear and see the evolution of Elton John’s voice and his often outlandish stage presence as he sings his breakthrough hit, “Your Song,” through his long career.
John wrote the love song with lyricist Bernie Taupin. He once said of their long-time collaboration, “I’m just a purveyor of Bernie’s feelings, Bernie’s thoughts.” “Your Song” was included on John’s 1970 second album, Elton John, and was released as the B‑side to the gospel-influenced “Take Me to the Pilot.” Disc jockeys preferred “Your Song,” so it was switched to the A‑side. The song eventually rose to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
In addition to record sales, the well-crafted song also earned John and Taupin the respect of their peers. “I remember hearing Elton John’s ‘Your Song,’ ” said John Lennon in his 1975 Rolling Stone interview, “heard it in America, and I remember thinking, ‘Great, that’s the first new thing that’s happened since we (The Beatles) happened.’ It was a step forward.”
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