Could someone please explain to me why Elton John is so famous.

The "Tiny Dance" scene from "Almost Famous" helped him with a newer generation.

And even more current view with Elton John and gay marriage

Flagpole wrote:

See this early video (1970) of Elton John singing Border Song. Like the song or not (I LOVE it), his voice, his phrasing...just brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VIH11m6QGk

Elton John is a BAMF. One of the most talented musicians ever.

I love Border Song too but it’s the mark of a good songwriter when other artistes want to record your songs and Aretha Franklin absolutely killed it. Elton John said this is how he envisaged the song sounding when he wrote it. Talented singer, writer of melodies and piano player who freely admits to his weaknesses as lyricist, which is where Bernie Taupin came in.

Aretha Franklin’s version of Border Song.

Weird process:

The 1991 film documentary, Two Rooms, described the John/Taupin writing style, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own and John then putting them to music, with no further interaction between the two. The process is still fundamentally the same, with John composing to Taupin's words, but the two interact on songs far more today, with Taupin joining John in the studio as the songs are written and occasionally during recording sessions.

Porn Actor wrote:

The John Man actually didn't write his own songs. Bernie Taupin did. Dancing in the Dark was not one of the songs Bernie wrote, however.

That's like saying George Gershwin didn't write his songs. ( i.e. brother Ira wrote the majority of the lyrics.)

I think Elton is very talented and has - co-written - a bunch of classic pop/rock songs.

However! I hate his singing. That phoney American accent that he adopted is dreadful.

Interestingly, I believe that Elton based his singing accent on Jose Feliciano.

Which, again, is interesting, because Jose, himself, adopted a strong American soul-based singing accent ( in the 60s ) when he spoke with a definite Puerto Rican accent.

That makes Elton "double phoney".

Ej has created a lot of bubble gum pop songs that a lot of people seem to like.

I cannot understand why so many people here have listed crocodile rock as a great song. It’s hard for me to think of a more annoying song. You guys have zero taste, but to each his own I guess.

John Utah wrote:

Ej has created a lot of bubble gum pop songs that a lot of people seem to like.

I cannot understand why so many people here have listed crocodile rock as a great song. It’s hard for me to think of a more annoying song. You guys have zero taste, but to each his own I guess.

I dont agree that his stuff is bubble gum pop. Some, yes. I'm no fan of Crocodile Rock, but Benny & the Jets / Funeral for a Friend / Daniel all fantastic in my opinion.

On a related note, on the Jimmy Buffet thread earlier this week, the OP couldnt understand why anyone could possibly like Jimmy Buffet and then went on to mention Taylor Swift as one of his favorite artists and I think added an "OMG" somewhere in the post. I'd call her bubblegum.

To each his own I suppose.

He was the first gay man of all time.

Awesome song

Who does a five minute intro like that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAhpIjazFN0

Elton John voiced every. single. character. in the Lion King

Elton John was the first person to ever be gay

Elton John fucked crocodiles before australians made it cool

Elton John wrote all the music in the following films: Star Wars, Smurfs, Breakfast Club, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, One Direction Movie,

Elton John is 8 time oscar winner for his work in Disney film animation

Elton John is the reason Truman Capote wrote most of his novels

Elton John made sweet love to Cher during the turn of the millennia in order to save us from our sins

Elton John is made up of the cosmic powers of the universe and is old as time and as powerful as a dying sun

Elton John put that cancer inside of Starlords mom so that he could harvest the universe and create a one being existence

John Utah wrote:

Ej has created a lot of bubble gum pop songs that a lot of people seem to like.

I cannot understand why so many people here have listed crocodile rock as a great song. It’s hard for me to think of a more annoying song. You guys have zero taste, but to each his own I guess.

I agree with OP and this post. Never understood what's great with Mr. John.

county comfort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vlPgDhIzKM

I've revisited his catalogue since I found this thread and EJ really was objectively decent.

John Utah wrote:

Ej has created a lot of bubble gum pop songs that a lot of people seem to like.

I cannot understand why so many people here have listed crocodile rock as a great song. It’s hard for me to think of a more annoying song. You guys have zero taste, but to each his own I guess.

I'm an EJ fan. I am not a fan of crocodile rock and I've never met anyone who was. In fact Elton John despised it as well and refused to play it live , not sure if he ever softened his stance. Also keep in mind hi peak was in the 70s and in that time period it wasn't considered bubble gum pop .

maybe too young wrote:

It's like he's famous from being famous. What the hell has he done to be such a big deal?

I did not like Frank Sinatra. I did not think Jerry Lewis was so great.

But when I got a bit older I learned to admire their work. I have found it's that way with a lot of

performers for me.

Perhaps when you get older you will hear a song by Elton John and wonder why didn't I get it?

(Not that Elton John is one of my favorites but he did have some great songs! "Rocket Man," was one of them.)

I can't stand him! I can't stand his f(bleep)g music! He has average talent at best. He can play piano and sing. Whoopty (bleep). So can Billy f_n Joel. Elton John is hands down and without peer the most overrated talent of all time. His career has been manufactured by powerful record companies and by money, record companies with all of their resources and hype machine people who could sell ice to the eskimos (more like lemmings) so to speak. You could say that is the truer talent.

Bernie Taupin wrote the songs. He was the genius behind the music. Elton just played some chords over them and has an ok voice. Sometimes you’re famous because you know how to use other peoples talent.

I liked 🐊 Rock, especially when he sang it on the Muppet Show