Alyssa (Hale) Young Sir Elton John

Elton John= Reginald Kenneth Dwight dob-03/25/1947 Parents-Shelia and Stanley Dwight Original name Reginald Kenneth Dwight Started playing guitar at age 4 Accepted to Royal Academy of Music at age 11 but dropped out to join a band. Above: Royal Academy of Music

Bluesology Elton john’s first band. He joined them at 14 They were an r&b group that backed up many famous artists such as The Bluebells. Money from the gigs with this band helped John buy his first piano

Elton John is “Born” 1966 “Reginald” auditions for liberty records Meets lyrist Bernie Tipin and lifetime partnership in music is born. “Reginald” changes name based on favorite artist Elton Dean, and John Baldry

Elton’s career takes off First hit=Your Song 1970’s was John’s most successful time. Had 4 albums in the top ten, which is a record held to this day He created his own record label=Rocket Records In 1979 Elton John goes on record saying he is done performing.

Albums released in the Seventies Elton John (1970) Elton John Tumbleweed Connection (1970) Tumbleweed Connection Madman Across the Water (1971) Madman Across the Water Honky Château (1972) Honky Château Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerGoodbye Yellow Brick Road Caribou (1974) Caribou Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy Rock of the Westies (1975) Rock of the Westies Blue Moves (1976) Blue Moves A Single Man (1978) A Single Man Victim of Love (1979) Victim of Love

80’s, 90’s, now The eighties and nineties were slow for Elton’s career. He came out as homosexual, discussed his drug addictions, and started advocating for AIDS/HIV awareness. He performed at Freddie Mecury’s Memory concert with Axel Rose. He started composing for movies and broadway. Elton won a grammy with Tim Rice for “Can you Feel the love tonight” featured in the Lion King movie and musical.

Listening to Your Song See if you can tell the distinct change in the song around 1:40. Listen to how important the line “yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen” becomes just because of how the music is faded into the background. The “added silence” adds so much to song. The end of this song sounds very dream like, bringing up the point that maybe this song isn’t real, more like a daydream about a crush. What do you think?

Your Song Elton John-Your Song

Listening To Don’t Go Breaking my Heart This song is a very funky R&B song, that one could say is a tribute to Bluesology and the time Elton spent in that band. The song has a very noticeable break with some funky music, even in the video they start to dance to it. This song is meant to be up beat and almost comes off and a verbal chase between the 2 singers. It’s quite catchy.

Dont Go Breaking My Heart

Listening to Can you feel the Love Tonight This song was made famous by being in Disney’s The Lion King. It’s a song of love, a song a hope at a pivotal point of the movie, and gives a message that love conquers all and changes everything. Listen once again how Elton does a great job (with help from Tim Rice) in using silence and simplicity to make his point in his songs. He is great because he creates amazing balance between different instruments, and using silences.

Can You Feel The Love Tonight Can You Feel the Love Tonight

AIDA-Written in the Stars

Listening to Written in the Stars This song has so much going on with it. It’s a full orchestra with 2 contrasting voices. The female voice is smooth and jazz like, with the male being rough and rock and roll. This song shows so much of Elton’s depth in music. He can combine opposing sounds into a beautiful song with so much passion. Listen for the grand crescendo towards the end of this song where all the sounds combine to express the agony of the singers. It’s a break up/love song all in one and you feel it.

References 1-"Elton John." Rolling Stone. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct ( 2-"Sir Elton John Biography." Sir Elton John. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct "Elton John Album Discography." Elton John Album Discography. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct "The Broadway Musical Home." - Aida. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct "PLAYBILL." Aida on Broadway. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct

References cont. Youtube (links to video) tml tml