Legend Wrote This Heart Wrenching 70s Classic In MERE Minutes..Blew Up His Career!-Professor of Rock
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Written in just 10 minutes, today’s songwriting virtuoso, Elton John had this landmark track ready to go before his bandmates woke up for breakfast… Staying in a haunted 18th-century mansion at the time, Elton John and his band were out to write the album of their lives and they did…when this album and this song launched they darted to #1 Honkey Chateau and his 70s classic Rocket Man. But as it was rising on the charts the accusations started to fly… Was this song a rip-off of another iconic track? Namely David Bowie’s Space Oddity. It’s an allegation the duo of Elton John and Bernie Taupin strongly denied. However, they did admit that it was heavily influenced by a completely different song. But despite its origins, this anthem was destined to become a standard… It’s gonna be a long, long time before we ever hear anything like this again. The story is coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. if you ever owned a jean jacket with band patches all over it. you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll dig this channel. We also have a patreon you'll want to check out. There you’ll find an additional catalog of exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.
So it’s time for another edition of our series The New Standards. This show takes an in-depth look into songs that transcend genre, decade, and fads - songs that are monumental touchstones in our culture and society. On previous episodes, we have covered Hotel California by Eagles, Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel, and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
On today’s episode, from Elton John’s 1972 album Honky Chateau, were blasting into the stratosphere with Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time). That’s the actual name of it. A parenthesis song. Back in the early 70s, Sir Elton was on a frenzied pace. Between April 1970 and November 1971, Elton released three studio albums, which included his self-titled sophomore set, Tumbleweed Connection, and Madman Across the Water… plus one live album and a film score. During this time, Elton’s single ‘Your Song’ became his first bona fide hit, reaching #7 in the UK and #8 in the US. Two more tracks, Friends and Levon, broke into the Billboard Top 40, and John’s iconic Tiny Dancer shockingly missed the Top 40 by a single spot.
But as Elton flipped the calendar to January 1972, there was no time to relax. The promise of massive commercial success was calling over the horizon. Working with celebrated lyricist Bernie Taupin, Elton prepared for his 5th studio album, Honky Château. Also around this time he legally changed his given name of Reginald Kenneth Dwight to Elton Hercules John. Said Elton, “It was like slipping into a Superman costume. I’d grown fed up with people saying, ‘This is Elton John, but his real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight.’ Reg is the unhappy part of my life. I can’t bear people calling me Reg.”
The cast of musicians supporting Superman wasn’t his typical array of studio musicians. Rather Elton went with touring bandmates bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson, and
Poll: Who is your pick for the GREATEST songwriting team of the ROCK era?
Lennon and McCartney
Lennon/McCartney
Felix Cavaliere/ Eddie Brigati
Lennon & McCartney
You're lookin' at 'em. John and Taupin above all others.
Lennon/McCartney ditto
My favorite Elton John songs are the early ones 😊 We played his sings for my kids when they were young and now my son plays it for my granddaughters. Recently, the 7 year old made him wait in the car until Yellow Brick Road was over 😊. Her personal taste runs to the oldies and I love that! ❤😊
Love it!
Totally agree. Love his early 70's songs.
No wonder he wanted to wait! One of the greatest songs ever.
Throughout the 70s, Elton John could do no wrong.
I’ve been to well over 200 concerts in my life, my first being Journey in 1981. The best show I’ve ever been to was Elton in 1990. He played for a solid 3 hours, there was no opening act. I’ve seen Elton a few times since but nothing compares to that 1990 show. He’s an incredibly prolific artist and an unmatched live performer. My favorite song by Elton is Rocket Man, such an great track and this video was fascinating to watch. Thanks, Professor, for covering it here! ☮️🎸🪩🎤👍🏻
I’ve been to many concerts as well. Had the privilege of seeing Elton in Vancouver in 2019. It was definitely one of the greatest live acts I’ve ever seen. 30 thousand fans danced all night. It was magical.
From the fall of '69 thru the spring of '73, I was a student at Texas A&M in their aerospace engineering program. In the fall of '72, I was taking Aero 402 which was propulsion, i.e. jet engine & rocket design. It was taught by Dr Norton, who was one of the youngest professors in the department (probably early to mid 30s), and because of Elton's song, we immediately tagged him as 'Rocket Man'. I still think of him as that!
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was the first album I ever bought for myself with my own money in 1973..., I bought it with my second pay cheque, I bought a fishing reel with my first..., and I still have both to this day..., 50 years later. Elton was my number 1 music hero back then...., and still is. 🤓🥰
The melancholy is definitely there, I think it comes from the workaday message of a man "on the road" working to support his family, yet missing them and home terribly. It's like you took the inner thoughts of a long haul trucker and applied them to flying a spaceship. That's the great thing about silver age scifi, and something that's sorely lacking in todays scifi. Back then, we saw spaceflight as exploration, we compared them to the old sail ships and imagined things akin to that, where we would settle a place and in time the wonder of exploration would become everyday tasks. But instead of making a song where the astronaut was the honorable captain of the ship, they made a song which made him a truck driver. The loneliness of driving a truck is amplified a huge amount if you are alone flying a spaceship for months. There are no rest stops, you can't just pick up a pay phone and call home, there are no real breaks, you're stuck. Truck drivers could get back home once a week or month as spend time with family to decompress, but a rocketman, he had to wait years. The loneliness of being away from home for so long was well captured in that song.
The music just really captures it as well. It's almost like a soundtrack for the story being told through lyrics. The swells don't inspire as much as they amplify the distress, almost like he's screaming in his head, that he's a rocketman, as a cage, instead of a freedom.
Good insight. I always said that Rocketman was about the isolation and boredom of a family living in the suburbs. Men go off to work and their wives have no idea who their husbands are at work or what they really do.
I am always amazed how certain artists could seem to do no wrong for a period of a few years. They are just in that groove where they can do no wrong for 5 years. The ones that come to mind are Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, Springsteen, Steve Miller, Def Leppard, Cars, Lionel Ritchie, Phil Collins, Madonna, Prince, Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, etc. The hits came so fast and furious at their peaks.
Real talent is characterized by consistency...in every human endeavor if you really think about it. The very opposite of a one hit wonder. Nothing against them, of course, but it's really a huge distinction.
There are so many examples!
I'd take Def Lappard and The Cars off that list - High & Dry and Pyromanic were great but then they wimped out big time on Hysteria, and The Cars first album is probably the best debut album ever, but following albums had a few good songs on each and the remaining tracks were B grade.
It was such a great time for original rock music! Sadly, we took it for granted Back then! I wish it would return there now! Todays music just doesn’t do it for me!
The music industry was much different then. Artists seemed to be allowed to create. Lately it seems like the producers run everything, and are in total control over the artist. Maybe it’s always been this way, but the ‘70s was such a burst of pure originality!
I am not exaggerating when I say 'Love Song' from Tumblweed Connection is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever. Same for ' Madman Across The Water'
Agreed!
....LOOOOOOVE the Dionne Warwick version from her 1972 Album!
I love Madman across the Water
Madman is a great album, especially the Mick Ronson version of the title track.
Love Song is one of those goosebumps songs for me.
After Elton was on Sonny and/or Cher, told my mom I like Elton John, she showed me she had the Honky Chateau album, and I never gave it back to her.
I still have it.
Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters is the best song on that album IMO 😁
Live in Oregon but grew up in MAKAKILO, Oahu. Every time I hear Bennie And The Jets it takes me back. In fact until I moved to the states in 1975 I thought LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS was a Elton John song until I heard that other version on KISN 91 FM. AWESOME SHOW PROFESSOR!! PEACE 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Of all the superstar acts in music, Elton is and has been my favorite for 53 years now (and I can't believe I'm writing that).
Still a living treasure to this day.
I wasn't a fan, yet, at 6, but I soon came across EJ when my aunt gave me Someone as a X-mas gift.
Everything these two did together was magic. So lucky as a boomer I got to hear and appreciate so many great duo writing teams. Obviously I have to laud Burt Bacharach and Hal David ...they were my youth. ❤ Carole King and Gerry Goffin were right behind them.
Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the '80s and '90s, excepting the people left over from the '60s and '70s, but I do appreciate your programs. I've got a suggestion for you, although it's possible that you've already covered it. A duo called Brewer & Shipley had a record in '71 called "One Toke Over The Line." It was a big hit, even with government trying to squash it. The writing of it is a pretty funny story, as well. I haven't talked with them in over three decades, but they are still with us and are nice guys. I think you could get an entertaining show out of a talk with them. Cheers!
I'll take a look...
Great song......
I had that 45.
One toke over the line sweet Jesus, one toke over the line.
Waiting on a train in a railway station one toke over the line.
Funny how a verse comes back from 50 years ago.
@@c.e.anderson558 The crazy part is the threatening notices sent to radio stations. They actually DID panic over it. Spiro Agnew (remember THAT disgraced Vice-President?) personally condemned it. Even the FCC got involved. The whole incident was hilarious! Meanwhile, these were just a couple of Kansas City folkies who happened to strike gold.
I do know that song and it’s a great song.
Me and a few of my buddies referred to him as The Honkey Cat, and Street Fighting Man, back in high School, in the late 70s early 80s, till my best pal of 40 years passed away 2 years ago. Many of us considered our pal Scott "the Professor of Rock" long before the Internet came along, in fact those that knew him well also referred to him as Google before Google. Ask Scott anything, and he rarely let us down with the facts and knowledge, Rest in Peace Scotty, aka The K Man, (Mr. Knowledge) miss you brother FAM.
I remember being in the 8th grade and I was blessed to become the first photographer of the first yearbook that our Middle School ever had. At a certain point I brought in my cassette player to the dark room to listen to while I develop photographs. That dark room shared a separate room of a class that had nothing to do with yearbook. And as I discovered the song "Mellow" off of Honky Chateau. I have a feeling there are people who have PTSD from hearing that one song over and over and over again because I played it endlessly...
Jump forward 6 months and my best friend had bought two tickets to see Elton at Reunion arena in Dallas Texas on October 16th 1980 which was his 16th birthday. He had hoped that he would have a date...
And yet,he did not...
He asked me if I wanted to come... In the prior weeks I had seen Fleetwood Mac and Van Halen (from third row center stage) so I begrudgingly decided "fine let's go see this old man" 😂
Elton absolutely blew my mind.
One of the greatest shows I've ever seen... And I have seen a lot.
My friend & I were RABID for Elton's music. We sang the whole Captain Fantastic album (unaccompanied) at our summer plant nursery jobs, along with other songs...good stuff.
Thank you for this! Those two scored the music of such big parts of our lives!
Elton and Bernie shaped my childhood. I continue to listen to their songs daily. Captain Fantastic takes me back to age 10 and lying on our den rug, staring at the artwork all over the album cover and back and the pictures of Elton and Bernie. Each album brings back so many memories. It helps to keep me young! What has happened to Rock and Popular music?! What has happened to melody and arrangement?! Harmony?!
My memories of Elton John was his 1984 album I'm still standing. Took a girl to her first concert and even through this was 40 years ago I still remember her
The melancholy is that we miss the magic of living back through that time and more then likely will never experience those incredible feelings of our youth musically ever again yet still hopeful!
Elton John was one of the best concerts ever! I hadn't gotten a ticket but my friend's friend had to back out at the very last minute and I bought her ticket. I was so lucky. I went to so many concerts back in the day sometimes forget about one or two until they're mentioned. This is one I never forget. Love Elton. Such an all around entertainer.
I saw Elton in concert in San Antonio, Texas back in 72 and he was incredible! Nearly two solid hours without a break, and putting on one helluva show!
Love this sing. Have to sing along everytime I hear it. Love Elton, the song Daniel is still one of my favorites although with Elton its hard to choose. Saw him in concert in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was all by himself, just him and his piano. He was incredible, he is the real deal. Was about 4 rows away from him. I knew yhe words to every song. He played for 2 hours.
In the 70's you couldn't escape hearing an elton john song ! He was that good !
Great song. Elton is a great person to do deep diving into his career. He's got incredible music and an amazing band as well.
Love “Mad Man Across the Water”! It’s lurching melody is sublime!
I'm a hard rock/metal singer guitarist, but my two all-time favorite singers are Elton John and Stevie Wonder - their voices are sublime and transcendent .
Nigel Olsen had his own hit song in 1979 with Dancin’ Shoes, still love that song.
I got to see his show in san jose this year. First time seeing him. I took my two kids who now love a lot of the classic rock. We saw the eagles, alan parsons live project, moody blues, styx who, and many others. I think elton was best because he just kept going as long as the crowd wanted. Thanks professor.
*Honky Chatêau* and *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road* are the reason I flew out to France this summer and visited the (in)famous Chatêau D'Hérouville where Elton John and so many other incredible artists recorded epic albums. I could only see it from the outside but it had a certain aura and was wonderfully rundown. Thanks for this video.
Oh wow!
If you have an Instagram, could you please post some pics of it!
That'd be awesome! 😊🙏
Very cool!
I have a dear friend, she' an adopted mother and my Rocky Horror Mother, squatted with Mr. John in the late 60s (after she was deported from Morrocco, another great story) Bev would tell a story of him coming up with his name, The selection of Hercules in NOT a PG tale. I often think about asking her if she sees herself in any of the Rockelman movie.
First Album ever bought by my own money was 'Good-bye Yellow Brick Road' and a week later went to get 'Honky Chateau' with that week's Babysitting wages. 'Rocket Man' was the top song the year our Grade School Boy's (Only boys played at that time) Basketball Team won an Invitational Tournament in a town diagonally opposite to us in the County and we kept playing it in the Car Hop Jukebox during the Lunchbreak and everybody danced and dramatically sang as we jumped from table to table pretending to be Astronauts. What a blast...And, the memory remains as terrific as it really was at that time.
Both Albums were worn out before ever reaching the age of 16...Simply enthralled by Elton's overall symphonic sound with multiple layering with strong poetic lyrics...His playing still reminded me of my Mom's and it still does which is comforting and the touch upon Country Music in 'Rocket Man's sliding guitar continues to be the hook trapping my soul inside the loneliness in the black energy of space, if only for a few moments.
I first heard "Rocket Man" at age 5. A lifelong family friend gave us a cassette dubbing of *We Are the World* and the first volume of *Elton John's Greatest Hits.* I was blown away by the sound of Elton's early 70s singing and how removed it sounded from how he sounded on the records I'd heard by then, *Too Low for Zero* and *Breaking Hearts.* Regarding "Rocket Man", it was always easy to enjoy this song, part for the song itself and part for the sound of Nigel, Dee (God rest his soul) and Davey's harmonies behind Elton. That impeccable Bee Gees-like harmonic spread of theirs was the binding tie that helped me connect those early staples of Elton's with his 80s material. Since 1985, I've learned about the writing and recording process at the Chateau and how nobody could put a toe out of line in 1972. This was 9 years before The Police album *Ghost in the Machine* and single "Spirits in the Material World".
Thanks for watching Eric. Always enjoy your insight!
Some of the best harmonies of the early 70s. I agree, Eric.
"Rocket Man" is great. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" is lovely and underrated. "Your Song" is still one of the best songs Elton John ever recorded, and one of the best debut singles ever; I hope you will cover it soon, if you haven't already.
I agree with you. Would love for the Professor to do an episode on "Your Song." One of my favorites by any artist.
I have loved Your Song for years now.
Technically, "Border Song" was Elton's debut single in August of 1970, but received very little airplay and spent only a few weeks in the lower echelons of the Hot 100. That said, it is still one of my favorite Elton John songs.
I like to play Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters and part two back to back.
@@robertbrescia3196 Border Song is killer. The message is over the top great.
I have great admiration for songwriters, songwriting. I am a writer (journalism school graduate) but songwriting is a whole other level. This channel has inspired me to try my hand at writing lyrics. I've been jotting down ideas and lines when the inspiration hits.
@juicesarewild...real journalism is dead it's been replaced by Twitter and other social media feeds ....
i never considered myself an Elton John fan but my best friend in college, who played piano and was a fan, talked me into going with him to Elton John's concert in Honolulu back in the '80s. That was one of the best concerts, if not THE BEST, that I ever went to. It was phenomenal!
My daughter thought he was singing, hold me closer Tony Danza. I thought that was so funny when I heard her singing. ☮️
She got it from this video of Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox singing Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza. ua-cam.com/video/2X5etA8sGyA/v-deo.htmlsi=VXZrcJQidtmVTGI5
The song, Come Down in Time, from Tumbleweed Connection, that's a real Gem! 💎
Love Elton John, Rocketman is an awesome song. Loved the movie as well. I always think of simpler times when I hear this song. It's just a song you can't get outa your head. I love Tiny Dancer one of my favorites, but Rocketman is just one of those songs man. You don't really know why, but you absolutely love it! Elton John I feel is one of the greatest musicians of all time. He's just awesome and I'll leave it at that. Great video can't wait to see whats next.
These guys were all over the radio. Anytime you visited NYC, their songs were EVERYWHERE
Dammit, man, do you know how much I wanted one of those jean jackets?!? I guess that’s close enough.
I will never tire of this song. It’s like gold poured into my ears and flowing into my veins (in a good way because that would actually be horrible… sorry, I think you get it). I’ve heard it since I was a little child and yet I can hear it another million times.
And it has an absolutely beautiful official video now, an animated short film, that has given it still more depth to me. The melancholy you mention is well represented in it.
Also, if the album wasn’t so obviously outstanding, I’d say it’s success was a cosmic reward for being a good boy to his band. Also, imagine writing an album in a house haunted by a great writer and one of the greatest composers of all time. Makes you wonder!
And no wonder I remember hearing this my whole life. It came out 6 months before I was born.
I love Elton John. My favorite song from him is "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" and my 2 nd favorite is "Benny And The Jets". His best of album is one of the best albums I've ever heard and one where i don't have to skip through any songs, because they're all great.
Love Elton. Have been so lucky to see him live. Red Piano in Vegas was orgasmic.
I had an Ike Jacket with pennies glued across the whole back. Every Monday I had to fix it.
This was my favorite song when I was a kid and I still love it .Elton John was and still is one of the greatest artist of all time .
Love Sir Elton John!! “Levon” is still my favorite!!🤘🔥
Levon is one of my favorites and Border Song. I ❤ how he pronounces 'garage by the road away ' in his English accent.
Love LEVON!
Love it!
Levon is fantastic.
Levon was an amazing song.
I always interpreted Rocket Man as part of the Bradbury story, and the isolation and distance the “rocket man” of the song has “burning out his fuse out here alone” meaning living distant from his family but still providing for them. I feel the melancholy that you speak of professor.
I remember buying this album and I even remember taking the plastic wrapping off. I remember putting the needle of our Montgomery Ward record player and playing side one and flipping it over to side two. It's interesting to hear the journey the recording took to reach my hands.Thanks for coloring in the background, man! "From the end of the world to your town" indeed.
How old were you?
I was 13@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980
I’ve tried for years not to like Elton John but he’s just so good I can’t do it!!
Great twofer today, Prof-- you spoil us! Amazing how quickly some masterpieces can come into existence. This is the second song I've seen that references The Illustrated Man. I need to track down that story and see if it turns me into a songwriter, too. I could use a Billboard top 40 song to my credit, especially one that gets covered by everybody. And thanks for reminding me of that Two Rooms compilation-- so many incredible artists on that one. I've gotta track that one down.
Every now and then I need my EJ fix. “Rocket Man” is always among the songs played.
❤
Sir Elton!
Love Rocket Man!
Blew Elton to the moon. Great tune that has stood the test of time.
Saw Sir Elton with Billy Joel on the Dueling Pianos tour. Amazing concert.
Thanks Professor.
Happy Thursday. 🎉
Roger!
I've heard that Elton Jonh and Billy Joel are great live, but together they must have blown the roof of the place. Wish I could have seen them live, together and solo.
It launched us into the stratosphere.
For me Elton John became a household name with "Your Song" already 🤗
I remember hearing the beginning notes of Honky Cat…..I was hooked
Kate's cover got to number 2 in Australia. It really re-vitalized the song.
I'm her biggest Aussie fan. I drove everybody nuts with my obsession for her
A lot of Elton’s process was to take Bernie’s lyrics, and come up with a key and chord progression, then the band would pick it up, the rest of the song would flow from that. Elton always gave a lot of credit to Dee (RIP), Davey and Nigel for their ability to create on the fly.
Such a great song! I do scratch my head and wonder why Mona Lisa’s and Mad Hatters was not a single? Anyway when I was younger I always knew Elton John was on a different level of talent. Then I found out that Bernie is the one who wrote the lyrics, just made me think that Elton John was a musical genius. How can he read someone else’s lyrics and wrap such beautiful songs around them?
His albums of that era are sublime.
The Tin Pan Alley Twins - Taupin and John. I wished the movie rocketman would have incorporated songs from Captain Fantasic and the brown dirt cowboy. That album told their story. Just listen to the song bitter fingers
Elton John has always been one of my favorites, I recently attended a concert by the tribute band “Philadelphia Freedom “ they couldn’t hold a candle to Elton but I sang EVERY song. As far as I’m concerned his whole catalog can’t be matched.
I first heard Rocket Man on FM radio as a young boy in the late 70s. Simply one of the classic tunes of all time!
No doubt one of the greatest songs of all time.
Formal piano training at 7.
Academy musician at 11.
Prodigy with parental encouragement.
All the young girls love Alice. And Bennie.
Taupin/John cranked out beaucoup songs in a very short time, most of them excellent. "Bitter Fingers" and a few others may have been some in the eye to the record executives who, like pigs, never get enough. But even blind pigs can find ripe acorns and they have savored that pair for a long time. In fact, they still are.
They are so near the top, but with all the great songs by numerous writers covering such a long and ongoing era, it is more of a plateau of geniuses rather than one at the pinnacle.
As far as an emotional Elton John songs go, I'd choose Tiny Dancer. A great song that fit perfectly into the reconciliation scene in Almost Famous. Perfect song, perfect scene! 💘
Love Elton John's music, especially the early 70's songs. "Your Song" holds a special place in my heart. Been singing it to my wife for over 25 years. Love "Rocket Man." However, I was very young when it came out, and I thought it was a bizarre song. I wondered what a "touchdown" had to do with a rocket ma, and I was confused about his mention of Mars. Did someone think that Mars was a good place to raise children? The thoughts of a child. 😄 Still love "Rocket Man," and understand it a little better as an adult. Another great episode, Professor
Thanks Ted!
I remember reading in a book 10 years ago that by 2020, human will be able to sleep on Mars. Welp, it’s 2023 now…
Lemme tell you how much I loved "Your Song": I had it played at our wedding, regardless of the lyrics. It was just the most gorgeous collection of chords and melody I ever heard. It's true!
I've never really got into Elton, but I LOVE the songs I've heard. I will be sure to put Honky Chateau on my list! Thanks, Adam!
Do it! You'll love it!
@@ProfessorofRock When have you ever stared me wrong?! 😉 Of course I'll love it!
@@nedhorner Honky Chateau is one of my top 5 Elton/Bernie LPs. Empty Sky, Tumbleweed Connection, Songs From the West Coat, Captain Fantastic, The Captain and the Kid, Caribou rank up there.
@@oriolesandravens Thanks! I'll try to remember those! I hope I like them! 😁
@@nedhorner They have been some of my faves (and go-to LPs) for decades.
Irony about William Shatner as he vocalised Sonic Attack for former Bassist of Hawkwind on his album Hawkestral!!! Nothing like Robert Calvert's original!!! PXR5 title track to the album of the same name explores the further out in space travels of mankind and the loss of members of the space ship because their life support became too strained and they eventually perished. Space Rock has kept going since these two inspirations, Genesis Blue Öyster Cult Hawkwind and Magnum as well as many other artists have been inspired by Sci Fi Fantasy writers like Michael Moorcock and the Elric of Melnibone series of books!!!
If you're looking for just one song by Elton John, then the one you must pick is The One.
"Saw you dancing on the ocean....."
Great first line. Greatest piano in a rock song. Try another listen.
#2 is : Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. #3 Daniel
Great content, you should do the 13th floor elevators, a bit obscure but what a story. Keep up the good work 👍
Writing Team? 🤔 That is Bernie Taupin and Elton John! 🤔👍
If you ever buried a corpse in a New Mexico landfill to never be found and discovered unopened Atari 2600 ET cartridges, you will enjoy this channel’s content.
Ha ha! Now that's dark!
🫢
I always saw this song as a part of a trilogy (I'm an 80s kid so sue me.
Elton John - Rocketmam
Peter Schilling -Major Tom
David Bowie - Space Oddity.
The would be the throughly for a rock opera. You could go super dark and go with Bowie and the man who sold the world to close it out and take the title literally
I always thought Levon was his most melancholy song, certainly more so than Rocket Man. All of Elton’s early work had that quality.
Part II 😁 Forgot to mention CROCODILE ROCK was my first 45rpm along with Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog!! Great Times. Thanks and Peace 🕊️☮️
Rocket Man is my favorite EJ song. My second-favorite is Bennie And The Jets. My two cents. Keep up the good work, POR.
LOVE Elton John and LOVE Rocket Man! He and this song are at the TOP!! ❤
👍🙂 Yellowbrick Road is my all-time favorite!!
Prof, you never disappoint. When you were listing covers, I was hoping you'd mention the most cringeworthy cover of all time (imo), William Shatner's. I still remember wanting to crawl out of my skin when I first heard and saw the performance that generated the clip you used. 😂
I've seen Elton John in concert 4 times, and I remember him singing this song, while a "disco ball" twirled high above the stage, shooting off beams of light throughout the auditorium. If I remember right, this was 2014 at the Maverick center. Made me think of going in to hyper-drive on board the Millennium Falcon, or sitting on the launch pad, missing my wife and children. Such a great song! Thanks Professor!
I remember after Rocket Man, I could never get the next lyric "burning out his fuse up here alone". Couldn't even come up with misheard lyric of my own :)
What did you hear it as?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I could never make it out over the radio, so I mumbled my way through it. Closest I could get was "Burning down the hill like everyone"
I have seen Elton John in concert with Billy Joel in New Orleans they were singing each others song a great concert
I came to appreciate Elton maybe 15 years ago when I was in my late 20s. I remember thinking, I guess he's ok, but I wouldn't say I like his music. Then I remembered he had that one song that I really liked. Oh, and this other one. Oh, he sang this one too? Wow, that one is actually pretty awesome too. Hmm, I guess I like Elton John. I bought the Greatest Hits album and never looked back.
You’re talking about the melancholy in Rocket Man. I always took it to be the bittersweet, quiet moment right before you accomplish a dream you have worked so hard towards for years. Sitting in that quiet place, everything has been done, and the next thing you do will be done by a guy who is what you always wanted to be.
Another ICON ! So many great hits its hard to choose a fav but ever since I have been singing it with my daughters "Tiny Dancer" now holds that spot for me.
So good!
You mean, Tony Danza?
I love this song ever since I first heard it what a legend Bernie Taupin and Elton John really are they’re fantastic.
I always assumed Rocket Man was based on the Ray Bradbury short story, also named Rocket Man. It tells a very similar story.
Rocket Man is one of my all time favourite songs, right up there with bohemian Rhapsody. It’s also the only song I’ll get on stage at the karaoke Bar. After a few pints that is. Lol 🚀
Ha ha! Would love to see that!
@@ProfessorofRocktrust me, no you wouldn’t. Lol
Also on par with Dream On.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 agreed
You need some more commercials for me to ever want to come back again. Goodbye
Tiny Dancer is #1 in our hearts🎵
John and Taupin! Some may say Lennon and McCartney, but they were more of a machine, working tirelessly writing songs day in and day out. This was not all their doing, but rather managers and their label pushed to slave away at writing. John and Taupin were naturals, and pure magic!
I saw him with my girlfriend when he was on the Captain Fantastic tour when he played the old McNichols arena in Denver. At midnight, he played the last song having started at 8 pm. His voice broke on Someone Saved My Life Tonight. Taupin was also there.
was it 4 O' clock in the morning, dammit?
I've just finished Steve Lukather's book and he talks about his experience working with Elton John. To be a fly on the wall, watching those two jam... can you imagine?!
No kidding. What a pair...
I’m considering getting his book!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 It was an interesting read but a bit technical and boring at times as he talks about everyone he's worked with. It reads a little like a résumé for some of it, but if you enjoy Toto and you're interested in knowing a bit more about the music business, I very much recommend it 😊
I been waiting for you to do another Bernie/Elton segment! These two are my favorite songwriters ever! When I was growing up I wanted to be Bernie, and I am excited to read his book!
If you could do a interview with Elton and Bernie, that would be magical!❤
Great job Professor!
Thanks William. Will TRY!
I need to look for Bernie’s book as well!
I was just a little kid when this song came out. I loved it and used to jump off the couch screaming, “Rocket Maaaaaaannn!!!”🖖🏼
AWESOME!
It’s a classic, no doubt.
Handel wrote the 53 pieces of the Messiah (3 plus hours) - including the Hallelujah Chorus in 28 days.
I can't believe you didn't include the performance by Nathan Chen in your list of performances the song appeared in. It was perfect.
I've been doing the rock scene since 1963 and unlike many other OG's, I've found something worthwhile in every era, even disco. This being said, Lennon McCartney is the Gold Standard. No one equals and no one ever will. They completely flipped the script.
Agree 100%. Love Elton and Bernie but they just don't compare. It's LennonMcCartney who will be remembered 100 years from now.
My first vinyl was Elton John Greatest Hits. I grew up listening to all his work. Rocket Man is a premier hit, Tiny Dancer proved itself in time also. Man Bernie could write. Elton’s music changed in. The 80s when Bernie ventured away. Thanks Adam!
Hey ProRo,🤓 👋 The Gin Blossoms and Fastball are here in Las Vegas this weekend.