1. Music 1010 Craig Ferrin, PhD Anton Kodra March 26, 2012
SIR ELTON JOHN
Music 1010
Craig Ferrin, PhD
Anton Kodra
March 26, 2012

2. INTRODUCTION
I researched Elton John and his amazing piano playing and skills and his great music.
I choose him because I too am a piano player and enjoy his music.
I choose to research and write about Elton John. I am a piano player and really enjoy Elton and his amazing piano playing and skills and his great music. I also enjoy performing some of his songs on the piano (although I cannot sing). I referenced our Listen to the Music book and also some of my personal musical knowledge from playing the piano for 17 years and teaching it for 12 years. For my listening guide, I was also interested at analyzing and looking at the sheet music available for some of his songs. I briefly wrote about some of the chords, etc. used in the music, even though it was purely a listening analysis.
Biography Website

3. BIOGRAPHY The Early Years Born in 1947 as Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Excelled at music at a young
Lyricist Bernie Laupin met Elton in 1967
The two began writing music together
One of the most successful and perhaps most recognizable artists of all time is Elton John (Sir Elton John). He was born as Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England. John was a child prodigy on the piano and became hooked on rock and roll at a young age after hearing Elvis Presley. He started playing the piano at age 4 and was performing music for family and friends before taking piano lessons at age 7. He excelled at music and won a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Music at age 11, where he studied for five years. His first gig was at age 15 where he started playing piano at a pub. In 1964 he formed the band Bluesology with his friends. He unsuccessfully auditioned for lead singer position for the bands King Crimson and Gentle Giant. He was introduced to lyricist Bernie Taupin in He teamed up with him and they wrote music together for years.

4. BIOGRAPHY The Breakthrough and Beyond
Elton John’s breakthrough Album was self titled and introduced in 1970
He continued to produce highly rated albums.
In 1976 Elton announced his bisexuality.
Worked with KiKi Dee on duet
Had surgery to remove a cancer on his vocal chords
Elton John's breakthrough album was introduced in 1970 and self titled. The album made it high on the charts. He continued to produced albums and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" made it to a number one spot on the charts. Elton John then formed his own label "Rocket Records" , in which he signed acts to. His first contract with a record company was by MCA for $8 million. In 1974 he collaborated with the Beatles' John Lennon and covered some of their songs. John continued to put out successful albums throughout the early 70s. In 1975 he released the album "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy", and announced his bisexuality in 1976 publicly. He worked with English singer KiKi Dee and recorded their duet "Don't go breaking my heart" (1976), which went straight to number one on the charts. Elton John has a record for selling out Madison Square Garden for seven nights. His supporting band is called the Elton John band. When he performed he had a very flamboyant style, which included outrageous outfits and eyewear. His concerts were always well received and popular. Elton John battled bulimia and drug and alcohol addiction throughout the 70s and part of the 1980s. Elton John held a tribute concert after John Lennon was murdered. In the early 80s the Elton John Band was back together and made many hit singles. In 1984, Elton married Renate Blauel. After four years of marriage, he decided he was gay and they divorced in In 1987, while on tour in Australia he had to have a surgery to remove a potentially cancerous nodule on his vocal cords. After the surgery, he was not able to reach the high falsetto range.

5. Donations, Success, and Records
BIOGRAPHY
Donations, Success, and Records
In 1990, he decided to combat AIDS and formed a foundation against the disease.
He also cleaned up his life and stopped drug use.
In 1997, his good friend Princess Diana died and he remade “Candle in the Wind” for her.
In 1998 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
He has record album sales and won multiple awards. He is one of Britain’s most accomplished and awarded musicians.
In 1990, he decided to combat AIDS. He did benefit concerts and formed the Elton John Aids Foundation. He was a major proponent in the fight against AIDS. He is actually working on a book about AIDS currently. He cleaned up his life in the early 90s and stopped using drugs, which gave him motivation for his fight against AIDS and more determination to raise funds for such a cause. In 1994, he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. One of my favorite pieces, because it is something I remember in detail from my childhood, is his work for Disney's "The Lion King" in He won an Academy Award for the album and continued to win prizes and accolades. In 1998 Queen Elizabeth II knighted him. He then became Sir Elton John. He was knighted in recognition of his contribution to music and his work with AIDS charities and fundraising. Elton John was good friends with Princess Diana, and when she died in 1997, Elton made a tribute called "Candle in the Wind", which is another song I remember from my childhood. This song was re-written from a previous 1973 song by the same title about Marilyn Monroe. Sales made from this song were donated to some of the charities in which Diana participated in. Elton continued to tour the world and release albums. "Songs from the West Coast" in 2001 was to be his last studio album, and he would concentrate on live performances. However, in 2004 he released another album with god reviews. In 2005, the United Kingdom made civil partnerships legal, and Elton then registered his relationship as a civil partnership with David Furnish.
Elton's recording career spanned 40 years and has about 220 million album sales. He has won multiple awards. He is one of Britain's most accomplished and awarded musicians. He is extremely talented and one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our time. His voice was once tenor, but now it is baritone. Classical and gospel music influence his piano playing. Today, he enjoys modern artists and music that are of the pop scene. He has remained committed to his music and to touring and continues to tour with popular artists and releases albums that he still records. He is the most successful pop artist of the 1970s and has remained one of Britain's most internationally known and praised musicians.

6. COMPOSITION HISTORIES
Tiny Dancer
Was recorded in August 1971 and released in 1972
Lyrics by Taupin
Platinum Song
About the spirit of California in 1970
Piano-based melody and pedal steel guitar and percussion
Covered by various artists, including country’s Tim McGraw
The song was recorded in August 1971 and released as a single in It features lyrics by Bernie Taupin and is a Platinum song.
The song was written by Taupin. He wanted to write about the spirit of California in 1970 and about all the women he met. The song is about his first wife, Maxine Fiebelman, as it was dedicated to her on the album it was released on. She was a dancer on an Elton John tour.
The song includes a piano-based melody during verses and features pedal steel guitar and percussion, but it transitions to strings and has a background choir. It is a long song at 6:12, making it one of the longer radio songs of that period. The song wasn't as popular when it was released, but it has become one of his most popular and famous songs. It was ranked number 387 on a Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2004.
There have been many other versions of the song and it has been covered by various artists of different genres. Some of the more notable versions are country's Tim McGraw and pianist Ben Folds.
The song was released February 7, 1971 under the Label Uni in the US. The producer was Gus Dudgeon. It is on John's fourth album, Madman Across the Water. It was certified Gold on May 19, 2005 and Platinum on August 19, 2011 by the RIAA.

7. COMPOSITION HISTORIES
Crocodile Rock
Written by John and Taupin and recorded in 1972.
Inspired by Australian band “Daddy Cool” and their single “Eagle Rock”
There is no official dance, but there was a dance called “The Alligator”
Features Farfisa Organ
Recorded as a song for the movie Gnomeo and Juliet
The song was written by John and Bernie Taupin and recorded in It was released later that year. When John discovered an Australian band "Daddy Cool" and heard their single "Eagle Rock", he was inspired to write Crocodile rock, because he was so impressed by it. The cover of his 1973 album which features this song, has a photo of Bernie Taupin wearing a badge to promote the Daddy Cool band. The song also is influenced by songs from the late 50s-early 60s. There never was an official "Crocodile Rock", but there was a dance that was called "The Alligator". The song is 3:23 in length and was released under the label MCA in the US and DJM in the UK. It was released on the album "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player". It became John's first US number one single. It was certified Gold in 1973 and Platinum in It mainly has a Farfisa Organ, which is played by John and his piano, that has a carnival-like sound. The rhythm of the piece is honky-tonk. The lyrics are nostalgic and talked about rock 'n' roll and a woman named Suzie, who is associated with the music during that time period. The song is performed by some of the Elton John band members-Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson. "Crocodile Rock" is a self-referential song. It is a song about itself. There have been a few covers and tributes throughout the past thirty years. Elton John recorded songs for the 2011 movie Gnomeo and Juliet, including a cover with Nelly Furtado that played on the lyrics and replaced "Me and Susie" with "Gnomeo and Juliet".

8. COMPOSITION HISTORIES
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Ballad written by Taupin and composed by Elton
Influenced by 1970s soft rock
Some of John’s best lyrics
Certified Platinum after being released in 1973
Title of the song taken from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz
Features some really high vocal notes registered by Elton John
This song is a ballad and was written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John, who composed it. It is on the album by the same name. Its style and production is influenced mostly by 1970s soft rock. Many critics call it John's best song. It was released in 1973 and became popular quick. It has been certified Platinum. The song comes from the popular 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. The title of the song is taken from the movie, in which the main character Dorothy and her friends are told to follow the yellow brick road to find the magical Wizard of Oz. In the end, they found that they already had what they were looking for. The road goes to Emerald City in Oz (a metaphor for a road that leads to life answers or fantasies). The movie was the first movie that Bernie Taupin had ever seen, so he related the road to his own life, wherein he wanted to "get back to his roots". It references Elton John's fame and fortune, and how that contrasted Taupin's idea to stay "low key". The piece features some really high vocal notes registered by Elton John.
The producer of the piece was Gus Dudgeon and it is 3:11 long. It was released under the label MCA in the US. It received strong reviews from critics. It was so popular, that Ben and Jerry's created an ice cream flavor Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road to honor him. On their 2010 list, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked this song as 380 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is still performed live by John often today, but he has to transpose the key down, because he cannot hit the high falsetto notes in the chorus.

9. COMPOSITION HISTORIES
Candle in the Wind (1997 Version)
Re-written and re-recorded of Elton’s own version of a 1973 song of the same title
Released as a tribute to his friend Princess Diana, who died
It is the “best-selling single of all time”
John performed it live only once, at Princess Diana’s funeral on Sept. 6, 1997
It hit all kinds of records, and the profits from sales were donated to the Diana Memorial Fund
Candle in the Wind was re-written and re-recorded in 1997, from Elton John's own version of a 1973 song of the same title. It was released as a tribute song to Princess Diana. The RIAA stated that it is the "best-selling single of all time". The Guinness Book of World Records 2009 also states that the song is the "biggest selling single since US and UK single charts started in 1950s." It is the best selling single in the world of all time. It has sold over 33 million copies. It is the only single ever certified Diamond in the US. It also won a Grammy Award. It was released in September of 1997.
Princess Diana (of Wales) was killed in a car crash in Paris. Elton John had been very good friends with her. He had lost another friend earlier that year,. so after Diana's death he became depressed and decided to write a tribute piece to her. He and Bernie Taupin re-wrote and revised lyrics to John's older song. John performed it live only once, at Princess Diana's funeral on September 6, It is a very special song to Elton John and he has vowed to never perform it live again, unless her sons requested it.
The single became one of the fastest selling and hit all kinds of records and numbers. It performed very well on the charts and all royalties and record company profits were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

10. COMPOSITION HISTORIES
Something About the Way You Look Tonight
Released in 1997 and was dedicated in memory of Versace, who was murdered that year
The music video features supermodels, although John doesn’t care for videos and not many of his songs have one
Elton John plays the piano and is accompanied by his band
This is another song that was released in 1997 by John. It was the first single from the album The Big Picture. The song and music video were dedicated to the memory of Gianni Versace, an Italian Fashion designer, who was murdered in that same year. The video had actors and actresses from a UK TV program called This Life. It also had supermodels Kate Moss and Sophie Dahl. Elton John has since revealed that he finds videos to be loathsome, and after this album (The Big Picture) he has refrained from appearing in his own videos, unless as a Cameo. The Song became the best selling single in UK history and remained number one for over a month. Elton John plays the piano and gives vocals. Davey Johnstone plays guitars with John Jorgenson. Bob Birch plays bass and Guy Babylon keyboards. The percussion and drums are played by Charlie Morgan and Paul Carrack plays the organ. The strings portion of the song was arranged by Guy Babylon and Anne Dudley and were conducted by Anne.

11. LISTENING GUIDE Tiny Dancer
Three main sections-Verse, Pre-chorus, and Chorus
Begins with solo piano playing, using C major and F major
Left hand really stands out throughout the piece
Rich chorus full of orchestra and texture
There are three main sections to this song: the verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. They are as follows:
Section 1-The Verse
0:01-0:14 The Introduction is an 8-bar intro and the first part of the verse is just solo piano playing. The chords are simply a C major and F major played over a C pedal tone. The left hand gives it harmonic counterpoint. The thing that you hear the most is an array of riffs. Throughout the song no riff is repeated. The riffs have accented up beats, suspensions, and 9-3 resolutions that are based on simple harmonies.
0:17-2:00 The opening section has right had phrasing that is smooth texture throughout. It has a 16 bar rhythm and beat that makes for a soft rest for the melody, but still has rhythmic energy. 0:40-1:45 The left hand playing really stands out. The notes are articulated and phrased so they ring out and stand on their own. With his phrasing though, it is hard to differentiate which hand is playing what note, as they are sort of woven together. When the first verse starts, he shifts down to a lower inversion of the C chord, but keeps same arpeggio style as the intro. The verse is lengthy and is structured in A-A-B-A format. The B section has lots of harmonic movement, compared to C-F harmony in A parts. At the end of B-part in verse one they introduce the pedal steel guitar (often used in country music). It adds a nice statement and lots of character to the song.
1:00 At the end, the entire band finally comes in and supports it. It takes 2 minutes to get through 2 verses and builds from solo piano to full band and backup choir.
Section 2-Pre-Chorus
2:10 The song goes into a 7-bar section that is called pre-chorus. He switches to an A flat chord and the most distinctive thing about this section is the temp goes to a march. He plays full chords on 8th notes beat that give it a marching feel
Section 3-The Chorus
2:30 The chorus is full of orchestra richness and there are many textured crescendos used throughout and layering of instruments. The beat goes back to 16-beat rhythm here and you can hear the guitars, base, drums, and the full string set. If you listen closely enough, you can hear the background singers. I think that the producer did a good job of incorporating all the orchestra and choir into the song, without taking away from John's beautiful piano playing.
3:00 This is the part where he hits the really high vocal notes. It is amazing to hear the falsetto go along with the wonderful piano playing.
5:46 The end of the song goes back to solo piano and the original beat and harmony to finish it off.

12. LISTENING GUIDE Candle in the Wind
Arepeggiating style of playing throughout and homophonic texture
Sing able melody that is embellished by John’s playing
Fancy riffs used to enhance the piece
0:01-0:08 The Introduction starts off with a piano riff and it is a 2-bar descending pattern from B down to E (V to I). He makes 4 note chords (triad plus one note doubled an octave higher). The introduction is very short and at 10 seconds he begins the vocals and verse.
0:10 After the intro, he goes into an arpeggiating style of playing. The structure is a simple formal structure and there is a homophonic texture. The song is a sing able melody that is embellished by Elton John.
0:14-:038 The lyrics are some of Toupin's best. The verse is I-IV repeated through 8 bars. It is a pretty simple song structurally and harmonically as well. The chorus is also 8 bars with a 2-bar turnaround.
0:42 The chorus begins at 42 seconds. Elton John ads some fancy riffs into his piano playing to enhance the lyrics and his temple decreases at the end of the chorus again to mainly emphasize the great lyrics.
1:28The second verse begins after the chorus. The focus shifts to the V of the scale (or dominant). The Second verse is very similar to tone and style as the first verse.
1:58 The chorus comes in again and he repeats the lyrics and overall structure of the chorus. After the chorus he plays more fancy riffs and fills in the time until the third verse.
2:30-2:40 He plays a descending pattern of chords and makes four note chords similar to his introduction. This gives a bridge from the chorus into the last verse.
2:40-3:10 This is the last verse and includes more touching lyrics and similar chords and styles to the other verses before it.
The structure of the piece is: Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus. Overall it's a pretty simple song, but still songs amazing. It is the lyrics that count in this one and he sings them beautifully, each having deep meaning and value.

13. Crocodile Rock-Intro and Verse 1
LISTENING GUIDE
Crocodile Rock-Intro and Verse 1
Originally recorded with Farfisa organ
Pop chord progression of I-VI-IV-V, creates retro 60s sound
Played with a full band
Simple lyrics, but upbeat tempo and quick meter make it exciting
Makes you want to dance!
Is in the key of G and originally recorded with a Farfisa organ (one that has a cheesy sound). Harmonically, this song uses a pop chord progression I-VI-IV-V. It helps create the retro 60s sound for the song.
0:01-0:15 The intro goes for about 15 seconds and at that mark the verse begins. The introduction is a fast chord progression and has a rock and roll style and is full of chord riffs and the tempo is very quick and exciting.
0:25 During the verse he switches to a variation of the intro progression, a I-iii-IV-V. The piano is kind of reserved throughout the song. The piano is a supporting role for the arrangement in terms of harmony and rhythm. The rhythm is very rock n roll and like the retro 60s it is about. 1:20 There are a couple sections where he sings la-la-la around 1:20 and again at 2:20. You can really hear the band on these sections. The lyrics are simple, but provide an upbeat tempo and quick meter that make it exciting.

14. BIBLIOGRAPHY "Elton John Biography." Biography.com Web. 19 Feb. 2012.
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"Sir Elton John Biography." The Biography Channel (UK).com Web. 19 Feb
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"Candle in the Wind 1973 & 1997". The Pop History Dig.com Web. 19 Feb
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"Listen to Music E-Text Book". Listen to the Music-Music Appreciation. Ferrin, Craig (2010).
Kendall Hunt Publishing. Dubuque, IA.
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See slide for all references used