When I heard he gave the final farewell concert last night of his goodbye tour, I was reminded of the music he put out in the mid and late 1980s and where I was at the time.
Whenever I hear “Nikita”, I am taken back to that time in the spring of 1986 when I was working for a family who owned a greenhouse, and heard that song – in some unconventional ways.
Pre-history
Long before I really started listening to music in the fall of 1984, Elton John had been ringing up the hits. I don’t have a lot of musical memories before that time, but I do recall, more than any other song, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, a duet he recorded with Kiki Dee.
Long before I really started listening to music in the fall of 1984, Elton John had been ringing up the hits. I don’t have a lot of musical memories before that time, but I do recall, more than any other song, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, a duet he recorded with Kiki Dee.
He had a string of hits in the 1970s that included “Rocket Man”; “Honky Cat”; “Philadelphia Freedom”; “Benny and the Jets”; “Saturday Night’s All Right for Fighting”; “Crocodile Rock”; “Daniel”; “Candle in the Wind”; “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”; “The Bitch is Back”; “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”; “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”; “Mama Can’t Buy You Love”.
At the dawn of the decade, the hits kept on coming for Elton John, including, “I’m Still Standing”; “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues”; “Sad Songs (Say Much)”; and more.
Live Aid
Upon further reflection, my first real exposure to Elton John was in Live Aid in the summer of 1985, where he performed “Benny and the Jets”; “Rocket Man”; and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, where he reunited with Kiki Dee. He also introduced George Michael who sang, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.
Upon further reflection, my first real exposure to Elton John was in Live Aid in the summer of 1985, where he performed “Benny and the Jets”; “Rocket Man”; and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, where he reunited with Kiki Dee. He also introduced George Michael who sang, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.
That was his existing material though. It was later that year that I heard my first new songs from Elton John.
Ice on Fire
Near the end of 1985, Elton John released the album, “Ice on Fire”. The first single was “Nikita”, which went all the way to number seven on he Billboard Hot 100.
Near the end of 1985, Elton John released the album, “Ice on Fire”. The first single was “Nikita”, which went all the way to number seven on he Billboard Hot 100.
Hey Nikita
During the teacher’s convention break in mid-February of 1986, I got a job at a greenhouse south and west of Coaldale on the Jail Road. I worked for a married couple about the same age as my parents, and they had three sons who helped out at the greenhouse.
During the teacher’s convention break in mid-February of 1986, I got a job at a greenhouse south and west of Coaldale on the Jail Road. I worked for a married couple about the same age as my parents, and they had three sons who helped out at the greenhouse.
Their middle son, Bob, was the one I worked with most closely. He loved music and always had it playing when we worked. One day, he rigged up this rickety old tape deck and we listened to – “Fire and Ice” – and he mouthed the words to “Nikita”.
A few days later, I was working with some other staff, and he strolled into the greenhouse, singing, “Oh Nikita”. It was more talking than singing, and by far the worst rendition of the song, any Elton John song, I ever heard.
Yet, every time I hear Nikita, that day and that version come to mind.
Thanks Bob.
Duet
Elton John also teamed up with George Michael on another song on “Ice on Fire”. It was called “Wrap Her Up”, and went to number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. I liked the song and, through the mists of time, thought it came out before “Nikita”, but I am incorrect.
Elton John also teamed up with George Michael on another song on “Ice on Fire”. It was called “Wrap Her Up”, and went to number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. I liked the song and, through the mists of time, thought it came out before “Nikita”, but I am incorrect.
It was a prelude to a much more popular, and significant ensemble Elton John would appear in.
That’s What Friends are For
I think it was on “Entertainment Tonight” that I first heard about a group called Dionne and Friends. It was made up of Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John. They were singing a song called "That's What Friends are for". I think the music video debuted on “Entertainment Tonight”
I think it was on “Entertainment Tonight” that I first heard about a group called Dionne and Friends. It was made up of Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John. They were singing a song called "That's What Friends are for". I think the music video debuted on “Entertainment Tonight”
In any event, I recall that intro with Stevie Wonder playing harmonica.
"That's What Friends are for" is still one of my favourite songs.
It was more than a song, it was a fundraiser for the American Foundation for AIDS Research and raised more than $3 million.
“That’s What Friends Are For” went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying their four weeks, and was the top single of 1986. It also won Grammys for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for Dionne and Friends, and Song of the Year for writers Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.
Reg Strikes Back
Elton John released what he called his comeback album in 1988, and it had a clever title. It was called “Reg Strikes Back” which I thought was cool, because Elton John’s real name is Reginald Dwight.
Elton John released what he called his comeback album in 1988, and it had a clever title. It was called “Reg Strikes Back” which I thought was cool, because Elton John’s real name is Reginald Dwight.
The song I recall best from that album is “I Don’t Want to go on With You Like That”, which went all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. At the end of August of 1988, I was heading back to university with my parents and my best friend of the time Chris Vining. Casey Kasem’s Top 40 Countdown was on the radio, and that’s where I learned an interesting fact. “I Don’t Want to go on With You Like” made history. It was one of two songs to make the countdown starting with the words “I don’t want…” The other was “I Don’t Want to Live Without Your Love” by Chicago.
Tribute songs
In Grade 11 and 12, I used to listen to this request show on 1090 CHEC called “Rock and Roll Your Own”. One night, this caller requested this song called “Empty Garden”, pointing out it is a tribute to singer John Lennon.
In Grade 11 and 12, I used to listen to this request show on 1090 CHEC called “Rock and Roll Your Own”. One night, this caller requested this song called “Empty Garden”, pointing out it is a tribute to singer John Lennon.
It turns out the song came out in 1982, just 15 months after Lennon was killed by a crazed fan in New York.
“Empty Garden:” wasn’t the first tribute song Elton John recorded. He also wrote a stirring ode to Marilyn Monroe called “Candle in the Wind”, back in 1973 and released it in 1974. I was surprised it was that old, but that was due to a couple things. One was the fact a live version of “Candle in the Wind” was recorded in 1986, released in 1987, and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. That version earned a 1988 Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The other was the fact it had a resurgence when he released “Candle in the Wind 1997” as a tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Stray thoughts
I have a couple other odd memories of Elton John.
I have a couple other odd memories of Elton John.
In 1987, I was living in residence at the University of Alberta, and this friend of mine named Roy Aggarwal lived across the hall. He had a great stereo and loved music. He took to pulling all nighters, and did one to clean his room. I talked to him just before I went to bed, and he said he had the perfect sound to keep him company. He listened to this greatest hits album of Elton John’s. He showed me the tape and even then I recognized virtually all the songs.
When I saw “Sad Songs”, I started to sing what I thought was the song. As I did, I realized I was singing “There’ll be Sad Songs” by Billy Ocean.
“That’s not it,” Roy said at that exact moment too. We both laughed.
As I went to bed, I heard Roy sing a little bit of “Little Jeannie” – and “Sad Songs”
A couple years later I came in possession of one of those compilation tapes made up of a bunch of different songs. This one was some of “the greatest love songs”. Again, I heard an Elton John song I had never heard before, called “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”.
Again, I discovered it was actually old. “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word” came out in 1976, where it went all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
Parting thoughts
To say Elton John is prolific is an understatement, given how many times I kept discovering songs he had recorded long before I heard them.
To say Elton John is prolific is an understatement, given how many times I kept discovering songs he had recorded long before I heard them.
I never really appreciated his music, because I really didn’t like his stage persona. That all changed over time as I matured and went out into the world.
Not only did I appreciate his work, and the depth of his talent, but admired the trailblazer he was.
That point was driven home a few years ago when I saw the movie “Rocket Man” about his life.
It shed a light not only on the artist, but the struggles and challenges he faced.
As impressive as an artist as Elton John is, he is an even more impressive human being.
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