Bernie Taupin Is A Godawful Lyricist Whose Lyrics Sound Amazing Coming Out Of Elton John's Mouth — ILM ARTIST POLL #41: ELTON JOHN

Never realized it officially had a parenthetical title.

I skipped it to. I'll sing along when it's on the radio but never one of my favorites.

^^ disgusting savages itt

I like the guitar slides.

and much much much better than "Space Oddity"

disagree on almost every level - Space Oddity much more evocative of the narrator's alienation ("tell my wife I love her very much/she knows" cuts several different ways) and much more disorienting sonically, pings and beeps orbiting around the listener. Rocket Man is good but it's not THAT good.

I have no idea what no. 1 is btw

You'll find out soon, sugar bear.

i think "space oddity" is a league above "rocket man," for the reasons shakey lays out and more. and i love "rocket man." it would've been fitting, though, for bernie's most obvi bowie moment to win the poll after all the bowie discussion herein.

01. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) [655 points, 21 votes, 5 first place votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia-s7rY175k

this poll has repped for elton really well. not the biggest fan of #1 though.

A personal poll first: my #1 is the poll #1. Yay!

"i miss the earth so much/i miss my wife" > "tell my wife i love her very much/she knows"

Wow it was close.

Hurray at this being number one, easily my favourite song of his. The "DAMMIT, Listen to me good" bit gets me every single time.

I had no idea either, I think only the Neil Young poll has kept it under wraps all the way

I'm glad this poll exists but it made me realize that I don't really like Elton John, only a tiny subset before he became a chart topping machine.

Thanks for running this Johnny!

I like and voted for "Saved My Life" but don't get what makes this so #1-worthy endearing. Thought either "Tiny Dancer" or "Your Song" would be on top.

"i miss the earth so much/i miss my wife" > "tell my wife i love her very much/she knows"

Can I just...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H06kpn2C3Fk

Not quite my #1, but great way to finish.

Some radio stations refused to play or altered the song, due to the use of the phrase "Damn it" in the second verse.(citation needed)

I would hope so--that sounds a little far-fetched. (I went to Wikipedia to see if the song had been used in some '70s film, often an explanation for why certain songs are still so evocative for me. Apparently not, though.)

disagree on almost every level - Space Oddity much more evocative of the narrator's alienation ("tell my wife I love her very much/she knows" cuts several different ways) and much more disorienting sonically, pings and beeps orbiting around the listener. Rocket Man is good but it's not THAT good.

As a Bowie fan, I've never thought "Space Oddity" sounds anything other than a tentative attempt at a hit. "Rocket Man" has those excellent instrumental parts (those slides) and is a melodic wonder.

I've said it before and I hope I'll say it again - Johnny Fever polls are the best polls. Thanks a ton.

I've had great fun these last two weeks, walking round town with my big headphones on and glowering at delinquents; little did they know I'm checking out something like Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

oh, right. this is a song I've read about but never knowingly heard. "singing like a princess perched in her electric chair" and "we've all gone crazy lately" are good lines. The falsetto "oowoowoos" are VERY Brian Wilson. forced "bear/dear" rhyme is unfortunate. this is pretty good I guess. is it a solo piano thing or is there a full instrumental version?

xp

weird #1 but whatever
dope results overall
thx for puttin it all together

I thought "A Word in Spanish" would top :(

Thanks e'rybody! Here's the full rundown:

1 	Someone Saved My Life Tonight 	5 	21 	655
2 	Rocket Man 	3 	26 	650
3 	Tiny Dancer 		24 	631
4 	Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 	2 	21 	531
5 	Bennie And The Jets 	4 	18 	486
6 	Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding 	2 	17 	478
7 	I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues 	2 	17 	452
8 	Levon 		21 	448
9 	I'm Still Standing 		15 	371
10 	Your Song 	2 	13 	365
11 	Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting 	1 	16 	363
12 	Madman Across The Water 	1 	14 	345
13 	Philadelphia Freedom 	1 	13 	325
14 	Grey Seal 		14 	306
15 	Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters 	2 	12 	302
16 	The Bitch Is Back 		15 	293
17 	Take Me To The Pilot 		14 	286
18 	Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 	1 	12 	261
19 	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 		12 	261
20 	Honky Cat 		13 	254
21 	Burn Down The Mission 	1 	9 	244
22 	Daniel 		11 	219
23 	Elderberry Wine 	1 	9 	214
24 	Candle In The Wind 		11 	201
25 	Sacrifice 		9 	183
26 	Amoreena 	1 	8 	173
27 	Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 		7 	147
28 	Tower Of Babel 		6 	139
29 	Harmony 		5 	138
30 	Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy 		6 	131
31 	All The Girls Love Alice 		7 	129
32 	The Ballad Of Danny Bailey 		5 	124
33 	I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 		7 	123
34 	Mellow 		7 	115
35 	Crocodile Rock 		5 	113
36 	My Father's Gun 		5 	111
37 	High Flying Bird 		4 	108
38 	I've Seen That Movie Too 		5 	95
39 	Razor Face 		4 	93
40 	I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford) 		5 	90
41 	The Last Song 		4 	89
42 	We All Fall In Love Sometimes 	1 	3 	87
43 	Where To Now St. Peter? 		4 	85
44 	Island Girl 		5 	84
45 	Are You Ready For Love? 		4 	83
45 	Holiday Inn 		4 	83
47 	Blue Eyes 		3 	83
48 	Border Song 		5 	82
49 	Too Low For Zero 		4 	81
50 	Little Jeannie 		4 	73
	I Want Love 		4 	71
	Original Sin 		2 	66
	I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself 		3 	64
	Bitter Fingers 		3 	63
	Better Off Dead 		3 	61
	Sad Songs (Say So Much) 		3 	60
	Grow Some Funk Of Your Own 		3 	59
	Mama Can't Buy You Love 		3 	59
	This Song Has No Title 		3 	57
	Sixty Years On 		3 	56
	Empty Garden 		3 	54
	The Cage 		3 	52
	Song For Guy 	1 	2 	52
	Blues For My Baby And Me 		2 	49
	Gotta Get A Meal Ticket 		2 	49
	Crystal 		2 	47
	I'm Gonna Be A Teenage Idol 		2 	47
	Teacher I Need You 		2 	47
	Bad Side Of The Moon 		2 	46
	Friends 		2 	46
	Whatever Gets You Through The Night 		2 	46
	Curtains 		2 	42
	Lady Samantha 		2 	42
	Country Comfort 	1 	1 	40
	Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 		2 	39
	Sartorial Eloquence 		2 	39
	Part-Time Love 		2 	38
	Passengers 		2 	38
	Kiss The Bride 		2 	37
	Ego 		1 	36
	Dirty Little Girl 		2 	30
	Grimsby 		1 	30
	A Word In Spanish 		2 	29
	Rotten Peaches 		2 	29
	Something About The Way You Look Tonight 		1 	28
	Son Of Your Father 		1 	28
	Your Sister Can't Twist But She Can Rock and Roll  		1 	28
	Club At The End Of The Street 		2 	27
	Can I Put You On 		2 	26
	Street Kids 		1 	26
	Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun 		1 	25
	Tonight 		1 	25
	Come Down In Time 		1 	24
	Blues For Baby And Me 		1 	23
	Can You Feel The Love Tonight 		1 	23
	Hard Luck Story 		1 	23
	Nikita 		1 	23
	Writing 		1 	22
	Hercules 		1 	21
	If It Wasn't For Bad 		1 	21
	Roy Rogers 		1 	21
	No Shoe Strings On Louise 		1 	20
	Nobody Wins 		1 	20
	Sweet Painted Lady 		1 	20
	All The Nasties 		1 	19
	Healing Hands 		1 	18
	Circle Of Life 		1 	17
	Cold As Christmas 		1 	17
	Ticking 		1 	17
	Step Into Christmas 		1 	16
	This Train Don't Stop There Anymore 		1 	15
	Indian Sunset 		1 	14
	Pain 		1 	14
	Susie (Dramas) 		1 	14
	Empty Sky 		1 	13
	Dark Diamond 		1 	12
	Made In England 		1 	12
	Save Rock N Roll (Fall Out Boy Featuring Elton John) 		1 	12
	Skyline Pigeon 		1 	12

No surprise - I'm the only voter for my number one tune.

woe @ Original Sin not placing
actual physical pain @ Just Like Belgium failing entirely

#51 "I Want Love"
damn so close

#69 "Friends"
#70 "Whatever Gets You Through The Night"
didn't expect much love for these, but i had my hopes up.

#73 "Country Comfort"
i assumed this was more of a fan favorite.

I could only manage half a ballot, but had Song For Guy as my number one

figured "someone saved my life" for a strong finish tho #1's a mild surprise.

both a nasty piece of work and utterly transcendent. life is rarely this honest, let alone pop. plus that hook.

1. “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” (40)
2. “Tiny Dancer” (36)
3. “Rocket Man” (33)
4. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (30)
5. “Levon” (28)
6. “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” (26)
7. “High Flying Bird” (25)
8. “Your Song” (24)
9. “Amoreena” (23)
10. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (22)
11. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (21)
12. “Philadelphia Freedom” (20)

Hadn't really thought about it till now, but eight ballads.

Thanks, JF.

I love Someone Saved My Life Tonight, btw, and completely forgot to include it on my ballot, so I'm glad other people picked up my slack. I owe y'all one.

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
The Last Song
Bennie And The Jets
Rocket Man
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elderberry Wine
Sartorial Eloquence
Too Low For Zero
The Bitch Is Back
Candle In The Wind
Tower Of Babel
Honky Cat
I'm Still Standing
Sacrifice
Mellow
Tiny Dancer
Levon
Take Me To The Pilot
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

mona lisas and mad hatters
sorry seems to be the hardest word
rocket man
harmony
bennie and the jets
captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy
love lies bleeding
where to now st. peter
blues for baby and me
grey seal
we all fall in love sometimes
levon
i want love
tiny dancer
saturday night's alright for fighting - 17
philadelphia freedom
elderberry wine
amoreena
take me to the pilot
all the girls love alice

Sartorial Eloquence wuz robbed, btw!

great poll! someone should seriously send this thread to the big man he'd get a kick out of it i'm sure!

Grimsby was robbed!

1. Your Song
2. I'm Still Standing
3. Burn Down The Mission
4. Blue Eyes
5. Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
6. We All Fall In Love Sometimes
7. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
8. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
9. Bennie And The Jets
10. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
11. Tiny Dancer
12. Take Me To The Pilot
13. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
14. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
15. Lady Samantha
16. Levon
17. Rocket Man
18. Daniel
19. Kiss The Bride
20. Part-Time Love

albums:
1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
2. Madman Across The Water
3. Too Low For Zero
4. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
5. Tumbleweed Connection

totally confused by the #1, had no idea anybody anyway rated that song in the grand scheme of EJ's catalog. wish i had voted for "Tiny Dancer," kind of assumed that a vote for it would help it inch toward a #1 over a song i like more, but i was wrong.

tracks:
Amoreena
Levon
Bennie And The Jets
Your Song
The Bitch Is Back
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
Kiss The Bride
Madman Across The Water
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Razor Face
I’ve Seen That Movie Too
Dirty Little Girl
The Cage
I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Sixty Years On
Club At The End of the Street
Empty Sky
Save Rock N Roll (Fall Out Boy featuring Elton John)

albums:
Tumbleweed Connection
Madman Across The Water
Caribou
Honky Chateau
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Philadelphia Freedom
I'm Still Standing
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Tiny Dancer
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Sacrifice
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Nikita
Empty Garden
Madman Across the Water (version with Mick Ronson)
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That
Grey Seal
Crocodile Rock
A Word in Spanish
Candle in the Wind
Daniel
All the Girls Like Alice
Club at the End of the Street
Bennie and the Jets

"Nikita" didn't appear, no?

my ballot:

1. I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
2. The Bitch is Back
3. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
4. Saturday Night’s…
5. Blue Eyes
6. Grow Some Funk of Your Own
7. Harmony
8. Grey Seal
9. Hard Luck Story
10. I Think I’m Gonna Kill Myself
11. I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
13. Bitter Fingers
14. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
15. Cold As Christmas
16. Love Lies Bleeding
17. This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore
18. Mellow
19. All The Young Girls Love Alice
20. I Feel Like a Bullet From the Gun of Robert Ford

01. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) [655 points, 21 votes, 5 first place votes]

this makes me happy! by far my fave elton. good job you guys!

So glad Rocket Man came in so high --- that chorus, much like GBYBR, just absolutely gives me chills and tearyness for no real explicable reason except Elton's delivery

no Nikita, hence my sad sad bolding

"Someone Saved" and "Goodbye" bot grate on me -- i won't say it's cause they're ballads or because of the production sheen or the strings because EJ has lots of songs with those qualities that i love, but they both have this overbearing swaying inanity to them.

this poll has made me realize that I may actually prefer Billy Joel to Elton John, in that the former's angry self-righteous neurosis and crippling neediness are perhaps more interesting to me than John's goofy cartoon melodramas. not sure I agree with Alfred that John is "weirder". (all things being equal I would rather listen to neither of them)

"all things being equal I would rather listen to neither of them"

^^^ new board description

I think I like Elton slightly more because Elton has a, i dunno, joie de vivre? in his delivery ...even if the lyrics can get into Billy Joel bitter sarcasm territory, he never telegraphs that bitterness somehow

not to say I don't love Billy Joel. Oh how I very much do.

There's no shortage of Billy Joel songs I like, but Elton can sing that motherfucker under the table.

EJ is toooootally weirder than BJ. the way an earjob is weirder than a blowjob.

(or could've at one point) xp

bwahaha lol some dude