Elton John: Music Man (FULL MOVIE)

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I mean, I'm a kid from England who's... This is fantasy land for me. I mean, this is an incredible thrill. I mean, it's just like having your first hit record, but having an Oscar is so wow. ♪ [narrator] Elton John's unique blend of Pop and Rock styles turned him into one of the biggest music icons of the 20th century. He was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and knighted in 1998. It's a great honor to work with him. Perhaps the only man of his generation who is still getting better. [man] Elton John's music is the soundtrack of our lives. It will be around forever. There are kids, not yet born, who will be singing along to Elton John songs. Just use your imagination, that's the great thing about being a writer, musician, you get to use your imagination so much. [woman] He's had so much success, let's be honest about Elton John he's had a tremendous career, he's incredible, you know, he's got Oscar, he's got Grammys and he is one of the most recognizable names in the music industry. [narrator] For most of the '70s, Elton John was a hit making machine churning out 25 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, and six number one hits. [man] His music has got a timeless quality. And he may be pushing 70, but there's no way he's retiring. [woman] And I love that he's a father now too so I think he's gonna carry on his music legacy to his kids but I also think he's gonna continue working in the film industry, creating soundtracks. [narrator] His rich tenor and gospel chorded piano boosted by aggressive string arrangements established a unique musical formula while he reveled in an extravagant public image. At the start of the '90s, John confessed the personal cost of that extravagance. Drug abuse, depression, bulimia and revealed as well, his impressive fight to regain control of his personal life. [Elton] I've been given a second chance at living a decent life. I made a complete hash of the first one and I think the chance I've been given again, not many people get that in life. Plus, I had everything in my life I had to be grateful for I had everything anybody wanted, except personal happiness. To do that I had to reach the bottom of the depths of my soul and find myself again. And I came out of it unscathed which is a miracle really, considering the positions and situations I got myself into and how far my drug abuse took me and getting a second chance is pretty dam special to me. [narrator] Since the late '80s he has been deeply involved in the fight against AIDS and while his critical stature has varied over the years his melodic gifts have proved undeniable. He's had tremendous success on Broadway and there's just no stopping the Elton John Legacy. [man] He continues to make new music. Make great new music as well. Music is evolving all the time he wants to change with it, and he still has the love of performing and the audiences love him, so... Long may Elton reign. Elton John Music Man ♪ [narrator] Sir Elton John is one of the most highly acclaimed and successful solo artists of all time. He has received 37 gold and 27 multi-platinum albums has sold more that 250 million records world wide and holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time. Over the five decades since his career began in 1969 he has played more than 3,500 concerts in over 80 countries. And at the 2013 Men of the Year GQ awards he was presented with the Genius award. Last night I was an icon, tonight I'm a genius, tomorrow an asshole. [laughter] Wilko Johnson is a hero of mine, I remember seeing Dr. Feelgood so many times. and I wanna say something about him tonight. I've said all I can about myself without getting into more trouble. There's a band you heard earlier called The Stripes they idolized Dr. Feelgood and Wilko. And, a couple of weeks ago I said to them, "You have to meet this man." Because it's like passing on the baton. It's very important that you should meet the people you really love. And so we organized a secret gig at Canvey Island, which sold out in about two minutes and they played, and Wilko came down and met them and made their lives by saying hello and he actually came on stage and played with 'em and spent a lot of time with 'em that, to a young band, to someone who, they're only 16 and 17 year old boys from Ireland kinda validates what they do, it's so important to do that. For this man to take time out and we all know his personal story at the moment and the beauty of what he's going through and telling that he's too busy living life to think about [beep] dying. And for him to do that... [audience applauding] to go and meet these boys who loved him so much just shows you the beauty of music and what it can do. And no matter who you love and who you don't love that's what music does to us all. And I can't thank you enough for that. It's just, you know, if I could give you this award, I will. You can have that. [audience cheering] You're the [beep] genius here. [narrator] Elton John is the third most successful artist in the history of the American charts, behind only Elvis and The Beatles. He has had 56 Top 40 singles in the United States at total second only to Elvis Presley. He achieved seven number on albums in the three and a half period from 1972 to 1975. A period of concentrated success surpassed only by The Beatles. Elton is famed for his collaboration with other musical superstars and one collaboration in particular, in 2001, got the whole world talking. Elton John has a long relationship with the Grammy Awards he's been a very successful Grammy winner over the years, but probably the moment that stands out as most identified with Elton John at the Grammys came in 2001 when he performed a very surprising duet that was with Eminem who'd had a huge hit with Dido, with "Stan." And he'd got a lot of negativity from the homosexual community for being perceived as homophobic at Eminem. So Elton John decided to perform with him, and so that was a surprise. ♪ Tea's gone cold I'm wondering why ♪ ♪ I got out of bed at all ♪ ♪ The morning rain Clouds up my window ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't see at all ♪ [Sandro] And at the end of the show they embraced. And it was kind of like two worlds colliding if you will, and showing the uniting, healing power of music. A great musical moment, and also a symbolic gesture. [narrator] Another collaboration that will go down in history was Elton's collaboration with John Lennon in 1974. [woman] This I love, because this song, "Whatever gets you through the night" was the only number one solo song John Lennon ever had during his lifetime. And John Lennon was very skeptical about the whole song and, you know, Elton John performed backing vocals and harmony and he just said, "This is gonna be a number one single for you." John Lennon didn't believe him and he said, "If it does go number one I will appear at one of your concerts." Well, the song went number one, and John Lennon showed up at Elton John's Madison Square Garden performance and together they performed it live and it was John Lennon's last major concert appearance. [narrator] The appearance of John Lennon at Elton's concert remains the single most memorable concert for Elton, his band, and crew and virtually everyone else who was lucky enough to be there. Elton John has had a career like no other and to truly gage the magnitude of his journey we have to start from the beginning. ♪ Singer, songwriter, composer and icon Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Middlesex, England. From a very early age it was clear he had a real passion for music. And much to his family's surprise he taught himself to play the piano when he was just four years old. [Sandro] Music dominated Elton John's childhood. From the age of eight he was singing and playing piano at family gatherings and public spaces. He was raised in his maternal grandparents house so he had a very unique beginning and a very different name to what we're used to. [narrator] He soon proved to be a great talent winning a scholarship to a youth program at The Royal Academy of Music, in London. [Sandro] Even though he was being taught Bach Bill Haley and The Comets was another great interest of his. So he was listening to classic, early rock n roll as well as classical music. And as his style developed it was a kind of fusion of the two. So he was classically trained, but he had a ear for popular music. [narrator] Elton had a difficult relationship with father, Stanley Dwight, a member of the Royal Air Force. His parents divorced when he was only a teenager and he and his father frequently argued about which direction Elton's life was going in. Elton is such a colorful personality but he was raised in a very conservative household and his dad wanted him to go into something stable, like banking. [Sandro] Like a lot of kids, Elton rebelled against his father. And the reason that he started wearing eccentric outfits in stage later dressing up as everything from Donald Duck to the Statue of Liberty was, I think, traced back to the fact that his father insisted he always dressed neat and sensibly at all times. [narrator] Captivated by the early sounds of rock n roll Elton wanted to pursue a career in pop music. And as a result, dropped out of school at the age of 17 to pursue his dream. Much to his father's dismay, he started playing with a group called Bluesology and he patched his stage name together from the names of two members of the group. [Sandro] Elton John is fantastic as a name. Now, the John came from Long John Baldry a musician that he admired and was backing with his band, Bluesology. And the Elton came from the first name of the saxophonist in his group Bluesology, Elton Dean. And so Elton John, a name that was meant to be famous. [Kristyn] You know, they played around the area and Elton sort of flip-flopped between playing solo and playing with Bluesology. But, you know, in the late '60s they really started to hit their stride they were one of the big bands that would back up people like the Isley Brothers, and Patti LaBelle, so they did have some success. They were really good. He wasn't the only super talented musician in it. So they quickly came to the attention of the industry. And eventually did lots of shows, including 16 gigs at the iconic Marquee Club in London. So Elton was very much dipping his toe in the musical big time. ♪ [narrator] Responding to an ad in a Music Trade Weekly in 1967 Elton John auditioned for Liberty Records. The scouts liked his performance, but not his material. Lyricist, Bernie Taupin, had also replied to the Liberty ad and one of the scouts gave Elton a stack of Taupin's lyrics. Six months later the two met and started writing together. John and Taupin took their songs to music publisher, Dick James who hired them as house writers for ten pounds a week. It's funny, isn't it, how some of the great partnerships in show business come together and you think, "What if this hadn't happened?" You know, it was such a million to one chance how they met. But it's become one of the most successful partnerships in the music industry to this day. [narrator] Elton John and Bernie Taupin would prove to be a formidable musical team. Taupin would write lyrics and deliver a bundle to Elton every few weeks. Without changing a word and only rarely consulting Taupin John would fit tunes to the phrases. For nearly two years they wrote easy listening tunes for Dick James to peddle to singers. On the side, John recorded current hits for budget labels like Music for Pleasure and Marble Arch. Seeking advise from another music producer, Steve Brown Elton John and Bernie Taupin started writing rockier songs. The first was the single "I've Been Loving You" produced by former Bluesology guitarist, Caleb Quaye. In 1969, with Quaye, drummer, Roger Pope, and bassist Tony Murray John recorded another single, "Lady Samantha" and an album, Empty Sky. The records didn't sell and John and Taupin enlisted Gus Dudgeon to produce a follow-up album. The self titled album, Elton John, established the formula for subsequent albums gospel-chorded rockers and poignant ballads This is where he reached massive proportions, because this is where you're talking about "Your Song" and this was a global hit US, Australia, Canada, the UK and it went platinum in the US and it really established him as a solo artist. "Your Song" which charted at number seven in the UK charts was a big hit in America and around the world and it remains a favorite to date. And a personal favorite. This ones for you, Elton. ♪ ♪ It's a little bit funny ♪ ♪ This feeling inside ♪ ♪ I'm not one of those Who can easily hide ♪ ♪ I don't have much money ♪ ♪ Boy if I did ♪ ♪ I'd buy a big house Where we both could live ♪ ♪ If I was a sculptor ♪ ♪ [narrator] MCA Records released the self-titled album and John made his historical American Debut at the Troubadour in LA in August 1970. Kicking over his piano bench, Jerry Lee Lewis style and performing hand stands on the keyboards John left the critics raving. "Your Song" carried the album to the Top Ten of the American charts and with extensive radio play, sold even faster and reached number five. By the middle of 1971 two more albums had been released. A live set taped from a New York radio broadcast in November 1970 and the soundtrack to the film, Friends, written three years before. Elton John was the first act since The Beatles to have four albums in the American Top Ten simultaneously. Madman Across the Water came out in October 1971 boasting hits "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer." The album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was released in 1973. [Kristyn] This album , Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was massive. It was massive for him. It was number one in four different countries It's been certifies eight times over a platinum album. You have to realize like, as a solo artist, you're reaching extraordinary heights. [Sandro] Benny, Yellow, Saturday Night Candle, I don't even need to fill in the rest of those titles. All four of those were on his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. It's almost like a mini greatest hits package all in one. It's incredible, you know, he just had hit after hit after hit after hit. And that was a launchpad to a golden era. [narrator] In the mid '70s, John's concerts filled arenas and stadiums worldwide. He was the hottest act in rock n roll. It's very rare for singers to be both critically and commercially adored but that's what happened to Elton John from 1970 to 1976. Because his records were right up at the top of the charts but the critics loved him too. It was a golden period. [Kristyn] If you really think about it, Elton John was untouchable. Not only in the UK and the US, but globally. He just had so much success album after album, single after single he really had an incredible career during that time and his creativity was at its peak. [narrator] After recording Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy the first album ever to enter the charts at number one John overhauled his band, new members were brought in. [Kristyn] Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy reached number one. but that's not the interesting part about it, it's the fact that it stayed at the top of the charts for seven weeks which was the first album to ever do so. And that was exciting for Elton John and his career. It's been certified three times platinum, so its been a very successful album for him. [narrator] With his new band in place John introduced the line-up before a crowd of 75,000 people at London's Wembley Stadium in the Summer of 1975. [Sandro] And during this golden period he played on of the greatest shows of his life. 1975, Wembley Stadium 75,000 people turning out to see Elton John in concert. I mean, now we traditionally think of Wembley Stadium in London as the venue for these huge concerts but it was a new thing then. And Elton proved that you could fill a football stadium for a rock concert. ♪ [narrator] After the monumental gig at Wembley Stadium Elton John's fanatic recording pace began to slow down and he performed less often. A live album, Here and There, had been recorded in 1974. John's biggest hit in 1976 was the number one Kiki Dee duet, a single from the down-beat Blue Moves album "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" reached number six. In November 1997 John announced he was retiring from performing He secluded himself in any of his three mansions appearing in public only to cheer on the Watford Football Club an English soccer team that he later purchased. Many speculated that John's retreat from stardom was prompted by adverse reaction to his 1976 submission in Rolling Stone that he was bisexual. In 1979, accompanied by Ray Cooper John became the first Western pop star to tour the Soviet Union. He then embarked on a two-man come-back tour of the US in smaller venues. Elton John returned to the singles chart with "Mama Can't Buy You Love" a song for the EP recorded in 1977 with Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell. A new album, Victim of Love failed to make an impact on the charts, and by 1980 John and Taupin reunited to write songs for various labels and the single, "Little Jeannie" reached number three. At a free concert in New York Central Park an estimated 400,000 fans turned out and it was later broadcast on HBO. John had signed a new recording contract. his second, Geffen LP, Jump Up contained "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" a tribute to John Lennon, which he performed at his sold-out Madison Square Garden show in August 1982. Yoko Ono and Sean Ono Lennon Elton John's godchild, joined him on the stage. In 1983 Elton recorded a version of "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Elton had his biggest hit since 1980 and while his latest music couldn't match his '70s success he would continue to place in the Top Ten throughout the '80s. ♪ Between you and me ♪ ♪ I could honestly say That things Can only get better ♪ ♪ And while I'm away ♪ ♪ Dust out the demons inside ♪ ♪ And it won't be long ♪ ♪ Before you and me run ♪ ♪ To the place in our hearts Where we hide ♪ ♪ And I guess that's why They call it the blues ♪ ♪ Time on my hands could be Time spent with you ♪ ♪ Laughing like children Living like lovers ♪ ♪ Rolling like thunder Under the covers ♪ ♪ And I guess that's why They call it the blues ♪ ♪ Just stare into space Picture my face in your hands ♪ ♪ Live for each second ♪ ♪ More than ever ♪ ♪ I simply love you ♪ ♪ More than I love ♪ ♪ Life itself ♪ ♪ And I guess that's why They call it the blues ♪ ♪ Time on my hands could be Time spent with you ♪ ♪ Time on my hands could be Time spent with you ♪ [narrator] The '80s were years of personal turmoil for Elton John. In 1984 he surprised many by marrying studio engineer Renate Blauel. While the marriage lasted four years John later maintained that he realized that he was gay before the marriage. In 1986 he lost his voice while touring Australia and shortly thereafter underwent throat surgery. And it soon became clear it wasn't a case of three or four days it'll be fine, Elton, don't worry about it, he needed surgery. He had to have non-cancerous polyps removed from his vocal chords. This is a common injury for musicians, but it did take him out of commission for two months [Sandro] And after the surgery, which was successful his voice was changed forever as a result. Going from a tenor to a baritone. But still in great voice as he continues to be to this day. But, you know, that surgery was very helpful at the time and, you know, it kept him on the road for many more years. ♪ [narrator] John continued recording prolifically but years of cocaine and alcohol abuse were beginning to take their toll. In 1988 John performed five sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. His final concert, his 26th Breaking the Grateful Dead's career record of 25 sold-out Garden appearances. In later interviews, he deemed 1989 the worst period of his life comparing his mental and physical deterioration to Elvis Presley's last years. Around that time he was deeply effected by the plight of Ryan White an Indianan teenager with AIDS. Along with Michael Jackson, John befriended and supported the boy and his family until White's death in 1990. Confronted by his then lover, John checked into a Chicago hospital in 1990 to combat his drug abuse alcoholism and bulimia. In recovery he lost weight and underwent hair replacement and subsequently took up residence in Atlanta, Georgia. I've been given a second chance at living a decent life and I made a complete hash of the first one and the chance that I've been given again, not many people get that in life. Plus I had everything in my life that I had to be grateful for I had everything that anybody wanted, except personal happiness. To do that I had to reach the bottom of the depths of my soul and then find myself again, and I came out of it unscathed which is a miracle really, considering the positions and situations I got myself into and how far my drug abuse took me and getting a second chance is pretty dam special for me. Because when you're a drug addict your so irresponsible, you don't turn up for anything you cancel things, like that you're just not a rational human being. You know, the more sober I get and the more comfortable within my own skin, I think addiction is about running away from all the stuff I suffered as a kid and I just ran away from it and buried my self in a coke spoon, or food, or whatever and now I'm comfortable, I don't mind, I'm proud of who I am. I don't think it's a big deal for someone in the entertainment business really. It's a big deal for someone who lives in a small town. But it's not a big deal, I don't think, if you're an artistic person mostly, a lot of artistic people are gay, come on, hey. Am I in love right now? Very much in love. Yes, I am. Am I excited about the Grammys? I've never been to the Grammys I never had a Grammy. Oh, yes, I won one for best group with Stevie Wonder. So, yes, It's very nice. Everything seems to be happening at the moment for me. [indistinct chatter] Who am I in love with? That's my personal life. The thing that makes me happy now is that I'm, I've said it before, that I think I'm a reliable human being, that I turn up on time that I have a conscious that my family can speak to me when I'm actually compos mentis. Aside from th work things in my life, that are fabulous my own personal life has sorted itself out, and that makes me happier than anything. [narrator] In 1992 he established the Elton John AIDS foundation intending to direct ninety percent of the funds it raised to direct care, and ten percent to AIDS prevention education. He also announced his intention to donate all future royalties from sales of his singles in the US and the UK to AIDS research. I'm a gay man, I have a lot of friends that are dying, I've lost a lot of people and other people like Elizabeth Taylor inspired me to do so and, you know, it seemed the thing to do. I wish I'd have spoken up a little bit more, I didn't have the courage to act up or something like that and the outrage and the needed anger that was, that they unfortunately had to vent upon the nation I don't know, it effected me very deeply. Being sober and being clean, for me, means that I can turn up and be hands on and run things properly. I have plenty of time on my hands now. Instead of sitting in my room putting coke up my nose I can sit on a board and talk about how we could help somebody. And that, for me, means much more. [reporter] You spend so much time dedicated to the fight against Aids and AIDS awareness, you have a fear that... [indistinct] Yeah. I mean there is a danger that we may become so complacent because you get numb, I mean I lose friends now and I'm numb, I don't even cry, because it's just a regular occurrence. There is a danger that you can become quite complacent. But I think, what everybody said on stage tonight in the speeches was maybe the change in government that may happen here complacency is not gonna be a thing. I think people are gonna be having to go back to the trenches again. We just need to be is continue to be compassionate we need to educate, educate people even more. Education is so important. If you educate people, it eventually gets through to them, numbers go down. In England when the AIDS epidemic first happened the government over there, we have one of the best eduction schemes the numbers went down, and then they said, "Oh, the numbers are falling, so we wont educate people." The numbers went up again. We gotta continue to educate people. I think it's important, in my life, to have something else to do, other than be Elton John and to be so self absorbed all the time "What am I gonna do? What am I gonna write? When am I gonna record? Where am I gonna tour?" I have to have something else to concentrate on. Before I used to have a soccer club, and I did that And now-now I've sobered up, cleaned up cleaned my act up, I decided to give, as I said on Thursday night, I've been given a second chance at my life I deserve to... to do something good for me, to give something back, and it's just something I feel I have to do. [Kristyn] It's been a charity that's very near and dear to his heart. In fact every year he throws an Oscar viewing party in Los Angeles and it's one of the hottest parties to attend. People get all dressed up, they walk the red carpet If they're not at the Oscars, they're at Elton John's party. [reporter] So, Elton, you obviously have many talents party-party thrower is also one of them. -How does it feel? -I love throwing a party. And I love having a great party, and we're having a great party in there tonight. You know, we're slapping people on the face trying to get them to wake up [laughing] It, no, it... Bha, come on, it's just like... It-it's, you know, it hard to sit there for four hours. I mean, luckily we had enough food to last. I mean, yeah, forget Y2K, this was an even bigger problem in here tonight. [reporter] Is there one particular person you hope does make it, make a stop by at the party? Anyone from American Beauty, because I voted for it, and... and I thought it was by far the best film and also anyone from Topsy-Turvy Mike Leigh, who I think, should have been nominated Best Director and it should have been nominated the Best Film. Probably one of the greatest achievements of film making in the last ten years, that movie. [reporter] Oh, yeah, they-they were... They did win a few awards. They won two awards. They won costume and makeup. Yup. And I'm very... And they deserve to win many more. [reporter] And-and can I get your opinion on who do you think was this years Oscar's "It" girl? Well, I have to say Hilary Swank. She's the most beautiful girl. Fantastic. I'm very happy for her. -Yeah. -Yeah. -Thanks. -Thank you so much. [Sandro] If you think back to that great song Dionne Warwick and friends, "That's What Friends Are For" That was one of his many songs which has donated money to AIDS charities. It's very much been his cause, and he's been a champion. [indistinct chatter] I don't know. I came here in 1970 and I played the Troubadour Club and I never slept with someone of my own sex and I went to San Fransisco and did it I've always wanted to go, and I found... I suppose, if you're being honest you're away from home and you feel as if you can do that. A lot of gay people are afraid of having sex in their own area because they don't wanna be... You know, they're afraid of being found out or whatever, and the stigma that goes with that so they go somewhere else to do it. It's a horrible thing, you have to run and hide from yourself. Maybe I was doing that, but I'm sure glad I did. [narrator] Also in 1992, he released the number eight album, The One. His highest charting release since his 1976's Blue Moves. And John and Taupin signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music an estimated 39 million dollars 12 year arrangement that would give them the largest cash advance in music publishing history. Later that year, at the Freddie Mercury Memorial and AIDS benefit Concert at Wembley Stadium John duetted with Axl Rose on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." A reconciling gesture, given Rose's previously homophobic reputation. Elton John collaborated with Tim Rice on the music for the animated film The Lion King the soundtrack featured "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" and Academy Award winner for best original song and a Grammy winner for best male pop vocal performance. At the Academy Award ceremony John acknowledged his domestic partner Canadian filmmaker David Furnish. That years five Oscar nominees for best motion picture song three of the nominees were from The Lion King. The one that won was "Can You Feel The Love Tonight." It meant that Elton took home an Oscar to add to his many music trophies. And well deserved too. And what an afterlife The Lion King has had? It later of course got adapted into a stage musical and continues to be a smash hit on Broadway in the West End and around the world. [audience cheering] -Happy belated birthday by the way. -Thank you, thank you. [man] Now, we know that they're all your children but was there one of them you were kind of rooting for over the others? I think "Can You Feel The Love Tonight", I thought would be, if any song was gonna win of ours, that would be the song. I'm glad that one won it. It was the biggest hit and I think the best song of the three. [woman] ...Belgium. What's the difference between writing songs for live actions instead of animations? For live action, or what? Well, we haven't written together for a live action film but, in my case, having written some stuff for the stage in the past it really is no difference if you write for a Argentine dictators wife or a flatulent warthog you still have to make the-the charterer has to be believable. So, I mean, you-you-you have to imagine that the charterer you're writing for is real and so it's the same really. I must admit, when I was writing songs for warthog I thought, "My God, what has my life come to?" [laughing] [reporter] Elton, is it tougher writing songs for hire as opposed to writing songs that are just floating through the breezes of your mind? Actually it isn't. I mean, because I don't write very often and I write maybe once a year and these songs were written an awful long time ago they were actually written at the same time as I was writing songs for The One album in 1991. And so it was, you know, I writing those songs at the same time so, no, it's no different to me. It was maybe more of a challenge writing it with kids in mind. Which I don't normally do when I'm writing for myself. [female reporter] What were some of the qualities in the animals or the story line that moved you to translate it into music? Well, the original storyboard was so appealing and it changed so much. When you write for an animated feature they want the songs more or less straight away so that they can pin certain sequences around the songs and it was very easy for me actually because I just had to write the melody, Tim had to do about 50 re-writes on each song. But it... It was just... You knew that it was gonna be humorous, you knew that it was gonna be the end product was gonna be of a certain quality so really, there wasn't that much of a risk involved, I don't think. -So, Elton... -Yeah? [male reporter] You-you've had a lot of success, a lot of acclaim over the years from your music at this point in your life now, what does that thing in your hand really mean? This is one of the most exciting things I've ever... I mean, that's ever happened to me. It's just I never thought in my life I'd ever be holding one of these. And it-it-it's just a big thrill. And a big kick. I mean, 'cause I'm a musician, I'm not in films and so, I mean, just to get an Oscar is just quite astounding. I'm very thrilled. [woman reporter] Elton, you've performed in huge arenas you've performed on very important occasions, but this is the Oscars how did you get ready for this, what did it mean to you, and what did it feel like up there? I've been here since two o'clock, so... Actually I didn't get nervous until I put my clothes on and then I really started to get a little nervous. It's gonna be seen by a billion people and I don't care what you say, when you're up there singing you get the-- I was shaking a little. And I just wanted to sing the song without making a mistake. -I never get nervous with my clothes off. -He'd have killed me. [laughing] [indistinct chatter] Yeah, of course. I mean, I'm a kid from England, and this is fantasy land for me. I mean, this is an incredible thrill. I mean, it's just like having your first hit record, but having an Oscar is so wow. He's already got one so he's not, you know? [female reporter] Elton, do you think that writing for Lion King the popularity of Lion King, the music secures your position for the next generation? Well, I just said it in the other room, I get accosted now by six-year-olds at airports saying, "We love The Lion King." Which I find really sweet cause that's what we wrote the music for and the songs. I think, sparing his brushes, his music is pretty secure for the next few generations anyway, so... [male reporter] Elton and Tim, following in the footsteps Beauty and the Beast would you like to see this story and songs go to Broadway? -The Lion King? -The Lion King -I don't think so. No. -I don't think so. Can you imagine having to play the lion? We'd have to audition two guys for every part. [laughter] I wouldn't mind that. [female reporter] Hello. Hello. Excuse me. Right here. Right here. Hello? Hello? Could I just get you both to hold up your Oscars for a shot? -Sure. -Okay. [male reporter] I have a question for Tim. Tim we've spoken after you won Gammys, now we're speaking after you've won Oscars what's the agita like on the day of the Oscars the build up as apposed to the agita on the day of the build up to the Grammys? I think one has to say that the Oscar is the big one Particularly the fact that all around the world, in England everybody knows what an Oscar is. With great respect to the Grammys and the Tonys which are wonderful awards, I'm not sure that they have quite that instant buzz all around the world. So this is the one. People always say to me in England you know, "Where's your Oscar?" They don't say, "Where's your anything else?" Well, not any other award. [laughing] If I'm a good date they maybe wanna see other things but that's-this is the one that really matters so I'm dead chuffed. [male reporter] Now, you're both best known for your writing with each of your other partners talk about this partnership, how will... How does this work out? Actually Tim and I had collaborated on an album of Michael Jump Up in 1982 the song called "The Legal Boys" and we've known each other for ages and ages and ages Bernie Taupin, who I write with constantly, and I have been writing for 28 years I will be the first to admit that it's not in his line of writing, this kind of work and so he would not be interested in it. So it gives me the opportunity to write with other people as he's had, in his life. I don't think our relationship, which is a very special relationship for me, our relationship, would have lasted if we hadn't the freedom to work with other people. And I think it's healthy for that to happen. And I'm delighted to work with Tim. I thrilled to work with E.J, here. [male reporter] When they said you won what did you instantly feel and on somewhat calmer reflection, is there anything more that you would have said, up there, when you accepted? Well, I think I made a bit of a cock-up on my speech I didn't quite hog it for long enough. No, it's-it's funny because some people make wonderful speeches and go on a long time and one dreads really being boring. And I thought this year I'll let Elton get on quickly So, I mean, you can go on forever, thanking your dog your, you know, this and the other bit Elton had something important to say, which worked well and I just wanted to say I'm grateful to all those who helped. I-I-I same for me. I mean, I just wanted to be concise and quick and get out. I mean, nothing is more boring than someone going on and on and on and on. -Like you are now? -Like me, yes. [laughing] [male reporter] Elton, I wanna know if this is addictive now you're holding on to that statue so tightly you're gonna write more music for movies? That, yes, absolutely. I mean, I wrote music a long time ago for a movie called Friends and I said never again. But I think now... yes. Save me from touring so much. Live action? I'd love to do live action. I'd love to write a musical and maybe more animation. And-and other things as well. Thank you very much. Thank you. The new album was made last, and finished last May but because of the success of The Lion King and the film, and the album, we put it under wraps, it's now coming out in March. It's called Made In England, and it was made in England. I'm very proud of it, I think it's best thing I've done in a long time And, you know, to follow up the Lion... Have The Lion King be so successful and then have my album coming out if I don't make a success of it and it's no good, then it'll fall on its, you know it'll find its own place. But I'm... I've been set up pretty well by this movie, I can't complain. My career at the moment... hasn't been any better than this. ♪ [narrator] The year 1997 was significant for John, both personally and professionally. He lost two close friends. Designer Gianni Versace and Princess Diana. We have reports from Paris that Diana, Princess of Wales, has been killed in a car accident. And that her partner, Dodi Fayed, has also been killed. They were apparently being pursued by paparazzi on two motorcycles. We have some of the latest pictures from the scene. This was the car that Diana... Dodi Fayed were traveling in. Clearly a horrendous impact. There's one of the airbags clearly visible in the front end of the car. Reports are that Diana has been killed Dodi Fayed also died as did the driver of the car. [narrator] Upon Diana's death Bernie Taupin reworked the lyrics of "Candle In The Wind" as son originally written about Marilyn Monroe in 1973. The resulting tribute, "Candle In The Wind" 1997 easily became the all time highest certified single with US sales of 11 million in the first month. All proceeds were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales, memorial fund. So it was a year of a lot of emotional blows to him and, you know, near and dear to him really was Lady Diana they had been long time friends and, you know, I think they always felt like outsiders so they had a lot in common. So loosing her was-was really tough on him. [Sandro] He debuted the song for the first time at Westminster Abbey and it is the emotional highpoint moment of that funeral. It was released as a single and it became the fastest selling single in the history of the world. Such was Elton's ability to capture the emotions of the world. That that song gave an outlet to everybody on the planet who was suffering grief, like he was, for the loss of Diana. His emotion came through in every single bit of the song. And that's why it was so authentic so genuine, and was such a great record, and a wonderful tribute. ♪ Your footsteps Will always fall here ♪ ♪ Along England's Greenest hills ♪ ♪ Your candles burned out Long before ♪ ♪ Your legend ever will ♪ It was a really hard performance for him he had no idea, I mean, he said in later interviews he had no idea how he was gonna make it through. And in fact, he can't even watch that video, he'll go back and like... see a snippet of it and it just brings him back to that time and that sadness. And it's just something he doesn't wanna remember. [narrator] Also in 1997 vestiges of the flamboyant Elton resurfaced as he threw a 50th birthday party for 500 friends. Dressed typically extravagant the outfit cost more that $80,000. In 1999 John had a pacemaker installed to overcome a minor heart problem. Also that year he collaborated again with Tim Rice. This time on a Broadway musical version of Verdi's opera, Aida. The pair also collaborated on a DreamWorks animated feature, The Road to El Dorado. Oh, well, Hans is one of the best arrangers, scorers there are. I mean, I worked with him on The Lion King and we became very good friends. I've known Hans for a very long time and when he was on this project I felt very relieved because you know that you're in very good hands and the songs that you write will be arranged for the screen and he will take the utmost care and interpret them better than anyone else can probably. So, you know, I love working with Hans. [female reporter] Was there challenges for you for writing a musical such as this as opposed to your own songs for your album? Well, this, you know, you-you have to follow a storyline. It's actually much easier to write a song when you got a storyline because you're writing for characters. When you're writing a song, say I'm writing with Bernie Taupin and he gives me a lyric on a page, it's a one-off adventure story. This all ties in, so you gotta link and you gotta write five or six songs that go into the movie and-and that a cohesive. So it's actually easier. Much easier to write for a stage show or-or an animated movie, because you got a story and you've got characters and you know what those characters are. [female reporter] Everyone has said that they're here to see Elton John and to hear his music what are you here to see tonight? I haven't seen the film finished, so I'm here to see the movie. [female reporter] Thanks. [narrator] The 2000's witnessed something of an Elton's renaissance with the 2001 album Songs From The West Coast he sat down at the piano and made an old fashion Elton John album. And the result was his best platter since Rock Of The Westies. The album Peachtree Road played like a sequel to Songs From The West Coast with Elton and Bernie Taupin turning in some of their personal songs ever. As well as ballads like "They Call Her The Cat" about a post-op transsexual woman. Billed as the official follow-up of Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy The Captain And The Kid was an autobiographical concept album about Elton and Taupin's lives since the '70s. Rocking out with red-blooded fervor on hot ones like "Just Like Noah's Ark." [female reporter] As it changed since awareness has grown about HIV AIDS? No, the message hasn't changed, but it has to be repeated often and over and over again. We see such a rise in the infection rate in America right now recently and it's like, "Oh, God, not again." And it seems to be that every ten or 11 years you have a new generation of kids that come up and you have to start all over again with 'em which is really boring, but it's necessary. But it could all be saved if we could get into schools and educate kids about HIV but it's never been the case in this country and that has to change. [female reporter] Why is Oscar night a good night to-- 'Cause it gets so much publicity and we get so much publicity and, you know, people are in a good mood and they give us lots of money. -Which is fabulous. -And one of the most glamorous night of the year. I mean, everybody loves the Oscars, so it's a great backdrop for a party. [female reporter] Anyone you're really rooting for? -Kate Winslet, for The Reader. -Yeah. [narrator] Elton John married his longtime life partner David Furnish in a civil ceremony on December 21st, 2005. The same day the Civil Partnership Act 2004 went into effect. I've met Tad before, but it's great that he's coming. Axl Rose is coming. Beck's coming, and a lot of-a lot of good friends that have been here every year. I think one year we were in a booth with Bruce Springsteen -Nickolas Cage, Jim Carrey -Jim Carrey -Emma Thompson -Emma Thompson and Prince. In a six-seater booth. That was pretty amazing. What is the most special thing about the foundation tonight? I think that we're raising so much money. We're raising so much money, hopefully we'll net two and a half million dollars, which a million and a half dollars more than we've even done before and each year we try and raise more money for people who need it and have a good time in the process. -I think it's a wonderful thing you do. -Thank you so much. [female reporter] How do you decide who's gonna be the performer of the night? Oh, John Legend is the performer tonight and I'm just gonna sing a couple of songs with him. [male reporter] How do you decide, how do you choose -Is it the same every year? -Oh, I chose them every year. I like to chose people who've just come up We started with Nelly Furtado and I think we went to Ryan Adams we've had Joss Stone, we've had John Mayer we've had the Scissor Sisters and now we've got John Legend, so... You know, all these people have made like one album, one or two albums and they're fairly new and I love their music, so I've... If I like them, I ask them to do it, and they do it, I'm very happy. -How do you keep your energy up for the whole night? -Oh, it'll be fine. -Adrenaline and caffeine. -Adrenaline, yeah. -Diet coke and adrenaline, there you go. -Thank you, sir. [narrator] Continuing his musical adventure into the film world Elton contributed to the soundtrack of the animated film Gnomeo and Juliet. [male reporter] What was the biggest challenge on this project? [Elton] Getting it done. It took 11 years. It was green-lit 11 years ago it's had so many different lives it's been given the death sentence a couple of times and we've had to resuscitate it. My job, as the executive producer, is to ring the head of the studio up and say, "You're wrong. We got to sit down and talk about this." And, finally, when Dick Cook became the chairman of the studio he got them, he said, "I love this project, we've never done it right. You go away, make the film you wanna do but I want Elton John classic music in it." I said, "You got a bargain." We did the film in Canada, away from Disney and it worked really, really well. Because it's a British film and they didn't really know what to do with it. I want them to go and think, "Oh, I'd love to see that again." I've seen it three times, and it gets better every time I see it. It's got a great message for kids you know, it's also very funny artistically, it looks wonderful and it's a great story it's one of the most famous stories with a kinda happier ending than the original wish we too had one. We took poetic license, we don't want the kids crying as they came out. But I think it's a very uniquely British film and I think the animation is phenomenal and I think it stand up to anything that's out there at the moment. I mean, the highpoint of animation is Pixar Films, obviously that's within the Disney studio and we made a film, that I think, you know, could qualify as a Pixar film, so... [male reporter] Shakespeare, gnomes, and one of the most amazing cast and crew together. How much fun was it being involved in all of that? -It was great fun. -It was really, really wonderful. The cast was amazing. Everybody was so enthusiastic about it Working with Elton, Elton's music, Lady Gaga, Nelly Furtado it doesn't get much better than that. And did you have a favorite character from it, that you took away. I-I love the gnome, I love the Fawn. And Nanette. -I love it. -It was Ozzy Osbourne for me. Yeah, I know, yeah. -Ozzy is pretty funny. -Ozzy is pretty good. But, you know, all the characters are pretty damn good. And you guys fancy gnomes, you have them at home at all? We have a kind of mooning moan-gnome in front of us. And now the gnomes at the house at London. We have gnomes at the house at London. -Thanks very much. -Thanks very much. [narrator] With help of a surrogate Elton John and David Furnish welcomed their first son Zachary Furnish-John in December 2010 and welcomed their second child, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John in January 2013. Nine years after their civil ceremony, on December 21st 2014 the couple wed after laws allowing gay marriage took effect the same year in Britain. ♪ ♪ Oh, how real it feels ♪ ♪ Lying here with no one near ♪ ♪ Only you ♪ ♪ And you can hear me ♪ ♪ When I say softly ♪ ♪ Slowly ♪ ♪ Hold me closer tiny dancer ♪ ♪ Count the headlights On the highway ♪ ♪ Lay me down In sheets of linen ♪ ♪ You've had a busy day today ♪ Oh, I can't believe we just had our 22nd year we always say that every year. It's an amazing achievement, we're very, very privileged to be able to do this and very grateful to the Hollywood community for supporting us. Well, I just feel like, you know, I'm the biggest fan in the world of him. Me and my mom, we love him to death. So any time I can come out and to, you know, support something that he's a head of is really special. They've supported us amazingly well for 22 years. And it's important that they do, because this is one of our main fund raisers of the year. So it's a really important thing for us, as a fund raising organization and also raises a lot of money for people who desperately need it. You know, AIDS is a terrible disease. And I just love Elton so much that, you know, once we put those two together and I saw what he was doing for the foundation and what he does non-stop for them, I thought I'd love to come to the party and be a piece of it. So I gave the house away last year and made a million dollars and so I figured I'd do it again. It's my happy place, I love it there, and it makes my heart feel good. It's just amazing what he does. I mean, every single year all the celebrities come out, all the winners come out they come, they support him. He's just been such a compassionate person, you know? And he, the work that he does, is so amazing. It's really beautiful, he always gives back. Because it's not about being a celebrity when you're here it's about the charitable work that Elton does and the lives that he saves and you get to wear a pretty dress at the same time. I love Elton John, and I'm honored that he asks me every year to come to his big event. You know, he raises so much money to help people that are living with AIDS right now HIV, and I think it's amazing what he does. So I always love coming to support him and be part of the party, and talk about it so that, you know, we all raise more money to help him help other people. I've been doing this... If I'm in LA I do this without a doubt. Elton's been an old friend and we've worked on a lot of AIDS committees together. So this is a great cause, and why not? I only really like a couple of films this year. My favorite file is, Dallas Buyers Club. That was the best performance by a 100 miles. [female reporter] I agree. And then I know you guys always have a performance night people who take the stage. -Ed Sheeran. Yeah. -Ed Sheeran, yeah. -It's gonna be amazing. -Yeah. Fantastic. So I've had an involvement in his career 'cause he-- I'm... I own the company that manages him. He's been a prodigy for a long time. I'm so proud of him. -Thank you very much. -Enjoy. ♪ [narrator] In terms of sales and lasting popularity Elton John was the biggest pop superstar of the early '70s. His versatility, combined with his effortless melodic skills dynamic charisma and flamboyant stage shows made him an icon, and he has cemented his place in music history. [Sandro] Elton John's music is the soundtrack of our lives. So it will be around forever. There are kids not yet born who will be singing along to Elton John songs. That's a fantastic achievement. His music has got a timeless quality. It's a great honor to work with him. Perhaps the only man of his generation who is still getting better. All the other great stars that came up in the '60s and '70s maybe a little bit plateaued out but Elton is, I just heard his new album and it is-- Steady on there. -That's enough. Right. -Steady on. He's had so much success. Let's be honest about Elton John, he's had a tremendous career he's incredible you know, he's got Oscar, he's got Grammys, and he is one of the most recognizable names in the music industry. And I love that he's a father now too. So I think he's gonna carry on his music legacy to his kids. I also think that he's gonna continue working in the film industry creating soundtracks he's had tremendous success on Broadway and there's just no stopping the Elton John legacy. [Sandro] He may be pushing 70, but there's no way he's retiring. You know, he continues to make new music, make great new music music is evolving all the time, he wants to change with it he still has the love of performing and the audiences love him so, long may Elton reign. What I do is, I'm very lucky to be able to do what I do. And I just have a lot of energy and I love music, it's always been my life as a kid. So you should always aspire to get better sometimes it doesn't work, but I figure I'm getting better. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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Channel: 1091 ON DEMAND

Views: 8,363

Rating: 4.7086091 out of 5

Keywords: elton john, rocket man, music documentary, music, biography, elton john biography, tiny dancer, someone like me, rockumentary, film bio, freemovie, fullmovie, Movies, On Demand, fullfilm, movie, stream, documentary, streaming, 1091, 1091pictures

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Length: 60min 3sec (3603 seconds)

Published: Thu Aug 20 2020