Robert Plant Salutes Elton John’s Glastonbury Set
Robert Plant shared some kind words for Elton John and his final U.K. farewell tour performance at Glastonbury on Sunday (June 25.)
The former Led Zeppelin frontman shared on Twitter, “‘ … Unique timeless and wonderful…’ Thank you, Elton.”
â âŠUnique timeless and wonderful.. â
— Robert Plant (@RobertPlant) June 27, 2023
Thank you Elton
-RP pic.twitter.com/CGPOeYk0wg
Sir Elton’s Glastonbury set has received rave reviews and was quite the hit on British television. Per Deadline, over seven million people in the U.K. tuned into the BBC to watch John perform at the famed British festival. It received about a 50% audience share for that night. The set is now one of the most-watched events in the U.K. so far in 2023.
Glastonbury is simulcast on the BBC during the festival. Sir Elton’s set blew away the viewer count of any other set this year. The next-highest viewer count from Glastonbury came via the Arctic Monkeys’ set, which drew 1.5 million viewers, followed by Guns N’ Roses, which drew one million viewers.
John resumes his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour tonight (June 27) in Paris. A full list of remaining shows can be found at EltonJohn.com.
Elton John: His 40 Greatest Songs
Elton John has some absolutely iconic hit singles, but one of the great pleasures of being a big Elton John fan is finding the lesser-known gems.
Weâre partial to his hit-free album Tumbleweed Connection from 1970 (as youâll see), as well as his criminally underrated Songs From The West Coast from 2001, and a few of the diamonds in the rough from albums that you may have overlooked.
For this list, weâre going with the best version of each song, which sometimes means a live version. And in one case, an alternate studio version that you may not have heard before. Enjoy!
Elton John and His Latest Accolades
In 2024, Sir Elton has earned two major honors. In January, he became an EGOT winner.
John achieved the entertainment milestone thanks to winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodgerâs Stadium. The special streamed live on November 20, 2022 on Disney+. It was John’s final show in North America. It was also the first time Disney+ presented a live global event.
Before his Emmy win, John won five Grammy Awards in his career. In 2000, he won a Tony Award for Best Original Score for Aida. Additionally, John has won two Oscars. The first came in 1994 for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King. The second Oscar came in 2020 for “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” from Rocketman.
In March, just before his 77th birthday, John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin were honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Per the Library of Congress’s website, “The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects the influence, impact and achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding.”
Past Gershwin Prize recipients include Joni Mitchell (2023), Lionel Richie (2022), Garth Brooks (2020), Gloria and Emilio Estefan (2019), Tony Bennett (2017), Smokey Robinson (2016) and many more iconic musicians.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement, “Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists.”
40. âHey Ahabâ from âThe Unionâ (with Leon Russell) (2010)
ShareThere have been a few times in Eltonâs career where he claims a âreturn to roots,â but in 2010 he really did go back to his roots for âThe Union.â It was a duo album with one of his early influences, Leon Russell. Elton has been a solo artist since 1969, but here, you got the sense that he was trying to impress his collaborator, and this mid-tempo blues rocker is the highlight of the LP.
39. âHave Mercy On The Criminalâ from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)
ShareMany of Eltonâs songs with heavy orchestration sounded good in the studio, but sounded great on stage in Australia in 1987 with the backing of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Maybe his voice wasnât quite as good as it was fourteen years earlier (âHave Mercy On The Criminalâ was originally released on 1973âs âDonât Shoot Me, Iâm Only The Piano Playerâ). But as an older man, he had a bit more gravitas, and that helped to make this live version of the song the definitive one.
38. âThe Oneâ from ‘The One’ (1992)
ShareFor his first album of the 1990s, Elton proved that he would still be a viable force in pop music with the title track and first single from âThe One.â Eltonâs elegant piano playing was the perfect compliment to some of Bernie Taupinâs most romantic, yet simple, lyrics: âWhen stars collide like you and I/No shadows block the sun/You're all I've ever needed/Oh, baby you're the one.â
37. âBelieveâ from âMade In Englandâ (1995)
ShareAfter the massive success of âThe Oneâ and âThe Lion Kingâ soundtrack, âMade In Englandâ was a bit of a dud, but that doesnât mean you should ignore âBelieve,â one of Eltonâs best vocal performances. Itâs the most recent song in the Elton John catalog that heâs playing on his current farewell tour.
36. âThe King Must Dieâ from âLive In Australiaâ (1987)
ShareOriginally from 1970âs self-titled album, this is another song where an older Elton sounds better than the younger version. The orchestration here is better than it was on the original as well.
35. âElderberry Wineâ from âDonât Shoot Me, Iâm Only The Piano Playerâ (1973)
ShareThe B-side of âCrocodile Rock,â it has a similar retro sound that harkened back to the days when saxophones ruled rock and roll. The lyrics here were a bit more somber, even as the song was upbeat: a guy ruminates on a woman who left him, while reminiscing on the fun they had while drinking the wine that gives the song its name.
34. âHoliday Innâ from âMadman Across The Waterâ (1971)
ShareHad Elton never become a star, thereâs a good argument to be made that he and Bernie Taupin could have picked up their bags, head out of England and gone to Nashville, and written country songs. âHoliday Innâ is exhibit A.
33. âHome Againâ from âThe Diving Boardâ (2013)
ShareThe clear highlight from âThe Diving Board,â it would have been a fine final single (Elton released one album, 2016âs âWonderful Crazy Night,â since then). It features some of Taupinâs most heartfelt lyrics of the millennium, where he (again) negotiates between the desire to transcend his beginnings and also to return to them.
32. âTonightâ from âLive In Australiaâ (1987)
ShareOriginally from 1976âs âBlue Moves,â itâs another one of Bernie Taupinâs most heartbreaking lyrics. The narrator resigns him or herself to the inevitable end of a relationship. For now, (s)he just wants some peace, and maybe to go to sleep.
31. âDanielâ from âDonât Shoot Me, Iâm Only The Piano Playerâ (1973)
ShareâDanielâ was the next single after âCrocodile Rock,â Eltonâs first #1 in America. This time, he only hit #2, but âDanielâ has survived the test of time much more than most â70s chart-toppers.
30. âThe Last Songâ from âThe Oneâ (1992)
ShareThese are some of Bernie Taupinâs most moving lyrics: âThe Last Songâ tells the story of an estranged father coming to terms with his son, who is gay, and dying of an AIDS-related illness. Taupin wrote the lyrics shortly after the death of Freddie Mercury. The songâs proceeds went to the newly-established Elton John AIDS Foundation, which still does great work today.
29. âSacrificeâ from âSleeping With The Pastâ (1989)
ShareâSleeping With The Pastâ was kind of a dud of an album, but âSacrificeâ is one of Eltonâs loveliest ballads, despite the very âsoft rockâ production. Believe it or not, this was his first ever solo #1 hit single in England (heâd previously topped the charts with âDonât Go Breaking My Heartâ with Kiki Dee).
28. âI Need You To Turn Toâ from âLive In Australiaâ (1987)
ShareHereâs another song that benefits from the older Eltonâs more aged voice (and the bigger budget orchestra). Taupinâs lyrics, however, are classic young-guy-poetry, which makes sense; âI Need You To Turn Toâ is originally from Eltonâs 1970 self-titled album.
27. âWhenever Youâre Ready (Weâll Go Steady Again)â B-side of âSaturday Nightâs Alright For Fightingâ (1973)
ShareA deep track that was recorded for âDonât Shoot Me, Iâm Only The Piano Player,â itâs one of Eltonâs most raucous jams, perfect for the bar (or the barroom brawl). So, itâs also perfect as the b-side for âSaturday Nightâs Alright For Fighting.â
26. âSad Songs (Say So Much)â from âBreaking Heartsâ (1984)
ShareWe love Elton, but some of his albums are just not that great (and heâd be the first to admit that). âBreaking Heartsâ is definitely one of his lesser albums, but even in the midst of some uninspiring songs, there was this pop gem, about how listening to sad songs can make you feel better.
25. âRocket Man (I Think Itâs Going To Be A Long, Long Time)â from âHonky Chateauâ (1972)
ShareThe song which gave the upcoming biopic âRocketmanâ its name. Many accused Bernie Taupin of lifting the lyrical idea from a rock classic, released a few years earlier, but in the liner notes to the 1990 box set âTo Be Continued,â Taupin contests that claim: âEverybody used to say that we ripped off David Bowieâs âSpace Oddity,â and Iâd say, âNo, we ripped off Tom Rapp!ââ Rapp was the singer and songwriter from the band Pearls Before Swine, who also had a song called âRocket Man.â âIt wasnât the same storyline,â Taupin noted. However, Elton was a fan of the Bowie song, and hired Gus Dudgeon who produced that song, along with the arranger Paul Buckmaster for âRocket Man.â
24. âSorry Seems To Be The Hardest Wordâ from âBlue Movesâ (1976)
ShareâBlue Movesâ came after years of Eltonâs chart dominance. âI was aware that we had been at the peak of our careers,â he said in the âTo Be Continuedâ liner notes. âAnd that that was going to level off.â Bernie Taupin agreed: â[There was] A feeling of, âHow long can we keep doing this?ââ As it turned out, they still had a lot of hits in the cannon, but âSorryâ feels like the end of an era, when binge-listening to the Elton catalog chronologically.. Itâs been covered by Joe Cocker and Mary J. Blige, among others, and a Ray Charles/Elton John duet version of the song, for Charlesâ 2004 âGenius Loves Companyâ album, proved to be the legendâs final session.
23. âSomeone Saved My Life Tonightâ from âCaptain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboyâ (1975)
ShareA based-on-a-true story song about Eltonâs suicide attempt in 1968; he wasnât yet famous, and felt trapped in his relationship with his fiance. Legend has it that the âsomeoneâ in the song is Long John Baldry, a blues singer and one-time mentor to Elton (and also the inspiration for the âJohnâ part of Eltonâs stage name). But musically, the biggest influence on the song was the Beach Boys. Eltonâs backing band -- guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson -- shine as backing singers here, clearly inspired by the California superstars.
22. âThe Bitch Is Backâ from âCaribouâ (1974)
ShareOne of Eltonâs hardest rocking songs, he really lets guitarist Davey Johnstone tear it up on this one. Something of a theme song for Elton (heâs said as much himself), it was a number four hit. Maybe he should let Johnstone rock out more often!
21. âI Guess Thatâs Why They Call It The Bluesâ from âToo Low For Zeroâ (1983)
ShareOne of Eltonâs best â80s songs. Unlike the rest of the list, this isnât an Elton/Bernie co-composition; Bernie wrote the lyrics, and Elton co-wrote the music with guitarist Davey Johnstone. The song, which featured the classic Elton band of Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson, accompanied by Stevie Wonder on harmonica, also was one of Eltonâs first videos to get a lot of play on MTV, introducing him to a new, younger generation of fans.
20. âDonât Let The Sun Go Down On Meâ from âCaribouâ (1974)
ShareLike âCandle In The Wind,â it was a bigger hit the second time around; Elton re-recorded âDonât Let The Sun Go Down On Meâ in 1991 with George Michael and it was a #1 hit; the original only reached #2. While the second version is great, weâll stick with the original, which featured backing vocals by Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, as well as Toni Tennille of the Captain and Tennille.
19. âSixty Years Onâ from â17-11-70â (1970)
ShareâSome of the playing on â11-17-70â is quite incredible,â Elton says in the liner notes to âTo Be Continued.â âI get depressed sometimes when I hear it because I donât know if I can ever play as well as that again. That three piece band, Nigel (Olsson, drums) and Dee (Murray, bass) and myself, we did different versions than the âElton Johnâ record, and the response⊠we could not believe it.â And yeah, the original version of this song from Eltonâs self-titled album is great, as is the version from âLive In Australia.â But the intensity of Eltonâs singing and playing, and the performance by his band at this 1970 radio session, would never be matched again.
18. âI Want Loveâ from âSongs From The West Coastâ (2001)
ShareWith the possible exception of âTumbleweed Connection,â âSongs From The West Coastâ is Eltonâs most underrated album. Sadly, by 2001, there were fewer and fewer avenues for an artist of Eltonâs vintage to have a legitimate hit. But two things happened that made the âSongsâŠâ album so poignant. One was Elton being influenced by Ryan Adamsâ solo debut, 2000âs âHeartbreaker,â which inspired him to make a stripped down album. The other was Bernie Taupinâs third divorce; his lyrics on the album, and particularly on this song, really make you feel his pain. This wasnât âTime for a new album, write some lyrics.â This was: âHereâs my soul crying out to the world.â Elton and Bernieâs faithful fans who were paying attention were rewarded with one of the best collections of songs the pair have ever unleashed.
17. âTake Me To The Pilotâ from â17-11-70â (1970)
ShareAnother gem from âElton Johnâ that sounded better on â17-11-70,â this is one of the few non-hits that consistently has made it to Eltonâs setlists over the years. Even if Bernie Taupinâs lyrics donât make much sense (heâs admitted that even he doesnât know what theyâre about), itâs one of the most fun songs in any Elton show.
16. âEmpty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)â from âJump Up!â (1982)
ShareThe early â80s wasnât Eltonâs best era, and âJump Up!â wasnât his most inspired album. But âEmpty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny),â a tribute to his friend and collaborator, John Lennon is one of the most moving songs in Elton Johnâs and Bernie Taupinâs catalog.
15. âBad Side Of The Moonâ from â17-11-70â (1970)
ShareOriginally the B-side to âBorder Song,â âBad Side Of The Moonâ isnât on any of Eltonâs studio albums, which is a shame, because itâs another of his most rocking songs from his early years. And it was perfect for the Elton/Dee Murray/Nigel Olsson trio on the â17-11-70â live album.
14. âMadman Across The Water (featuring Mick Ronson)â outtake from âTumbleweed Connectionâ (1970)
ShareYes, we know that âMadman Across The Waterâ is the title track of Eltonâs 1971 album, but the more famous version isnât necessarily the best version. In 1970, Elton recorded an earlier âMadman Across The Waterâ featuring Mick Ronson, from David Bowieâs backing band, on guitar (this was before âThe Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Marsâ). Anyway, if you havenât heard this version, which has since been released as a bonus track on reissues of âTumbleweed Connectionâ and on Eltonâs âRare Mastersâ collection, check it out now and thank us later. But even the 1971 version, featuring Eltonâs longtime guitarist Davey Johnstone, is amazing; this is one of Elton's greatest songs, despite not being a hit single.
13. âBurn Down The MIssionâ from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)
ShareHereâs another example of an album track so great, that it has remained in Eltonâs setlists through the decades despite never charting. And by the way, the live version on â17-11-70â is great as well, but at over eighteen minutes (thanks to bits of Arthur âBig Boyâ Crudupâs âMy Baby Left Meâ and the Beatlesâ âGet Backâ), we figured weâd stick with the slimmer studio version, which clocks in at 6:21.
12. âThis Train Donât Stop There Anymoreâ from âSongs From The West Coastâ (2001)
ShareYears before the idea of the Elton biopic âRocketmanâ was close to being a reality, this song, which closed âSongs From The West Coast,â saw Elton and Bernie looking back at the era in the â70s when they dominated the pop charts. The music video, starring a young Justin Timberlake playing a young Elton, led to rumors that the NSYNC singer might star as Elton. In the song the lyrics âThis train donât stop there anymore,â point out that while other people could play that character, Eltonâs no longer that guy. Which was appropriate: that guy didnât yet have the life experience to sing this classic, and a younger Bernie Taupin couldnât have written these lyrics.
11. âBennie And The Jetsâ from âGoodbye Yellow Brick Roadâ (1973)
ShareHow many songs can an arena filled with people identify after just one note? Well, thereâs the Beatlesâ âA Hard Dayâs Nightâ and thereâs âBennie And The Jets.â This #1 single is as funky as Elton gets, and it got him on the R&B charts; heâd later perform the song on âSoul Train.â
10. âAmoreenaâ from âTumbleweed Connectionâ (1970)
ShareIn their early days, Elton John and Bernie Taupin were obsessed with The Band, and this song is one of their most Band-like numbers. With all due respect, this song could hold its own against anything off of âMusic From Big Pink.â The song is also notable for being the first track that Elton played on with his future rhythm section of Dee Murray (bass) and Nigel Olsson (drums), who were a great band (lowercase b!) in their own right.
9. âFuneral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleedingâ from âGoodbye Yellow Brick Roadâ (1973)
ShareEltonâs definitive arena-rock epic, it holds up to the other extended-length classic rock jams like âStairway To Heaven,â âFreebird,â âBohemian Rhapsodyâ and âLayla.â Conceived as two separate songs, they just sound so good together that they became two halves of a greater whole. âFuneral For A Friend,â featuring synthesizers played by future Genesis producer David Hentschel would be great on its own. But âLove Lies Bleeding,â one of Eltonâs most aggressive songs, provides the most rocking part of his shows, and allows both Elton and guitarist Davey Johnstone to let it rip.
8. âCome Down In Timeâ from âTumbleweed Connectionâ (1970)
ShareThis song feels a bit out of place on âTumbleweed Connection,â as itâs a bit less country and more orchestrated; it was originally intended for âElton John,â and might have fit in a bit better there. Regardless of where it was placed, it remains one of Elton and Bernieâs loveliest and most underrated ballads.
7. âMona Lisas And Mad Hattersâ from âHonky Chateauâ (1972)
ShareInspired by Ben E. Kingâs âSpanish Harlemâ (which is name dropped in the song), itâs one of Eltonâs most famous non-hits. The New York-centric lyrics gave the song extra weight when Elton played it during a solo performance after 9/11 at The Concert For New York City at Madison Square Garden.
6. âSaturday Nightâs Alright (For Fighting)â from âGoodbye Yellow Brick Roadâ (1973)
ShareProbably Eltonâs hardest rocking song ever, it surely must be a favorite of guitarist Davey Johnstone. The song gave Elton the cred to get played on rock radio stations alongside Aerosmith, AC/DC and Van Halen; it sounds like Jerry Lee Lewis backed by the Who.
5. âBorder Songâ from âElton Johnâ (1970)
ShareIs the song about feeling out of place (he sings of a âBrand of people who ainât my kindâ)? Is it about racism (âLet us live in peace/let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease/there's a man over there. What's his colour? I don't care!â)? Whatever Bernie and Elton had in mind, it may well be the greatest non-religious gospel song of all time. Itâs been covered by Eric Clapton, the Fifth Dimension and even the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
4. âYour Songâ from âElton Johnâ (1970)
ShareEltonâs first hit (it went to #8 in 1970) might also still be his most well-known song; heâs probably played it at every concert heâs done since 1970; according to Setlist.fm, heâs played it more than two thousand times, more than any of his other songs. Itâs easy to understand why: itâs beautiful and simple, and is there a sweeter lyric than âI hope you don't mind that I put down in words/How wonderful life is while you're in the world?â
3. âCandle In The Windâ from âLive In Australiaâ (1987)
ShareThe original, from âGoodbye Yellow Brick Road,â is amazing, and his âCandle In The Wind â97â remake is one of the most successful records of all time, but weâre still going with the live version from 1987. Unlike most of âLive In Australia,â this doesnât feature an orchestra. Instead, itâs just Elton and his piano, accompanied by some extra keyboards. And, sales figures be damned, this is the definitive version of âCandle In The Wind.â
2. âTiny Dancerâ from âMadman Across The Waterâ (1971)
ShareIt wasnât a huge hit when it was first released, but the scene in 2000âs âAlmost Famousâ gave this song another life and a new status as one of Elton and Bernieâs finest moments. You canât resist singing along to this one.
1. âGoodbye Yellow Brick Roadâ from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
ShareThe title track to Eltonâs double-album masterpiece, which was released at the peak of his fame and the peak of his powers, the song sees him (or his lyricist, Bernie Taupin) showing some real animosity towards fame. Just like in The Wizard of Oz -- an obvious influence on the lyrics -- the songâs narrator chases a dream for years, only to realize that the keys to happiness are to be found in the simpler things in life, and sometimes were available to you all along. Taupin also looked at the dark side of fame on âCandle In The Windâ and explored similar ground on âA Simple Lifeâ and âHome Again.â