Rocket Man - Elton John | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION! 

Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia did it that way too. I don’t know of any others

WHY don't a&a research this before hand??? They're better than this...

I remember reading a thing where Bernie Taupin was really surprised by how Elton John wrote and arranged the music for Tiny Dancer. I think the studio was questioning it as well, but Elton held his ground, and thank god.

@@GaryColemanNC • That’s why God invented ‘comments’! While I’m here, I love the counterpoint song, ‘Social disease’. Great album.

@@GaryColemanNC I like them coming in as cold as possible....

True. Elton somehow made Bernie's lyrics come to life in the most incredible way. I know Elton can write too, but their collaboration was one of the best things that ever happened in the music industry!

ALL THE LYRICS !! except for a few in the 90's

Bernie didn't write the Lion King Song and That's What Friends are For. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or Pinball Wizard. The only 4 of any consequence I can think of.

Absolutely--thank you!!!

@@bartstarr100 Exceptions prove the rule.

Agree 100%. In my opinion this is the best channel in this genre in the entirety of RU-vid. Here’s why.. -They play the entire song without pausing which enables them to feel the essence of the song which can only occur when played in it’s totality without interruption. -They don’t just say they like it or not. They actually analyze the music and give a perspective as music nuts instead of fans -They’re honest. If they don’t like something, they say they don’t like it. If they love something, they say they love it. Most channels like this just kiss the asses of viewers so people keep coming back to hear what they want to hear. I value the honesty. I realize it’s subjective to a certain extent. But for my money this channel and Rick Beato are the best in the entire genre.

For real. So well put together

Wow, I didn't know that. It was a magical time back then

@@tracycampbell3060 I watched an interview with Bernie Taupin ,he said when he arrived at the studio , showed the lyrics to Elton and he had the music written that afternoon .

I never knew that! Thanks! Fun little fact.

I love these interviews

@@michaelligue3842 that is awesome. Is this on RU-vid?

You said it, brother.

Aint it the truth. I still am floored by how much I took those musical riches for granted. Music meant so much to us, and artists delivered.

Yeah, that was a period where there was so much great music coming out, and as a teen I sort of took it for granted. Occasionally over the subsequent decades I've encountered new songs that I've liked, but I've heard a lot of dreck too. I was in a cafe a few days ago, being subjected to one after another autotuned vocal with some insipid drum machine behind it, and I just wanted to tear what's left of my hair out. I miss the musicianship and creativity of the late 60's and early 70's, you didn't have to go looking for it, it was just all around.

Excellent encapsulation of what it was like.

So true. We bought albums and discovered that most every song on the album was worthy. Great era of music.

Yes love it!!

Let's not forget about Philadelphia Freedom. An S for sure

From 1970 to 1976. That was it. That was Elton, Bernie, and the band at their best. You can only imagine everybody who only knows him from his Disney shit listening to "All the Young Girls Love Alice". Mind. Blown...lol. I won't ever say he sold his soul, but I will say he shot his load well before the 80's even started, as you noted. However, It was one of the best loads ever shot in music history. All his early stuff is eargasm after eargasm.

One of the greatest songwriters ever. Absolutely love his work. He and Bernie are, in my opinion, right up there with John and Paul in terms of songwriting duos. Additionally, his melodies and harmonization are on a level that very few ever achieve. Elton John, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, come to mind. Having said all of that and demonstrating I absolutely adore him, I can’t go so far as to say he has over a dozen S tier songs. To have that many from one artist devalues the entire tier. So there either needs to be a level above S, or a stricter criteria to S.

@ajschroetlin2196 And the album before Madman was Tumbleweed Connection, which is another top 5 classic...every single song is great.

This week, Rick Beato did a breakdown of “Tiny Dancer” in his What Makes This Song Great series.

Almost….. It was perfect

For all the songs up to the 80s.

@@Verlopil Untrue, on a few counts: * "Love Song", written by Lesley Duncan, appeared on 1970's Tumbleweed Connection. * During the period of 1978-82, Elton and Bernie wrote far less together. In fact, Bernie's lyrics do not appear at all on either 1978's A Single Man or 1979's Victim of Love, although Bernie did write the lyrics for the standalone 1978 single "Ego" as well as a few B-Sides released during that era. 1980's 21 at 33, 1981's The Fox, and 1982's Jump Up! did feature some lyrics by Taupin, but many of the songs on those albums had lyrics written by other people, most notably Gary Osborne and Tom Robinson. * After 1983, Elton and Bernie were back writing together full-time. The vast majority of the songs on Elton's studio albums were written by Bernie, and that continues to this day, with the exception of collaborative albums such as 1993's Duets, 2010's The Union, and 2021's The Lockdown Sessions. Of course, Elton has also worked with Tim Rice to create several musicals, most notably The Lion King and Aida.

Thank you Pamela! I was just going to post about Bernie Taupin's lyrics. He wrote the lyrics for most of Elton John' s songs, including Rocket Man. I saw EJ in Honolulu in 1974 and it was a fantastic concert. In fact, it's the only time I've waited in line overnight the night before the tickets went on sale. And I've been to a lot of concerts over the years! 😁

@@nbell817 I went to see him in concert in either 1974 or 1975 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. It was my first ever concert and even though it wasn't so easy to see the stage, it was amazing! After that, I went to many many concerts also. In those days they weren't so expensive and even a teenager could afford to go!

@@pamelahofman1785 my first concert was in the late 60s, 68 or 69, at the Baltimore Civic Center. I was 14 or 15 and a friend's older brother had extra tickets to a concert and took us. It was Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Janis Joplin. I swear it changed my life! Lol They were all great, but Janis was absolutely mind blowing!

people still do.. at wprk and especially on construction sites for some reason. but its not a lot of good music on there anymore

@@La_sagne There's a station in my town that plays mostly 60s-80s songs, and it's awesome. They have two taglines -- "Playing the greatest hits of all time" and "the music you grew up with." It's all I listen to. Are there no stations like that in your area?

I would love a mash up combining some of the lyrics from Space Oddity, Major Tom, and this into one cohesive storytelling song.

Hell yes!

... and throw in Spaceman by Harry Nilsson.

Throw in "I'm a Stranger Here" (on this place called earth) - by 5 Man Electrical Band. A classic, with a strong environmental message from the early 70's.

and lemmy´s "silver machine" (hawkwind) ... with the naked girl dancing ... hahaha

Agree - I don’t know, but can’t imagine music means the same thing to young people now as it did in the 60’s/70’s/80’s

@@03185212345 ahh yes....R.I.P. music industry.

i agree that the music industry is in one of the shittiest periods of all time, but to say that there’s not good music anymore just means you aren’t looking hard enough. there’s so many amazing and innovative artists out right now. ex: frank ocean, kanye west, taylor swift, tyler the creator, phoebe bridgers, lana del rey, beyoncé, adele, kendrick lamar, hozier, childish gambino, lorde… there’s so many, these are just to name a few. back then, the amazing music was mainstream and radio hits. now, people rely on streaming for that. just because things and music is different doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad. there’s so much good as well. if you need recommendations that show how amazing modern music can be, i would be happy to give you some (songs, artists, albums).

So true . We didn’t know then how lucky we had it .

Never replicated. A decade of pure brilliance in music. So lucky to have experienced it and been there as these artists blew us away.

@@maggieshevelew7579 just curious, best live performance you’ve seen?

@@fourdead552 Back then? In the 70’s, The Who in 1979 at Madison Square Garden (unfortunately, Keith Moon had just passed). Seeing Roger Daltrey (my teen crush) and Pete Townsend back then was just amazing. And Dire Straits in 1980, just before they became huge, in a small club in New Jersey. First row center, right in front of Mark Knopfler. Could’ve reached out and touched him. My friend, a photographer, got some great pictures, and I got everyone’s autograph on my “Making Movies” album cover. Also got Mark’s playlist from his amp. What a night. Also saw Robert Fripp and Brian Eno (around 1980?) at a small, intimate hall at Princeton University, where they just chatted with the audience, and played whatever they felt like playing. Wow. That was an experience too.

@@maggieshevelew7579 wow, I lived in Lavallette, on the island in Jersey. I thought I saw The Who at the Meadow lands, but could be mistaken, I did see them in N.Y. Then followed them down to Philly and saw em 2 days in a row there. 7 day party, so slightly cloudy in the accuracy of events, though knowing me I had a ball. Thanks for sharing and my best to you and yours.

Liberace.

Yes 🙌 ❤️

We were so fortunate. 🇬🇧

I agree 100%.

It was a magical time! I wanna go back, cos today sucks.

I believe at times you guys need to do some homework about some of the legendary artists so you do not seem so naive and foolish from your reactions. In this case it pertains to not knowing about the genius writing of Bernie Taupin. You can do this without listening to a song.

My two favorite EJ songs.

My favourites are Madman Across the Water and Burn Down the Mission from Tumbleweed Connection

This entire album is incredible.

@@Martin.Wilson , Those are my favorites, too, along with the sad song, Ticking, from the Caribou album.

@@mikecreger9702 , Agree - the entire album is incredible!

Was going to say the exact same, time to up the scale to S+

@@ixeyeb What does S stand for?

@@reeyam5929 Supreme or Superior level.

@@ixeyeb I though u were hating on Elton , calling it , him shit 😂😂👍🥃🚬💵💵

@@garyny4073 LOL, yeah their rating scale, not mine. Elton is one of the best. He breaks all genres. Metal heads, Pop, Disco fans all love him.

GREAT SONG...!

Forgot that one!

I mean it's a bit 80's cheese but ok

Agreed. I've always enjoyed it but I don't think it makes for an interesting reaction

80's Elton is underrated! "I'm Still Standing" is another good one.

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" ... sooo good!

Great selections there YES

Great selections I also love Mona Lisa’s and Mad Hatters

@@joenutz2738 love that song, too!

Someone Saved My Life Tonight - my fav EJ song

LEVON!!!

Oh yeah, they have to do Levon. That's a treasure they probably don't have any idea exists.

Indian Sunset is better

Just imagine the boys dissecting the lyrics to Levon!!

Yes and yes

Once Elton said that he has to have lyrics in front of him to write. I don't know of any other songwriter that writes in that manner.

Look up the video where Elton writes a song, on the spot, with lyrics derived from an appliance owners manual.

Its coming together of incredible talent.

Especially with headphones, blows me away.

His other masterpiece is Philadelphia Freedom

cant remember what you havent ever known

Yeah thanks for mentioning Gus Dudgeon -- great producers like him often don't get the recognition they deserve for masterpieces like this one.

@@DJHolte Dont forget Paul Buckmaster.

DITTO!!!!

They’ve actually reacted to this, maybe a year ago? They Loved it, of course. 🥰

That whole album is fire.

Great story!! I can relate

It was totally an answer to be Space Oddity. Bowie, in fact, felt that John and Taupin had nicked his idea. Interestingly, Bowie subsequently went really piano heavy for Hunky Dory - so in a way stole back influence from Elton John…

I feel that Bowie’s was more haunting because of the storyline but Elton’s voice more pleasing …idk, gosh, both so good

Yep, Captain Fantastic is amazing and shows more of Elton's rock side.

Assuming greatest hits albums not included, Graceland by Paul Simon or Can't Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan or Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. I can't choose just one!

So many remarkable albums to choose from, but if I could only have one, it would probably be Abbey Road. 😎

Exile On Main Street by the Stones!

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" from Captain Fantastic is one of my all-time favorites.

Yes. Pure genius by Elton and Bernie.

Yes! Rotten Peaches!

Another great album that doesn't get the recognition it deserves is Tumbleweed Connection.

@@mrsrobinson2364 "Burn Down the Mission" off Tumbleweed Connection is a must on any EJ essential playlist.

@@mrsrobinson2364 I totally agree -- such a brilliant record. Quite possibly my all-time favorite of his.

Are you FROM Philadelphia, because that could influence you! Hahahaha!! (I'm from Philly too, so I know it's a city anthem!)

@@Skeezer66 Actually, no, but love the song.

They loved Dr. John. I think they would love this too!

Term was coined in the 19th century

@@keithralston1133 he’s that old🤩

Levon hits me with a mix of emotions. Not sure why. It always has.

Levon is probably my favorite, but there are so many. For a fun song, Crocodile Rock.

lisa same the lea ann womack cover on the restoration cd one of the better songs on it is a collaboration of bernie taupin and country artists most not so good but lee anns version i liked dont h.c. record but have classic years best of has honkey cat

Yes, and the fact that the slide guitar was used to create melancholy notes in the fade, giving it a wonderful bittersweet feel.

Rick Beato also goes deep into this song on his What Makes This Song Great video series. also worth watching.

Agreed..This is quite true .

Love Elton John! Have you guys hit Billy Joel yet?? New York State of Mind is my personal choice to start or there is always Piano Man.

Yep, I can because I did...

Absolutely! Didn't fully appreciate "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" in its time, but talk about honest, soul-baring songwriting!

The EJ song I have listened to probably more than any other is "Satuday Night's Alright for Fighting." I don't know why, it's just a banger. "Border Song" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" are up there too, as are "Crocodile Rock" and "I'm Still Standing." Oh, and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee. She also had an awesome voice. :)

Same, in November 2019. I wept several times.

Agree. He started as a serious recording artist and turned into Liberace.

😂👍🏻

I’m seeing him here in Phoenix in November.I can’t wait

I think it's more literal.

And "Somebody Loan Me A Dime" with Duane Allman on guitar.

Yes, his melodies never cease to leave me awestruck, even during songs I’ve been listening to for decades. The partnership of EJ and Bernie Taupin is no less important (and no less impactful) than Lennon/McCartney.

I agree. Elton was a master of melody but imo, I think McCartney is still ahead of him. Just a bit. 😊