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elton john

Pop Culture

The Elton John holiday commercial from 2018 is still one of the most touching ever

This one's for you.

via The Sun / YouTube

A touching Elton John commercial.

At 71 years of age, iconic singer-songwriter Elton John is crossing the globe for one last time on his farewell tour.

U.K. retailer John Lewis & Partners is celebrating his life and music with a Christmas ad that takes viewers on a two-minute journey through his entire life.

For the past decade, John Lewis' memorable Christmas ads have become a part of the holiday tradition in the U.K.

According to The Standard, "The annual advertising campaign from the department store has become so ingrained in the public consciousness since its launch in 2007 that some believe the festive season only truly starts when it has been released."

The ad begins with current-day John tinkling the ivories and reflecting on his past. We see how his hit, "Your Song" has evolved from John's current-day performances back to its original recording in 1970.

The ad also boasts some spectacular effects. It perfectly recreates John's iconic performance at Dodger Stadium in 1975 and features uncanny CGI versions of John through his various looks and phases as an artist.

But what does it have to do with Christmas? You'll see in the end.

Here's what people are saying about the ad on Twitter.

In 2008, I got a job just to afford a piano for my 5-year-old son. He is now the #2 ranked high school jazz pianist in the state. My favorite times, though, are when he simply plays to clear his head, and his beautiful musuc drifts throughout the house. Best gift I ever gave.
— Jen Lockwood George (@opheliaslumbers) November 15, 2018

I literally cried watching this and listening to every note. He is a rare gift. My brother passed away a couple month ago at 56,and watching this took me back to every single day hearing his music and voice coming out my my brother’s room. He idolized Sir Elton. Thank u for this
— snipz (@SnipzPA) November 15, 2018

It’s beautiful.
— Hillary Was Right About Everything Ⓥ (@NYAnna22) November 15, 2018

This is one of the most beautiful special videos I’ve ever seen in my life. Truly touched me 😭
— Jackie Riley Makeup (@JackieRiley_12) November 15, 2018

This article originally appeared on 8.30.21

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Pop Culture

Elton John was once handed lyrics to make up a song on the spot and it was an instant hit

He can make anything into a masterpiece.

OS- Old stuff/YouTube

Sir Elton can make anything into a song.

Musical geniuses take on many forms. But the ones who can seemingly pluck inspiration right out of the imaginary realm and create masterpieces on the spot are particularly astonishing.

Those blessed with this gift of expediency confound us because they appear to not be bound by the normal limitations of being human. Virtually any of us could create something impressive, given enough time and effort. But some savants have no barriers between them and that mysterious, divine substance that makes ideas into reality.

Mere mortals need processes, methods, rituals, even a dose of liquid courage (or something stronger) in order to conjure that sort of power within themselves. So those who just do it willy nilly…well, they’re practically gods.

It feels safe to put Sir Elton John in this deity category, if not for his discography alone, but for having that uncanny ability to create catchy, compelling songs in almost no time at all.

Take “The Circle of Life” for Disney’s “The Lion King," for instance. A well-known story behind this famous tune is that Sir Elton concocted it in less than two hours.

“I gave him the lyrics at the beginning of the session at about two in the afternoon. By half-past three, he’d finished writing and recording a stunning demo,” lyricist Tim Rice recalled.

But why read an anecdote? Why not see this talent in action?

Back in 2001, while interviewing with legendary British chat show host Michael Parkinson (who died Aug. 16, 2023), the “Tiny Dancer” singer was given the challenge of spontaneously making up a song to lyrics he had never seen before, written by Parkinson’s writing team.

Here’s how he did:

Yep, only Sir Elton could make a song about anything, even clogged storm drains.

Other folks who watched the video were left enamored. Here’s what they had to say:

“I am totally convinced he is the most talented musician of his generation. The lyrics don't matter, his ability to come up with the vocal melody and chord progression is nothing short of genius.”

“Elton shines so bright.”

“Elton and Mozart must have that same music gene. Their minds must work the same way, everything they read, see or hear, they read, see or hear in music.”

Maybe gifts like Sir Elton John’s are a rarity, but it’s a gift that touches so many.

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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

More smiles are always a good thing.

Hey there, lovely people. Let's talk about the kindness of everyday people.

A few weeks ago, I hit a deer on a dark, two-lane highway while driving a carload of kids home from a day at the theme park. In the 20 or so minutes it took to assess the damage to the car, three different strangers stopped to help me.

The first checked to see if we were OK. I said we were, but that I didn't know how to get the deer out of the middle of the road so other cars wouldn't run over it. He took care of the deer for me.

The second stopped as I was trying to figure out if the car was drivable. There was a section of the bumper that was dangling on the ground, and he helped me get it off so it wouldn't drag while I drove. He also checked the wheels and the lights and looked for leaking fluids, then said it looked like we were good to go.

The third stopped just as I was getting into the car to drive the rest of the way home. By then, everything had been taken care of so I thanked them for stopping and we all went on our way.

We often hear the stories of bad human behavior because they grab people's attention, but we don't hear as often about the average kind deeds strangers perform all the time. Hitting that deer wasn't fun, but it turned out to be a good reminder that most people really are kind.

We have some stories of human kindness for you in this week's "10 things" list, as well as some sweet animal videos, a little Jack Black and Elton John, a touching mother-son reunion, the world's most delightful hockey goalie and more. Enjoy!

1. Umm, why did no one at my high school job fair tell me 'panda snuggler' was a real job?!

\u201cWho wants this job? \ud83d\ude0a\u201d
— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden) 1665821393

I feel like this would have been a vital piece of information to have on hand when choosing a career path. Failed by the system, I tell you. Sign me up for all the panda snuggling courses ASAP.

2. Mic'd up hockey goalie delights people with his wholesome self-talk.

@nickthegoalie_1
Mine! #hockey #goalie #nhl #hockeyboys

As one commenter put it, "This is how I imagine a golden retriever's internal monologue." Yes, 100% golden retriever energy, and people can't get enough of it. See more mic'd up videos from Nick the Goalie here.

3. Baby bird hasn't figured out that the food doesn't automatically enter its mouth.

\u201cBirds are fed by their parents in their infancy. When the time comes to feed themselves, there can be some confusion when the food does not go into their mouth by itself.\u201d
— Fascinating (@Fascinating) 1666133377

Oh, sweet baby birdie, this is so adorable and hilarious. "Why doesn't this worm get in ma bellyyyy?" This is why we teach kids to cook and clean before they leave the house.

4. Jack Black takes the time to serenade a 'School of Rock' fan.

See on Instagram

Abraham is a 15-year-old who has a rare mitochondrial disease and is in palliative care. At a fundraising walk hosted by Jack Black, he got to meet the "School of Rock" star, and their interaction was such a pure, sweet moment. Love it when celebrities take the time to genuinely connect with someone. Read the full story here.

5. The kindness of this taxi driver and his wife is a prime example of the best of humanity.

See on Instagram

These kinds of everyday human connections that don't make headlines happen far more than we know. Here's to people extending an extra measure of kindness just because they can.

6. Watch the incomparable Sir Elton John pull out a crumpled piece of paper and play 'Tiny Dancer' for the first time.

\u201c\ud83c\udfa4ELTON JOHN\n\n\ud83c\udfb5 TINY DANCER (1970)\n\nJust days after writing it, Elton pulls out a crumpled piece of paper, and plays his new song for the very first time.\u201d
— James Leighton (@James Leighton) 1666111049

Wow. What a fun treat to see Elton John casually uncrumpling Bernie Taupin's "Tiny Dancer" lyrics like a high schooler pulling out a homework assignment, and then playing, for the first time, a tune so familiar to us now. The birth of a legendary song, and he makes it look so effortless. Amazing. Read the full story here.

7. People share dance moves from their homelands and it's pure delight.

See on Instagram

Dance is such a wonderful way for humans to express themselves, and experiencing different cultures through it is just delightful.

8. The way this guy cares for his cat, Professor Pouncey, is the kind of pampering we all deserve.

@professor_pouncey
Did someone say... Heated Basket Version 2.0...? #bengal #cat #ebike #electricbike

Putting in my request for a heated bike basket big enough for a human, please and thank you.

9. Mom surprised her son when she came home from military deployment early.

See on Instagram

And right after his sweet tribute to her, too. Dang, who is cutting all these onions?

10. Let's hippity hop into the weekend with the enthusiasm of this horse race-loving doggo.

\u201cTwitter needs this \u2764\ufe0f\u201d
— Puppies Heaven \ud83d\udc36 (@Puppies Heaven \ud83d\udc36) 1665789416

Hope that brought some smiles to your world! Come back again next Friday for another roundup of feel-good finds. (And if you'd like to get them in your inbox each week, you can subscribe to our free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.)

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Pop Culture

Watch a young and fabulous Elton John play 'Tiny Dancer' for the very first time

History in action.

@JamesL1927/Twitter

Watching genius at work here.

Even in the modern age of constant social media posting, we rarely get to witness the making of great art before it becomes famous. So when there’s any sort of behind-the-scenes glimpse showing how an iconic cultural staple was created, particularly one from a bygone era, it just feels like magic.

In a now-viral clip posted to Twitter by author and screenwriter James Leighton (@JamesL1927), we get just that, as a young Elton John plays a ditty that would later become one of his greatest hits.

A ’70s-era Elton is seen at the piano, sifting through a short stack of papers with lyrics on them written by his longtime creative partner Bernie Taupin. Elton lands on a page he had worked on putting music to a few days prior, which he “fancied writing” because it was about Bernie’s girlfriend, and he figured he’d probably appreciate it.

He called it “Tiny Dancer.”

The camera cuts to a young Bernie, head full of hair, making the comment that, “Reg [Elton] has to write very fast because he hasn’t got the patience to sort of spend hours or days on something.”

Not objecting to the comment, Elton then talks through his process, explaining how the music should have an upbeat tempo until the word “ballerina,” which “you know it’s not gonna be fast, it's gonna be gentle.” It’s pretty wild seeing musical genius caught on tape.

He then puts the words to music, and history is made.

🎤ELTON JOHN

🎵 TINY DANCER (1970)

Just days after writing it, Elton pulls out a crumpled piece of paper, and plays his new song for the very first time. pic.twitter.com/H8zP3BzG2I
— James Leighton (@JamesL1927) October 18, 2022

As Elton plays, we also get to see Maxine Feibelman, Bernie’s then girlfriend and THE Tiny Dancer herself, hear the song for the first time, clearly digging the tribute.

It’s kind of hard to imagine that “Tiny Dancer” wouldn’t find instant popularity. According to American Songwriter, a lot of the song’s signature layers were edited out to make it shorter, and therefore playable on the radio, which didn’t help it top the charts. Luckily the song would eventually be heard in its full glory and quickly became a classic rock staple.

Elton and Bernie would, of course, go on to write together for decades, producing all-time hits “Bennie and the Jets,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “I’m Still Standing.”

The ability to let people experience ultra-rare, pivotal moments in culture is undoubtedly one of the greatest things the internet has to offer.

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Pop Culture

Elton John moved to tears when President Biden shocks him with National Humanities Medal

'I’m never flabbergasted, but I’m flabbergasted.'

commons.wikimedia.org

Elton John surprised with National Humanities Medal.

In life, there are some things that just leave you speechless and Sir Elton John had that moment September 23 at the White House. After a performance on the South Lawn, Sir Elton was left with his mouth agape as President Biden took to the mic to explain that he would be receiving the National Humanities Medal for his work with the nonprofit Elton John AIDS Foundation, which supports HIV prevention, stigma reduction, education and help for people living with HIV and AIDS. The singer looked totally dumbstruck at the announcement as the reality began to sink in.

John has been open with his struggles around drugs and other risky behaviors that put him at risk of contracting AIDS, and at a conference in 2012 he pondered why he hadn't died as many others did. Thankfully, John didn't die in the '90s from the still incurable disease and he went on to be one of its most fierce fighters for understanding and a cure. John has remained sober for well over two decades now and, in 1992, he started his foundation in an effort to end AIDS around the world. In 2021, John's foundation joined forces with Walmart to keep access to testing, treatment and prevention accessible to everyone, including those in greatest need.

The "Tiny Dancer" singer has been in the trenches of HIV/AIDS work for decades and has been recognized for his efforts in the past, including receiving Harvard's Humanitarian Award in 2017. But it's clear from his reaction to President Biden announcing the medal that Sir Elton John was not prepared to receive such an honor. He quickly became overcome with emotions before saying, "I just said to the First Lady, I'm never flabbergasted, but I'm flabbergasted. I'm humbled and honored by this incredible award from the United States of America." He went on to say that it will make him double his efforts to end the disease.

It's such a moving moment and a wonderful surprise. Watch the video below.

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Celebrity

Britney Spears releases her first song in 6 years and it's a beautiful duet with Elton John

It's already shot to #1 in 35 countries.

WikiCommons

Britney Spears and Elton John duet.

What's this? Sir Elton John and Britney Spears have a new song that released August 26. Well, technically it's not new. It's more like a new version of an old song. Elton John's classic, "Tiny Dancer," has been remade as a pop style duet with the queen of pop herself, ending her six-year hiatus from music. The song is just the right vibe to end summer on a positive note. That's not just my opinion either. The new version, called "Hold Me Closer," has already topped the charts at number one in 35 countries.

As you likely remember, Spears had been under a conservatorship for 13 years. While in the conservatorship, she alleged abuse from her father and others around her, and eventually refused to perform or record any music. The pop star's hiatus lasted six long years before coming to an unexpected end, which has Spears' fans thrilled. While there have been hints and teases to her millions of followers, no one was prepared for the immaculate mashup that was just dropped.

The song marries the chorus of John's 1972 hit "Tiny Dancer" to verses from "The One," another song of John's, but this time from 1992. Both Spears and John documented the momentous release on their social media platforms. With Spears tweeting, "Okie dokie … my first song in 6 years 🎶!!!! It’s pretty damn cool that I’m singing with one of the most classic men of our time … @eltonofficial 🚀 !!!! I’m kinda overwhelmed… it’s a big deal to me !!! I’m meditating more 🧘🏼♀️ and learning my space is valuable and precious !!!"

Spears goes on to say in the Twitter thread that she's choosing happiness and learning to forgive herself and others. This comes after a public spat with her ex-husband, who shared videos of her allegedly scolding her children. The duet with John could be Spears testing the waters of a possible comeback and John is certainly happy to help.

John tweeted, "I'm thrilled with the response to #HoldMeCloser 🚀 I wanted to do a fun, happy summer track so was ecstatic when @britneyspears agreed to be a part of it! She truly is an icon, one of the all-time great pop stars & I love her dearly. I hope you all love it!" Later, he retweeted Spear's reaction to finding out the song was #1 on the charts.

\u201chttps://t.co/1vShOsFlDh\u201d
— Britney Spears \ud83c\udf39\ud83d\ude80 (@Britney Spears \ud83c\udf39\ud83d\ude80) 1661536476

This is probably the most excited the public has seen Spears since the end of her conservatorship and quite honestly, I'm here for it. We have seen her star rise rapidly from a child star to a full-blown pop icon before it was nearly completely extinguished. Everyone loves a good comeback story, and we could be in the midst of witnessing Spears reclaim her crown.

Who knows what's next for the mom of two but it's safe to say she has legions of fans behind her and a new hit song dominating the charts. The world will be waiting and rooting for what could be the most fierce comeback yet.

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Videos

Ed Sheeran and Elton John's viral Christmas song has some epic merry vibes

YouTube

'Merry Christmas' on YouTube.

The world must have been—mostly—good this year. Because Elton John and Ed Sheeran have teamed up to gift us all with a brand new Christmas single.

The song, aptly named “Merry Christmas,” is a perfect blend of silly and sweet that’s cheery, bright and just a touch bizarre.

Created with the holiday spirit in every way, it has whimsical snowball fights, snow angels (basically all the snow things), festive sweaters, iconic throwbacks and twinkling lights galore. Plus all profits from the tune are dedicated to two charities: the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

I personally don’t know which is more of a highlight: Ed Sheeran channeling his inner-Mariah, performing a faux sexy dance in a leg revealing Santa outfit, or him flying through the air with a giant Frosty the Snowman … who seems to be sporting glasses similar to Elton’s. Are we meant to believe that Elton is the Snowman? This music video even has mystery.

Sheeran and John’s holiday duet has already racked up more than 2 million views, and going by the comments, it’s making people’s hearts grow three times in size.

“Okay now this is a perfect cheesy Christmas song, and I’m totally in love with it.”

“The best Christmas song to be released in years! I love it and it’s now going to be the theme tune to Christmas 2021 in our house!”

“Love it. Already learned it on piano. Catchy tune. Bit of Christmas spirit and for good causes.”

One person even gave us a little music history lesson, saying that “many don't realize Elton John helped get Ed Sheeran first signed.” That certainly explains the chemistry.

If you’re looking for a way to un-Scrooge, or simply wanting a laugh, this music video might be just the thing you need today.

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elton john

Elton John was once handed lyrics to make up a song on the spot and it was an instant hit

He can make anything into a masterpiece.

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

1. Umm, why did no one at my high school job fair tell me 'panda snuggler' was a real job?!

2. Mic'd up hockey goalie delights people with his wholesome self-talk.

3. Baby bird hasn't figured out that the food doesn't automatically enter its mouth.

4. Jack Black takes the time to serenade a 'School of Rock' fan.

5. The kindness of this taxi driver and his wife is a prime example of the best of humanity.

6. Watch the incomparable Sir Elton John pull out a crumpled piece of paper and play 'Tiny Dancer' for the first time.

7. People share dance moves from their homelands and it's pure delight.

8. The way this guy cares for his cat, Professor Pouncey, is the kind of pampering we all deserve.

9. Mom surprised her son when she came home from military deployment early.

10. Let's hippity hop into the weekend with the enthusiasm of this horse race-loving doggo.

Watch a young and fabulous Elton John play 'Tiny Dancer' for the very first time

History in action.

Elton John moved to tears when President Biden shocks him with National Humanities Medal

'I’m never flabbergasted, but I’m flabbergasted.'

Britney Spears releases her first song in 6 years and it's a beautiful duet with Elton John

It's already shot to #1 in 35 countries.

Ed Sheeran and Elton John's viral Christmas song has some epic merry vibes

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