The hand claps on this song were overdubbed by producer Gus Dudgeon to give the song a "live" sound, which complimented the mindless fanaticism of the song's narrator for the band in question.
This song was a major hit for John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, peaking at #1 on the pop charts in early 1974 and also providing John with his first top 40 R&B entry.
Bennie and the Jets
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The spotlight's hitting something
That's been known to change the weather
We'll kill the fatted calf tonight, so stick around
You're gonna hear electric music
Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, ohh-oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless
Maybe they're blinded
But Bennie makes them ageless
We shall survive, let us take ourselves along
Where we fight our parents out in the streets
To find who's right and who's wrong
Oh, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?
Oh, but they're so spaced out, B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, they're so weird and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, ohh-oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?
Oh, but they're so spaced out, B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, ohh-oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Jets, Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
"Bennie and the Jets" is a classic rock song by Elton John that premiered in 1974, and quickly became one of his most popular and enduring tracks. The song starts with Elton interacting with a live audience, telling the "kids" to shake it loose together as he sets the stage for Bennie and the Jets. The song is meant to be a parody of the pop and rock scene. John had noticed a trend among the industry at the time where musicians would come out with "phony" musicians or bands to be their primary backup, usually throwing in some odd gimmick that somehow made them stick out; this is what he was poking fun at in his song.
Additionally, there’s a sexual energy to the lyrics, as Bennie "she" is described with such enthusiasm, the main reason the audience goes wild for her performance. The lyrics—"silver-studded boots," "solid walls of sound," and "electric boots"—all seem to be hinting at an erotic, almost hallucinatory dimension to the band's performance. The song seems to be about the band's wild, transformative power over the crowd, as they make them feel younger and free.
Overall, "Bennie and the Jets" is a song about the power of music to unite and transform people, set in the context of a high-energy rock performance, and it has stood the test of time as one of Elton John's most popular songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey kids, shake it loose together
Come on and dance with us, everyone!
The spotlight's hitting something
The light is shining on something special.
That's been known to change the weather
That can bring change to everyone's life.
We'll kill the fatted calf tonight, so stick around
We're going to throw a fantastic party tonight!
You're gonna hear electric music
You're going to hear music unlike anything you've heard before.
Solid walls of sound
The music is going to be loud and powerful.
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?
Have you met Candy and Ronnie yet?
Ooh, but they're so spaced out, B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Bennie and the Jets are strange and unique.
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
But they're so amazing and cool.
Oh Bennie she's really keen
Bennie is so passionate and enthusiastic.
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
She's fashion-forward and bold with her fashion choices.
You know I read it in a magazine, ohh-oh
I heard all about her in a magazine.
Hey kids, plug into the faithless
Let's party with people who don't believe in anything.
Maybe they're blinded
Maybe they don't really know what's going on.
But Bennie makes them ageless
But Bennie gives them a new lease on life.
We shall survive, let us take ourselves along
We'll make it through anything, let's stick together.
Where we fight our parents out in the streets
Where we argue about who's right or wrong with our parents.
To find who's right and who's wrong
To figure out who's side we're on.
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Let's hear it for Bennie and the Jets!
Jets, Jets
Go Jets go! Let's keep the party going!
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Let's hear it for Bennie and the Jets!
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Let's hear it for Bennie and the Jets!
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Let's hear it for Bennie and the Jets!
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Let's hear it for Bennie and the Jets!
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Let's hear it for Bennie and the Jets!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@L.K-19
Hey kids, shake it loose together
The spotlight's hitting something
That's been known to change the weather
We'll kill the fatted calf tonight
So stick around
You're gonna hear electric music
Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
Uh but they're so spaced out, B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless
Maybe they're blinded
But Bennie makes them ageless
We shall survive, let us take ourselves along
Where we fight our parents out in the streets
To find who's right and who's wrong
Oh Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
Oh but they're so spaced out, Bennie and the Jets
Oh but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
Oh but they're so spaced out, Bennie and the Jets
Oh but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Jets, Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
@CaptnButterVenom
My guilty pleasure: singing those high notes at the end when I'm alone
@idsiuclanleader
hehe hehe lol
@dougsingleton5498
same.
@etsyosbourne4120
what I was doing when I read this comment. BENNIE BENNIE
@SonoFelice-
Played this on my Wii U today while everyone was gone and sang... a lot.
@sinbrujo
this comment had me cracking up bc thats exactly what i do. good stuff, mang.
@FloatJohnFire
This is one of the few songs in existence where you can drunkenly sing during karaoke night, and have it sound better than if you were sober.
@zact.s9553
That's true with all songs tho
@itspenguin7187
@@jasonreimer9769 I- I'm not going to even start...
@jasminehouston-burns1691
@@itspenguin7187 Where do you even finish with that?