John was raised in the Pinner suburb of London and learned to play piano at an early age, forming the blues band Bluesology in 1962. After leaving Bluesology in 1967 to embark on a solo career, John met Taupin after they both answered an advert for songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for other artists, and John worked as a session musician for artists. John released his debut album Empty Sky in 1969, and a year later formed the Elton John Band and released his first hit single, "Your Song".
John's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s when he released a streak of chart-topping albums in the US and UK, which began with Honky Château (1972) and culminated with Rock of the Westies (1975). John continued his success in the 1980s and 1990s, having several hit singles and albums in both decades, and has continued to record new music since then. He has also had success in musical films and theatre, composing music for The Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliot the Musical. In 2018, John began his ongoing farewell tour Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which is scheduled to conclude in 2023. The 2019 biopic Rocketman dramatized his life and career.
Outside of music, John is an HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser and has been involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s. He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, which has raised over £300 million since its inception, and a year later he began hosting his annual Foundation Academy Awards Party, which has since become one of the biggest high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. John was the chairman and director of Watford F.C, from 1976 to 1987, and again from 1997 to 2002, and is an honorary life president of the club. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s, John developed a severe addiction problem to drugs and alcohol but has been sober since 1990. He entered into a civil partnership with Canadian filmmaker David Furnish in 2005; they married after same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2014.
John has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including nine number-ones in the UK and US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", a rewritten version of his 1974 single in dedication to Princess Diana, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling chart single of all time. In 2021, John became the first solo artist with UK Top 10 singles across six decades.
John has received numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards; including for Outstanding Contribution to Music; two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, a Disney Legend Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and is a fellow of The Ivors Academy. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and charitable services in 1998 and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) in 2020.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John
Solo studio albums
Empty Sky (1969)
Elton John (1970)
Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
Madman Across the Water (1971)
Honky Château (1972)
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
Caribou (1974)
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
Rock of the Westies (1975)
Blue Moves (1976)
A Single Man (1978)
Victim of Love (1979)
21 at 33 (1980)
The Fox (1981)
Jump Up! (1982)
Too Low for Zero (1983)
Breaking Hearts (1984)
Ice on Fire (1985)
Leather Jackets (1986)
Reg Strikes Back (1988)
Sleeping with the Past (1989)
The One (1992)
Made in England (1995)
The Big Picture (1997)
Songs from the West Coast (2001)
Peachtree Road (2004)
The Captain & the Kid (2006)
The Diving Board (2013)
Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)
Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021)
Conquer the Sun
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Divided by defenses as old as time
But love has found a way
To bring me to your senses and you to mine
So we meet in the cloak of evening
And we try to go on believing
Two different worlds can still be one
The night we met, we knew
What love would soon be leading us to do
And so it goes, and now
When wanting turns to needing, I turn to you
And it's hard to go on deceiving
But we have to go on believing
That someday our love will overcome
You and me, you and me, you and me, we can conquer the sun
As I lie here and feel you breathing
It's not hard to keep on believing
That someday our love will overcome
You and me, you and me, you and me, we can conquer the sun
The lyrics of Elton John's "Conquer the Sun" describe a love story between two people divided by differences and barriers, but who have found a way to come together through love. The song starts with them meeting for the first time, and being separated by defences as old as time. However, despite these differences, the power of love has brought them together.
As they continue to see each other, they strive to keep believing that two different worlds can still be one. The lyrics reflect the inner struggle they both face, as the song highlights both their desire to be together and their need to keep up appearances. They know that their love is meant to be, and that it will prevail eventually, but it is not an easy journey. There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as they acknowledge that time is running out for them to overcome their challenges and be together.
As the song progresses, the lyrics describe how their love has evolved from wanting to needing, and in those moments, they turn to each other for support. Despite the continued challenges and need for secrecy, they remain hopeful that their love will someday overcome all obstacles. The final lyrics describe the intimacy they share, as one lay beside the other, feeling each other's breaths, and both holding onto the belief that they can conquer the sun.
Overall, "Conquer the Sun" is a beautiful and powerful love song that highlights the challenges faced by two individuals from different worlds coming together in love. It is a reminder that love knows no limits or barriers, and that with determination and belief, anything is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
The night we met, we stood
When we first met, we were divided by old defenses that kept us apart.
Divided by defenses as old as time
We were separated by deep-seated barriers that had existed for a long time.
But love has found a way
Love has discovered a solution to unite us.
To bring me to your senses and you to mine
Love has opened our hearts to each other.
So we meet in the cloak of evening
We come together secretly, under the cover of night.
And we try to go on believing
Despite the obstacles between us, we continue to have faith.
Two different worlds can still be one
Our unique backgrounds and experiences do not prevent us from being united.
You and me, you and me, you and me, we can conquer the sun
We are together, and we can accomplish anything, even the impossible.
The night we met, we knew
From the moment we met, we recognized our deep love.
What love would soon be leading us to do
We understood that our love would guide and motivate us.
And so it goes, and now
Our love has continued to strengthen over time.
When wanting turns to needing, I turn to you
When I feel most vulnerable and dependent, I rely on you.
And it's hard to go on deceiving
It is difficult to maintain a facade, pretending that our love doesn't exist.
But we have to go on believing
Even when circumstances aren't ideal, we must have faith in our love.
That someday our love will overcome
We believe that our love will triumph over any challenges.
As I lie here and feel you breathing
As I lay next to you, I am comforted by the sound of your breathing.
It's not hard to keep on believing
I don't find it difficult to have faith in us.
You and me, you and me, you and me, we can conquer the sun
With you by my side, I feel like we can achieve anything.
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Peter Harthen
on Sacrifice
not like todays crap
Peter Harthen
on Sacrifice
Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....