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)
Crystal
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since Crystal came between us
The knots of friendship seem to be untied
And it hurts me most to cheat and that's no lie
She can swing us both forever
In the long run she's the one who must decide
And if she leaves me handle her with care
And if she calls you long distance just be there
Oh Crystal
The world is your oyster, you're a pearl
But he's a jewel and my friend
I'm sure that in the end, Crystal you'll be his little girl
Oh Crystal
You're stronger than me but I'm sure
That the fight would fall to no one
The cold hard truth is stronger than us all
And it breaks my heart to see us go this far
We're just captives in our separate cells
And without her there's no peace behind these bars
The lyrics of Elton John's Crystal tell a story of a complicated friendship that has been interrupted by the arrival of a woman named Crystal. The singer describes the situation as a web that has ensnared him and his friend. The arrival of Crystal has changed the dynamics of their friendship and they are struggling to deal with the consequences. There is a confession of guilt when the singer says it hurts them most to cheat. There is a suggestion that Crystal has the power to control their friendship and that she has to decide which direction it takes. The singer wants their friend to be careful with Crystal if she leaves because she is fragile. The song ends with the recognition that they are all prisoners, trapped in their separate cells, and without Crystal, there can be no peace.
The song is likely about the introduction of drugs, specifically crystal meth, into a group of friends. The title refers to the drug, which is also known as crystal or meth. The singer is describing how the use of the drug has disrupted their life and friendships. The song was released in 1997, during a time when crystal meth was becoming increasingly popular in the United States. It was a deeply emotional song for John, who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
We're caught up in a web, you and I
Our relationship has become entangled and complicated due to another person's presence.
Since Crystal came between us
Our issues started when Crystal got involved.
The knots of friendship seem to be untied
Our friendship has been negatively affected and is coming apart at the seams.
And it hurts me most to cheat and that's no lie
I am feeling guilty and disloyal for being involved in this situation.
She can swing us both forever
Crystal has a lot of power and influence over us and our relationship.
In the long run she's the one who must decide
Ultimately, it is up to Crystal to make a decision that will determine the future of our relationship.
And if she leaves me handle her with care
If Crystal decides to end things with me, I hope that whoever she is with after me will be kind and gentle with her.
Don't hurt little Crystal
I care for Crystal and want her to be treated well.
And if she calls you long distance just be there
If Crystal needs someone, I hope that you will be there for her even if it's from afar.
Oh Crystal
Reinforcing the theme of Crystal's importance in the situation.
The world is your oyster, you're a pearl
You have the potential to achieve anything you desire, you are unique and valuable.
But he's a jewel and my friend
Though you are special, your value is not higher than that of my friend.
I'm sure that in the end, Crystal you'll be his little girl
I believe that my friend and Crystal are meant to be together.
You're stronger than me but I'm sure
You have more influence and power in the situation than I do, but I am still convinced of my view.
That the fight would fall to no one
Nobody will come out victorious from this conflict.
The cold hard truth is stronger than us all
Ultimately, the painful reality of the situation will prevail over any emotions or desires.
And it breaks my heart to see us go this far
I am very sad to see the extent to which our relationship has deteriorated.
We're just captives in our separate cells
Our actions and feelings are constrained and limited due to the situation we are in.
And without her there's no peace behind these bars
Only through resolving this situation and finding a solution with Crystal can we find peace and be released from our emotional confinement.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.....