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)
Fascist Faces
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like any old Aesop's Fable
But when you're turtle-esque, I'm a hare's breath
Into payment under the table
But some journalist got his mug shot kit
And his briefcase on his lap
But I'm tired of being linked with the K.G.B.
And all that political crap
Cause I've seen your fascist faces
On the cover of the national papers
Staring out in black and white
From the tall gray walls on the other side
When I see your fascist faces
Then I know I've had enough
Trying to trace it or erase it
Is it foolproof or a bluff?
If the boy had been blessed, he'd have been arrested
On a charge of wearing red shoes
But if your pants are blue, you got nothing to lose
It'll make you a patriot through and through
In Elton John's song "Fascist Faces," the lyrics describe the frustration the singer has with individuals who are dishonest and manipulative. The opening lines speak to the individuals who are "slow with the truth" and compare them to characters in an Aesop's Fable, infamous for their deceitful nature. The song implies that there might be some payment happening under the table, which is frustrating for the singer who is a "hare's breath" away from overtaking them.
Later in the song, Elton John references journalists trying to link him to the K.G.B. (Soviet Union secret service) and political agendas, which he is not interested in. The chorus repeats the idea of "fascist faces" appearing on national papers and causing frustration for the singer. He seems to be tired of all the political garbage and is wondering if there's anything that can be done to remove these faces from the news.
The song speaks to the idea of not being able to escape voices and opinions that you do not align with. It brings up the frustration of being associated with a particular group or belief system that you do not want to be linked to. It also speaks to the idea of the media's power to paint a particular picture and how this can influence people's thoughts and opinions.
Line by Line Meaning
I read about how you're slow with the truth
I have come across information that suggests that you tend to be dishonest and not forthcoming with the truth in a gradual and sly manner.
Like any old Aesop's Fable
This is comparable to how old fables and tales preach morals and wisdom.
But when you're turtle-esque, I'm a hare's breath
When you take your sweet time to achieve something, I can accomplish it in a short while and outperform you.
Into payment under the table
I can resort to bribing or conceal the transactions in a discreet manner, for which I demand little evidence.
But some journalist got his mug shot kit
In addition, there are reporters that carry around cameras and other equipment to capture incriminating information.
And his briefcase on his lap
As they constantly seek further information and suspect any potential wrongdoing.
But I'm tired of being linked with the K.G.B.
I am immensely fed up of being associated alongside notorious individuals or groups for whom I hold no relation.
And all that political crap
I am consistently bombarded with unnecessary, tiresome, and irrational political claims and arguments that I choose to ignore.
Cause I've seen your fascist faces
As I witness individuals sharing extreme political views and favoring oppression to enforce power and control.
On the cover of the national papers
This occurs when the media publicizes controversial or polarizing opinions in national news publications, often with the intent to enforce their perspective.
Staring out in black and white
As these ideologies often emerge in a colorless and unforgiving manner and tend to have negative implications.
From the tall gray walls on the other side
These ideas provoked loathing and discontent and were viewed with mistrust and skepticism from an opposing standpoint.
When I see your fascist faces
They utterly disgust and repulse me with their insidious and malicious intentions.
Then I know I've had enough
I have reached the point of exhaustion from the increasing prevalence of these fascists and their aggressions.
Trying to trace it or erase it
Whilst attempting to identify the root cause or eradicate their actions, to no avail.
Is it foolproof or a bluff?
Am I successful in implementing a plan that will truly work, or does my attempt amount to nothing more than a fragile façade?
If the boy had been blessed, he'd have been arrested
If a certain event or circumstance had transpired differently, it could have lead to unfortunate or undesired consequences.
On a charge of wearing red shoes
In this particular case, it was related to absurd and unjust discrimination or claims, such as being abhorred for wearing a certain accessory.
But if your pants are blue, you got nothing to lose
In contrast to this, there are times when it is safer to align oneself with less controversial or criticized factions, despite lacking personal opinion regarding the matter.
It'll make you a patriot through and through
As an individual who supports their country or is politically involved, they will possess a deeply ingrained sense of loyalty and allegiance to their chosen nominees.
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.....