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)
Grow Some Funk Of Your Own
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The headlines screamed that I was still alive
I couldn't understand it
I thought I died last night
Oh, I dreamed I'd been in a border town
In a little cantina that the boys had found
I was desperate to dance
When along came a señorita
She looked so good that I had to meet her
I was ready to approach her with my English charm
When her brass knuckled boyfriend grabbed me my the arm
And he said, "grow some funk of your own, amigo
Grow some funk of your own
We no like to with the gringo fight
But there might be a death in Mexico tonight
If you can't grow some funk of your own, amigo
Grow some funk of your own
Take my advice, take the next flight
And grow your funk, grow your funk at home."
Well, I looked for support from the rest of my friends
For their vanishing trick they get ten out of ten
I knelt to pray
Just to see if he would comprehend
Elton John's song "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" is a lively tune, full of catchy beats and colorful descriptions. In this song, Elton John uses the metaphor of dancing to express the need for individuality in life. The song begins with the singer (possibly Elton John himself) waking up to a new day, surprised to find himself still alive. He had previously dreamt that he was in a border town, trying to dance and enjoy the local music when he encountered a señorita. However, her possessive and violent boyfriend made it clear that the singer should "grow some funk of your own," meaning that he needs to find his own individuality and not rely on others.
This experience was a wake-up call for the singer, who now looks to his friends for support. However, they turn out to be no help at all, leaving him to face his problems alone. He realizes that the only way to survive in this world is to "grow some funk of your own" and become an individual. The song ends with the singer praying for understanding, but it's unclear if he ever found it.
In conclusion, "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" is an energetic song that encourages individuality and self-expression. The metaphor of dancing and enjoying local music emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity and finding one's own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I looked at my watch and it said a quarter to five
I realized it was almost time to end the day
The headlines screamed that I was still alive
News reports showed that I survived something I thought I didn't
I couldn't understand it
It was difficult to believe what was happening
I thought I died last night
I had an experience that made me think I was dead
Oh, I dreamed I'd been in a border town
I had a dream about being in a town near the border
In a little cantina that the boys had found
There was a small bar that my group discovered
I was desperate to dance
I really wanted to dance
Just to dig the local sounds
To enjoy and appreciate the music of the area
When along came a señorita
A woman appeared
She looked so good that I had to meet her
I found her attractive enough to want to introduce myself
I was ready to approach her with my English charm
I was going to use my charisma to impress her
When her brass knuckled boyfriend grabbed me my the arm
Suddenly, her violent partner forcefully took hold of me
And he said, "grow some funk of your own, amigo
He told me to be more self-sufficient and creative
We no like to with the gringo fight
They didn't want to fight with someone from outside their culture
But there might be a death in Mexico tonight
If I didn't change my behavior, something bad might happen to me or others
If you can't grow some funk of your own, amigo
If you can't find your own style or groove
Grow some funk of your own
Then create your own unique way of doing things
Take my advice, take the next flight
He suggested that I leave or change my ways
And grow your funk, grow your funk at home."
To develop my talents and style where I am from
Well, I looked for support from the rest of my friends
I searched for help from my companions
For their vanishing trick they get ten out of ten
They were skilled at disappearing when needed
I knelt to pray
I got down on my knees to ask for divine intervention
Just to see if he would comprehend
To check if God would understand my situation and help me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, DAVEY JOHNSTONE, 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.....