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)
My Strongest Suit
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I believe in looking
Like my time on earth is cooking
Whether polka dotted, striped or even checked
With some glamour guaranteeing
Every fibre of my being
Is displayed to quite remarkable effect
To your death bed you're on view, so
Never compromise, accept no substitute
I would rather wear a barrel
Than conservative apparel
Because dress has always been my strongest suit
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
Staying in or hitting townwards
From the top and working downwards
I ensure that every stitch is stitched in time
Whether wig or hat or turban
Whether clad boudoir or urban
Not to strut your stuff outrageously's a crime
And the few who are invited
To my wardrobe are delighted
As they wander through my things to find en route
That in negligee or formal
I am anything but normal
Because dress has always been my strongest suit
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
Now you don't need a recital
Of the reasons why it's vital
That tonight my trappings will not be subdued
That from coronet to sandal
No one else is worth a candle
That I couldn't make more impact in the nude
So bring me all my finest
Most audacious, mi divine-ist
Most revealing, most expensive and taboo
Most arresting, most heart-stopping
Most free flowing, most eye popping
Because dress has always been my strongest suit
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
Elton John's song My Strongest Suit is about the importance of dressing to impress and the confidence that comes with it. The lyrics encourage the idea that every occasion is an opportunity to showcase oneself and that dressing up should never be a compromise. The line "From your cradle via trousseau to your death bed you're on view, so never compromise, accept no substitute" suggests that no matter what stage of life you're in, how you present yourself is important.
The repetition of "overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere" reinforces the idea that there are no limitations to how one chooses to express themselves through fashion. The lyrics encourage the listener to embrace their individual style, even if it means standing out in a crowd. The line "I would rather wear a barrel than conservative apparel" speaks to the idea that conforming to societal norms is not worth sacrificing personal expression.
The song also touches on the idea that dressing up can be a form of escapism. The line "Because dress has always been my strongest suit" suggests that for the singer, fashion is a way to feel confident and powerful. The chorus emphasizes this idea, repeating the phrase "overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere" as if to say that dressing up is a way to escape reality and transform oneself into whoever they want to be.
Overall, My Strongest Suit is a playful and upbeat anthem for self-expression through fashion.
Line by Line Meaning
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
I'm not afraid to show off my fashion choices, whether they're over-the-top or under-the-radar, and no matter where I am or what I'm doing.
Now I believe in looking
I have come to understand the importance of appearance
Like my time on earth is cooking
As if my time on earth is limited and therefore every moment counts
Whether polka dotted, striped or even checked
Whether the pattern is bold and lively or more subdued
With some glamour guaranteeing
Adding some extra pizzazz and flair
Every fibre of my being
Every part of me
Is displayed to quite remarkable effect
Is shown off to great advantage
From your cradle via trousseau
From the moment of your birth through your entire life and even into death
To your death bed you're on view, so
Even on your death bed, people will see you
Never compromise, accept no substitute
Don't settle for anything less than what you truly want and need
I would rather wear a barrel
I would rather wear something ridiculous and attention-grabbing
Than conservative apparel
Than something subtle and understated
Because dress has always been my strongest suit
Because looking good and dressing well has always been my greatest strength
Staying in or hitting townwards
Whether staying in or going out
From the top and working downwards
Starting with the head and working your way down
I ensure that every stitch is stitched in time
I make sure that every detail is perfect
Whether wig or hat or turban
Whether wearing a wig, hat, or turban
Whether clad boudoir or urban
Whether dressed for the bedroom or the city
Not to strut your stuff outrageously's a crime
It's a crime not to display your best self with confidence and flair
And the few who are invited
Only a select few get to see
To my wardrobe are delighted
The people who get to see my wardrobe are always pleased
As they wander through my things to find en route
As they explore my wardrobe to see what I have
That in negligee or formal
Whether wearing something sexy or elegant
I am anything but normal
I always stand out and am never ordinary
Now you don't need a recital
I don't need to explain why this is important
Of the reasons why it's vital
Of why it's so crucial
That tonight my trappings will not be subdued
That tonight, my clothing and accessories won't be toned down
That from coronet to sandal
From my headpiece to my footwear
No one else is worth a candle
Nobody else is worth comparing to
That I couldn't make more impact in the nude
Even if I was naked, I would still make an impact
So bring me all my finest
Bring me all my best and most impressive things
Most audacious, mi divine-ist
The most daring, most divine items I have
Most revealing, most expensive and taboo
The most provocative, most costly, and unconventional things in my collection
Most arresting, most heart-stopping
The most captivating and breathtaking
Most free flowing, most eye popping
The most fluid and visually stunning
Because dress has always been my strongest suit
Because looking good and dressing well has always been my greatest strength
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
I love fashion and am willing to express myself through my clothing no matter where I am or what I'm doing.
Overwear, underwear, anytime, anywhere
This sentiment is so important to me that I'm repeating it to end the song.
Contributed by Jasmine T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Prince of Burzee
It doesn't even sound like a demonstraition track. That's how talented Elton John is.
Action Media Productions
Louis Kane you nailed it, his demos were top notch. He said he did them with Guy Babylon.
CB Fall
I love this! I never knew this song had an intro! Elton's solo version of this song is great!
Fox Piano
All eltons demos are better than the studio versions!
sher
i wish there was a karaoke version or sheet music for THIS version. does anyone know if there is?
AING
We're making one, you want?