Fewer than fifteen seconds into the chorus, you know exactly who he is and why he is still standing. That is the thing about Elton John. He does not ease into his feelings, he pours them out, dresses them in glitter, and lets the music carry them. “I’m Still Standing” is not just a catchy tune from the 80s. It is a full-on declaration and every piano note drives that message home.
There is something powerful about hearing someone sing about survival without sounding bitter. Elton is joyful here, but there is also something sharp behind the smile. He is dancing, but he is also saying, “Look what I made it through.” That mix of pain and pride makes the song hit harder. You can hear the celebration, but you can also hear what it cost him to earn it.
Elton John – I’m Still Standing (Official Lyric Video)
Elton’s fans never forgot this one. Some say it was their anthem during heartbreak. Others say it helped them through illness, grief or loss. One person called it “the sound of coming back to life.” The music video added even more color, filmed on sun-drenched streets in France, like Elton was saying to the whole world, “I am not just alive. I am shining.”
Elton has always been bold, but sometimes he sings from a quieter place. Not softer, just deeper. That is what makes “Nikita” feel like another side of him. He is not showing off. He is reaching out and you can feel how badly he wants to be heard.
Elton John – Nikita
Elton does not need many words to say a lot. In “Nikita,” every line feels like a letter that will never be delivered. The Cold War tension gives the song its edge, but the emotion gives it its soul. There is longing in his voice, a kind of ache that does not fade. And when the choir fades in at the end, with George Michael’s voice tucked inside, it feels like a heartbreak too big to fit in one song.
Elton John has never been afraid of emotion. Whether he is soaring or falling apart, he brings the same honesty to every note. His music is not just catchy, it is human. And that is what keeps people coming back. Follow Elton John on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The next song might be exactly what you need.