Description
Compilation – Rocketman (Music From The Motion Picture) – Double Vinyl Records
Rocketman: Music From the Motion Picture (2019) is the official soundtrack for the biographical musical film Rocketman, which tells the story of Elton John’s rise to fame, his personal struggles, and his journey towards self-acceptance. The soundtrack is unique in that it features Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John in the film, performing the majority of the songs rather than relying on original recordings from Elton himself.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this soundtrack is that Taron Egerton sings all of Elton John’s songs in the movie. Rather than lip-syncing to Elton John’s original tracks, Egerton delivers his own interpretations, capturing both the spirit and energy of Elton’s music while adding his own unique flair. Egerton’s performances were praised for being authentic and emotionally resonant. While he doesn’t attempt to perfectly mimic Elton’s voice, he brings his own style, which blends well with the film’s narrative focus on Elton’s personal and emotional journey.
The soundtrack spans some of the most iconic songs in Elton John’s catalog, including hits like “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” These songs are re-imagined to fit the film’s musical format, often reflecting specific moments in Elton’s life as depicted in the movie. The album doesn’t follow a greatest-hits approach; instead, each song is chosen for its emotional or narrative significance within the film, showing Elton’s transformation over time. For instance, the film recontextualizes tracks like “I’m Still Standing” as personal anthems of survival and resilience, reflecting Elton’s eventual triumph over addiction and personal demons.
3. Key Tracks
“Rocket Man”: This rendition of Elton John’s iconic hit takes on a more melancholic and introspective tone, reflecting Elton’s feelings of isolation and alienation as his career skyrockets. Taron Egerton’s version retains the song’s dreamy, spacey qualities, but it’s infused with a deeper emotional weight in the context of the film.
“Your Song”: One of the most intimate and heartfelt moments in the movie, Egerton’s performance of “Your Song” showcases Elton’s budding songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. It’s a pivotal moment in both the film and Elton’s career, and Egerton’s delivery is tender and genuine.
“I’m Still Standing”: This song is transformed into a triumphant statement of recovery and self-empowerment. In the film, it comes at a key moment where Elton overcomes his struggles with addiction and regains control of his life. Egerton’s energetic performance brings a sense of celebration and personal victory.
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”: A new, original song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the movie, this upbeat track is a duet between Elton John and Taron Egerton. It captures the spirit of Elton’s enduring legacy and his journey toward self-acceptance, making it the perfect closing song for both the album and the film. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2020.
Many of the songs on the soundtrack are not simple recreations of the originals. Instead, they have been rearranged and re-imagined to fit the cinematic narrative. This includes both changes in instrumentation and tempo, as well as moments where the songs morph into full-scale musical numbers, blending orchestral arrangements and dramatic flair. For example, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is used in the film as a reflective moment, underscoring Elton’s disillusionment with fame and his desire for something more meaningful. The arrangement in the soundtrack brings out the emotional depth of the song to fit this poignant scene.
While Bernie Taupin doesn’t appear in the soundtrack directly, his influence is felt throughout. As Elton John’s longtime lyricist and songwriting partner, Taupin’s deeply personal and evocative lyrics are central to both the film and the music. The soundtrack underscores the strong creative and emotional bond between Elton and Bernie, with songs like “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” highlighting this partnership.
The soundtrack received widespread acclaim from both fans and critics, with particular praise for Taron Egerton’s vocal performances. His ability to capture the spirit of Elton John’s music while making it his own was a highlight. Commercially, the album was a success, charting in multiple countries and reinforcing Elton John’s enduring popularity. The success of both the film and the soundtrack also introduced Elton’s music to a younger generation, further solidifying his legacy.
Rocketman was released shortly after the success of Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and both films helped reignite interest in the music of their respective artists (Queen and Elton John). However, Rocketman leaned more heavily into the musical fantasy genre, with many songs being incorporated into surreal and imaginative sequences rather than simply being played as part of a traditional biopic. The soundtrack played a vital role in supporting this cinematic vision, with the re-imagined arrangements of Elton’s songs providing emotional depth and narrative progression throughout the film.
The Rocketman: Music From the Motion Picture soundtrack is not only a celebration of Elton John’s legendary career but also a bold reinterpretation of his music for a new generation. Taron Egerton’s performances breathe new life into these iconic songs, and the album’s creative re-arrangements help to tell the story of Elton’s rise, fall, and ultimate redemption. The soundtrack succeeds as both a tribute to Elton John’s music and as a stand-alone work of art that complements the film’s visionary storytelling.
Gatefold Sleeve
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Taron Egerton, Sebastian Rich– The Bitch Is Back (Introduction)
Kit Connor, Gemma Jones, Bryce Dallas Howard, Steven Mackintosh– I Want Love
Taron Egerton, Kit Connor– Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
Taron Egerton– Thank You For All Your Loving
Taron Egerton– Border Song
Taron Egerton– Rock And Roll Madonna (Interlude)
Taron Egerton– Your Song
Taron Egerton– Amoreena
Taron Egerton– Crocodile Rock
Taron Egerton– Tiny Dancer
Taron Egerton– Take Me To The Pilot
Taron Egerton– Hercules
Taron Egerton, Rachel Muldoon– Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (Interlude)
Taron Egerton, Richard Madden – Honky Cat
Taron Egerton– Pinball Wizard (Interlude)
Taron Egerton– Rocket Man
Taron Egerton– Bennie And The Jets (Interlude)
Taron Egerton, Celinde Schoenmaker– Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Taron Egerton– Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell– Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Taron Egerton– I’m Still Standing
Elton John, Taron Egerton– (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again