Elton John - Elton's Song (2007)

[Kohntarkosz]

A little bit of trivia: The school teacher seen at 1:41, I believe is, Michael Baldwin, who was, I think the wardrobe guy for MGMM, the production company who made this video. He appeared in a lot (if not all) of their videos. It was sort of their signature. He's the girl's father in Squeeze's Black Coffee In Bed video, the lost explorer in Haircut 100's Love Plus One video, and he appears in Billy Joel's She's Right On Time video.

[trfesok]

The lyrics could just as easily be applied to a straight crush, as well. If you saw the video without the music, it could b interpreted as just a younger boy looking up to an older one. The two together, however, removes any ambiguity from what Elton and Tom intended.

[rutgers1961]

I was a big EJ fan but lost interest after "Rock of the Westies". I never knew this song existed, but saw it mentioned on wiki. Just beautiful, such a powerful video. I thought that "Blue Eyes" was his best post 70's heyday song, but this may have it beaten. Time for me to re-examine his post 70's output, as well as more current, well regarded releases like "Songs from the West Coast" or "The Union".

[jcboutoire]

@rutgers1961 do yourself a favor and get The Captain and the Kid, plus Songs From the West Coast and listen to them a few times.

[rutgers1961]

@jcboutoire thanks for the tip. I have listened to a fair amount of post 1980 Elton since I've posted that comment. It's hit or miss, but a hit is almost, if not as good as his early work. SFTWC is an outstanding album, I'd say his best since "Captain". Better than "Caribou" or "Westies". Have not yet had the opportunity to hear the sequel to CFATBDC, but if it is anything like "West Coast" or "Union", I'm sure it's a treat.

BTW, my favs are:

"Tumbleweed", "Captain" and "Yellow Brick Road".

[SuperRod88]

What a lovely video and song too. Now it occured me that Mulcahy is also the director of "Prayers for Bobby", also great.

[jmrob1107]

Whether you are gay or straight, this is a hauntingly beautiful song dedicated to impossible love. How can anyone not be moved by this masterpiece? It showcases the yearning everyone goes through when the person you have fallen hard for is impossible to ever reach. Love is love. It is painful and joyful at the same time.

[albertbriton]

@jmrob1107 wonderful comment, I think you used the best words to describe this video and real life situation

[jmrob1107]

@albertbriton Thank you. I have loved this song since "The Fox" was first released. Next to "Goodbye Yellowbrick Road", "The Fox" is my favorite. I have felt the emotions expressed in this song, so I can definitely relate. Thanks again for your response.

[sandinyourshoes]

Superb music from Elt. This song has to be one of his very best. I cannot believe how well he did with "The Fox" album. The story in the video is so moving. A young boy struggles with so many feelings.

[wupstorm]

good song.. but disgusting vid.. sorry:)

[SaturnTrack]

I still can't believe that some countries banned this song from being played because of its lyrics. Nobody should ever miss out on a single Elton John song.

[Treebard]

This is such a beautiful video. The young actor does a really good job depicting his longing. Love is so touching at that age - doesn't matter the orientation! Thanks for posting!

[AlessioFran1]

chissa se farà un medley al suo prossimo concerto, ho preso le prevendite su listicket per il suo concerto. chissà!

[07StarQueen]

Such a brave video and song for that time.  It's haunting and beautiful.

[rocksoliddude1]

in order to get into boarding school it was compulsory to be a homosexual.

[bothways]

@rocksoliddude1 sounds like you went to quite an unusual school

[rocksoliddude1]

@bothways I never went to boarding school, no-one in my family was rich enough to be homosexual. we were all working class heterosexuals who did not have fetishes for whips like the rich in their boarding schools

[bothways]

@rocksoliddude1 Blimey!

[ncf1]

Criminally underrated melody.

[MrsDelle]

Oh, there is something so magical about this song - and the video, too! LOVE IT! :)

[agnesfashionart]

beautiful...I do love this song....such a sad story...

[Ghostshadows1]

I don't care what his sexual preferences are. I love Elton John and his voice is the best.

[Sizzlin2010]

Gay fucking video.I love Elton but I am homophobic.

[the2Market]

@Sizzlin2010 ur afraid of gays?

[mortenkul]

@Sizzlin2010 What's the matter ?

The gay people is the nicest people in the world : D Their like guys, acting like women : )) Their cool !

From birth, - Gays can't do anything with how they are, their just gay x)

[agnesfashionart]

@Sizzlin2010 Well...it's your problem dude, not ours!

[BoyLove4Em]

@Sizzlin2010 that seems a tad..contradictory ain'i t it ? .... I LOVE this vidoe ..PERFECT exampleofboy love =) LOVE IT

Boy Love Rights 4 EVER!!!

[zoolakid]

@Sizzlin2010 you love elton but you're homophobic? that doesnt really makes sense

anyway great song. great video. would be interesting to see something intelligent like this on mtv nowadays instead of all the stupid crap they show (im 19 btw)

[GoldwingQueen1]

Brilliant song.

[nigelguliver22]

That video speaks for any teen gay. As an adolescent I always felt like him. Thank God life becames easier when you learn to respect and love yourself the way HE made you. And it´s wonderful to discover that there are others "like you" out there, and we´re not alone. I love you Matheus!s2

[killedelvis]

One of my favorites. '80s albums were usually 2 or 3 really good songs and the rest average. There were a couple of exceptions.

[SpideyStorms]

What a beautiful song; and this is probably one of the best videos I've seen! Gotta love Elton John :)

[343asi]

LOVE THIS SONG *.*

[inanebanter]

This is such a great song!

[werytraveler]

I get teary eyed everytime I hear this.

[WayneInSF]

A long lost gem from a stellar LP. Elton's vocals cut deep as tells the story of a school boy crush. One of his best.

[leftyspade]

This is an amazing video! Brilliant!

[knabebug1]

What a lovely video. This gave me courage to come out way before Elton did!

A single night beside you!

[GoldwingQueen1]

@knabebug1 I'm proud of you, I know that took courage.

[far0from0sanity]

live and let live it is love, love is a beautiful thing no matter what!

[far0from0sanity]

live and let live it is love!

[edrawl]

probably the most beautiful Elton song (word play intended)

[Lindsayjane42]

great video, even better song

[jnoble12]

I can enjoy this song as a straight man because the lyrics never mention a specific sex. Also, the video makes it out to be a hero-worship big-brother thing, not sexual. (just leave out the very last line) :-)

[orlandobabe]

I was about to ask if this song is only for gays or can I hear it when I am down over the one I am in love with? Which of course it's a guy and I am a girl.

[V1llary]

@orlandobabe sure, why not? Gays have spent generations having to soak in the omni-forever musings of heterosexuals promoted across the various forms of hetero-dominated society so we've done it long enough. So, if you're asking if it's PC for you a straight girl to relate to a story not made by and for heteros then yes, it's ok. Just don't act downtrodden like it's your only choice to relate to the minorities within your societies predominance.

[mortenkul]

Ofcourse you can.... Music has no right to be judges over who you are.

[newmanbeatbox]

What do you guess?

[Treebard]

@orlandobabe I did! Love is universal. Young love is universal. That's (to me) what this song is about. :)

[Treebard]

@orlandobabe I did! Love is universal. Young love is universal. That's (to me) what this song is about. :)

[BoyLove4Em]

@jnoble12 wel ypu can read it like that or you can see the boy i in love with the big guy in a sort of a brother thig but also love u know

[GlitzPianoman]

The Fox came out in 1981, by the way, not 1980. Just so you know :).

[bothways]

You're absolutely right of course. Alas the early 80s are pretty much a blur - for one reason and another :-)

[Lookinland]

@GlitzPianoman

You're right,came out in 1981 and if I can just add according to Wikipedia,recorded 1979-1980 :-)

[thebinxster]

A haunting, very beautifully moving song. To be able to feel that kind of depth...

[butcher777]

gotta give reggie credit...he tried to tell us he was a buller since 1981...lol....a buller means gay or fag where i come from...lmfao!!!...but hey...i still like reg..it's all good...lol.

[Miniermotte]

you fool. Stop calling him a fag or what ever... he's a human being!!! He prefers having men in bed rather than women...no big deal. Now let's get back to his music: The song is wonderful and the video is very sweet. Thanks for uploading it!

[2emotional2]

hahaha xD lmao .. haha

[hammertoebubbaloo]

Yeah it's the first time I saw this video, I didn't even think that video existed, because in Peru the singles were just Nobody Wins (and nobody liked it, I did), Just Like Belgium and Chloe. A fine taste dj of that time dared to chart Elton's Song in her weekly radio chart. The message of this video however, tells it all. It's amazing to find out a beautiful pre-Bronski Beat's Smalltown Boy video. I am speechless too.

[knabebug1]

I remember this decades ago...

We've come so far...

[deth349]

good song even if its a gay song im straight but its good

[mopeded]

Elton is the best, hands down. and this is truly a beutiful song

[spindle226]

i'm speechless.....sheer beauty. I had the cassette of this album THE FOX back in 1980. This was my FAVORITE song....I loved the haunting melody and the words! This youtube posting is the FIRST time I've seen the video. WOW, I had NO idea it was meant in this context...BRILLIANT. This song speaks to the soul. Enjoy....................

[far0from0sanity]

wow what a beautful video! I can't even explain why the music moves me.

[justlikeagun]

Divine song!

I had a love like this...

=)

[cruellaishawt]

This video is so gay.

[bothways]

Well duh...

[justlikeagun]

simple & prety!

[kusuyMontreal]

@cruellaishawt HELLO!~...YOU ARE SOOOOO SMART! lol

[Jason66HH2]

This is the best song for all gays who feel the "coming out inside"

No one could it better, than Elton John. He knows and feels what he is singing!!

[diversityguy]

I saw this video once when I was coming out in the early 80's and it spoke so clearly to my first crush in grade 7. I haven't seen it since then. Special thanks to the poster. Elton's voice is truly timeless. I'm glad we live in a time when there appears to be less homophobia in most parts of the world and LGBT youth are more visible in media.

[lavendergirl63]

Let's pray for the simple understanding that we are ALL God's children.

Lovely post, diversityguy. :)

[PhysicsProf1]

religious delusion is the #1 form of mental illness on the planet and is responsible for most of the hatred, bigotry and homophobia expecially. Lets just say that people need to accept ALL others no matter what their beliefs and orientation and leave the delusion of religion out of it.

[chryzippus]

@diversityguy I have this video on VHS. I'm wondering if I could put it onto a digital media of some sort .. it may be better quality but I don't know how to do it.

[jlenaghan]

What a beautiful song. Look up Ziggy (English and French versions) by Celine Dion which is a similar song to this. Both songs are awesome.

[PhysicsProf1]

The gay kid is a fabulous actor and expresses EXACTLY the emotions that one goes through in these situations. I know, it happened to me.

[onxix]

gay as hell

[Freiflug7]

the fox is a different album ,but one of the best

[Freiflug7]

toll

[ScottCLimaTeacher]

When Elton is really "on his game" he has a quality in his voice that hits you like no other...you serious fans like me know what I mean...examples include the studio versions of: Amoreena, Harmony, Sweet Painted Lady, Razor Face, Elton's Song, Guess that's why they call it the blues, A word in Spanish + many more..these stand out has high quality Elton vocal tracks, that just have that "Elton sound". While he's still very, very good...in his prime, which was 1970-1990 he was amazing at times.

[TylerWayneThompson]

Totally agree! But like you said, he's still absolutely fantastic! :)

[sam1987mix]

I totally agree ScottLimaTeacher, it's really a pity that I am only 20, otherwise I could had attended one of his former concerts with his former superb voice (but I still love Elton!)

[ScottCLimaTeacher]

Great song! Not to take anything away from Elton's band, like Davey & Nigel, Ray..etc..etc... The music of Elton John, in my opinion is best when it's just mainly Elton and the Piano only. As far as I am concerned, Elton can dismiss the band for the rest of his career, and just do it solo. For the love of god, please Elton, play a song like this just you and the 88 keys!! It saddens me that Elton's voice will never sound like this again.

[thienmodel]

oh sooooo sad i loved him until he die i still did life so hard to explain everything i wish i will see him in another life death is my hope to see him

[bothways]

The video was, but not the song itself.

Tom x

[milizakorjus]

This song is so poignant . It says all .

[WhisperLady023]

Amazing! What a song, what a voice! And how sad.. so impressive.

[filushkis]

For a long time searched for this video, thanks !!

[847802]

This song gives me encouragement - I' in college and like this guy...but I don't know if he knows he is gay...I sure do! I hope he snaps out of it!

steve

[lavendergirl63]

Amazing video for an amazing song. Truly that song was before its time.

Thank you Elton.

[jadedcreature]

..on the surface it is a song about a boy loving another boy..but i think on a deeper level its about him longing to be the type of boy he isnt(straight) and knowing it will never be..

[bkhistoryguy]

Elton, instead of playing that "Red Piano" crap in vagas, do a solo tour with piano only. I was there at the Palladium in 1979 and everyone in the place hung on every note. I can list 40 tunes you can do besides Bennie and the Jets and I'm Still Standing.

[werytraveler]

You can't get any beautifuller then that. My life's story as well. Thank you bothways.

[dorisboy52]

Amazing...Public school is sooo like that...

[super90myk]

Wow, possibly one of the best Elton John Songs I have ever heard!! xxx

[FxxkingUp]

That was... Deep.

'Beautiful' could be another word, but 'deep' fits better.

[AmericanTriangle]

This song makes me feel very sentimental. Even though I

[ranchoboyeros]

Absolutely Elton

[sussexden54]

Absolutely beautiful. I remember those early teenage crushes and the fear and excitement and longing. This captures it for thousands of young guys I suspect.

[847802]

I'm wishing I would not have caught his eye and looked away...I may not be so lonely right now...next time when I catch his eye, I won't look away.

steve

[drproctor13]

The Fox is an underrated Elton album. Thanks for posting this great video!

[muziktrkr]

This is off of Elton John "Visions", a long form video. I don't remember what else is on it, hopefully all the videos will be posted or on DVD one day.

This was the "lost years" where he and Bernie didn't write as much and I think it's the first song that Elton did that had to do with his orientation.

[TinyDancer500]

It may have been the first that was so blatant (not sure this vid was shown on the airwaves back then, may have been only available on the "Visions" video), but it wasn't the first. I'd say "All The Nasties" off the Madman album was the first hint, back in '71. And, of course, all true fans know "Solar Prestige A Gammon" off the "Caribou" album was just a coded message proclaiming his sexuality ;-) Just kidding, kids. Anyway, thanks for the fab upload, bothways, great addition to my collection!

[sam1987mix]

I agree with all the previous comments, thank you!

[pedrocooper]

Brings back memories! I remember seeing this video at Uncle Charlies in NYC ages ago. Being a veteran of a Catholic boys school I remember the crushes I had! Thanks for posting the video.

[surf6969]

Oh my God that is beautiful. I have never seen it before but it captures the longing that young boys can have for another knowing it's wrong. It must have been Elton's story growing up. Beautiful to tears...Michael

[PhysicsProf1]

Its only "wrong" if that's not your orientation. If it is, the its perfectly "right." That's the problem with society, the cerebral incapacity to analyze and categorize data in a logical fashion.

[GMJones1]

Tender & touching video, with lyrics by Tom Robinson, re: English boarding school and first love. Elton's singular song relating to his own orientation. It was a groundbreaking and controversial video, issued at the dawn of the MTV era. Those in their 40's & above will remember and relate to the pressure, sadness and frustration so ably illustrated by the young actor in this effort. Note: This is by far the best version (sound & visual) of this video on YouTube!