Elton John - Ego (Promo Video)

[marcpierini]

This just might be his best song ever! It says it all!

[1caninelover]

@ medic83301, I suspect getting clean and sober helped his career (helps most lives I've seen in my experience as a healthcare professional)

[Medic83301]

Elton's career took a nosedive after " Blue Moves " was released . He only had one hit off of it " Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word . " "The Fox " , which this song is off of was another flop exept for " Part Time Love " that became a successful hit . Then , " The Thom Bell Sessions " was released in 1979 which put Elton nearly back on top with "Mama Can't Buy You Love " , with help from The Spinners singing background . " Too Low For Zero " put him back on top in 1984 .

[jagdpanther1944]

oh tell them heaven sent me....

[DantinaDB]

I think he is handsome in this video.

[jagdpanther1944]

@DantinaDB

all Englishmen are gorgeous

[jella11]

It's waaay too fast.

[GroveEndRoad]

I saw this promo in july of 1978 @ the show, may have been JAWS 2

[stardeau28]

aaahhhh.....this song does wonders for my EGO!!!!!!

[DEPARTMENTofPEACEusa]

"Flinstone Boy" the B side to this song, was a better song. This one is hard to listen to and understand. Elton had just stopped wearing his fancy glasses here.The piano kicks as , but the song is ridiculous.

[theepolishprince]

Hi, in what way was "Flintsone Boy" better than "Ego"? Why is this one "difficult" to understand? I think this song is very clever and I really enjoy the video very much. I guess I would have to agree with you...this song is ridiculously awesome! I wish I were either 1/2 or 1/4 quarter as talented as Elton is when it comes to my songwriting. It's too bad this song isn't actually on an album so I could hear it along with the rest of the songs on that some album. Thank goodness for youtube.com!

[elishacheryl]

LOL omg his facial expressions are fantastic in this video! :D

[theepolishprince]

Hey, I got to tell you that I could sit here all night and watch thing video over and over again if it were just Elton singing the song and the camera were focused on him and nothing else. You are 100% correct about his facial expressions. Not only "fantastic" but they're also very colorful and animated for being just a human face and a hat. I don't remember his eyebrows being so pronounced but they are what they are. I think that this is really one of his most creatives songs that he's ever had

[elishacheryl]

@theepolishprince Oh i couldnt agree more! I agree 100%. Yes i see what you mean by the eyebrows. He had quite thick and long pronounced eyebrows. But hey i think it match him very well. :D And i totally agree about the song to. I cant get enough of it. I listen to it non stop just like alot of his other songs to. :)

[theepolishprince]

When I was 10-years-old, my mom sat me down and showed me how to operate a turntable. The album was "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and that album washed over me with its' great lyrics, incredible songs and memorable melodies. I do have to admit Elton's had some zinger albums that I can't get used to or past but for the most part, he had been an phenomonal influence and inspiration. I believe when Elton breathes his last breath, the world will spin just a little bit slower. He is simply the best!

[elishacheryl]

@theepolishprince Ahh yes. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Great album! I agree about that, some songs i cant listen to and get used to as much as some other songs, but there aint alot of them thats for sure. I must admit im only 15 years old and i LOVE Elton John! the first time ive seen him was at his concert in 2011 and ever since that ive been finding songs of his ever since! and loved him ever since! Glad to hear your a fan aswell :)

[ronknorr]

Heard it live from Elton in the '70. Atlanta - The Civic Center with Ray Cooper. Ah, the days!

[jagdpanther1944]

@ronknorr

I would have given anything to have heard that!!

This is such a top brilliant song

And Sir Elton is a consumate live performer

Ray Cooper rocks:)

[ronknorr]

Heard it live from Elton in the '70. Atlanta = The Civic Center

[DaveWollenberg]

Sir Elton hit #34 in Billboard, 5-6-78. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx!

[omanmc]

This never makes any of his greatest hits or collections. A pity.

[jody808]

you my goodness...haven't seen this clip in over 20 years! saw it once and never forgot it, Elton Ego

[jagdpanther1944]

I don't wish to quote Elton incorrectly, but I am pretty sure in an interview he once stated this is his favourite song he he did with Taupin....

Which begs the question....why don't you do it live Elton????

[mhvr85]

what a great song! Elton tried to make it popular in his 79-80 tours but it failed.

[dixgun]

Always LOVEd this track. Love this pv, too. Another one of EJ's flawless tracks.

I used to think he was singing "Miss Lennon" instead of the word "resplendent."

[NamathTheLegend]

I had the 45 single of this song back in 1977. I remember that the flipside song was Flintstone Boy.

[lakefloor]

@NamathTheLegend Yes. I had the 45 also! One of those less popular gems!

[hanktwofan]

I saw this music video before a showing of the movie 'Fist' with Sylvester Stallone at a theater in Orland Park, Illinois... It was the first music video we had ever seen!! Bought the 45 the next day!!

[AndrewJBoyer]

3 words (you guessed it!) BEST SONG EVER!

[rocketman4403]

Brilliant song. Underrated and underappreciated.

[ente75]

great song!

[mariacri22]

I love Elton...

[adric137]

very unique elton john song

[Rocketman2396]

OMFG why don't they have this amazing video on itunes??? i want it on my ipod >_<

[spretten]

@Rocketman2396 use youtube downloader! it can convert it into a file for your ipod i think. i cant remember but it can convert into many things i know. :D

[Rocketman2396]

@spretten Thanks, lol but i know this one video converter website. I meant that like they don't have this music video to buy :P cuz the converter only puts the video as a song.

[spretten]

@Rocketman2396 oh. hehe well i dunno how it woul work with ipod but on my PSP i can use youtube downloader and conver ti into both video and mp3 and various other formats :)

[Rocketman2396]

Lovely Elton ;P

[martinjp1958]

Too musically interesting to be a big hit [I remember thinking at the time...]. He's such a good artist. This sounds a bit Genesis'ish to me.

[teehonky]

not the greatest i have heard..its a brit song 100%

[englishpuzzle]

He looks a little like John Malkovich here

[TomR271]

I love all of Elton's facial expressions throughout this song

[1caninelover]

@TomR271 Same here; very expressive!

[jagdpanther1944]

1caninelover, I notice so many girls fall in love with Elton on this video....I wonder why, as we all know he likes the better half of the population.....or are you ladies trying to convert him in your nefarious ways?

[1caninelover]

God, beautiful eyes...as a blue-eyed blonde I would've loved those lush eyelashes (as a female the eyebrows look much better on him though :))

[jagdpanther1944]

in fact hamtrak you would be perfect:)

[jagdpanther1944]

hamtrak, it means "are you good enough to be Elton's fuck"

he is soooooo obsessed with his ego you see

[hamtrak]

What does 2:10-2:15 mean?

[1caninelover]

@hamtrak Sizing them up for sex.

[buck2239]

The whole album A Single Man, to me at least is probably Elton's greatest. Was right after he finished his 10 year contract which screwed him on profits as so many record companies did to the talent back then.

[theepolishprince]

Hey Buck, I'm just sort of curious as to why you think, feel and believe Elton's "A Single Man" was his greatest album. I take it you've never heard of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"?

[buck2239]

@theepolishprince lol I have every Elton John album thank you. To me it was great. But personally I feel Single Man was better. His voice to me was at it's peak and he had a reason to put all he had into the album because it was his first since the 10 year contract he was stuck under like so many artist.

[menudodelux]

I found this on a single at Tower Records in the 80s and was so curious because I didnt remeber that song. (I was buying all of Eltons records little by little) Of couse Americans were all bent out of shape in 1978 over Miss Elton, like they are now about George Michael- treated Elton as "unsavory" and the butt of remarks. I remebr it well...which he conquored like the warrior he is- and became bigger than ever! This is a great song- One of the last where he has a high voice too. Go El-tone!!

[steeler1979]

The little boy in the video looks more like Elton now than Elton then

[TighelanderII]

Some backlighting would have helped the vid.

[TighelanderII]

In 1978 when the song came out, I saw a morning show with Elton on it. I was shocked when they described this as his "comeback". I couldn't believe it. Elton had been gone for a year and a half or something, and they think he needs a comeback?

The biggest star from 1970 -1975 needs a comeback?

[okechukwuboegbu]

Wonderful song...My Ego

[Umchonok]

The song is great!

Elton looked like Jim Carrey when he was young))

[jagdpanther1944]

villeneuve, I agree:)

[Villeneuve27]

eltons expressions make him out to be a dick, which really goes well with the theme of the song. Good acting and delivery on his part.

[jagdpanther1944]

should have made top 5 oh you bet....come on England vs Algeria

[Villeneuve27]

@jagdpanther1944 England lost because Rooney is a Tosser.

[MrJamesrnolan]

A wily capper to his first period of success ('70-'78). A phonus-balonus "tribute" to his supposed egomania (or maybe it was real ; only EJ would know), it reinvented his image as well, downsizing the ornate, glam showbizzy overkill he'd perfected over the previous 5 years in favor of the more direct one-on-one style he began with. He emits total glee making fun of himself here, His hair transplant and contact lenses almost make him unrecognizable. And the song should've made Top 5 at least.

[rknowledge]

First saw this performed on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and loved ever since

[DaveWollenberg]

Hit #34 in the US (Billboard). Did it chart in the UK? God bless!

[ranchoboyeros]

@DaveWollenberg Yes it did it went to thirty something

[GoldwingQueen1]

Love this song! Always have! I guess people just didn't get it back whenit came out.

Time will always be kind to this amazing song.

[hamtrak]

I bought the 45 of this back in '78, B side was "Flinstone Boy".

[kelime]

I've only seen this video once; I believe it was shown on American Bandstand thirty odd years ago. I always liked the song but it disappeared without a trace. Even a couple of Elton maniacs I know have never heard of it.

[ericagrace1027]

im fucked up

[1caninelover]

@ericagrace1027 Yeah, been there, done that; being clean & sober is definitely better.

[jemlocks]

1:39, Thats me in the white hat. Picked from Kilburn park junior school to play Elton as a kid. This song was a big flop. It aired twice on TV. Still remains my biggest claim to fame

[1caninelover]

@jemlocks Hope you didn't have your heart set on fame...

[Fishzero00001]

His only flop (apart from his sham marriage

[JPnht]

I read somewhere that, at that time, the "Ego" video was the most expensive music video up to that time!

[americangalbasseyfan]

Wasn't Queen's "Radio Ga Ga" the most expensive video? It should be!

[jemlocks]

I got paid £100 to be in it. A lot of money in them days!

[tellyap]

Why does he keep going on about his Eagle?

[operagirl81]

Because he loves it. You know how the stars are, like Michael Jackson and his monkey.

It's people like you that keep me coming back to youtube. I don't come here for the videos you know. ;)

[weirdguy75]

This video the song was played a half step too high which is why he sounds so high pitched

[strangefruit42]

What a great video, never seen it before. And Elton is so much fun to look at in that. And those vivid eyebrows do deserve their own video. Brilliant. Want the immaturish pic on a t-shirt. *lol*

[coolfunkandthefab4]

reminds me kind of the song Pressure.

[weirdguy75]

If you mean Billy Joels' Pressure i agree completely

[americangalbasseyfan]

He looks very ugly in this video.

[70sPopRock]

***After hearing songs like; Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Philadelphia Freedom, and Island Girl, "We knew" ... yes, we knew there has never been anyone like Elton John before, nor would there ever be anyone like him again. And just when we thought we had heard it all, then came "Ego" in 1978, - a legendary song that would be the final collaboration between Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the next two, to three years to come.***

[70sPopRock]

For as it was once written:

"I manifest myself in EGO"

[RKLuffy88]

Great EJ song. Taupin's lyrics are great and funny, and Elton's music is top-notch, and his voice is in top form as well. I think most of Elton's songs that didn't chart high (or not at all) are very good songs.

[70sPopRock]

The story was out. The infamous `76 Rolling Stone Magazine interview had happened.

ELTON JOHN PROCLAIMS: "I'M BISEXUAL!"

The #1 Hits and records stopped coming. "America," the first Country to embrace him as their own, had let him down. But Elton never let us down, and he wouldn't for the next 35 years to come. All it took, was those legendary 1974 and `75 recordings at Caribou Ranch, Colorado, to realize that Elton John was indeed:

"The greatest rock and roll musician to have ever lived!"

[carissab99]

amazing song.

[4evernate28]

Wow...Elton never looked scarier...what the hell was up with his eyebrows? Did he just cut up bits of his carpet and tape them above his eyes?

[ymmijv3]

this song is AWESOME

[DragonFerreira1]

I love this song! Elton John is a amazing singer! this video is very funny! I like!

^.^ sr Elton john forever!

[MissEltonJohn]

I love the song (:

It's cool. And Elton is really very cool!

And he looks hot on this video!

Great, thanks!

5/5*

[BSandSnowjob]

Jerry is wrong...thats not what happened. This was the time Elton John came out of the closet. So not a lot of people wanted to buy his records or listen to him. And the reason for this song was because Elton wanted to mock the critics who said how he's only in this for the money and doesnt care about anyone but himself "Ego." Look it up. lol

[70sPopRock]

I manifest myself in "Ego."

"Ego" is the very heart and soul of what the great "70sPopRock" is all about.

[70sPopRock]

It was something about "that voice." You could detect it through the old "Bluesology" sessions. It was the infallible sound and accent of it. The only way to explain it is, "it just agreed with me somehow." It was the way he carried a note and wrote the melodies. It wasn't just the hit songs, it was every other song also, and even the B sides of old staticky 45 records. He had something different inside of him. Elton John has been an obsession of mine since it all began for me some 35 years ago.

[jagdpanther1944]

yeah but it got Watford FC on the map

[jerrysutton1]

ok ..this song was supposed to give Elton his first UK number one ..it was hyped and pushed ..I got a signed copy from capital radios help a london child for a tenner ..it charted but did nothing ..there were rumors that execs at rocket records lost their jobs because it was not a hit.. ther b side flintstone boy was terrible

[70sPopRock]

But I still remember that year, "1978." Even as a very young child, perhaps as young as the little blond haired girl in the Ego video itself, I knew about Philadelphia Freedom, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and others, but after "Ego" came out, I was confused, I couldn't understand how a single Pop Star could be "that great" or as great as Elton John was.

[70sPopRock]

And then the answer came to me some four years later after I first discovered "Benny And The Jets." The answer was quite simple..."There's never been anyone as great as Elton John, nor will there ever be another one like him."

For as it was once written...

"He came from a lot of blues and funk. And he did have that soulful quality about himself that wasn't typical in the artists of his day"

[70sPopRock]

During April of 1978, I remember when I first heard the song, "Ego." WPGC in Washington D.C. was the only station that played it. Unfortunately, the song went out almost as fast as it came in, and I never heard it again until many years later after I specially ordered the 45.

[fredblassie123]

brilliant song and video...great camera work and it tells a story. This would have been ground-breaking...way ahead of it's time.

[70sPopRock]

The year was "1978," and I was in Matthew Henson Middle School. "Ego" had just came out and it was playing all day long in my head. And in the school hall between class changes, I saw Carol's eyes roll up into her head. She fainted and began having an epileptic seizure on the hall floor. She was having tremors. I was terrified and didn't know what to do, or what was happening to Carol. The little girl in this video looks exactly like Carol, only a little younger.

...What a coincidence

[70sPopRock]

"Carol, if you're out there, just know that I love you and hope all is well with you after all of these years. I don't expect you to remember "Ego," or very much about those days, but if you do, please contact me, I would love to hear from you."

[70sPopRock]

"He came from a lot of blues and funk. And he did have that soulful quality about himself that wasn't typical in the artists of his day"

During the days of "Ego," many thought Elton John was just about finished, considering all he had accomplished throughout the seventies, but little did they know, that Elton was only warming up for the next 30 years to come.

[70sPopRock]

I remember seeing one verse of this video being played on an Elton John "A&E" special many years ago and thinking, "how great it would be to see this video throughout its entirety." This was the most legendary Pop video ever produced, given the sheer greatness of the song "Ego," and the short life it bread during 1978 as only a #34 Billboard hit. The caboose sounding effects, which may be a special "harmonica," helped make "Ego" one of Elton's most legendary and revered songs of all time.

[triggerua]

Thank you for posting this video. I remember it playing as a short subject before the movie "FM" in Los Angeles. Of course this was some time before MTv. I remember my sister and I feeling so excited, having never seen anything like it before. Wow, so many memories...ty

[70sPopRock]

He came on stage in provocative outfits. He wore big, colorful glasses. He took pantomiming to its ultimate extremes, because it hid his true personality. He didn't have to be "Reginald Kenneth Dwight," instead, he could be "Elton John." But deep inside, Elton had the innate ability to become the world's greatest piano player, musical writer, and vocalist of all time. Elton John accomplished all of that throughout his 39 year music career.

...Elton John is the greatest musician of all time!

[70sPopRock]

"Ego" was Elton's last collaboration with Bernie Taupin for the next couple of years. Elton would go on to prove his greatness by working with lyricists "Gary Osborne," "Pete Bellotte," and "Thom Bell" before returning with Taupin.

"Ego" will go down in history as the greatest song ever recorded to not have cracked the top 10. The #34 billboard ranking of "Ego" was a direct result of Elton's infamous `76 "Rollingstone" magazine interview. There has never been a greater song at #34 than "Ego".

[elton1111]

I remember that they put this video on our local news broadcast in Washington, DC. It was a big deal because he wasn't wearing glasses, and nobody knew what he looked like. It was sort of like KISS without the makeup.

[jtm101583]

His teeth are sooooo out of place! With a bank account like his, you would think he could afford some dental work!

[Miniermotte]

OUT OF PLACE?

It's just a tooth gap - nothing more nothing less!

I think it's wonderful that he never did something against his tooth gap - it's very cute!!!

[hamtrak]

I don't know what 2:11 - 2:18 means but

I like it!

[jagdpanther1944]

totally agree with it being underated....brilliant song that deserved more...if you see the live version in USA, and the crowds antipathy to it, cos Elton reckons it is one of his best and favorite songs

[taschi71]

is this the most underrated elton song of all time or something???

[mysteria31]

First herad this song on the radio back in 1978. Heard the thing about 3 times and then disappeared. Never knew what album it was off so I bought up all Elton John's best off and greatest hit .. nothing there. Then I thought maybe it was an extra track ..Never did find the album but YOUTUBE Did Thanks a million - Great song and a rare piece.

[shakobenmyerz]

It originally wasn't on any album, however you oughta be able to find it on the remastered version of A Single Man from 1978 as a bonus track, that's how I found it. Very underrated song!

[mysteria31]

Thanks shako!

[uremic]

A+ for finding this one. I saw it once, in 1978, as a short subject before the main show at a Denver movie theater. It was part of a promo campaign that fizzled out quickly - I don't even remember the song appearing on the radio.

This was before the days of MTV, and filmed promos like this were very, very rare. And it took me 27 years to track down the song again. Great stuff, great film.

[argentinadancer]

hello people..woooww..in this video he was so beautiful..don´t you think!?

what a beautiful eyes!!!

myyyyy god!!!!!

[zsuzsa20000]

I love this song and yes he is beautiful in this video. I am glad I am not the only one who thinks so..=)

[musicloverretro]

long live elton john

[tullsterx]

I remember camping with my family when I was 9 or so. There was a game room at the camp ground with a jukebox and I played this some at least 12+ times over the weekend. Then I never heard it again until finding this video. Very cool.

[Miniermotte]

The song is great and Elton looks hot in the video!

[PennyPidd]

Ha ha, me and my brother were in the only Elton John video not to get anywhere in the charts!

[jemlocks]

we look bloody good in it though. I agree, this song is way ahead of its time. I wanna get it back in the charts so I can get some money and get it more known so I can hold my head up with pride!! lol. To think I looked like him as a kid and I still have hair now!

[jemlocks]

I can't believe I have found this Video! I am the boy that is playing the part of Romeo standing on the orange box. My sister is in the front row of the audience. wow!!!!

[frederic15e]

how did you get to be in this video? tell us more!! have you met with Elton? this song is so great

[jemlocks]

When I was young some producers came to my school and started to measure me and look at photos of Elton and then me. Little did I know but I looked like him as a child. I was then picked to star in the Video.

[windnchgo]

I remember being woken by mother to see this on The Midnight Special in 1977 and have been trying to find it ever since. My personal favorite Elton video, way ahead of its time! I still have the 45 single with the picture sleeve...

[taschi71]

Steam Engine Train Ride Package

[klaatu63]

i remember buying this as a single when it came out, and i never heard it on american radio. its one of his best ever, and he doesnt seem to do it in concert. its just the coolest song,and sooo autobiographical.

[marcpierini]

This maybe one of his best songs.

[beatleaholic]

You know, many celebrities should take note of listening to this song. *cough*Paris Hilton.*cough*

[Leenie83]

Ok but how is she a celebrity? I could never figure that out...

[beatleaholic]

That's just it. She isn't, but people look at her as if she is only because she's an heiress to some hotel.

[didorenko]

You can find this song in one of the relises of the album "A single man"

[SimplyRavishing24]

I love the "immaturish" expression! Funny video, great song, so underrated, ahead of it's time. Think Elton really liked it at the time, shame it wasn't a big hit.

[hamtrak]

I like 2:11 - 17!

[bestyetpictures]

I agree.

[JohnnysKitten1987]

I have been searching for this for soooo long. Does anyone know where I can get this track on C.D or Cassette??? PLEASE let me know. Thank you

[theunusualbreed]

You can get it on the reissue of A Single Man.

[SGlinez]

According to iTunes, you can get it on the "To Be Continued..." set.

[SeventiesPopRock]

Did my post go through?

[avth76]

excellent song! one of my favs from elton!

[shorty2689]

I love this song (:

[SeventiesPopRock]

"EGO" was truly, one of the greatest, and most legendary pop songs of all time. Oh how this song truly did deserve number 1 status, but it never really caught on at that time. In my personal opinion, "I believe the infamous 'Rollingstone' interview might have had something to do with that."

[theunusualbreed]

What did he say?

[SeventiesPopRock]

He came out for the first time and admitted he was Bi-sexual. Of course, what anyone does in the privacy of their lives, is none of my business. It obviously had nothing to do with his ability to create the best sounding music of all time.

[jaredgetsacookie]

Brilliant song... and sadly overlooked.

[jnoble12]

God, do the lyrics in this song seem more relevant than ever, what with American Idol and the other "get rich and famous quick" shows that are everywhere

[colemann76]

SOOOOO underrated.

[LoveYourNails]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post this legendary and most fantastic video clip. "Ego" was one of the greatest songs ever recorded by the greatest musician who ever was, and will ever be here on earth.

[AlliceSpring]

Fantastic song by Captain Fantastic. Love it. And love Elton.