I recently just saw a rebroadcast of an interview with Elton John on Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio. He said that one of his favorite songs was one that he wrote as a tribute for John Lennon, but he doesn't perform it often because it upsets him too much. Elton said that John's death was one of the toughest losses he had to deal with. In fact, John Lipton(??) asked Elton if he would like to play the song, and Elton responded that he didn't think he could get through it--he said it would just be to difficult for him.

First, does anyone know the name of the song? Second, I didn't even know that Elton and John were that good of friends. Does anyone know their history? I had no idea that they were even friends.

I would love to get a boxset of Elton's early works. I have Tumbleweed Connection, and I just love that cd. Plus "Your Song" is such a simple, beautiful song. It's really one of my favorites. To me Bernie Taupin and Elton John have been a great song-writing team... maybe one of the greatest.

Does anyone know the story between Elton and John Lennon, plus the name of Elton's tribute to John?

Did you find it?

"In 1974, Elton co-wrote John Lennon's number one comeback single, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," and he persuaded Lennon to join him onstage at Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving Day 1974; it would prove to be Lennon's last live performance.
In 1981, Elton signed with Geffen Records and his second album, Jump Up! became a gold album on the strength of "Blue Eyes" and "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)," his tribute to John Lennon."

PANDURITO said:

Thanks a lot. FYI: I ran a "search," but I still couldn't find the name of the song that Elton was talking about. Also, I found that they were friends, which Elton already stated, but I was just wondering about their friendship because Elton was so broken-up about playing that song. (I'm not implying that they were anything MORE THAN friends, however.) I don't usually ask questions on this site because I really enjoy reading the posts. But I thought I would as you all because from what I've read, many of you are very knowledgeable about music history. Sorry the you thought it was a dumb question, but I asked it with all due respect and interest.

It's just a topic for discussion on a message board. I didn't realize asking a question was dumb. Like I said, I don't usually ask questions or post all that much.

That's alright
I just wanted to use that pic and you post came in handy.

Sorry

PANDURITO said:

Not a problem!!! : Nice pic!! Glad I could give you the opportunity to use it!

Anyway, the song must have been "Empty Garden," but I just didn't catch the name of it. Like I said, Elton said that he rarely performs it, but it's one of his favorites. I just didn't realize that Elton and John had even collaborated or were that close coz Elton was broken-up even mentioning John's name. It was really sort of sad. Then this older student from the audience asked Elton if he would play "Daniel," coz one of this student's high school friends named Daniel had died in a car crash, so the song was very special to him. Elton sang the song, and of course everyone was in tears. I thought that maybe Elton would sing "Empty Garden," but he still couldn't do it. It was really a touching moment.

Thanks for the info. though.