History Trivia / EltonJohn

** His work as chairman of [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball Watford Football Club]], which began in 1973, also counts, as does his charity work for AIDS relief.

*** GoKartingWithBowser: Elton, at least by WordOfGod, seems to believe (his occasional beef with celebrities aside) in trying to mend fences rather than fuel rivalries, and often forms unlikely friendships with celebrities accused of (or guilty of) homophobia (Limbaugh, Music/{{Eminem}}, Axl Rose, etc.) to demonstrate this. Often it does lead to backdraft from gay rights advocates.

** Elton criticized much of his career during the 1980s, thanks to his various personal troubles that he felt had a negative impact on the quality of his work.

* BannedInChina: In 2013, the Malaysian government tried to appease the extremist conservativesnote by attempting to ban John on the grounds of his homosexuality. However, the concert was in the state of Pahang, whose own sultan was a big fan of John and vetoed the ban on his own.

* BanndInChina: In 2013, the Malaysian government tried to appease the extremist conservativesnote by attempting to ban John on the grounds of his homosexuality. However, the concert was in the state of Pahang, whose own sultan was a big fan of John and vetoed the ban on his own.

* CareerResurrection: He had one with the 1983 album ''Too Low for Zero''.

* CreatorBacklash: Elton has revealed that [[https://www.nme.com/news/music/elton-john-says-he-will-throw-a-party-when-doesnt-have-to-play-crocodile-rock-again-2937251 he can't stand playing "Crocodile Rock" anymore]].

* NewSoundAlbum: Several of his albums may count.
** ''Honky Chateau'' saw Elton abandon much of the dramatic singer-songwriter style of his previous albums for one with a more rock-based style and sound, de-emphasising the orchestral backdrops using his live backing band on all of the tracks for the first time rather than use session musicians.
** ''Rock of the Westies'' found Elton using a harder group sound with strong R&B, funk, disco and BluesRock influences, retaining only guitarist Davey Johnstone and percussionist Ray Cooper from the classic band and expanding to a seven-piece group.
** ''A Single Man'' used stronger SoftRock influences, with Bernie Taupin entirely replaced as full-time lyricist by Gary Osbourne.
** ''Victim of Love'' saw Elton dabble full-time into disco music at the end of disco's popularity; Elton only provided lead vocals while Pete Bellotte wrote or co-wrote all of the songs (aside from a discofied cover of [[Music/ChuckBerry Chuck Berry's]] "Johnny B. Goode".
** ''Too Low for Zero'' saw Bernie's full-time return (along with Elton's classic band from TheSeventies), but used [[TheEighties 1980's]] pop production values and more synthesizers.
** The synthesizers/1980's production saw heavier use on ''IceOnFire'', which also saw most of Elton's classic band laid off (again) in favor of a new band. Strong '80's funk/soul influences also appeared.
** ''Reg Strikes Back'' saw a new sound for Elton ''himself'', as throat surgery in 1987 rendered him unable to sing at his trademark falsetto.
** ''Made in England'', while AOR/MOR in places, showed Elton return more to his 1970's style, with more dramatic orchestral parts (care of Paul Buckmaster, who arranged the orchestral parts of his early-1970's albums).
** ''The Big Picture'' showed full AOR/MOR influence with heavily synthesized arrangements.
** ''Songs from the West Coast'' saw Elton used a more stripped-down sound even more retro than on ''Made in England'', entirely recorded on analog tape and returning Elton to his singer-songwriter roots.
** ''The Diving Board'' was the most pared-down album in years, with an emphasis on piano, bass and drums (with minimal additions) and more of an intimate feel.
* OddFriendship: Has had many over the course of his career, from Music/{{Eminem}}, [[Music/GunsNRoses Axl Rose]], Radio/RushLimbaugh, and ''Billie Jean King'' to Music/MileyCyrus, Creator/GrouchoMarx, Music/MaryJBlige, UsefulNotes/GianniVersace and Music/{{Madonna}}. Various members of England's Royal Family might also count.
* OldShame: TheEighties, in particular from 1984-1990, were arguably the nadir of Elton's personal life, thanks his self-destructive behavior, personal conduct and vocal problems which left him a baritone after surgery. He felt his vices had also affected the quality of his albums at the time (though he felt that had he not stayed busy, he might have died from his issues). He also felt that he could have spent more time in the decade campaigning and speaking out for AIDS awareness, particularly as his friends and lovers died of the disease, and he felt fortunate to have eluded being HIV-positive at the time. He founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, two years after his rehabilitation, to make up for it.
** His 1979 album ''Victim of Love'', arguably due to it being released around the time that [[CondemnedByHistory the popularity of disco was declining]].

* ChartDisplacement: Given how iconic "Tiny Dancer" is, it's shocking to learn that it wasn't even released as a single in the UK in 1972,[[note]]Though it charted in 2015 after [[RevivalByCommercialization it was used in a TV commercial for the John Lewis store chain]][[/note]] and in the US it only got to #41 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.[[note]]It did slightly better in ''Billboard'''s main chart rivals ''[=CashBox=]'' (#29) and ''Record World'' (#32)[[/note]] In America, where he hadn't quite established himself as a superstar yet ("Your Song" was his only Top 10 at that point), it was hurt by Top 40 radio shying away from it because his label released the full 6:12 album version as a single rather than editing it, and stations in more conservative areas objected to the "Jesus freaks" lines.

* ChartDisplacement: Given how iconic "Tiny Dancer" is, it's shocking to learn that it wasn't even released as a single in the UK in 1972,[[note]]Though it charted in 2015 after [[RevivalByCommercialization it was used in a TV commercial for the John Lewis store chain]][[/note]] and in the US it only got to #41 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.[[note]]It did slightly better in ''Billboard'''s main chart rivals ''[=CashBox=]'' (#29) and ''Record World'' (#32)[[/note]] In America, where he hadn't quite established himself as a superstar yet ("Your Song" was his only Top 10 at that point), it was hurt by Top 40 radio shying away from it because his label released the full 6:12 album version rather than editing it, and stations in more conservative areas objected to the "Jesus freaks" lines.