History TearJerker / EltonJohn

* "Nikita" was allegedly a revolutionary TearJerker during the Cold War; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxL_xY0Tm2w the music video]], despite its quirkiness, is similarly heartbreaking.

* "Skyline Pigeon", about someone trapped in a broken marriage and longing to be free. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQNSZNnV7XE solo piano performance]] at the funeral for Ryan White is especially sad.

** Also of note is Elton admitting in an interview for a documentary about his life and career years later how much Ryan's death had an impact on him; here was this young man, on one hand, who fought so hard to survive an incurable disease that he had contracted through pure mistake, while on the other hand, there was him, at one of his lowest points in life in being strung out on drugs, overweight and generally unhappy. Especially poignant is how when performing the song at a concert in tribute to him, Ryan's mother was in attendance, with him expressing his sincerest sympathies for her and driving home the imbalance/unfairness of life even further.

* And then there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN3JLu3c4Iw his version]] of "[[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Circle of Life]]".

* His 2018 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShEAPKV0EU commercial for John Lewis]], showing how his legendary career was started by his mother getting him a piano for Christmas, with a message that some gifts can have a bigger impact on the entire world than anyone could imagine. Made all the more meaningful by coming shortly after his retirement, giving the impression of him giving us one last message as a reflection on the meaning of his life and career.

* His 2018 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShEAPKV0EU commercial for John Lewis]], showing how his legendary career was started by his mother getting him a piano for Christmas, with a message that some gifts can have a bigger impact on the entire world than anyone could imagine. Made all the more meaningful by coming shortly after his retirement from touring, giving the impression of him giving us one last message as a reflection on the meaning of his life and career.

* His 2018 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShEAPKV0EU commercial for John Lewis]], showing how his legendary career was started by his mother getting him a piano for Christmas, with a message that some gifts can have a bigger impact on the entire world than anyone could imagine. Made all the more meaningful by coming shortly after his retirement, giving the impression of him giving us one last message as a reflection on the meaning of his life and career.

* Perhaps more so than "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would be "Goodbye" from ''Madman Across the Water''. That song's not even two minutes long and it'll still hit you hard if you haven't heard it in a while.

* "The Last Song." Do not follow [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXV_CTFPqCc this link]] if you wish to keep your composure. This one has some interesting timing as well. It was written with Ryan White in mind and Taupin ended up giving the lyrics to Elton shortly after the death of Music/FreddieMercury. Elton said he had cried throughout writing the music for it.

* "Skyline Pigeon" is another one.

* And then there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN3JLu3c4Iw his version]] of "[[Disney/TheLionKing Circle of Life]]".

->''Turn ‘em on, turn ‘em on''
->''Turn on those sad songs''
->''When all hope is gone''
->''Why don’t you tune in and turn them on''
->''They reach into your room''
->''Just feel their gentle touch''
->''When all hope is gone''
->''Sad songs say so much''
->'''Elton John''', "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"