25 Great Elton John Songs That Shaped His Legacy

Forbes

2 days ago

Singer Elton John has some of the most iconic hits in history.
Sir Elton Hercules John is one of the most popular singers ever, selling more than 300 million albums, earning a career Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony and releasing more than 50 top-40 hits. Elton John music usually includes a piano—he's a piano whiz—and achieves a rare balance of critical and commercial success. The best Elton John songs, such as 'Candle in the Wind' and 'Rocket Man,' blend distinctive vocals with powerful messages. John grew up in Pinner, Middlesex, England, where he learned to play his grandmother's piano, and left school at 17 to pursue a musical career, finding songwriting partner Bernie Taupin in 1967. This list of greatest Elton John songs includes the highlights of his career as well as a few lesser-known gems.
Elton John makes pop rock music, with a dash of glam rock and blues. He released his first album, Empty Sky, in 1969, and his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) set a record (since surpassed) for highest gross.
Is Elton John still making music? Yes—in 2025, he collaborated on the new studio album Who Believes in Angels with Brandi Carlile. He has released 32 studio albums. This list is based on the songs' songwriting prowess, commercial success, cultural impact, awards and critical acclaim.
If you're looking for a song that demonstrates John's talent with the piano, look no further than this elegy from Diving Board. It pays tribute to the veterans of the Greatest Generation and was written with Taupin; both men said they adore this song. It wasn't released as a single, but the album sold well.
Off the acclaimed Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, 'Roy Rogers' is an underrated song celebrating simpler times. It offers reminders of the heroes we worshipped as children and gets to the universal truth that we all want to feel loved, comforted and safe, as we presumably would with a cowboy like Roy Rogers.
John has so many rousing songs you want to stand up and dance to, like this one. 'Philadelphia Freedom' became one of the first disco hits, paying tribute to the titular city. (Fun fact: Billie Jean King requested the song from John, who's a close friend.) It hit No. 1 and went platinum.
'Mellow' from Honky Château marks another collaboration with Taupin (written about his first wife, also the inspiration for 'Tiny Dancer'). Rolling Stone called it John's 'sexiest song,' which talks of 'wreckin' the sheets.' It wasn't released as a single but has received heaps of praise on an album that hit No. 1.
John croons about loneliness and wishing he was with his person on this hit with Taupin-penned lyrics from Too Low for Zero. The song reached No. 4 on Billboard and hit the top 10 in five other countries. It's also one of the notable Elton John songs in movies (Peter's Friends).
Speaking of popular Elton John movie songs—this one from The Lion King earned an Academy Award for Best Song and reached No. 4 on Billboard. John also won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and a Golden Globe for Best Song-Motion Picture. The song narrates the growing affection between Simba and Nala.
Elton John and Tim Rice attend the 67th Annual Academy Awards ceremony March 27, 1995 in Los ... More Angeles, where they won Best Song.
This soul song, which Aretha Franklin covered two years later on Young, Gifted and Black, became John's first song to chart in the U.S. It showcases his piano skills and, once again, was co-written with Taupin. The song closes with the (alas still relevant) prayer, 'He's my brother/Let us live in peace.'
This smash became John's first No. 1 hit in the UK. He performed the duet with Motown singer Kiki Dee, a fellow Brit, and the two embraced the camp of the song just enough to make it fun. Taupin and John, who co-wrote the tune under pseudonyms, meant it as a tribute to Motown.
A rock song from Caribou, John's second album, 'The Bitch Is Back' stemmed from a joke Taupin's first wife made about the singer's moods. It became a top-five hit in the U.S. and his sixth No. 1 in Canada, though some radio stations refused to play it because of the word 'bitch.'
A rock song from Jump Up, John's 16th album, 'Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)' paid tribute to late friend John Lennon, who was murdered in 1981. John called performing with Lennon at Madison Square Garden in 1974 the greatest moment of his career, and he rarely sings the song live because it is too painful.
John Lennon (right) makes a surprise appearance at a concert by Elton John at Madison Square Garden, ... More New York City, 28th November 1974.
This Taupin-John effort from Honky Château was inspired by the singer's first trip to New York City, when he heard a gun fire. It also pays tribute to Ben E. King's 'Spanish Harlem.' John has said the song, which went gold, is one of his own favorites, and he later recorded a sequel to it.
A pop song with orchestral backing, 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me' off of Caribou rose to No. 1 on the charts, with backup vocals sung by three of the Beach Boys. The song went gold and earned Grammy nods for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance—Male.
Davey Johnstone's guitar genius is on prime display in this song from the album of the same name. Taupin's lyrics, which John belts with passion, follow a public persona falling into a chasm. Many speculated it was about then-President Richard Nixon, but the songwriter denied that. The album has gone four times platinum.
Too Low for Zero produced this toe-tapping hit, which reached No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Canada, boosted by a popular music video. The two-times-platinum song included catchy lyrics like, 'You know, I'm still standin' better than I ever did/Lookin' like a true survivor, feelin' like a little kid.'
Off the album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, this highly personal song details John's suicide attempt and runs 6 minutes, 45 seconds. The singer refused attempts to shorten the song for radio airplay, and he was right—it reached No. 4 with gorgeous lyrics like 'And butterflies are free to fly.'
Elton John and David Furnish attend the The CAA Pre-Oscar Party at Sunset Tower Hotel on March 10, ... More 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Another track from Madman, the five-times platinum single 'Tiny Dancer' contrasts the women of the U.S. with those of the UK, where writer Taupin and John came from, focusing on Taupin's first wife. The signature hit is long (over six minutes) and was banned by some radio stations for the mention of 'Jesus freaks.'
This two-song medley, the opening to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, combines an opening instrumental with pop rock. Though they weren't originally envisioned to go together, they fit nicely as symbols of death segueing into a breakup diatribe. Rolling Stone ranks the song No. 6 on its list of best Elton John songs.
This song clearly establishes John as one of the most versatile '70s artists. As John himself pointed out, it sounded nothing like his earlier music, and he initially didn't want to release it as a single in the U.S. But it was successful, hitting No. 1 on Billboard and going top-20 on soul charts.
'Levon wears his war wound like a crown' opens this powerful song about a wealthy kid who dreams of escaping his restrictive family. (It is not, contrary to popular belief, about The Band frontman Levon Helm.) While 'Levon' only reached No. 24, its incredible orchestral arrangement has prompted critics to elevate the song.
This ballad referencing The Wizard of Oz ranks among Rolling Stone's top 500 songs of all time and went two-times platinum, reaching No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Canada. Taupin has said the song expresses a yearning for simplicity and returning to his roots. John included it in most of his concerts.
Recording artist Sir Elton John gestures to the audience after performing the song "Tiny Dancer" ... More during a stop of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour at Allegiant Stadium.
Recorded as a prelease to Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, the fun, flouncy 'Crocodile Rock' became John's first No. 1 in the U.S. and went platinum. The lyrics examine and pay tribute to early rock artists, and John plays a Farfisa organ as well as doing the falsetto backing vocals.
Glam rock at its best, 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)' details the narrator's plan to have fun and let loose with his friends: 'It's getting late have you seen my mates/Ma tell me when the boys get here.' Johnstone's guitar playing stands out on this platinum-certified song, which hit No. 12.
A ballad that opens with a simple yet gorgeous piano riff, 'Young Song' became John's first international hit and remains one of the most beloved love songs ever recorded. 'And you can tell everybody this is your song,' John croons to his lover. The song entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
The lead release from Honky, 'Rocket Man' helped define John as one of the most popular '70s songs and, later, the title of his biopic. The five-times platinum song hit No. 2 and has been streamed more than 1 billion times on Spotify. It was inspired by the Ray Bradbury short story 'The Rocket Man.'
John rerecorded his 1973 hit 'Candle in the Wind' in 1997 as a tribute to his dear friend Princess Diana and played it at her funeral. It was wildly successful. John's most recent No. 1 single held the spot for 14 weeks and became the No. 2 single of all time behind Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas.'
Bottom Line
A gifted artist who has also given much of his time to AIDS charities and other causes, Elton John has contributed more than just amazing music to the world. The works on this list represent his best work, but you can never go wrong with any John song.
How Many Albums Has Elton John Released?
Elton John has released 32 studio albums. They are: 1. Empty Sky (1969)2. Elton John (1970)3. Tumbleweed Connection (1970)4. Madman Across the Water (1971)5. Honky Château (1972)6. Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)7. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)8. Caribou (1974)9. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)10. Rock of the Westies (1975)11. Blue Moves (1976)12. A Single Man (1978)13. Victim of Love (1979)14. 21 at 33 (1976)15. The Fox (1981)16. Jump Up! (1981)17. Too Low for Zero (1983)18. Breaking Hearts (1985)19. Ice on Fire (1984)20. Leather Jackets (1986)21. Reg Strikes Back (1988)22. Sleeping with the Past (1989)23. The One (1992)24. Made in England (1995)25. The Big Picture (1997)26. Songs from the West Coast (2001)27. Peachtree Road (2004)28. The Captain & The Kid (2006)29. The Diving Board (2012)30. Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)31. Regiment Sgt. Zippo (2021)32. Who Believes In Angels? (2025)
What Elton John Songs Have Been Featured In Movies?
Elton John songs that have been featured in movies include:
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Already," "Keys to the Kingdom" and more from The Lion King.
From The Road to El Dorado, "Queen of Cities," "El Dorado," "The Panic in Me" and more.
"Hello, Hello" and "Love Builds A Garden" from Gnomeo and Juliet, and 'Electricity' from Billy Elliot.
Is Elton John Still Making Music Today
Yes, he continues to make music, most recently releasing an album with Brandi Carlile (Who Believes In Angels). He finished touring in 2023, closing out the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour after five years and 330 performances. He has said it will be his last tour.