What do you think?
Rate this book
Me
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Memoir & Autobiography (2019)In his only official autobiography, music icon Elton John writes about his extraordinary life, which is also the subject of the film Rocketman.
Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was on his first tour of America, facing an astonished audience in his tight silver hotpants, bare legs and a T-shirt with ROCK AND ROLL emblazoned across it in sequins. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.
His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with song-writing partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.
In Me Elton also writes about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father.
Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was on his first tour of America, facing an astonished audience in his tight silver hotpants, bare legs and a T-shirt with ROCK AND ROLL emblazoned across it in sequins. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.
His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with song-writing partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.
In Me Elton also writes about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2019
About the author
Elton John
323 books595 followersSir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) is an English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist.
In his five-decade career, John has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially during the 1970s. He has sold more than 300 million albums and over one hundred million singles, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. He has won five Grammy awards and one Academy Award. His success has had a profound impact on popular music and has contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in rock and roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #49 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
Some of the characteristics of John's music are his ability to quickly craft melodies for the lyrics of songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, his former rich tenor (now baritone) voice, his classical and gospel-influenced piano, the aggressive orchestral arrangements of Paul Buckmaster among others and the flamboyant fashions and on-stage showmanship, especially evident during the 1970s.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s and was knighted in 1998. He entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005. John and Furnish married in Windsor, Berkshire, on 21 December 2014, the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership. Hecontinues to be a champion for the LGBT social movements.
In his five-decade career, John has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially during the 1970s. He has sold more than 300 million albums and over one hundred million singles, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. He has won five Grammy awards and one Academy Award. His success has had a profound impact on popular music and has contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in rock and roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #49 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
Some of the characteristics of John's music are his ability to quickly craft melodies for the lyrics of songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, his former rich tenor (now baritone) voice, his classical and gospel-influenced piano, the aggressive orchestral arrangements of Paul Buckmaster among others and the flamboyant fashions and on-stage showmanship, especially evident during the 1970s.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s and was knighted in 1998. He entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005. John and Furnish married in Windsor, Berkshire, on 21 December 2014, the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership. Hecontinues to be a champion for the LGBT social movements.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,397 reviews
July 23, 2024
EDIT: I’m changing this to FIVE stars (from four). I keep recommending it and thinking about it and loving on Elton’s infectious and unique personality. I watched the movie last week and kept adding details where I thought they glossed over and narrating to my husband as we watched (haha sorry husband!) and it made me realize how much his book has stuck with me. Then we saw his concert which was phenomenal and now I just can’t get enough Elton in my life which tells me this book deserves ALL THE STARS!!!!
Read the official autobiography: ✅
Watch ‘Rocketman’: ✅
See Elton John LIVE on his official farewell tour!: ✅
“When you reminisce about the good old days, you naturally see it all through rose-tinted spectacles. In my case in particular, I think that’s forgivable, because I probably was literally wearing rose-tinted spectacles at the time, with flashing lights and ostrich feathers attached to them. But if you end up convincing yourself that everything in the past was better than it is now, you might as well give up writing music and retire.”
This was marvelous. What an unapologetic, authentic, entertaining autobiography. I literally laughed out loud on more than a few occasions and even shed a few tears.
I only wish I was more familiar with artists from the 1960s and 1970s so I could have had more context. I think for anyone who grew up listening to Elton and his peers, and even if you didn’t, this book will blow you away.
Here’s hoping our show isn’t a “very occasional” one ☺️
“I’ve played with my childhood heroes and some of the greatest artists in the history of music; I’ve played with people who were so hopeless they had no business being onstage and I’ve played with a group of male strippers dressed as Cub Scouts. I’ve done gigs dressed as a woman, a cat, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, a Ruritanian general, a musketeer, a pantomime dame and, very occasionally, I’ve played gigs dressed like a normal human being.”
Read the official autobiography: ✅
Watch ‘Rocketman’: ✅
See Elton John LIVE on his official farewell tour!: ✅
“When you reminisce about the good old days, you naturally see it all through rose-tinted spectacles. In my case in particular, I think that’s forgivable, because I probably was literally wearing rose-tinted spectacles at the time, with flashing lights and ostrich feathers attached to them. But if you end up convincing yourself that everything in the past was better than it is now, you might as well give up writing music and retire.”
This was marvelous. What an unapologetic, authentic, entertaining autobiography. I literally laughed out loud on more than a few occasions and even shed a few tears.
I only wish I was more familiar with artists from the 1960s and 1970s so I could have had more context. I think for anyone who grew up listening to Elton and his peers, and even if you didn’t, this book will blow you away.
Here’s hoping our show isn’t a “very occasional” one ☺️
“I’ve played with my childhood heroes and some of the greatest artists in the history of music; I’ve played with people who were so hopeless they had no business being onstage and I’ve played with a group of male strippers dressed as Cub Scouts. I’ve done gigs dressed as a woman, a cat, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, a Ruritanian general, a musketeer, a pantomime dame and, very occasionally, I’ve played gigs dressed like a normal human being.”
February 11, 2020
Absolutely phenomenal. Elton John wrote with a frankness and candor that many biographers do not. There were parts that I have to admit made me a little uncomfortable, but as I said he didn't mince words not happenings.
Taking us from his quite abysmal childhood, his early confusion about his sexual identity, to his excess drug, and alcohol use, to becoming the father of two sons. Of course he covers everything in between. The people he knew, all familiar, celebrities of the day. His long writing partnership with Bernie. The AIDs epidemic and the death of Freddy Mercury, these victims causing him to form a AIDs foundation. John Lennon's death, Princess Diana's, both which but him hard. His concerts, his music, his first marriage, which caused many to shake their heads.
What I got from this was that despite Eltons many years of drug use, his lack of self esteem, due to his childhood, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps, as they say. He became someone who helped others, and finally found his own personal happiness. I can't help but admire him, the person he is now. I always admired his talent, loved many of his songs. Grew up myself with his music in the background. So happy to see he and Bernie win an Oscar together.
I listened to this and the narrator, Taron Egert read fast, but I slowed it down and found his voice was just perfect. Four stars for the narration.
Taking us from his quite abysmal childhood, his early confusion about his sexual identity, to his excess drug, and alcohol use, to becoming the father of two sons. Of course he covers everything in between. The people he knew, all familiar, celebrities of the day. His long writing partnership with Bernie. The AIDs epidemic and the death of Freddy Mercury, these victims causing him to form a AIDs foundation. John Lennon's death, Princess Diana's, both which but him hard. His concerts, his music, his first marriage, which caused many to shake their heads.
What I got from this was that despite Eltons many years of drug use, his lack of self esteem, due to his childhood, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps, as they say. He became someone who helped others, and finally found his own personal happiness. I can't help but admire him, the person he is now. I always admired his talent, loved many of his songs. Grew up myself with his music in the background. So happy to see he and Bernie win an Oscar together.
I listened to this and the narrator, Taron Egert read fast, but I slowed it down and found his voice was just perfect. Four stars for the narration.
October 15, 2019
I rarely give 5 stars to books, but in this case I kinda had to because it was just really damn good. I'm fond of autobiographies in general, even though you always have to be wary of the subject putting themselves in an exclusively good light. Fortunately, not something you really have to worry about with Elton John, as one of the strongest parts of the book was his self-aware humor. Very often he makes fun of himself and acknowledges when he acted horribly, which just makes the book feel more honest. It's definitely entertaining and funny as hell, making me laugh out loud several times, no easy feat. But it definitely hits hard at certain points, especially when he describes the end of his relationship with John Reid, his early childhood, the friends he's lost over the decades and the 16 years of addiction he went through. For people who know quite a bit about Elton there won't be that many revelations (although there are probably some), but it still gives you a more comprehensive look at who he is and how his life has unfolded. There were points in the book that definitely hit me as I could connect the feelings and thoughts he's had to the same feelings and thoughts I've had before, which left a personal note for me. Overall, I really loved this book and will probably read it again at some point. I can also recommend the audiobook with Taron Egerton, as he does a great job with it and making the book even more engrossing than it already is.
August 22, 2023
What a man, what a life! Everyone has memories when it comes to his career, with songs you either like or not, but surely know about. I cried to lion king and the music, and cried even more when he sang candle in the wind in Diana’a funeral. Therefore it was quite emotional to read his story, a life that hasn’t always been easy. I loved the mix of his personal life, the people he met along the way, and how his career developed. A wonderful read.
July 13, 2021
This is a review that can be followed to the tune of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.
When are you gonna come down?
When are you going to write?
I should have stayed on Goodreads
I should have listened to my old plan
It knows it can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
This review’s one for your friends to open
This girl's too young to be singing the blues
(blueeees, aaaaa, aaaa)
So hello Elton old friend,
You’ve made this girl herself again
It can't plant me in its horror house
I'm going back to my pen
Back to the story of Elton and fame
Hunting the demons of past
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Along with Elton’s advice
(adviiiiice, aaaaaaa, aaaaaaaa)
Where does it think I’ve been then?
It bets that I’ll shoot down on weight gain
It took Elton more than just vodka and tonics
To set himself on his feet again
Maybe I'll get complacent
There's plenty like me to get down
But Elton taught me a ‘plenty
Ignoring demons like you on the ground
(grouuuund, aaaaaa, aaaaaaa)
So hello Elton old friend,
You’ve made this girl herself again
It can't plant me in its horror house
I'm going back to my pen
Back to the story of Elton and pain
Hunting the demons of past
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Along with Elton’s advice
(adviiiiice, aaaaaaa, aaaaaaaa)
I've struggled with demons this year, and I've barely been around Goodreads. What sets Elton apart from other rock stars, is that I can relate to him. He struggled with cold and distant parental figures, unrequited love from men, body image difficulties and an addictive personality. However, he beat his demons and today is happy. He's also got a wicked sense of humour, rare talents and kindness. I feel like his strengths and weaknesses are so akin to mine that I felt writing a review to the tune of one of his songs would be more meaningful than recounting the beauty, sadness, hilarity and evocative nature of this book. Instead, I leave you, my song
This book has brought my life into so much perspective. I may never be able to thank Elton for that, but I could leave it here on Goodreads for you all.
When are you gonna come down?
When are you going to write?
I should have stayed on Goodreads
I should have listened to my old plan
It knows it can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
This review’s one for your friends to open
This girl's too young to be singing the blues
(blueeees, aaaaa, aaaa)
So hello Elton old friend,
You’ve made this girl herself again
It can't plant me in its horror house
I'm going back to my pen
Back to the story of Elton and fame
Hunting the demons of past
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Along with Elton’s advice
(adviiiiice, aaaaaaa, aaaaaaaa)
Where does it think I’ve been then?
It bets that I’ll shoot down on weight gain
It took Elton more than just vodka and tonics
To set himself on his feet again
Maybe I'll get complacent
There's plenty like me to get down
But Elton taught me a ‘plenty
Ignoring demons like you on the ground
(grouuuund, aaaaaa, aaaaaaa)
So hello Elton old friend,
You’ve made this girl herself again
It can't plant me in its horror house
I'm going back to my pen
Back to the story of Elton and pain
Hunting the demons of past
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Along with Elton’s advice
(adviiiiice, aaaaaaa, aaaaaaaa)
I've struggled with demons this year, and I've barely been around Goodreads. What sets Elton apart from other rock stars, is that I can relate to him. He struggled with cold and distant parental figures, unrequited love from men, body image difficulties and an addictive personality. However, he beat his demons and today is happy. He's also got a wicked sense of humour, rare talents and kindness. I feel like his strengths and weaknesses are so akin to mine that I felt writing a review to the tune of one of his songs would be more meaningful than recounting the beauty, sadness, hilarity and evocative nature of this book. Instead, I leave you, my song
This book has brought my life into so much perspective. I may never be able to thank Elton for that, but I could leave it here on Goodreads for you all.
October 30, 2023
Elton John: Fantastical, surreal and over-the-top.
Elton John: A great soul with a kind heart; an honest, witty and fascinating human being; a shining star!
I remember the day I heard Elton John for the first time and fell in love with him. I was in my early teens and was nosing around my mom’s cassette tapes’ drawer and found his albums. I remember the covers of the tapes; the image of this man wearing outrageous costumes and huge eye glasses. I remember the very first song I heard that pierced my heart:
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide, I
Don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again no
Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show
Oh I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song
And this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world…
The amazing thing is that I still love to hear him sing and incredibly, so does my little daughter! She loves Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and whenever she wants to listen to it, she says “mama, I want that song that goes Aaaa, aaa”.
While reading this autobiography, many happy memories surfaced and sometimes the sense of nostalgia was overwhelming. Frequently, I had to stop reading to wipe my tears off.
Elton John, thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for all you have done for those in need and thank you for making life wonderful for so many.
Thank you for listening to your gut feeling and trusting fate, even though sometimes you have had to look at the hand you’ve been dealt and had to throw in the cards.
“There’s really no point in asking what if? The only question worth asking is: what’s next?”
Even if you are not a fan I think you would still enjoy reading this memoir, since the reminiscences involve his friends like Freddie Mercury, John Lennon, Gianni Versace, The Beetles, The Rolling Stones, Princess Diana and even the Queen of England.
…“So the music will always surprise you, but after fifty years you do start to feel as if nothing else that happens at a gig can. It’s easy to think that you’ve done pretty much everything it’s possible to do onstage except keel over and die. I’ve performed sober, I’ve performed drunk and I have – to my shame – performed high as a kite. I’ve done gigs that made me feel as elated as it’s possible for a human being to feel, and struggled through shows in the pits of despair. I’ve played pianos, I’ve jumped on pianos, I’ve fallen off pianos and I’ve pushed a piano into the crowd, hit a member of the audience with it and spent the rest of the night frantically apologizing to them. I’ve played with my childhood heroes and some of the greatest artists in the history of music; I’ve played with people who were so hopeless they had no business being onstage and I’ve played with a group of male strippers dressed as Cub Scouts. I’ve done gigs dressed as a woman, a cat, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, a Ruritanian general, a musketeer, a pantomime dame and, very occasionally, I’ve played gigs dressed like a normal human being. I’ve had gigs that were disrupted by bomb scares, gigs disrupted by student protests against the war in Vietnam and gigs that were disrupted because I flounced offstage in a huff and then came scuttling back shortly afterwards, contrite about losing my temper. I’ve had hot dogs thrown at me in Paris; I’ve been knocked unconscious by a hash pipe while wearing a giant chicken outfit in North Carolina – my band thought I’d been shot…”
Elton John: A great soul with a kind heart; an honest, witty and fascinating human being; a shining star!
I remember the day I heard Elton John for the first time and fell in love with him. I was in my early teens and was nosing around my mom’s cassette tapes’ drawer and found his albums. I remember the covers of the tapes; the image of this man wearing outrageous costumes and huge eye glasses. I remember the very first song I heard that pierced my heart:
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide, I
Don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again no
Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show
Oh I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song
And this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world…
The amazing thing is that I still love to hear him sing and incredibly, so does my little daughter! She loves Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and whenever she wants to listen to it, she says “mama, I want that song that goes Aaaa, aaa”.
While reading this autobiography, many happy memories surfaced and sometimes the sense of nostalgia was overwhelming. Frequently, I had to stop reading to wipe my tears off.
Elton John, thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for all you have done for those in need and thank you for making life wonderful for so many.
Thank you for listening to your gut feeling and trusting fate, even though sometimes you have had to look at the hand you’ve been dealt and had to throw in the cards.
“There’s really no point in asking what if? The only question worth asking is: what’s next?”
Even if you are not a fan I think you would still enjoy reading this memoir, since the reminiscences involve his friends like Freddie Mercury, John Lennon, Gianni Versace, The Beetles, The Rolling Stones, Princess Diana and even the Queen of England.
…“So the music will always surprise you, but after fifty years you do start to feel as if nothing else that happens at a gig can. It’s easy to think that you’ve done pretty much everything it’s possible to do onstage except keel over and die. I’ve performed sober, I’ve performed drunk and I have – to my shame – performed high as a kite. I’ve done gigs that made me feel as elated as it’s possible for a human being to feel, and struggled through shows in the pits of despair. I’ve played pianos, I’ve jumped on pianos, I’ve fallen off pianos and I’ve pushed a piano into the crowd, hit a member of the audience with it and spent the rest of the night frantically apologizing to them. I’ve played with my childhood heroes and some of the greatest artists in the history of music; I’ve played with people who were so hopeless they had no business being onstage and I’ve played with a group of male strippers dressed as Cub Scouts. I’ve done gigs dressed as a woman, a cat, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, a Ruritanian general, a musketeer, a pantomime dame and, very occasionally, I’ve played gigs dressed like a normal human being. I’ve had gigs that were disrupted by bomb scares, gigs disrupted by student protests against the war in Vietnam and gigs that were disrupted because I flounced offstage in a huff and then came scuttling back shortly afterwards, contrite about losing my temper. I’ve had hot dogs thrown at me in Paris; I’ve been knocked unconscious by a hash pipe while wearing a giant chicken outfit in North Carolina – my band thought I’d been shot…”
November 10, 2019
Despite the fact that some of hits were recorded before I was even born, I love me some Elton John. I had to stop the book repeatedly to go listen to the songs he mentions, which made this autobiography also turn into an abbreviated discography :)
Elton John’s life has been quite the whirlwind, with high highs (figuratively and literally) and low lows. If references to drugs, sex, and eating disorders bothers you - then this book probably isn’t for you. But keep in mind this is also a good redemption story featuring a life of sobriety, marriage, and children. Plus fame and music and name dropping and gossip and an overuse of the word “fantastic”.
Elton John’s life has been quite the whirlwind, with high highs (figuratively and literally) and low lows. If references to drugs, sex, and eating disorders bothers you - then this book probably isn’t for you. But keep in mind this is also a good redemption story featuring a life of sobriety, marriage, and children. Plus fame and music and name dropping and gossip and an overuse of the word “fantastic”.
February 20, 2020
Maybe I need to start off this review by saying that I'm a massive fan of Elton John. He was a huge part of my childhood, because 'The Lion King' was my favourite movie and I watched the VHS of it to shreds. My mother then showed me her CDs of the guy who wrote the soundtrack and I was amazed by his voice. I stopped listening to him for many years, because I went through a phase where I would only listen to alternative emo music and ignored everything else. But when I rediscovered him in my late teens...and man, something changed in me! I remember how I listened to "Tiny Dancer" and had some kind of epiphany. It was the purest and most special feeling, something I can't put into words.
So yeah, to say I expected to love this book is an understatement.
But I still didn't expect it to love it as much as I did! I pretty much read it obsessively, I just couldn't stop. This doesn't happen to me very often, especially not when reading non-fiction. I'm generally not a big fan of memoirs, but this was an entirely pleasant (and surprising) reading experience for me. I felt weirdly emotionally connected to the story (is that the right expression?). I often felt like I was actually sitting down with Elton himself, and he was just telling all those things that happened to him. I laughed (so incredibly much) and cried and got excited and nervous. I felt more enthralled by this memoir than by some adventure novels I've read.
This is a very personal book. Elton doesn't shy away from talking about the mistakes and stupid things he did in the past. He's very self reflective and often uses a self-ironic tone. He also talks openly about his opinion regarding some other artists and his experiences with them. It's a very interesting and candid book and I loved it so, so much! I already know I will pick it up more often in the future and I'm already very much looking forward to it.
So yeah, to say I expected to love this book is an understatement.
But I still didn't expect it to love it as much as I did! I pretty much read it obsessively, I just couldn't stop. This doesn't happen to me very often, especially not when reading non-fiction. I'm generally not a big fan of memoirs, but this was an entirely pleasant (and surprising) reading experience for me. I felt weirdly emotionally connected to the story (is that the right expression?). I often felt like I was actually sitting down with Elton himself, and he was just telling all those things that happened to him. I laughed (so incredibly much) and cried and got excited and nervous. I felt more enthralled by this memoir than by some adventure novels I've read.
This is a very personal book. Elton doesn't shy away from talking about the mistakes and stupid things he did in the past. He's very self reflective and often uses a self-ironic tone. He also talks openly about his opinion regarding some other artists and his experiences with them. It's a very interesting and candid book and I loved it so, so much! I already know I will pick it up more often in the future and I'm already very much looking forward to it.
January 29, 2023
Elton John has written an unflinchingly honest autobiography. He has faced many struggles throughout his life, from family struggles to addiction. In the end, Elton overcomes his addictions and finds true love after developing an understanding of his sexuality.
Elton John is truly an international treasure. Along with hundreds of millions of other people, I have loved his music for as long as I can remember. It's amazing how songs such as "Daniel" or "Tiny Dancer" can transport you to another time and place.
This is an excellent autobiography for learning about Elton John's life. I've rated it four stars because I was hoping to learn more about his music, i.e., the stories behind his songs and his musical progression from album to album. I was also turned off by all the celebrity name-dropping, especially toward the end of the book. Elton John is an inspiration, but he's also, alas, a bit of a narcissist. I guess the title of the book, "Me," is quite fitting in that regard.
Elton John is truly an international treasure. Along with hundreds of millions of other people, I have loved his music for as long as I can remember. It's amazing how songs such as "Daniel" or "Tiny Dancer" can transport you to another time and place.
This is an excellent autobiography for learning about Elton John's life. I've rated it four stars because I was hoping to learn more about his music, i.e., the stories behind his songs and his musical progression from album to album. I was also turned off by all the celebrity name-dropping, especially toward the end of the book. Elton John is an inspiration, but he's also, alas, a bit of a narcissist. I guess the title of the book, "Me," is quite fitting in that regard.
December 4, 2019
I love reading celeb memoirs and as soon as I saw Elton John had written one, I knew I had to read it. He's always been outspoken and I figured he wouldn't shy away from anything regarding his life. And I was right, he pretty much laid it all on the table, the highs and lows and everything in between.
Elton John is a musical genius in my opinion. The amount of hits he has churned out over the years is impressive. And I found this book to contain a good mix of his professional life along with his personal life such as his childhood, relationships, addictions, etc.. Given I'm kinda a pop culture fanatic that likes to brag about how much random trivia bits I have stored in my brain, I was actually surprised at how much I learned about him from reading this book. It blew my mind that Elton John wasn't his birth name. Like how the heck did I not know that?
I'll admit part of the appeal of celeb memoirs is it's fun to hear stories about other famous people. Elton John certainly has had many friendships over the years with the A-list crowd, but he's also managed to have a feud or two as well. I don't think anything he says is that mean-spirited and it does seem like even he can admit he can be difficult to be around at times.
There is one part of this memoir that I got pretty emotional reading and that was when he talked about Ryan White, a boy who was infected with HIV from a blood transfusion and later died of AIDS in 1990. Ryan made national news because he had to fight for his right just to attend school as there were so many misconceptions about the disease and how you could contract it back then. I was a child back in the '80s and I remember reading about Ryan from my parents' People magazine subscription as well as watching the tv movie that was made about him. Despite the fact he was sick, he made it his mission to educate people about the disease and Elton John first heard about Ryan while reading an article about him in Newsweek. He struck up a close friendship with Ryan and his family and was with them during Ryan's final days. He credits Ryan with giving him the motivation to turn his life around as he was battling addiction. The compassion he showed Ryan and his family as well as the hundreds of millions of dollars he has helped raise with the Elton John AIDS Foundation are some of the finest things he has done in his life. Say what you will about Elton, but I'm glad he has never forgotten about Ryan. I sure haven't either.
I definitely recommend reading this one regardless of whether or not you are a huge Elton John fan. He's led an interesting life and is very candid and that always makes for a good memoir.
Elton John is a musical genius in my opinion. The amount of hits he has churned out over the years is impressive. And I found this book to contain a good mix of his professional life along with his personal life such as his childhood, relationships, addictions, etc.. Given I'm kinda a pop culture fanatic that likes to brag about how much random trivia bits I have stored in my brain, I was actually surprised at how much I learned about him from reading this book. It blew my mind that Elton John wasn't his birth name. Like how the heck did I not know that?
I'll admit part of the appeal of celeb memoirs is it's fun to hear stories about other famous people. Elton John certainly has had many friendships over the years with the A-list crowd, but he's also managed to have a feud or two as well. I don't think anything he says is that mean-spirited and it does seem like even he can admit he can be difficult to be around at times.
There is one part of this memoir that I got pretty emotional reading and that was when he talked about Ryan White, a boy who was infected with HIV from a blood transfusion and later died of AIDS in 1990. Ryan made national news because he had to fight for his right just to attend school as there were so many misconceptions about the disease and how you could contract it back then. I was a child back in the '80s and I remember reading about Ryan from my parents' People magazine subscription as well as watching the tv movie that was made about him. Despite the fact he was sick, he made it his mission to educate people about the disease and Elton John first heard about Ryan while reading an article about him in Newsweek. He struck up a close friendship with Ryan and his family and was with them during Ryan's final days. He credits Ryan with giving him the motivation to turn his life around as he was battling addiction. The compassion he showed Ryan and his family as well as the hundreds of millions of dollars he has helped raise with the Elton John AIDS Foundation are some of the finest things he has done in his life. Say what you will about Elton, but I'm glad he has never forgotten about Ryan. I sure haven't either.
I definitely recommend reading this one regardless of whether or not you are a huge Elton John fan. He's led an interesting life and is very candid and that always makes for a good memoir.
March 11, 2020
I don't like Elton John's music.I didn't grow up with this genre of music. I've never been interested in his personal or public persona but I felt that I wanted to read this after watching the movie version. The movie version was unwatchable and unlikable for me. The memoir has killed the film.
After I saw a friend, Jennifer Brown, review this I definitely wanted to pick it up. I loved the whole book. I loved the way he talked in the book. The beginning of being Reggie Dwight to turning into Elton John and the journey in between was intriguing. His story is probably a typical rock star gone fame crazy; drugs, sex, music mixed with the fear of AIDS is just so candid. He knows he was an arsehole and talks about it. He makes no excuses for himself. The people he knows and how loyal he is to everyone is his life is remarkable. I laughed a lot in this memoir. I am a fan now.
Let me be clear. Still not a fan of his music but a fan of his person. I would just love to hang out with him and his partner, David, and just have a cuppa tea and laugh at his stories.
After I saw a friend, Jennifer Brown, review this I definitely wanted to pick it up. I loved the whole book. I loved the way he talked in the book. The beginning of being Reggie Dwight to turning into Elton John and the journey in between was intriguing. His story is probably a typical rock star gone fame crazy; drugs, sex, music mixed with the fear of AIDS is just so candid. He knows he was an arsehole and talks about it. He makes no excuses for himself. The people he knows and how loyal he is to everyone is his life is remarkable. I laughed a lot in this memoir. I am a fan now.
Let me be clear. Still not a fan of his music but a fan of his person. I would just love to hang out with him and his partner, David, and just have a cuppa tea and laugh at his stories.
September 4, 2020
I feel like I just sat down and drank oodles of Earl Gray while hanging with Elton John.
The stars represent my respect for his talent, his self-effacing personality, and for his way too big heart. How this man survived, mostly body and soul intact, is a minor miracle when compared to some of his high wattage peers.
If you love his music, or grew up in the 60-70s, or are just a true music aficionado, I highly recommend this read.
Elton John is a true musical genius but he is also a human being who owns the good, the bad, and the ugly of his life.
The stars represent my respect for his talent, his self-effacing personality, and for his way too big heart. How this man survived, mostly body and soul intact, is a minor miracle when compared to some of his high wattage peers.
If you love his music, or grew up in the 60-70s, or are just a true music aficionado, I highly recommend this read.
Elton John is a true musical genius but he is also a human being who owns the good, the bad, and the ugly of his life.
October 25, 2021
I've read some reviews here & elsewhere) where some readers were so disappointed by this book, that it has put them off EJ's music. Being from New Zealand, where everyone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone, I certainly remember hearing about EJ throwing some rip snorting temper tantrums back stage on one of his 1990's tours & how shattered some of the Kiwi crews were finding their idol had feet of clay. (within Elton's four foot high platform boots, of course!) & EJ has always struck me as a bit of a name dropper. & it probably helps that while I love some of his older material I was never a rabid fan. My husband now...
So I probably would never have read this book if I hadn't found a copy in a Little Free Library. But I am very glad I did! Elton's voice shone through in a larger than life um... life. From a rotten childhood (a distant father who often wasn't around & a mother who sounds insane)
During his childhood, it sounds like only his maternal Nan made things bearable.
Luckily Reg Dwight (EJ's real name) was musically gifted.
From a lucky chance introduction to Bernie Taupin, Elton has really never looked back & has lived a life of extremes. Elton is very honest about a lot of things and acknowledges a lot of his character flaws.
Some parts are very funny;
EJ has found sobriety, love and fatherhood now.; I hope he is happy.
My own favourite Elton John tracks; High Flying Bird, Tiny Dancer.
My favourite album; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
I'm not so familiar with some of EJ's later works. EJ loathes the album Leather Jackets. I've played it & think it was pretty good - other than EJ & Cliff Richards voices on one track (Slow Rivers) don't mesh well together. Bernie Taupin thinks The Big Picture is their worst. If there is worse than this one I don't want to hear it. I had to keep skipping tracks.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
So I probably would never have read this book if I hadn't found a copy in a Little Free Library. But I am very glad I did! Elton's voice shone through in a larger than life um... life. From a rotten childhood (a distant father who often wasn't around & a mother who sounds insane)
I’m not just behaving like an idiot, I’m behaving like my mother – and rush around issuing desperate apologies to everyone concerned. Mum never snapped out of it, never seemed contrite, never appeared to think she was in the wrong or behaving badly. The best you could hope for was a terrible argument – in which, as ever, she had to have the last word – followed by an awkward smoothing over, a shaky truce that lasted until she went off again. As the years passed, she had elevated sulking to an epic, awesome level. She was the Cecil B. DeMille of bad moods, the Tolstoy of taking a huff. I’m exaggerating only slightly. We’re talking about a woman who didn’t speak to her own sister for ten years as a result of an argument over whether Auntie Win had put skimmed milk in her tea or not. A woman whose dedication to sulking was such that, at its height, it literally caused her to pack her entire life up and leave the country. It happened in the eighties; she fell out with me and one of Derf’s sons from his first marriage at the same time and, as a result, emigrated to Menorca. She would rather move to a foreign country than back down or apologize. There’s not an enormous amount of point in trying to reason with someone like that.”
During his childhood, it sounds like only his maternal Nan made things bearable.
Luckily Reg Dwight (EJ's real name) was musically gifted.
From a lucky chance introduction to Bernie Taupin, Elton has really never looked back & has lived a life of extremes. Elton is very honest about a lot of things and acknowledges a lot of his character flaws.
Some parts are very funny;
My whole body hurt. Especially my hands. Since when did hangovers make your hands hurt? And why wouldn't the person knocking at the door just fuck off, despite my repeated instructions to do so?
EJ has found sobriety, love and fatherhood now.; I hope he is happy.
My own favourite Elton John tracks; High Flying Bird, Tiny Dancer.
My favourite album; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
I'm not so familiar with some of EJ's later works. EJ loathes the album Leather Jackets. I've played it & think it was pretty good - other than EJ & Cliff Richards voices on one track (Slow Rivers) don't mesh well together. Bernie Taupin thinks The Big Picture is their worst. If there is worse than this one I don't want to hear it. I had to keep skipping tracks.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
October 20, 2019
I once high-fived Elton John. Colorado Springs, 2009. True Story. Tiny hands. Anyway, this autobiography is super entertaining! There’s so much I didn’t know. With zero sugar-coating, and a lot of humor, Sir Elton takes us through his incredible life. Music, fashion, heartache, addiction, etc. Plenty of name-dropping, which I guiltily devoured. I’d love to have dinner with him.
My only complaint is with the audio narration. You can hear the intakes of breath and it’s annoying as shit.
My only complaint is with the audio narration. You can hear the intakes of breath and it’s annoying as shit.
November 18, 2019
Loved every minute of it!!!
I absolutely loved how he didn't hold back anything... told it like it is. And who knew he was so funny?!?!
The perfect read for all Elton John fans!
I absolutely loved how he didn't hold back anything... told it like it is. And who knew he was so funny?!?!
The perfect read for all Elton John fans!
May 21, 2020
“My history is full of what ifs, weird little moments that changed everything.”
First off, this is a 3 star read, but the experience is 4 stars because I’m an Elton fan.
Simply put, I enjoyed this book.
Elton John is a pill. He admits he is a pill, but in a manner that at times feels insincere despite his self-deprecating humor. There is incredible ego present (the text abounds with petty recounting of statistics that ego demands). However, Elton has been very famous since his early 20s. It is understandable.
I really enjoyed the parts of “Me” that focused on Elton’s music, Bernie Taupin, and his albums. I could have taken even more of that. Big praise to John for devoting substantial space in his autobiography to other musicians, especially those who influenced him. People that many folks probably don’t know, like Long John Baldry (I was thrilled to see him mentioned on the first page), Leon Russel, David Ackles, and others. I appreciated that, as many folks who pick up this book might not have heard of them and their music. In fact, if there had been more focus on those aspects of his life, and a little less name-dropping I would not have complained. But, to be fair, those “big” names and experiences have been part of his life too.
All in all, I’m an Elton John fan and I enjoyed his autobiography. It is an engaging read and I think for the most part it seems truthful.
An unexpected pleasure is that the closing pages of “Me” were also quite touching. If you love his music, I am pretty sure you will enjoy this book.
First off, this is a 3 star read, but the experience is 4 stars because I’m an Elton fan.
Simply put, I enjoyed this book.
Elton John is a pill. He admits he is a pill, but in a manner that at times feels insincere despite his self-deprecating humor. There is incredible ego present (the text abounds with petty recounting of statistics that ego demands). However, Elton has been very famous since his early 20s. It is understandable.
I really enjoyed the parts of “Me” that focused on Elton’s music, Bernie Taupin, and his albums. I could have taken even more of that. Big praise to John for devoting substantial space in his autobiography to other musicians, especially those who influenced him. People that many folks probably don’t know, like Long John Baldry (I was thrilled to see him mentioned on the first page), Leon Russel, David Ackles, and others. I appreciated that, as many folks who pick up this book might not have heard of them and their music. In fact, if there had been more focus on those aspects of his life, and a little less name-dropping I would not have complained. But, to be fair, those “big” names and experiences have been part of his life too.
All in all, I’m an Elton John fan and I enjoyed his autobiography. It is an engaging read and I think for the most part it seems truthful.
An unexpected pleasure is that the closing pages of “Me” were also quite touching. If you love his music, I am pretty sure you will enjoy this book.
February 5, 2021
Admittedly, I’m not the ideal reader for this book. I like a few songs of Elton John’s, have childhood memories of him in the 70s as an outrageous performer dressed in garish clothes & accessories who played surprisingly mellow piano tunes for all that. That’s was pretty much the only impression he’d left me with since.
His fame grew & grew; tabloid stories about is he or is he not bisexual, or is he gay; notorious drug & alcohol abuse; close friendships with Gianni Versace and Lady Di, both ending tragically. Even I tuned in for her funerals & his performance of a rewritten “Candle In The Wind” in her honour, at which I shed a tear. I was a twelve year old still starry-eyed girl when her royal wedding was celebrated with all that pompous circumstance, and her horrific death was shocking to everyone.
I cannot decide whether the title of this autobiography, “Me” is an exercise in humility or complete narcissism. I suspect he couldn’t either, so left it for the rest of the world to figure out. In his one and only autobiography, Elton John gives a linear narrative of his life, from growing up as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, a boy obsessed with music raised by parents who were ill-suited for each other and constantly fighting, a father with whom the only common ground was football which became a lifelong passion for the singer. He describes being naive and unsophisticated as a young man, who had no sexual curiosity or drive, until he suddenly found his libido at 21.
Finding his footing as a performer, he eventually changed his name, became a flamboyant artist and dresser, and a wildly promiscuous coke & booze fiend. He spells out that he had no wish to gloss over any of those “ugly” bits in telling of his life story, partly because he eventually found himself at a self-described revolting low which he knew he had to recover from, or die. That, and also because he was aiming for authenticity in his life as man now more than 30 years free of substance abuse.
Having found sobriety after incredible excesses which he talks about without glossing over embarrassing details — in a way I recognize, because so freeing in their revelation, as someone who doesn't hide from my mistakes and great failings either���, he’s been dedicated to helping many others in need of rehabilitation. Well known figures, a few he named (Eminem stuck in my mind) and people whose privacy he is safeguarding. One of his most laudable contributions has been to his AIDS foundation, which he started after the death of some of his closest friends. Notably Freddy Mercury, who could have been saved in the year following his passing with life extending drug treatments.
Much of the book is dedicated to his musical career, his relationships with songwriters and musicians, his album recordings and singles, his countless years on the road touring the world, details about meeting and working with other superstars. He discusses his “five big loves” (according to this article mamamia.com.au/elton-john-husband) including Linda Woodrow, the woman he was engaged to marry, but especially David Furnish, his longtime partner whom he married in 2014. Then, fatherhood coming in his 60s and how a gay couple managed to achieve such a thing (hint: lots of money, surrogacy), waxes lyrical about the transformative powers of parenthood, etc.
Ok. Fine. Here’s the thing: I don’t care about famous people. I’m curious about their lives because they get to mix with all sorts of people and have influenced pop culture and mark eras and are part of the zeitgeist and so on. On the whole, they’re rarely people I would want to spend any time with, given the opportunity. The massive egos, the insecurity stoking those egos, and the narcissism needed to achieve that level of fame tend to make for unpleasant & often abusive individuals. Not always. However, Elton John doesn't seem to be an exception. By and large, megastars tend to be narcissistic users (redundant but making a point). He speaks about this aspect of himself too. Elton John has done a lot of therapy to overcome his addictions and rein in his mercurial temperament, but self-awareness doesn’t change anything much when a strong temper refuses to be tamed.
I’m put off by his superficiality which he expresses with a garish facade I find unpleasant and vulgar. His obsession with Versace’s bold, in your face regalia, the kinds of clothes only worn by a certain of people who expects to be the centre of attention at all times, is excessively annoying to me. Case in point: Versace is quoted as saying "I don't believe in good taste,". It was said "Armani dresses the wife, Versace dresses the mistress." As it happens, the only designer piece I own is an Armani dress, because I love beautiful & elegant design and abhor bad taste and men who take on mistresses dolled up like expensive whores (we’re supposed to call them “sex workers in 2021 because “sex work is valid & empowering”).
Towards the end, he describes how fulfilling he finds his role as a parent, but you somehow don’t hear much about the children. There was a boy in an orphanage who initially sparked that burning desire to becomes father. But what I gleaned was that his primary goal was fulfilling HIS need when the urge for family struck him as a sexagenarian. True enough, his partner had wanted children too and all parents follow their own needs & biological imperative for having children, but it seemed all of a piece with a pattern of egoism which I doesn’t translate into actual love. That is my subjective perception as the daughter of a narcissistic parent who put her needs above mine & told me she wanted a baby and an ally all in one.
Finally, what tilted the balance to a negative rating and overall impression was a not an inconsequential detail. Not all famous people choose to read the audiobook edition of their autobiographies. We are led to believe these are their own words, when most turn to professional authors who don’t receive credit & remain in the shadows. Narrating the opening and closing chapters exclusively while leaving the rest to a professional narrator wouldn't be unusual. But this book is titled Me , and in it, there are a lot of words and sentences and paragraphs and whole chapters to convince us/himself that since his sobriety, he became a much simpler, humbler version of Elton John, the Superstar. He wants to convince us fatherhood has made him a simpler man who enjoys being a parent able to go to a Pizza Express with his kids and be treated like an ordinary person; to talk with moms at school events about things having nothing to do with his music, such as school uniforms. All that just made me shake my head and say, Okay, sure thing Reggie, gotcha.
Originally gave this three stars because it was full of interesting tidbits, but I think I’ll downgrade to 2.5 — “Good in parts but...” Ultimately, I can’t stand the guy. The very least he could’ve done is narrated his own fuxking book.
His fame grew & grew; tabloid stories about is he or is he not bisexual, or is he gay; notorious drug & alcohol abuse; close friendships with Gianni Versace and Lady Di, both ending tragically. Even I tuned in for her funerals & his performance of a rewritten “Candle In The Wind” in her honour, at which I shed a tear. I was a twelve year old still starry-eyed girl when her royal wedding was celebrated with all that pompous circumstance, and her horrific death was shocking to everyone.
I cannot decide whether the title of this autobiography, “Me” is an exercise in humility or complete narcissism. I suspect he couldn’t either, so left it for the rest of the world to figure out. In his one and only autobiography, Elton John gives a linear narrative of his life, from growing up as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, a boy obsessed with music raised by parents who were ill-suited for each other and constantly fighting, a father with whom the only common ground was football which became a lifelong passion for the singer. He describes being naive and unsophisticated as a young man, who had no sexual curiosity or drive, until he suddenly found his libido at 21.
Finding his footing as a performer, he eventually changed his name, became a flamboyant artist and dresser, and a wildly promiscuous coke & booze fiend. He spells out that he had no wish to gloss over any of those “ugly” bits in telling of his life story, partly because he eventually found himself at a self-described revolting low which he knew he had to recover from, or die. That, and also because he was aiming for authenticity in his life as man now more than 30 years free of substance abuse.
Having found sobriety after incredible excesses which he talks about without glossing over embarrassing details — in a way I recognize, because so freeing in their revelation, as someone who doesn't hide from my mistakes and great failings either���, he’s been dedicated to helping many others in need of rehabilitation. Well known figures, a few he named (Eminem stuck in my mind) and people whose privacy he is safeguarding. One of his most laudable contributions has been to his AIDS foundation, which he started after the death of some of his closest friends. Notably Freddy Mercury, who could have been saved in the year following his passing with life extending drug treatments.
Much of the book is dedicated to his musical career, his relationships with songwriters and musicians, his album recordings and singles, his countless years on the road touring the world, details about meeting and working with other superstars. He discusses his “five big loves” (according to this article mamamia.com.au/elton-john-husband) including Linda Woodrow, the woman he was engaged to marry, but especially David Furnish, his longtime partner whom he married in 2014. Then, fatherhood coming in his 60s and how a gay couple managed to achieve such a thing (hint: lots of money, surrogacy), waxes lyrical about the transformative powers of parenthood, etc.
Ok. Fine. Here’s the thing: I don’t care about famous people. I’m curious about their lives because they get to mix with all sorts of people and have influenced pop culture and mark eras and are part of the zeitgeist and so on. On the whole, they’re rarely people I would want to spend any time with, given the opportunity. The massive egos, the insecurity stoking those egos, and the narcissism needed to achieve that level of fame tend to make for unpleasant & often abusive individuals. Not always. However, Elton John doesn't seem to be an exception. By and large, megastars tend to be narcissistic users (redundant but making a point). He speaks about this aspect of himself too. Elton John has done a lot of therapy to overcome his addictions and rein in his mercurial temperament, but self-awareness doesn’t change anything much when a strong temper refuses to be tamed.
I’m put off by his superficiality which he expresses with a garish facade I find unpleasant and vulgar. His obsession with Versace’s bold, in your face regalia, the kinds of clothes only worn by a certain of people who expects to be the centre of attention at all times, is excessively annoying to me. Case in point: Versace is quoted as saying "I don't believe in good taste,". It was said "Armani dresses the wife, Versace dresses the mistress." As it happens, the only designer piece I own is an Armani dress, because I love beautiful & elegant design and abhor bad taste and men who take on mistresses dolled up like expensive whores (we’re supposed to call them “sex workers in 2021 because “sex work is valid & empowering”).
Towards the end, he describes how fulfilling he finds his role as a parent, but you somehow don’t hear much about the children. There was a boy in an orphanage who initially sparked that burning desire to becomes father. But what I gleaned was that his primary goal was fulfilling HIS need when the urge for family struck him as a sexagenarian. True enough, his partner had wanted children too and all parents follow their own needs & biological imperative for having children, but it seemed all of a piece with a pattern of egoism which I doesn’t translate into actual love. That is my subjective perception as the daughter of a narcissistic parent who put her needs above mine & told me she wanted a baby and an ally all in one.
Finally, what tilted the balance to a negative rating and overall impression was a not an inconsequential detail. Not all famous people choose to read the audiobook edition of their autobiographies. We are led to believe these are their own words, when most turn to professional authors who don’t receive credit & remain in the shadows. Narrating the opening and closing chapters exclusively while leaving the rest to a professional narrator wouldn't be unusual. But this book is titled Me , and in it, there are a lot of words and sentences and paragraphs and whole chapters to convince us/himself that since his sobriety, he became a much simpler, humbler version of Elton John, the Superstar. He wants to convince us fatherhood has made him a simpler man who enjoys being a parent able to go to a Pizza Express with his kids and be treated like an ordinary person; to talk with moms at school events about things having nothing to do with his music, such as school uniforms. All that just made me shake my head and say, Okay, sure thing Reggie, gotcha.
Originally gave this three stars because it was full of interesting tidbits, but I think I’ll downgrade to 2.5 — “Good in parts but...” Ultimately, I can’t stand the guy. The very least he could’ve done is narrated his own fuxking book.
November 14, 2020
I was quite young when I discovered Elton John through a friend who absolutely idolised him.
Loved his music, his sincerity and his outrageousness.
Reading this honest “close up and personal “ account of his earlier life with his parents how hard that life was as a child in so very many ways brought home to me how our upbringing influences us in ways we may never imagine.
The “rock ‘n roll “ years was surely a huge exciting time plus a time of highs and lows quite literally. Sex, booze and rock ‘n roll in it’s full flow.
I remember his first marriage. And the breakup and his “coming out”.
Great song writer, great singer, fab entertainer.
Loved his music, his sincerity and his outrageousness.
Reading this honest “close up and personal “ account of his earlier life with his parents how hard that life was as a child in so very many ways brought home to me how our upbringing influences us in ways we may never imagine.
The “rock ‘n roll “ years was surely a huge exciting time plus a time of highs and lows quite literally. Sex, booze and rock ‘n roll in it’s full flow.
I remember his first marriage. And the breakup and his “coming out”.
Great song writer, great singer, fab entertainer.
February 25, 2020
Funny, fearless and brutally honest- this is what you want in a rock bio.
May 13, 2021
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
I used to be a fan of Elton John, well his music anyway. As a 10 year old in the 1970's to present day, Ive been to see him 3 times. We even saw him here in little humid Cairns, Far North Queensland a couple of years ago.
There's always an Elton John song one can attach to a certain part of one's life. School, marriage, birth, death, etc - he's an ever present.
So as an ex-fan (now) what went wrong?
This is one of the most boring, inane, trivial book's I have ever read. We are essentially reading the diary of a pompous, tantrum throwing Princess. It's quite frankly embarrassing. The thing is, this character doesn't really seem to reflect on himself at all. There's no real introspection on a life lived, not in any meaningful way.
However, I did enjoy "YouTubing" various videos referring to parts of the book, such as his songs - where I knew what was going on in his life, or interviews of the same and the documentary "Tantrums and Tiaras" - which is quite frankly embarrassing. A grown man carrying on like that, take a look. It's quite pathetic. The title "Tantrums and Tiaras" indicates John is not particularly self-aware, or more accurately embarrassed by his appalling behaviour.
Do you have to like a character to enjoy a memoir/autobiography? Nope. I've enjoyed many accounts of a person's life - auto and otherwise - from Nero, to Hitler. But this? Maybe I feel hoodwinked? Maybe I haven't really been paying attention?
This is tabloid rubbish.
I do like his husband though, David. He seems like a nice guy.
1 Star
I used to be a fan of Elton John, well his music anyway. As a 10 year old in the 1970's to present day, Ive been to see him 3 times. We even saw him here in little humid Cairns, Far North Queensland a couple of years ago.
There's always an Elton John song one can attach to a certain part of one's life. School, marriage, birth, death, etc - he's an ever present.
So as an ex-fan (now) what went wrong?
This is one of the most boring, inane, trivial book's I have ever read. We are essentially reading the diary of a pompous, tantrum throwing Princess. It's quite frankly embarrassing. The thing is, this character doesn't really seem to reflect on himself at all. There's no real introspection on a life lived, not in any meaningful way.
However, I did enjoy "YouTubing" various videos referring to parts of the book, such as his songs - where I knew what was going on in his life, or interviews of the same and the documentary "Tantrums and Tiaras" - which is quite frankly embarrassing. A grown man carrying on like that, take a look. It's quite pathetic. The title "Tantrums and Tiaras" indicates John is not particularly self-aware, or more accurately embarrassed by his appalling behaviour.
Do you have to like a character to enjoy a memoir/autobiography? Nope. I've enjoyed many accounts of a person's life - auto and otherwise - from Nero, to Hitler. But this? Maybe I feel hoodwinked? Maybe I haven't really been paying attention?
This is tabloid rubbish.
I do like his husband though, David. He seems like a nice guy.
1 Star
September 11, 2020
Jis išgyveno prostatos vėžį, tėvų fizinį ir psichologinį smurtą, bulimiją, depresiją, kokaino perdozavimą. AIDS ir ŽIV tyrimams bei gydymui jo fondas yra surinkęs daugiau nei 150 milijonų dolerių. Vienas pirmųjų šou pasaulyje prakalbo apie savo homoseksualumą. Buvo 3 futbolo komandų savininku ir prezidentu. Vienas artimiausių Gianni Versace draugų, vadinęs jį broliu. Eminemo anoniminių alkoholikų programos sponsorius, padėjęs išblaivėti. Dvi dienos prieš vieną didžiausių gyvenimo koncertų, jam plovė skrandį po bandymo nusižudyti. Tokių buvo ne vienas. Jo asmeniškiausiose šventėse dalyvauja Didžiosios Britanijos Karališkosios šeimos nariai. Apie kiekvieną šių aspektų būtų galima parašyti po knygą. Nes dievaži, prie visų šių pasiekimų ir įsimintinumų neabejotinai galima pridėti ir tai, kad Eltonas Johnas yra nepaprastai puikus istorijų pasakotojas.
Taip pat labai, kaip mėgstu romanus, mėgstu ir biografijas – ypač tikrai, TIKRAI įdomių žmonių. Nes pripažinkim, biografijos ir įdomus žmogus toli gražu ne visada eina koja kojon. O ir esu skaičiusi tokių, kad akivaizdu – net ir įdomiausią žmogų įmanoma aprašyti taip, kad mieliau skaitytumei telefonų knygą. Bet Eltonas Johnas sugeba istorijas pasakoti kaip tik taip, kaip iš jo būtų galima tikėtis – šmaikščiai, įdomiai, be nereikalingų intarpų, pletkus pamaišant su faktais, o ir įrodant, kad tinkamai papasakota istorija gali būti įdomi net tuo atveju, kai kalbama apie šiaip skaitytojui ne pačius aktualiausius dalykus. Nors jis – tikroji vadovėlinė roko žvaigždė, o ir alkoholio+visų įsivaizduojamų narkotikų kokteiliai gerokai pravalė atmintį, skaityti paprasta ir smagu, istorijos – nuoseklios ir sudėliotos chronologiškai, o tai, ko Eltonas neprisiminė pats, paprašė jam priminti tų, kurie buvo šalia ir kuriais pasitiki labiausiai. Didelė problema su autobiografijomis būna ta, jog žmonės iš esmės linkę save truputį pagrąžinti, istorijas savaip paturbinti, o save apšviesti truputį patraukliau, nei galbūt padarytų kitas autorius. Vis dėlto, Eltonas, pop versle besisuskantis jau šešis dešimtmečius, atrodo jau senokai nusispjovęs į tai, ką žmonės apie jį pagalvos, nes visi, kurie norėjo, jau pagalvojo. Todėl čia jis daug dėmesio skiria ne tik savo pasiekimams, bet ir baisiausiems gyvenimo etapams – kalba apie žmones, kuriuos įskaudino savo elgesiu ir/ar priklausomybėmis (dažniausiai šie du vis tiek eina koja kojon), apie tuos, kuriuos išdavė ar kurie išdavė jį. Nėra jokio vyniojimo į vatą, menkų užuominų, kurios palieka skaitytoją spėlioti – jei jau kritikuoja – muziką, asmenybę, situaciją – Eltonas įvardina vardus, metus, konkrečias situacijas, o ir nėra jokio apsimestinio kuklumo, bandant sukti ratus aplink savo pasiekimus. Būtent todėl net ir tas istorijas, kurios gali iš pirmo žvilgsnio pasirodyti ne tokios įdomios, jis sugeba papasakoti įtraukiančiai, truputį pletkavotai, per daug žodžių nerinkdamas, komplimentus žarstydamas taip pat dosniai, kaip ir kritiką – ne tik kitiems, gausiai įskaitant net ir tuos, kurie dažnai lieka neliečiami – pavyzdžiui, savo tėvus, politikus, šou verslo ryklius ir orkas, bet ir sau pačiam.
Kuomet diskutuoju su kitais skaitytojais apie literatūrą, dažnai tenka išgirsti, jog biografijų žmogus skaito minimaliai mažai. Suprantama – asmenybė turi būti bent kiek aktuali, kad norėtųsi prie knygos apie ją praleisti keletą vakarų. Vis dėlto, ME įrodo, kad neprivalai būti die hard Eltono fanu, kad istorijos būtų įtraukiančios ir įdomios – čia daug pamąstymų apie politiką, futbolą, priklausomybes ir kovą pačiam su savimi, muzikos verslą, žmogaus prigimtį, psichologiją, madą, meną, kūrybą. Čia tiek smagių faktų ir įdomybių, kad net pradėjus skaityti gana abejingai, tikriausiai neįmanoma netapti Eltono gerbėju. Jei ne dėl jo kūrybos, tai bent jau dėl to, kad negerbti žmogaus, kuris gali drąsiai, su humoru ir suokalbiškai kikenant pripažinti sysiojęs į pampersą kaip tik tuo metu, kai prieš 4000 gerbėjų auditoriją dainavo Rocketman, praktiškai neįmanoma.
Taip pat labai, kaip mėgstu romanus, mėgstu ir biografijas – ypač tikrai, TIKRAI įdomių žmonių. Nes pripažinkim, biografijos ir įdomus žmogus toli gražu ne visada eina koja kojon. O ir esu skaičiusi tokių, kad akivaizdu – net ir įdomiausią žmogų įmanoma aprašyti taip, kad mieliau skaitytumei telefonų knygą. Bet Eltonas Johnas sugeba istorijas pasakoti kaip tik taip, kaip iš jo būtų galima tikėtis – šmaikščiai, įdomiai, be nereikalingų intarpų, pletkus pamaišant su faktais, o ir įrodant, kad tinkamai papasakota istorija gali būti įdomi net tuo atveju, kai kalbama apie šiaip skaitytojui ne pačius aktualiausius dalykus. Nors jis – tikroji vadovėlinė roko žvaigždė, o ir alkoholio+visų įsivaizduojamų narkotikų kokteiliai gerokai pravalė atmintį, skaityti paprasta ir smagu, istorijos – nuoseklios ir sudėliotos chronologiškai, o tai, ko Eltonas neprisiminė pats, paprašė jam priminti tų, kurie buvo šalia ir kuriais pasitiki labiausiai. Didelė problema su autobiografijomis būna ta, jog žmonės iš esmės linkę save truputį pagrąžinti, istorijas savaip paturbinti, o save apšviesti truputį patraukliau, nei galbūt padarytų kitas autorius. Vis dėlto, Eltonas, pop versle besisuskantis jau šešis dešimtmečius, atrodo jau senokai nusispjovęs į tai, ką žmonės apie jį pagalvos, nes visi, kurie norėjo, jau pagalvojo. Todėl čia jis daug dėmesio skiria ne tik savo pasiekimams, bet ir baisiausiems gyvenimo etapams – kalba apie žmones, kuriuos įskaudino savo elgesiu ir/ar priklausomybėmis (dažniausiai šie du vis tiek eina koja kojon), apie tuos, kuriuos išdavė ar kurie išdavė jį. Nėra jokio vyniojimo į vatą, menkų užuominų, kurios palieka skaitytoją spėlioti – jei jau kritikuoja – muziką, asmenybę, situaciją – Eltonas įvardina vardus, metus, konkrečias situacijas, o ir nėra jokio apsimestinio kuklumo, bandant sukti ratus aplink savo pasiekimus. Būtent todėl net ir tas istorijas, kurios gali iš pirmo žvilgsnio pasirodyti ne tokios įdomios, jis sugeba papasakoti įtraukiančiai, truputį pletkavotai, per daug žodžių nerinkdamas, komplimentus žarstydamas taip pat dosniai, kaip ir kritiką – ne tik kitiems, gausiai įskaitant net ir tuos, kurie dažnai lieka neliečiami – pavyzdžiui, savo tėvus, politikus, šou verslo ryklius ir orkas, bet ir sau pačiam.
Kuomet diskutuoju su kitais skaitytojais apie literatūrą, dažnai tenka išgirsti, jog biografijų žmogus skaito minimaliai mažai. Suprantama – asmenybė turi būti bent kiek aktuali, kad norėtųsi prie knygos apie ją praleisti keletą vakarų. Vis dėlto, ME įrodo, kad neprivalai būti die hard Eltono fanu, kad istorijos būtų įtraukiančios ir įdomios – čia daug pamąstymų apie politiką, futbolą, priklausomybes ir kovą pačiam su savimi, muzikos verslą, žmogaus prigimtį, psichologiją, madą, meną, kūrybą. Čia tiek smagių faktų ir įdomybių, kad net pradėjus skaityti gana abejingai, tikriausiai neįmanoma netapti Eltono gerbėju. Jei ne dėl jo kūrybos, tai bent jau dėl to, kad negerbti žmogaus, kuris gali drąsiai, su humoru ir suokalbiškai kikenant pripažinti sysiojęs į pampersą kaip tik tuo metu, kai prieš 4000 gerbėjų auditoriją dainavo Rocketman, praktiškai neįmanoma.
November 3, 2019
An entertaining biography that was an easy read filling in a few of the gaps in my memory while growing up during Elton John's life.
The book appears to be quite an honest account with mentions of his tantrums, drugs and other vices which makes interesting reading. I preferred the earlier insights, maybe because I couldn't remember too much about the stories rather than the more recent marriage, film and aids foundation anecdotes.
A good read.
The book appears to be quite an honest account with mentions of his tantrums, drugs and other vices which makes interesting reading. I preferred the earlier insights, maybe because I couldn't remember too much about the stories rather than the more recent marriage, film and aids foundation anecdotes.
A good read.
June 18, 2020
All the stars for this superstar of rock and roll!! I listened to this book on Audible, narrated by the fabulous Taron Egerton (who played Elton in Rocketman)
This book is honest, its funny, it is sad and I could not get enough. What a life he has lived - Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll absolutely applies to Sir Elton. From a tough upbringing to one of the biggest music stars in the world, this books tell his journey. Nothing is held back and you get a very up close and personal look into his life. I have a great deal of respect for Elton, he is a survivor and a great role model for people - he has achieved so much and is still so humble.
I saw Elton in concert last night in Sydney and for 3 hours I was lost in his world. He is an amazing performer, with so many fantastic songs and stories. It was a privilege to see the man perform.
I cannot recommend this book more. As a lover of music it is a must read.
This book is honest, its funny, it is sad and I could not get enough. What a life he has lived - Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll absolutely applies to Sir Elton. From a tough upbringing to one of the biggest music stars in the world, this books tell his journey. Nothing is held back and you get a very up close and personal look into his life. I have a great deal of respect for Elton, he is a survivor and a great role model for people - he has achieved so much and is still so humble.
I saw Elton in concert last night in Sydney and for 3 hours I was lost in his world. He is an amazing performer, with so many fantastic songs and stories. It was a privilege to see the man perform.
I cannot recommend this book more. As a lover of music it is a must read.
January 27, 2020
Honest memoir
Shows his ups and downs
It’s funny
Shocking
Shows his weaknesses and strengths
Enjoyable read
Shows his ups and downs
It’s funny
Shocking
Shows his weaknesses and strengths
Enjoyable read
June 19, 2020
Биографиите на великите и талантливи хора те карат да повярваш в наличието на съдба.
Великобритания през 50-те години на 20 век не е щастливо място. Изнурена от войната, все още по еснафски скована, бъдещата бивша колониална империя преживее културен шок. „Неприличен“ рокендрол ще разтриса редовно един скромен дом в Пинър, където малкият Реджиналд Дуайт живее с родители, които по собствените му думи „не е трябвало никога да се женят.“.
Обичам Елтън Джон и чаках тази биография с нетърпение. Не говоря само за музиката му, това е ясно. Елтън Джон, с неговия остър език, старомоден британски хумор, изблици на дива, ексцесиите и ексцентричностите му, въплъщава една поизчезваща английскост, която го прави артист от друга епоха. А биографията му си струва всяка отделена секунда и дори смея да предположа, че би се харесала на хора, които не са фенове на музиката му.
Една добра, честна биография ти дава много. Ако е написана както трябва, тя става нещо повече от историята на един успех и повече от портрет на един просто преуспял човек. Успели хора много, световноизвестни музикални звезди – също. Но колко от тях са истински интересни хора? Колко от тях притежават дълбочина, интелект, богата емоционалност и дори нетърпим характер, че да искаш да задълбаеш дори в нелицеприятните страни от живота им, в драмите, срамните епизоди и паденията им?
„Me” от Елтън Джон е най-добрата биография, на която съм попадала до този момент. Историята на живота му не е само хронология на славната му кариера с еди-колко си продадени албума, безкрайни шопинг рейдове, силно изявена склонност към зависимости от всякакъв род и приятелства с личности като Джон Ленън, Фреди Меркюри, Джани Версаче, Джордж Майкъл и принцеса Даяна.
Това е историята на едно травматизирано и мачкано от родителите си дете, един крайно неуверен в себе си чувствителен, уязвим и безкрайно щедър човек. Някой би възразил, че това е добре познатото селебрити клише и че такива изтормозени звезди като Елтън под път и над път. И ще е прав. И Джон Ленън, и Фреди Меркюри, и Мерилин Монро са се изяждали от вътрешни демони насред кокаинови мъгли.
Само че! Невероятното при Елтън Джон е, че той едва ли не единствен от това поколение звезди оцелява и надживява останалите. Дори при най-добросъвестни опити да се затрие, Елтън някак си оцелява и изтрезнява, във всеки смисъл. Той е живата история на музиката от средата на 20 век насам и разказва тази история толкова забавно, трогателно и увлекателно, с толкова обезоръжаваща самоирония, че и да не искаш, няма как да не го харесаш.
Трудно е да се повярва колко наситен на събития, хора и съдбовни срещи е животът на Елтън Джон. Винаги нещо се случва и завихря около него, нито секунда скука или спокойствие. Дори когато отмаря във вилата си в Ница, той пак крои планове, главата му гъмжи от идеи, в следващия миг сяда пред пианото, или вдига слушалката, набира някакъв номер – и хоп, ражда се песен, албум, мюзикъл, колаборация с друг артист, фондация за борба със СПИН, подкрепа за забравен колега или издръжка на украинско сиропиталище.
Елтън Джон е преживял всичко, бил е всичко, носил е всичко, но в центъра винаги стои огромната му любов и отдаденост към музиката и изпълненията на живо (да, Мадона и Бритни, някои артисти пеят на живо). А в ретроспекция, многобройните му ранни провали и откази изглеждат толкова закономерни, когато след тях идва големият пробив.
Но дори това, което изглежда като излязло за минута изпод пръстите му върху клавишите на пианото, е крайният резултат от огромен труд, непрекъснато самообразоване, дисциплината, която дава обучението по класическа музика и съзнателното развиване на чудовищно богата музикална култура.
Историята му разказва с наслаждение Тарън Еджъртън, младият британски актьор, който изиграва Елтън Джон в „Rocketman” – емпатично и човешки. Личната му симпатия към сър Елтън е повече от очевидна. И как не, след всичко преживяно, „he is still standing”.
Великобритания през 50-те години на 20 век не е щастливо място. Изнурена от войната, все още по еснафски скована, бъдещата бивша колониална империя преживее културен шок. „Неприличен“ рокендрол ще разтриса редовно един скромен дом в Пинър, където малкият Реджиналд Дуайт живее с родители, които по собствените му думи „не е трябвало никога да се женят.“.
Обичам Елтън Джон и чаках тази биография с нетърпение. Не говоря само за музиката му, това е ясно. Елтън Джон, с неговия остър език, старомоден британски хумор, изблици на дива, ексцесиите и ексцентричностите му, въплъщава една поизчезваща английскост, която го прави артист от друга епоха. А биографията му си струва всяка отделена секунда и дори смея да предположа, че би се харесала на хора, които не са фенове на музиката му.
Една добра, честна биография ти дава много. Ако е написана както трябва, тя става нещо повече от историята на един успех и повече от портрет на един просто преуспял човек. Успели хора много, световноизвестни музикални звезди – също. Но колко от тях са истински интересни хора? Колко от тях притежават дълбочина, интелект, богата емоционалност и дори нетърпим характер, че да искаш да задълбаеш дори в нелицеприятните страни от живота им, в драмите, срамните епизоди и паденията им?
„Me” от Елтън Джон е най-добрата биография, на която съм попадала до този момент. Историята на живота му не е само хронология на славната му кариера с еди-колко си продадени албума, безкрайни шопинг рейдове, силно изявена склонност към зависимости от всякакъв род и приятелства с личности като Джон Ленън, Фреди Меркюри, Джани Версаче, Джордж Майкъл и принцеса Даяна.
Това е историята на едно травматизирано и мачкано от родителите си дете, един крайно неуверен в себе си чувствителен, уязвим и безкрайно щедър човек. Някой би възразил, че това е добре познатото селебрити клише и че такива изтормозени звезди като Елтън под път и над път. И ще е прав. И Джон Ленън, и Фреди Меркюри, и Мерилин Монро са се изяждали от вътрешни демони насред кокаинови мъгли.
Само че! Невероятното при Елтън Джон е, че той едва ли не единствен от това поколение звезди оцелява и надживява останалите. Дори при най-добросъвестни опити да се затрие, Елтън някак си оцелява и изтрезнява, във всеки смисъл. Той е живата история на музиката от средата на 20 век насам и разказва тази история толкова забавно, трогателно и увлекателно, с толкова обезоръжаваща самоирония, че и да не искаш, няма как да не го харесаш.
Трудно е да се повярва колко наситен на събития, хора и съдбовни срещи е животът на Елтън Джон. Винаги нещо се случва и завихря около него, нито секунда скука или спокойствие. Дори когато отмаря във вилата си в Ница, той пак крои планове, главата му гъмжи от идеи, в следващия миг сяда пред пианото, или вдига слушалката, набира някакъв номер – и хоп, ражда се песен, албум, мюзикъл, колаборация с друг артист, фондация за борба със СПИН, подкрепа за забравен колега или издръжка на украинско сиропиталище.
Елтън Джон е преживял всичко, бил е всичко, носил е всичко, но в центъра винаги стои огромната му любов и отдаденост към музиката и изпълненията на живо (да, Мадона и Бритни, някои артисти пеят на живо). А в ретроспекция, многобройните му ранни провали и откази изглеждат толкова закономерни, когато след тях идва големият пробив.
Но дори това, което изглежда като излязло за минута изпод пръстите му върху клавишите на пианото, е крайният резултат от огромен труд, непрекъснато самообразоване, дисциплината, която дава обучението по класическа музика и съзнателното развиване на чудовищно богата музикална култура.
Историята му разказва с наслаждение Тарън Еджъртън, младият британски актьор, който изиграва Елтън Джон в „Rocketman” – емпатично и човешки. Личната му симпатия към сър Елтън е повече от очевидна. И как не, след всичко преживяно, „he is still standing”.
January 2, 2020
I love reading memoirs in general so I found this book quite entertaining. I didn't really know too much about him previously, except for his songs. He lived the pretty stereotypical kind of life that you would expect of a rock star and at least half of the book is just name dropping. That said, I did still find it very interesting to hear all of the things that he has experienced in his life. It is always interesting to see the world through the eyes of someone else, especially when they see the world in such a completely different way than you do. It is basically entertaining, but exactly what you think it is going to be.
November 19, 2019
Note to young celebrities:
It's best to wait until you are in your sixties or older before writing your memoirs. It's only then that you will have achieved enough perspective and self-awareness to pen a worthy autobiography.
If you like audio books, I highly recommend this one. Taron Egerton's narration is exquisite. He does all the accents and emotions of the various people in Elton's life. It's highly entertaining. But be sure you get a chance to take a quick look at the print copy as well, so you don't miss out on the superb collection of photographs.
It's best to wait until you are in your sixties or older before writing your memoirs. It's only then that you will have achieved enough perspective and self-awareness to pen a worthy autobiography.
If you like audio books, I highly recommend this one. Taron Egerton's narration is exquisite. He does all the accents and emotions of the various people in Elton's life. It's highly entertaining. But be sure you get a chance to take a quick look at the print copy as well, so you don't miss out on the superb collection of photographs.
July 29, 2024
Elton John shares his ups and downs through his journey of life.
July 7, 2020
If I had to pick one thing about Elton John that I have always admired is that he's always honest and upfront about his feelings for people. In this memoir, EJ gives us a complete backstage pass to his upbringing, his music career, his friendships and his love life. Honestly, I laughed and cried as he talked about his friendships and appreciated his candor with how he felt about people such as Freddie Mercury, John Lennon, Keith Moon, George Michael, Rod Stewart, Princess Diana etc. He effortlessly would say I know this is how others described them but here is what they were in my eyes. Also his David Bowie, Brian Wilson and Michael Jackson stories were so funny and weird!
I am glad made it part of my summer reading.
Goodreads review published 07/07/20
I am glad made it part of my summer reading.
Goodreads review published 07/07/20
January 30, 2020
I love Elton John. He’s an amazingly talented musician and singer. In public, he’s outrageous and temperamental, but in private he’s a sensitive man who struggles with his confidence. I had no idea that he was so funny! He doesn’t hold back — he’s honest to a fault. Reading his memoir made me love him even more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,397 reviews