Elton John - Touched By Gold

Key Concepts

• Gold's Timelessness and Aesthetic Appeal: Gold is presented as a symbol of beauty, luxury, and enduring value, used in various forms from simple to overwhelming.
• Elton John's Persona and Stage Presence: The video explores how gold, through his outfits, glasses, and accessories, became integral to Elton John's iconic stage persona, contrasting with his humble upbringing.
• Musical Achievements and Recognition: The narrative highlights Elton John's significant musical success, including multiple LPs in the charts, gold records, and prestigious awards like Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and Tonys (EGOT).
• Songwriting Partnership with Bernie Taupin: The symbiotic relationship between Elton John and Bernie Taupin is detailed, emphasizing their rapid and prolific songwriting process, with Taupin providing lyrics and John composing melodies.
• Symbolism of Gold in Awards and Personal Items: Gold is consistently associated with achievement and recognition, from gold records and awards to personal items like wedding rings and even his specially commissioned EGOT award.
• Gold's Unexpected Practical Applications: Beyond aesthetics, the video reveals gold's crucial role in technology and medicine, specifically in microphone diaphragms, pacemakers, and rapid HIV tests.
• Personal Milestones and Relationships: The summary touches upon significant personal events, including his civil partnership and marriage to David Furnish, and the birth of his children, framing these as his "golden moments."
• The Power of Performance and Iconic Imagery: The impact of specific gold outfits, particularly the gold lamé suit for Glastonbury, is discussed as a transformative element in his performances and career.

Gold: A Symbol of Beauty, Achievement, and Unexpected Utility

The Enduring Allure of Gold

The video opens by establishing gold as a "timeless" and "wondrous mineral," consistently representing inspiration, awe, and joy since the dawn of time. Its aesthetic qualities are described as "ravishing," capable of being simple, decorative, or overwhelming, but always "incredible." This inherent beauty and enduring presence make gold a powerful symbol.

Elton John's Golden Transformation

Elton John reflects on his personal journey, contrasting his childhood in a "council house in Pinner in North London," where gold was not a part of his life, with his subsequent embrace of it as a defining element of his public persona. He recounts how "gold shoes, the gold glasses, the gold outfits, the gold capes" became "so much a part of who I became." This transformation was fueled by a desire to break free from past restrictions, stating, "I was forbidden to go down Carnaby Street... 'Den of iniquity.'" The freedom to express himself through flamboyant attire, including "eight-inch platforms" and "flying boots with wings," was a stark departure from societal expectations.

The Troubadour Performance: A Catalyst for Stardom

A pivotal moment in Elton John's career was his appearance at the Troubadour club. He describes the audience's surprise at his energetic performance, clad in "hot pants and a T-shirt with stars on it, and flying boots with wings," while "leaping all over the piano." This unexpected presentation, coupled with his powerful piano playing, created a sensation, leading to his widespread recognition and placing him "on a par with the Beatles" with "four different LPs in the top 50 all in the same week." He emphasizes that this success was "born at the Troubadour" and that his freedom to wear what he wanted "took over pretty quickly."

The Craftsmanship of Iconic Outfits

The video showcases specific examples of his elaborate gold attire. The "gold suit for Who Believes in Angels" was a collaboration with tailor Mirpuri and embroiderers Hand & Lock, known for their work on "royal stuff." The jacket, in particular, was a "work of art" that delighted the artisans. He also highlights his collection of glasses, noting that as someone who is "nearly blind," changing glasses daily was essential to avoid boredom and was part of the "show I wanted to give people." The goal was to create a "Wow" effect, making it impossible for him to perform in a "T-shirt and a pair of jeans."

Musical Milestones and the Significance of Gold Records

Elton John's musical achievements are underscored by the presentation of his "first-ever gold record" for the album Diamonds, which took "eight years to get to number one." He describes the profound impact of receiving this award, stating, "I knew I had arrived when I got this." The visual appeal of the gold record is emphasized, representing the realization of a dream to achieve number one status and have a "big hit album."

The Songwriting Partnership: Lyrics First

The symbiotic relationship with lyricist Bernie Taupin is detailed. Elton John explains their unique process: "We don't write in the same room." Taupin provides the lyrics, and John "just sift[s] through them" to compose melodies. He credits Taupin as essential, stating, "Without Bernie, there wouldn't be any songs, anyway." He considers their early work, including "Your Song," to be "amazing," with "amazing songs" and "amazing musicianship," expressing pride in that period. He humbly suggests that his "best work is of course to come" and that he hasn't "matured enough yet to have written anything great."

Awards: A Golden Testament to Success

The video displays a collection of Elton John's awards, all in gold, signifying his numerous accolades. He expresses surprise at receiving an Oscar, which was the only award he had heard of as a child. The Oscar for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from The Lion King is described as an "incredible feeling" and a "fantasyland" for a "kid from England." This led to further collaborations with Tim Rice, resulting in the musical Aida and a Tony Award. The Grammys are acknowledged for their recognition of records, and the Emmy completed his EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), a rare achievement held by only 20 people. He commissioned a unique, specially made EGOT award from Theo Fennell, describing it as "really heavy" and the "only EGOT award there is."

Gold in Personal Artifacts: Kneecaps and Wedding Rings

In a unique and personal segment, Elton John reveals the creation of jewelry from his own surgically removed kneecaps. After undergoing knee replacements, he had the kneecaps dried, coated with acetate, and polished. The right kneecap was fashioned into a pendant, described as looking like an "old artefact from Egypt." He views these items as "talismanic," imagining them as historical relics. A necklace chain was made from bones, with Latin inscriptions: "I will no longer bow to any man" and a brooch from the smaller left kneecap. He notes that gold was the ideal material for "following the shape of something quite as... unusual."

His civil partnership and subsequent marriage to David Furnish are also marked by gold. Their wedding rings are simple gold bands, with the original ring being one he bought for them when they first met in Paris, signifying his belief in their long-term future. He quotes Freda Payne's song "Band of Gold," highlighting the "simplicity of it and the beauty of the gold." He also shares a lesser-known use for gold: rubbing a gold ring on a stye in the eye to make it vanish.

Gold in Technology and Medicine: Beyond Glamour

The video explores gold's surprising practical applications. Elton John discovers that "some of the best studio mics use a gold-coated diaphragm inside" to capture the "fullest range of my voice." This revelation leads him to question other uses of gold. He learns that gold is a key component in pacemakers due to its high conductivity, making it "perfect for carrying electrical signals to the heart." This discovery shifts his perspective, showing gold's utility beyond mere "glamorisation and beautiful objects." Furthermore, gold nanoparticles are used in some rapid HIV tests, represented by a red line, highlighting gold's role in vital diagnostic tools. He expresses astonishment at his ignorance of these "incredible details."

The Influence of Elvis and the Glastonbury Gold Suit

The video revisits the impact of iconic imagery, specifically Elvis Presley's "Nudie gold suit," which deeply influenced Elton John. He recalls seeing Elvis in a "gold lamé suit" on an album cover, describing it as "sensational" and a "moment in time that one will never forget." This image "stuck, and it's forever implanted in my brain."

This inspiration directly informed his decision to wear a "gold lamé where you hark on all the way back to Elvis" for his headline performance at Glastonbury. He commissioned Alessandro Michele at Gucci to create the suit, which, despite being slightly too big, had the "desired effect" and was "really dramatic." He likens wearing it to putting on a "Superman suit," stating, "I walked on and I was so confident and it just took off." He considers this gold suit "a piece of history for me" and believes it had "more impact than any other suit in my career, without question." The performance was a profound success, described as "one of the greatest days of my life," with an audience that was "so incredible, so loving," akin to "playing to ancient Rome."

Conclusion: A Golden Legacy

The video concludes by reinforcing the multifaceted significance of gold in Elton John's life. It is a symbol of his enduring artistic expression, a marker of his monumental achievements, a component in life-saving technology, and a personal emblem of love and commitment. From the dazzling stage costumes to the life-saving medical devices, gold has consistently played a role in his journey, solidifying its status as a material of both profound beauty and essential utility. His final performances, ending on a "high," with his family and friends present, and the impactful gold suit, represent a fitting culmination of a career defined by brilliance and a legacy that continues to shine.