Rocketman is coming. The epic musical fantasy celebrating the life of Sir Elton John is coming to theaters on May 22. Thanks to the success of varied musical fares like The Greatest Showman and A Star Is Born and to the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, public interest in musical films is once again at an all-time high. Then with a subject of legendary talent and mass appeal, plus I must add, proportionate flamboyance like Elton John, you can expect Rocketman to be a dazzling, affecting movie experience.
And just so you know, Sir Elton John is himself the executive producer. So there is no way that Rocketman will not get all the facts right, while the director is Dexter Fletcher. The name does not ring a bell? Well, Dexter is the same director who came to the rescue of the then beleaguered Bohemian Rhapsody when the original choice, Brian Singer, left or was fired from the project. Given the results we saw, this guy Dexter is very good at his job.
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Middlesex, England. A child prodigy, he was all set for a career as a classical pianist until he fell in love with pop music as a teenager and then left home to try his luck in London. It was there that he met another teenager named Bernie Taupin and they started writing songs together. It was not long after that they got to Your Song and their multi-million selling partnership was on its way to more hits over the next 50 years.
I would say that their songs along with others Elton John did with other lyricists would be the wall against which would enfold the drama that created the international superstar Elton John out of the little shy pianist from a small town called Reggie. It was not all smooth sailing despite his immense talent. There were problems at home, with his sexuality, rejections on the job and many more. But Elton John persisted and did what he felt was right. His life tale should be a source of inspiration for young talents and that is what Rocketman hopes to accomplish.
Rocketman stars Taron Egerton, a Welsh actor and singer who was seen earlier in The Kingsman: The Secret Service and The Golden Circle. He was also one of the singing voices in the animated feature Sing! Given with what happened to Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman might just emerge as a huge life-changer for Taron. The picture also stars Jamie Bell as Bernie, Richard Madden as Elton John’s first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as his mother Sheila.
Now, a musical flick is nothing without the soundtrack and the album Rocketman: Music From The Motion Picture is set for release on May 24. That is two days after the picture has opened worldwide. For the moment, fans can feast on the single Rocket Man performed by the lead star Taron, who does all of singing of Elton John’s hits in the soundtrack. Elton John only makes a guest appearance in a duet with Taron of one of his new compositions with Bernie, (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again. The album was produced by Giles Martin who reimagined and re-interpreted the Elton John hits.
The songs included in the soundtrack are The Bitch Is Back, I Want Love, Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting), Thank You For All Your Loving, Border Song, Rock & Roll Madonna, Your Song, Amoreena, Crocodile Rock, Tiny Dancer, Take Me To The Pilot, Hercules, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Honky Cat, Pinball Wizard from the rock opera Tommy, Rocket Man, Bennie And The Jets, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and I’m Still Standing.
Very good line-up but where oh where are the other classic songs like Candle In The Wind, Daniel, Sweet Painted Lady, Something About The Way You Look Tonight, Sad Songs Say So Much, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Skyline Pigeon and many others including those classics from the animated film that became a blockbuster musical and is now a live action remake, Disney’s The Lion King. Think Circle Of Life, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Hakuna Matata and others.
Well, we will have the answer after watching Rocketman.