Elton John is a genius for writing one of the most unique love songs of all time, and I’m a little obsessed with Ellie Goulding’s take on his classic too. This song will always be one of my favourites because there is so much humility, sincerity and even clumsiness in the lyrics, but the melody is smooth, sure, and soaring — a perfect match. Elton sings it with unyielding strength and flair, but Ellie Goulding’s version breathes so much tenderness into it, which completely floors me. There is so much debate in the youtube world of covers about who sings what better, but I think it’s a wonderful thing to pay true homage* to classics, and bring them to the ears of modern listeners with evolving tastes. What do you think?
(*not excusing train wrecks like Bieber’s Love Me, which borrows from The Cardigan’s Lovefool!)
retrospectif: a notebook 