One of the greatest musical artists of all time is Elton John. The English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer began his career in 1962 and has continued to find success in a career that spans seven decades.
The music styles with which Elton John is commonly identified include rock, pop-rock, glam-rock, and soft-rock. He is renowned for performing while singing and playing the piano. John has worked on more than 30 albums with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967.
John is an award-winning artist since he has earned five Brit Awards, five Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, two Academy Awards, a Disney Legends Award, a Tony Award, and a Kennedy Center Honor. John was admitted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
During his extended and successful career, Elton John has published 31 studio albums, 22 compilation albums, nine soundtrack albums, three tribute albums, four Eps, five live albums, 137 singles as the lead artist, and 21 singles as featured artists. Here are the top 20 Elton John songs ever.
1. Candle in the Wind (1973 and 1997)
In terms of commercial success, ‘Candle in the Wind’ is one of the best Elton John songs. According to Undiscovered Music, Elton John first published this song in 1973, and it was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
Following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, Elton John released the song again with updated lyrics. It became the second-highest-selling single of all time and the highest-selling single since the charts were launched in the 1950s.
The song was a number-one smash in the UK, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.
2. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (1974 and 1991)
Some of Elton John’s best hits have been when he has worked on a single with another artist, and ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ is an ideal example. Originally, Elton John released the song as a solo single in 1974, and is featured on the album’ Caribou.’ It was then released as a duet by Elton John and George Michael in 1991.
This music is a lament about unrequited love. It was a number-one success in various countries, including the UK, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States. In the Netherlands, it was certified Platinum.
3. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (1976)
As a duet with female vocalist Kiki Dee, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is considered to be one of the earliest examples of Elton John working with other artists.
It was John’s first number-one hit in any country, and he achieved this feat not only in the United Kingdom but also in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. This song was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, but they chose to credit it to their alter egos, Ann Orson and Carte Blanche.
4. I Don’t Feel Like Dancing (2006)
In the 2000s, Elton John collaborated on a string of hit singles with a variety of other musicians, one of which was titled “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing.”
The song was a huge hit all over the world, reaching number one on the charts in numerous countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.
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5. Ghetto Gospel (2005)
Although Elton John is not typically thought of as being involved in the hip-hop scene, he did manage to achieve another hit when he collaborated with 2Pac on the single ‘Ghetto Gospel,’ which was also included in John’s album ‘Loyal to the Game.’
This duet reached number one on the charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. It also reached the top ten in Germany, Norway, and Switzerland respectively.
6. Are You Ready for Love (1979 and 2003)
The song titled “Are You Ready for Love” was initially made available to the public as a single in 1979, and it was taken from the album titled “The Thom Bell Sessions.” After then, in 2003, Elton John re-released the song with a new version that Ashley Beadle had remixed.
This version quickly climbed to the top of the charts in the UK. The Spinners also came out with their interpretation of the song in the same year as the original release.
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7. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word (1976 and 2002)
The words to this song, which are about a relationship that is coming to an end, were written by Elton John and his long-time colleague Bernie Taupin in collaboration. In 1976, John released the single, and it quickly rose to the top of the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States.
After that, in 2002, the boyband known as “Blue” came out with their rendition of the song, which featured Elton John.
The more recent rendition achieved number one on the charts in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as a top 10 position in both countries along with Canada, Germany, Ireland, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Switzerland.
8. I’m Still Standing (1983)
One of the most successful songs that Elton John released in the 1980s was titled “I’m Still Standing.” It has become a symbol of endurance and is about overcoming the challenges that life throws at you.
It reached number one in Canada and Switzerland and ranked in the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Ireland respectively.
This song, which was included on the album titled “Too Low for Zero,” was awarded the Platinum certification in the United Kingdom and the double Platinum certification in Australia.
9. I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blue (1983)
I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues is considered to be one of the best songs ever written by Elton John, at least in the opinion of Louder Sound. This track was something of a comeback for John as an artist, as he had relatively few hits in the early 1980s and this single was released by him.
There was also a performance by Stevie Wonder on the harmonica. It was included on the track ‘Too Low for Zero,’ which went on to hit number two on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States.
10. Nikita (1985)
One of John’s most successful singles from the middle of the 1980s was titled “Nikita.” It is about a man’s love for a border security guard named Nikita, which is unrequited on her part.
In addition to Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands, the song also reached the top ten charts in New Zealand. It was also a smash in Poland, earning the country’s Platinum certification for sales there.