“One of the greatest cultural icons”: the moment Bernie Taupin was blown away by Frank Sinatra
Having worked his entire professional life under the instruction of Elton John, there aren’t many things that are bound to faze a man like Bernie Taupin.
Want him to write a whole chart-topping catalogue? Sure. Create soundtracks fit for sequins, sparkles, and all sorts of paraphernalia? You got it. But put him in front of Frank Sinatra? Well, he was reduced to nothing more than a blubbering mess, as the person who served as a songwriting idol for so many finally met the best in the game.
In fairness, it’s probably the same reaction that most other people would have when faced with the giant of the industry, but when ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ was staring into the whites of Taupin’s, it sent him into a spiral of not just nervousness and intimidation but complete artistic reverence and disbelief.
After all, this was the man responsible for much of the entertainment landscape for the whole previous century, splitting himself between the recording studio, the stage, and the big screen with effortless ease and a glittering sense of charisma. It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that it took a hell of a lot of hard work.
But the really charming thing about Sinatra was that he never let that show, and even went the extra mile while doing it, as proven in Taupin’s gushing words for him. “I’ve met a lot of people,” he said, “But Frank Sinatra, man. He’s probably one of the greatest cultural icons of the 20th century.” In a lot of ways, there’s nothing more you need to say than that.
Yet it was the mark of the man, despite the sheer starriness and impenetrability that seemingly surrounded him, that he could charm people just by doing a bit of extra legwork and appreciating others where they deserved to be recognised. Taupin never forgot when the performer decided to shine that light on him.
When Sinatra performed songs like ‘Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word’ and ‘Remember’, he did so with the utmost appreciation for the songwriter, who at that point would have still been seen as some kind of fresh revelation. But more than just acknowledging him, Taupin was always grateful that the Chairman of the Board was the only person to ever give his name the correct French pronunciation.
It might seem like a small act of respect in the wider scheme of things, but when you’ve seen the ugly side of an industry where people can just blatantly not care for you, the small things tend to matter more. Sinatra could, of course, have got away with being far more jaded and bitter – but he wasn’t, and his legacy is all the better for it.
It’s clear that Taupin is looking for a similar way to be remembered whenever his own time comes. He was never the star front and centre, of course, but as the person pulling many of the strings, he certainly knows what it takes to make magic happen. It’s just a shame that his eyes aren’t quite as piercing.
