The two singers Elton John hoped would cover one of his songs
Once an artist reaches a certain level of success, they can expect to be subjected to countless covers of their work. This can be a blessing or a curse. Some musicians grow to resent poor renditions of their creations or covers that might improve upon and outperform their original. Other artists adore hearing other people’s takes on their work. Elton John falls into the latter category.
With his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, the sunglassed singer has created some of the greatest pop songs of all time, making his discography prime pickings for cover artists. From ‘Your Song’ to ‘Tiny Dancer’, his repertoire is full of karaoke favourites, while his lengthy legacy subjects him to tribute albums aplenty. Fortunately, he loves it when other artists cover his music.
Over the years, some huge names have taken on the task of paying tribute to John through his own work. Kate Bush covered ‘Rocket Man’ back in the early 1990s, infusing it with unexpected reggae influences. Sting and Sinéad O’Connor lent their voices to the same tribute record, performing ‘Come Down In Time’ and ‘Sacrifice’ respectively. Even Lady Gaga has given ‘Your Song’ a whirl.
During a chat with Billboard back in the early 2000s, John shared his love for covers of his own catalogue and divulged two huge names he’d love to add to the list: Bonnie Ratt and Willie Nelson. “It’s just when anybody records your song it’s exciting,” he added, “whether they make a good job of it or a mess.”
Raitt is certainly a solid pick. Her smooth, bluesy vocals would bring a different kind of emotion to Taupin’s lyrics while maintaining that penchant for pop. The singer also worked with John in the early 1990s, appearing as a guest singer on his album of duets alongside the likes of Leonard Cohen and George Michael.
‘Love Letters’, the song they sang together for the record, demonstrated just how seamlessly their voices blended together, suggesting that she could nail a cover of one of his more downtempo works. Unfortunately, Raitt is yet to bless us with a rendition of ‘Rocket Man’ or ‘Tiny Dancer’, but John’s other pick has already fulfilled his wishes.
In 2018, Nelson provided a cover of the 1970 track ‘Border Song’ to Restoriation: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, a tribute to the two formidable pop songwriters. The original track showed off John’s masterful skills behind the piano, but Nelson pulled the track into his own distinctive, country style for the cover.
Rather than kicking things off with keys like the original track, Nelson opted to stick with his trusty guitar. Twangs of feedback are offset by warm harmonicas and the occasional piano flair, while Nelson’s voice also alters the tone of the song. John’s powerful vocal performance is long gone, replaced with a new rawness provided by Nelson’s country leanings.
Nelson’s cover shows off an ability to stay true to the tone of the original track while bringing it into his own remit, demonstrating exactly why John hoped for a cover by the country singer. While we’re still waiting on Raitt’s contribution to the covers pile, there’s no doubt that she would also nail a track from John’s discography, given her previous work with the pop star.
