Me: Elton John Official Autobiography

I finally began ploughing through the books I have read but have not yet reviewed, and it feels good that the impressions are still vivid in my memory. It means that all my reads were worthy.

It has been several months since I read Elton John’s official autobiography titled “Me,” but I still occasionally think about what the legendary singer shared with us readers. I am not a fan, but this is because I have never been what can be called a fan of any artist. I appreciate the pieces of work of many creatives. Still, I don’t follow the stars’ lives closely. Even when I was a teenager, this kind of obsession had escaped me.

Anyway, as a true fan of biographies and autobiographies, I thoroughly enjoyed Elton John’s life description in his book “Me.” I loved the authentic voice of the narrative, which, even though it was undoubtedly meticulously edited and honed by a team of writers and editors, did not blur or mask his personality. Reading this book was like sitting next to Sir Elton John and listening to him tell you about his extraordinary life and career. As I mentioned before, I am an avid reader of this kind of non-fiction, so I’ve read quite a few books where mega stars share their stories. Mostly, they tend to present the information in a way that would make readers and fans admire them more, even for their mistakes. It is totally understandable, and I, in no way, condemn them for that. If one has an opportunity to do something for oneself, why should one refuse or, worse, shoot oneself in the foot? Yet, as a reader, I appreciate it when a famous person allows themselves the vulnerability of exposure. It is indeed something worth admiring. And, in this sense, Elton John delivers what is promised to us already in the title of his autobiography. We really get to see him and not a retouched image that he would wish the public to see.

Another thing that I liked is the singer’s lifelong cooperation with songwriter Bernie Taupin. It says a lot about any person, but especially about someone who has achieved the heights of fame, that they were able to cherish the working relationship through thick and thin.

Some things made me smile. It is interesting to see the reality, a part of which you used to be, through an outsider’s perspective. It always helps to understand better where common prejudices stem from.

During the late seventies, Elton John visited the Soviet Union with concerts. Predictably, his gigs were in Moscow and Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg. Elton’s mom travelled with him. Her remarks were precious to read. When, after the concert, Elton threw the flowers he’d been given to the fans chanting his name outside of his dressing room, his mother said, “You’d be better off throwing them a tomato. They’ve probably never bleedin’ seen one.” And when people were giving them presents, toys and chocolate bars, she said, with tears in her eyes, “These people have got absolutely nothing, and they’re giving things to you.”

First of all, I’d like to stress that I do not wish to undermine anyone’s views. People who used to live on either side of the ‘Iron Curtain’ had their opinions formed by official media and such. A lady from London had no reliable source that could provide her with information on how people lived in another country, especially since you could not travel there to see for yourself. Just like someone living in Moscow had no idea about the realities of life in the British capital.

I will not try to explain why it is rather comical to assume that people in Moscow and Leningrad in the seventies of the previous century had not seen a tomato. Just like I will not expand on people living there at that time ‘having nothing.’ In this regard, I’ll only allow myself to share the reference which, in my opinion, illustrates this case explicitly.

In a scene of the 2005 movie “Casanova” starring Heath Ledger, Bishop Pucci, an ardent heresy fighter, is awed by the spectacle of a hot air balloon rising into the sky. Following the hellish contraption with his gaze, Bishop mutters, “Witchcraft…” To which Pucci’s servant hastens to explain to his superior: “Actually, sir, it’s because hot air rises, counteracting the gravitational forces of…” before realising his blunder and uttering, “Witchcraft…”

Well, I apologise for this diversion from the main course. Elton John does an excellent job of showing readers who he is, both as a public on-stage persona and behind the scenes. He talks openly about his over a decade-long drug addiction and his efforts to help other stars cope with theirs. He is self-centred and capricious, but why shouldn’t he be, when his success is unparalleled, and people are willing to bear with his whims in order to lead a life close to a very famous person? At least, he doesn’t try to hide it from readers, and his honesty causes respect.

Elton John’s official autobiography “Me” is a great choice for those who enjoy memoirs and non-fiction. I have read some memoirs that left a sour taste in my mouth. Without a doubt, stars are only human, and they can share about their lives in any manner they see fit. But, similarly, we common people are humans too, and it is our right not to enjoy the sugar-coated stories.Me: Elton John Official Autobiography