I might be making a bigger deal out of this than necessary, but honestly, I was given explicit permission to share this, so here it goes: Elton John’s iconic hit, “Your Song,” was actually written for me. Now, before you jump to conclusions, it’s not the romantic tale you might imagine. Forget grand gestures of love; this was a housewarming present, of all things.
Imagine inviting music legends Elton John and Bernie Taupin to celebrate your new home. Naturally, you’d expect a thoughtful housewarming gift. I even jokingly asked them to bring ice, knowing they were coming from afar. Their gift, as it turned out, was their song, “Your Song Elton John” – a gesture that, while unique, wasn’t exactly what I needed at a party running low on ice.
Don’t misunderstand, “Your Song” is a beautiful melody. But at that moment, with drinks getting lukewarm and guests arriving, a song felt utterly impractical. A simple bottle of wine would have been more appreciated! But a song? What earthly use is a song when your ice supply is dwindling?
Upon their arrival, my first question, perhaps a bit too pointedly, was, “Hey, where’s the ice?” I was genuinely in a fix, and they had promised! The drinks were warming up rapidly. They exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them, before announcing, “Oh, actually, we got you something else.” They then proceeded to the piano. I had to abruptly pause my carefully curated party playlist – and just as “Love Shack” was reaching its peak! The disruption to the party vibe was palpable.
Now, I’m not one to complain about gifts, especially from music royalty. But “Your Song,” gifted to me, didn’t even include my name! It felt impersonal. Think about it – Daniel got his name in his song. Heck, his name is the title! Clearly, personalized songs aren’t beyond their capabilities; just ask Susie, Bennie, or Tony Danza.
Calling it “Your Song” just felt… generic. It sparked a thought: could this universally applicable ditty be a regift? After all, Elton famously regifted Marilyn Monroe’s song to Princess Diana, adapting “Candle in the Wind.” The precedent was there!
My suspicions grew, and I started discreetly inquiring. Apparently, this “Your Song” gifting is a regular occurrence for them. Secret Santa exchange? “Your Song.” Engagement celebration? “Your Song.” Dog’s seventh birthday bash? You guessed it – “Your Song.” Frankly, it feels a bit insulting. If I’m receiving a gift, especially from Elton John, I’d prefer it to be a unique gift, not something also bestowed upon a seven-year-old terrier.
And the audacity! They even encourage sharing this supposed “personal” gift. “Oh, you can tell everybody that this is your song!” they said. Do they not realize the potential chaos? Imagine the countless housewarming parties, birthdays, and Secret Santa gatherings where unsuspecting recipients are told the same thing. How many arguments have erupted, with partygoers squabbling over ownership of “Your Song Elton John”? It’s utterly irresponsible!
I’m not materialistic. Truly, all I desired was ice (which, by the way, I had to dash out and buy myself mid-party). But if we’re in a gift-giving scenario with Elton John, the bar is set somewhat higher than a song – especially this song, apparently gifted en masse. He sings about not having much money, and a song is the best he can do? Excuse me?! This is a man with “Lion King” revenue streams! Speaking of which, if a song is the only option, I’d have much preferred “Hakuna Matata.” Is an exchange possible?
At the very least, I think I’m entitled to a share of the royalties. After all, Elton himself declared, “this is my song,” didn’t he? With royalty checks rolling in, I’d always be prepared to stock up on extra ice, just in case certain musical guests happen to “forget” essential party supplies.
