A review by ilana_pop
Me: Elton John Official Autobiography by Elton John

adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

From Reggie’s childhood to the birth of Elton John, from the rocking seventies to the hazy nineties, from singing in a Donald Duck costume to celebrated music maker. 
A candid memoire written in a fascinating way, with incredible humor, honest and raw, moving, compelling… including tantrums. One of my favorite artists in all honesty. 

Elton John has lived the real '70s pop star life' you imagine when you hear the words '70s pop star life'. A colorful period with crazy outfits, sex, drugs and rock and roll… He experienced it from the front row (or rather from the stage) and paints a particularly intense portrait of the period. Mercilessly honest, he doesn't shy away from exposing the ugly things as well. His drug and alcohol addiction are discussed in detail, as is his eating disorder. It's not a happy story, but it's part of the story. There is so much to discover about him. 
An incredibly layered person who writes great music, lost a lot of people, lived a completely crazy upside down life but also laughed and loved a lot.
A man who has lived many lives himself. A man who has had meaning in many lives. Has stood on the barricades against homophobia and AIDS. Dared to go against the press and paparazzi and stand up for themselves. 
An artist whose music I already loved, but now I also respect it very much as a person.

The impact Elton John has on music yesterday, today and tomorrow across different genres is huge. Rock, disco, classical, pop, musical, film… He has done just about everything, a real musical centipede. And boy,  can that man sing and write music. Not everyone is a fan of his music (which is completely okay) but you can't deny the impact he has on music.

 I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it for long car rides. The full book narrated by Taron Egerton, who also plays Elton John in the great movie Rocketman, is available in full on Spotify. 
After 12 hours with Elton, it feels like saying goodbye to a friend.
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