Test your Elton John knowledge with 89 standalone questions about Bernie Taupin, his albums and hit songs, The Lion King, his AIDS foundation, Rocketman, and his farewell tour.
Reginald Dwight, Bernie Taupin & Early Elton
Q: What is Elton John's birth name?
A: Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
Q: On what date was Elton John born?
A: March 25, 1947.
Q: Which country is Elton John from?
A: England.
Q: Which instrument is central to Elton John's music?
A: Piano.
Q: Which music school did Elton John attend?
A: Royal Academy of Music.
Q: Which band did Elton John play in before solo fame?
A: Bluesology.
Q: Which two musicians inspired the stage name Elton John?
A: Saxophonist Elton Dean and singer Long John Baldry.
Q: Which lyricist became Elton John's longtime collaborator?
A: Bernie Taupin.
Q: How did Elton John and Bernie Taupin first connect professionally?
A: Both responded to a songwriting advertisement from Liberty Records.
Q: How do Elton John and Bernie Taupin usually divide songwriting duties?
A: Taupin usually writes the lyrics first; John then composes the music.
Q: What was Elton John's first studio album?
A: Empty Sky.
Q: Which 1970 album brought Elton John major attention?
A: Elton John.
Q: Which song on the 1970 album Elton John became a classic?
A: “Your Song.”
Q: Who wrote the lyrics to Elton John's 'Your Song'?
A: Bernie Taupin.
Q: Which Los Angeles venue helped launch Elton John in the United States?
A: Troubadour.
Q: In what year did Elton John make his famous Troubadour debut?
A: 1970.
Q: What physical stunt became associated with Elton John's early piano performances?
A: Leaping in the air from the piano bench.
Q: What kind of glasses became part of Elton John's image?
A: Oversized, colorful, novelty frames.
Q: Which theatrical clothing items became part of Elton John's stage image?
A: Oversized glasses, sequins, feathers, and colorful costumes.
Q: Which Elton John album released in 1970 has a Western title?
A: Tumbleweed Connection.
Q: Which musical styles does Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection explore?
A: Americana, country, gospel, and roots music.
Q: Which Elton John live album was titled 17-11-70 in the U.K.?
A: 17-11-70, known as 11-17-70 in the U.S.
Q: Which bassist and drummer formed Elton John's early rhythm section?
A: Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums.
Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer & Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Q: Which Elton John album contains 'Tiny Dancer'?
A: Madman Across the Water.
Q: Who wrote the lyrics to 'Tiny Dancer'?
A: Bernie Taupin.
Q: What American setting inspired Bernie Taupin's 'Tiny Dancer' lyrics?
A: California women and the early-1970s music scene.
Q: Which film features a 'Tiny Dancer' bus singalong?
A: Almost Famous.
Q: Which Elton John album contains 'Rocket Man'?
A: Honky Château.
Q: What is the full parenthetical title of Elton John's 'Rocket Man'?
A: “Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time).”
Q: Which science-fiction author wrote 'The Rocket Man,' often cited as inspiration for Elton John's song?
A: Ray Bradbury.
Q: Which 1972 Elton John single became his first U.S. No. 1 hit in 1973?
A: 'Crocodile Rock.' Source
Q: Which earlier rock era does Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock' evoke?
A: 1950s and early-1960s rock and roll.
Q: Which 1973 Elton John album has 'shoot' in its title?
A: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player.
Q: Which Elton John album followed Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player in 1973?
A: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Q: Which film is evoked by the title Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
A: The Wizard of Oz.
Q: Which Elton John song originally memorialized Marilyn Monroe?
A: “Candle in the Wind.”
Q: Which name opens the lyrics of Elton John's original 'Candle in the Wind'?
A: Norma Jean.
Q: Which track opens Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
A: “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.”
Q: Was the audience noise on 'Bennie and the Jets' recorded at a concert?
A: No. The concert-like sound was created in the studio.
Q: What U.S. chart position did 'Bennie and the Jets' reach?
A: No. 1.
Q: Which non-pop radio audience also embraced 'Bennie and the Jets'?
A: R&B/soul radio audiences.
Q: Which Elton John song asks 'don't let the sun go down on me'?
A: “Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
Q: Which Elton John album contains 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me'?
A: Caribou.
Q: Who joined Elton John on a hit live duet of 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me'?
A: George Michael.
Q: Which 1975 Elton John album portrays him and Bernie Taupin as fictional characters?
A: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.
Q: Who do Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy represent?
A: Elton John and Bernie Taupin, respectively.
Q: What period of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's careers does Captain Fantastic recount?
A: Their early struggle before success.
Q: At what position did Captain Fantastic debut on the Billboard 200?
A: No. 1; it was the first album to debut there. Source
Dodger Stadium, Sobriety, Lion King & Candle in the Wind 1997
Q: At which Los Angeles stadium did Elton John perform in 1975?
A: Dodger Stadium.
Q: What baseball outfit did Elton John wear at his 1975 Dodger Stadium concerts?
A: Sequined Dodgers baseball uniform.
Q: Which personal struggles has Elton John discussed from his years of fame?
A: Addiction, eating disorders, depression, and isolation.
Q: Which substances did Elton John say he struggled with?
A: Cocaine and alcohol among addictions he has discussed.
Q: In what year did Elton John become sober?
A: 1990.
Q: Which animated Disney film featured songs by Elton John and Tim Rice?
A: The Lion King.
Q: Who wrote the lyrics to Elton John's songs for The Lion King?
A: Tim Rice.
Q: Which opening song from The Lion King describes the 'circle of life'?
A: “Circle of Life.”
Q: Which Elton John song from The Lion King asks about love tonight?
A: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
Q: Which Academy Award did 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' win?
A: Best Original Song. Source
Q: Which Timon-and-Pumbaa song did Elton John and Tim Rice write for The Lion King?
A: A Timon-and-Pumbaa song from the film, written by Elton and Tim Rice.
Q: What does 'hakuna matata' mean?
A: No worries.
Q: Which stage musical adapted Elton John's songs from The Lion King?
A: Broadway's The Lion King.
Q: Whose death led Elton John and Bernie Taupin to create 'Candle in the Wind 1997'?
A: Death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Q: Who wrote the lyrics to 'Candle in the Wind 1997'?
A: Bernie Taupin.
Q: What phrase opens Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind 1997'?
A: “Goodbye England's rose.”
Q: Where did Elton John publicly perform 'Candle in the Wind 1997'?
A: Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Q: Did Elton John regularly perform 'Candle in the Wind 1997' afterward?
A: No. It remained closely tied to Diana's funeral.
Q: Which AIDS charity did Elton John establish?
A: Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Q: In what year was the Elton John AIDS Foundation established?
A: 1992.
Q: Which teenage AIDS activist influenced Elton John's charity work?
A: Ryan White.
Q: Who was AIDS activist Ryan White?
A: An American teenager with AIDS who fought stigma.
Duets, Farewell Tour, Rocketman & Hard Elton Trivia
Q: Who is Elton John's husband?
A: David Furnish.
Q: What part did family life play in Elton John's decision to stop large-scale touring?
A: He wanted to spend more time with his family.
Q: Which Elton John farewell tour began in 2018?
A: Farewell Yellow Brick Road.
Q: What interrupted Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic and health-related postponements.
Q: In what year did Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour conclude?
A: 2023. Source
Q: In which city did Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour end?
A: Stockholm, Sweden. Source
Q: What did Elton John's touring farewell mean?
A: The end of large-scale touring, while allowing for occasional future performances. Source
Q: Which 2019 musical biopic portrays Elton John?
A: Rocketman.
Q: Who portrays Elton John in Rocketman?
A: Taron Egerton.
Q: Who portrays Bernie Taupin in Rocketman?
A: Jamie Bell.
Q: What kind of film is Rocketman?
A: A fantasy musical biopic, rather than a documentary.
Q: Which original song from Rocketman won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Original Song?
A: '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again.' Source
Q: Who performs '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again'?
A: Elton John and Taron Egerton.
Q: Which Dua Lipa collaboration with Elton John became a hit in 2021?
A: “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix).”
Q: Which Elton John songs are sampled in 'Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)'?
A: 'Sacrifice' and 'Rocket Man' are among the songs used.
Q: Which Britney Spears collaboration with Elton John arrived in 2022?
A: “Hold Me Closer.”
Q: Which classic Elton John song does 'Hold Me Closer' reference?
A: 'Tiny Dancer.'
Q: Which rapper became Elton John's friend after their GRAMMY performance?
A: Eminem.
Q: Whom did Elton John support during addiction recovery?
A: Eminem.
How Did You Score?
If Bluesology, Liberty Records, the Troubadour, Madman Across the Water, Captain Fantastic, Ryan White, Taron Egerton, and Pnau all came easily, your Elton trivia is still standing.
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