Elton and Bernie triumph at the 2020 Oscars

The 92nd Academy Awards was not only record-setting in its choice of Best Film but was also a tribute to Elton’s career longevity, as Elton and songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, were honoured with the award for Best Original Song.

Elton and Bernie’s musical contribution to last year’s Rocketman film, (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again, was the winner on the night against a field of fantastic nominations. Their Oscar statuettes will sit nicely alongside the numerous other awards Rocketman has been honoured with so far!

Guests at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and viewers on television all around the world, were treated to a performance of the song by Elton, which you can watch in full below.

To celebrate Elton and Bernie’s historic win, we offer a selection of interesting details about this year’s awards and Elton’s history with the Oscars.

Elton John performing "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards.

1

Elton’s performance of, and win for, (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again marks his second of each at the Academy Awards.

In 1995 he sang and took home the Oscar for Can You Feel The Love Tonight, from the 1994 film The Lion King.

2

This was Elton’s first Oscar win, and second major songwriting award, with his lyricist of 53 years, Bernie Taupin.

Photo: Jeff Lipsky / ©A.M.P.A.S.

3

The 25 years between Elton’s first and most recent Academy Award statuettes is the longest winning span of any songwriter since the category was introduced in 1934.

4

Elton’s Oscars with two different lyricists (Sir Tim Rice and Bernie Taupin) puts him in elite company with composers Alan Menken, Jerome Kern, Harry Warren, Jimmy Van Heusen, Giorgio Moroder, and Burt Bacharach… and makes him only the second person to achieve this feat since 1990.

5

Elton is the only winner to also host an Oscar viewing party, which he has done since 1993. This year’s Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party raised $6.4m and featured Elton performing a medley of his hits as well as joining musical guest Sam Fender on the guitarist’s hit Will We Talk?

Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF

It is so special to celebrate our Foundation’s 28th annual Oscar Party with the Fab Five from Queer Eye and Sam Fender and to top it off, another Oscar win! But most importantly, we came together to raise urgently needed funds and awareness for the LGBT community at risk or living with HIV. A gay man is 27 times more likely to have HIV than their straight peers, so tonight helps us to remind people that we still have a long way to go to end the AIDS epidemic.
Elton John

Right Top: Elton onstage with Sam Fender at the EJAF Viewing Party Right Bottom: Elton and the stars of 'Queer Eye', the hosts of the event Photos: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF

6

One of Elton’s most iconic songs, Tiny Dancer, was included twice on the television broadcast: once during the “Where the song has transformed the film…” montage and then later during an ABC TV commercial for the upcoming season of American Idol – both times in reference to the song’s use in the Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film, Almost Famous.

7

Following that segment, Eminem took the stage for a surprise performance of Lose Yourself. Elton and the Detroit rapper famously performed Stan on the Grammys in 2001. After the 92nd Academy Awards, Elton met up with Eminem, who Tweeted, “I got to see my Uncle Elton tonight at the Oscars. Congrats on your win too, Sir!”

8

The 2020 Oscars’ opening musical number, led by Janelle Monáe and Billy Porter, included a portion of Elton’s 1983 hit I’m Still Standing – a song that is two years older than Ms. Monáe!

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" official video.

9

The piano on which Elton performed (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again was the Red Piano, used during his Las Vegas residency of the same name from 2004-2009.

10

Former Elton background vocalist Kudisan Kai sang backing vocals on Diane Warren’s song I’m Standing With You (performed by Chrissy Metz) and Cynthia Erivo’s Stand Up during the broadcast. Kai, known as Natalie Jackson when she was with Elton, appears on 16 of his songs, over three studio albums, and performed at 313 of his concerts from 1988-1993.