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Molly Clemons

Professor Cassel

English Composition II

24 June 2020

Your Song

It is quite mind-blowing to learn that such an iconic love song came from the mind of a

seventeen-year-old boy who had never experienced love. That, however, is the story of how

“Your Song” by Elton John came to be in 1970. Decades later, this song was revamped for the

film Moulin Rouge, and the newer recording has quite a unique spin on it. The question now

is if the added dramatics had any effect on the meaning of the song. While both versions of

"Your Song" express profound love for a significant other, the Elton John version does so in a

much more pure and unadulterated form compared to the dramatic and expressive

interpretation from Moulin Rouge. The purity of the lyrics, simplicity of the video, and

effectiveness of instrumentation lead the listeners to a more emotional and poignant response.

People have always striven to find hope and light amid a world that can feel so dark.

Sometimes, the people best fit for that job are found in those who have not yet experienced all

of the hardships this world has to offer. In an interview with Music Connection, lyricist

Bernie Taupin states that “Your Song” has “the most childish and naïve lyrics in the entire

repertoire of music, but I think the reason it still stands up is because it was real at the time.

That was exactly what I was feeling. I was 17 years old and it was coming from someone

whose outlook on love was totally new and naïve.” It is amazing to realize that this song was
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written by someone who had never personally experienced love. That, however, is what

makes this song so amazing. Taupin appeals to the preconceived notion of love that resides in

most people. Anybody who has been in love would say that it requires work and sacrifice, but

this song focuses on the lightness and exuberance that comes with naivety and inexperience.

When listening to a song such as this one, it is important to realize why it makes people feel

so good. It draws out a feeling of hope that can easily be lost.

There is a lot more that goes into a song than just the lyrics. How the song is presented

can have an overwhelming effect on how the song is interpreted. Elton John’s recording is

quite plain and simply shows him singing, in a black and white landscape. The setting of this

song allows for it to appeal to many different audiences. In contrast, the scene from Moulin

Rouge has a deep red color scheme, and it has a dramatic flair to it. These artistic touches

appeal to the people who prefer to be visually entertained, rather than those who appreciate

the music within itself. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing, but it is not something

that can be ignored. The real question now is if these differences influence the meaning of the

song. The answer is yes it does. That, however, doesn’t mean that either version of the song is

superior or inferior. It simply means that they appeal to different audiences, and evoke

different emotions. Moulin Rouge is a theatrical performance; therefore, it is fitting that the

recording is full of drama. It is for that reason that the Elton John version provokes a purer

response. The goal of Ewan McGregor’s version is not to express the hopeful idea of love that

Bernie originally wrote this song about, but rather to communicate the love that he already

felt for his female counterpart. It is important to recognize the purpose of the song because

that can have a monumental influence on the interpretation of the song, and it can lead a

person to different conclusions and evoke different emotional responses.

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Frequently, people underestimate the power of instruments. When listening to a song,

the focal point is always the lyrics. In a song without lyrics, the focal point then shifts to the

melody. Listeners often take for granted the power of harmony, and how vastly it can change

the feeling of a song. Before discussing the differences in the two versions of “Your Song”

two terms must be defined. The first is polyphonic, which means that in a song, there is a

melody and a countermelody. The term homophonic means that there is a melody, and there is

a simple harmony that complements the melody without taking the attention away from it.

The arrangement from Moulin Rouge would be polyphonic because the orchestra plays

several complex rhythms with moving steps, in comparison to Elton John’s homophonic

accompaniment. The simple harmony accompanying Elton’s vocals tells a sweet, innocent

story of love, whereas the heavy and dramatic orchestration of Ewan’s version tells a story of

passion. Outright, this may not seem to have much of an impact, but it affects the overall

mood and momentum of the song in a way the only the subconscious mind will pick up.

Ultimately, both versions of this song hold the power to influence the listener’s

emotions. They individually use different tactics such as visuals and instrumentation to tell a

story. Neither arrangement is superior to the other, but rather they appeal to different people.

Some may love the simplicity of Elton John’s original, while others love the vibrance of the

arrangement from Moulin Rouge. This goes to show how rhetoric works in discreet ways,

swaying the mind of the listener without them being aware that it is happening. In the end,

Elton’s version is a meaningful, hopeful classic that resides in the hearts of millions, due to

his beautiful musicianship, and his capability to speak to a wide variety of people all at the

same time.
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Works Cited

“Ewan McGregor Your Song With Lyrics From Moulin Rouge.” Performance by Ewan
McGregor, Youtube, Chan Joseph, 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkxj-FBEH1w. Date
Accessed: 23 June 2020

“Elton John- Your Song.” Performance by Elton John, Youtube, 2016,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrznwpD-2tk&list=RDCrznwpD-2tk&start_radio=1. Date
Accessed: 23 June 2020

Eames, Tom. “The Story of... 'Your Song' by Elton John.” Smooth, Smooth, 14 May 2020,
www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/your-song-elton-john-lyrics-meaning-facts/.
Date Accessed: 24 June 2020