Elton John's Heartwarming Holiday Advertisement Moves Viewers To Tears

Dec 13, 2022 by apost team

Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) is an English singer best known for his fantastical, theatrical piano playing and stage presence. He earned the nickname "Rocket Man" after achieving tremendous commercial success with his hit single of the same name. 

He's since released dozens of albums, which launched his other well-known tunes, like "Your Song," "Candle in the Wind," "Tiny Dancer," " Crocodile Rock," and "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," onto the radio. 

Off-stage, John also made a name for himself as a philanthropist. He founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 to fund HIV/AIDS research as well as public education and awareness programs. The singer also started The Elton John Charitable Trust in 2007, supporting a myriad of charities. In 2014, he also spearheaded the Elton John Sports Fund, with the aim of giving money to sports programs. 

While John these days has enough money and exposure to give back and not just during the holiday season, he wasn't always as successful or as rich. The singer was raised in a council house and left school before completing his final assessments in order to pursue music. 

These humble beginnings are behind the storyline of a commercial John starred in 2018, which took viewers down memory lane. The spot opens with the current musician, without all his largess. He sits before a grungy old upright piano. It looks so ordinary.

It was a completely human image of John, 70 years on, far away from the crowds and celebrity status, reflecting on his life alone at home during the holidays. 

That’s how a wonderful 2018 holiday message from John Lewis and Partners Department Store began, and in an eye-popping progression, we traveled with John as he remembered his career. He reached back to solo concerts of the 1990s when he sat at the monolithic Yamaha piano and played old favorites like "Your Song."

From there, we traveled to the riotous 1970s. In all his costumed glory, John horsed with his mates and did somersaults on his stunning piano.

We continued back to honky tonk rock venues, high school parties and gym recitals, and finally, we arrived inside the simple home where John grew up. He was about 6 years old, and his mother led him to a huge present wrapped up and standing against the wall.

He pulled off the gift wrap and discovered his mom had given him a piano, a brown finished upright with nifty carving and ivory keys.

Full of wonder, the young boy hit the first two notes that would launch his illustrious career, the first two notes of "Your Song." It was such a corny old piano. The commercial cut back to the present, to John, a 75-year-old man today, and he sat before that very piano, and he plays those magical two notes!

Clearly, she saw John's passion and gifted him more than an instrument -- she gave him love and encouragement. 

“Some Gifts are More than Just a Gift” was the tagline! It was a tear-jerking moment for anyone. It's sure to tug at every viewer’s heart. The tagline’s importance is hard to miss.

apost.com

According to John's website, "at the age of 3, he astonished his family by sitting at the piano and playing 'The Skater’s Waltz' by ear." Clearly talented, John's family recognized and encouraged his passion for music. He was "awarded a scholarship as a Junior Exhibitor at the Royal Academy of Music and he attended the Academy on Saturday mornings" for four years. 

Watching the commercial all these years later, it's obvious how much the musician thought about his own story and how it could be worked into this heartwarming tale just in time for the holidays. He said, “It’s been a lovely opportunity for me to reflect on my life in music and the incredible journey I have been on, and how first playing my Grandmother’s piano marks the moment when music came into my life." It's truly touching to hear how humble John is about the love he received from his family and how their support led him to his incredible career. He added, “The ad is absolutely fantastic and I’ve truly loved every minute of being a part of it.” 

Looking at the tiny Rockman lookalike on the screen, it's easy to picture how true-to-life the storyline must be. Writing on his Instagram, John later said, “What a pleasure it was to be part of the wonderful @johnlewisandpartners Christmas advert." Aren't we lucky to have shared in such a special story? 

It just goes to show how wonderful things can happen when you bring talented people together to express such a meaningful idea.

What's your favorite Elton John song? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, as well as any fellow Elton John fans!