Today, we’re celebrating Elton John‘s birthday with a song that perfectly exemplifies his genius songwriting and timeless nature. “I’m Still Standing” is a celebration of defiance, independence, and resiliency set to a driving, danceable beat.
It was released in 1983 as the lead single from “Too Low for Zero,” a pivotal album that marked John’s reunion with his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. It became one of his biggest hits of the ’80s and has remained a fan favorite. The song hit a billion streams on Spotify in 2024.
John shared his excitement for the milestone on Facebook, writing, “This track has had such a life, and whether you know it for its empowering lyrics, the legendary dance moves from the music video, or Taron Egerton’s rendition as Johnny HD in ‘Sing’, it makes me so happy to see it being enjoyed by so many.”
It has also remained a staple of the singer’s live shows, but this clip from the 1986 Prince’s Trust Rock Gala may be the most epic performance of all. The spirited rendition features an all-star band with Phil Collins on drums, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler on guitar, and Mark King on bass.
Even with a band of that caliber, it’s clear that John’s piano is the driving force behind the song. From the opening riff, the electric energy sends the crowd into a frenzy.
“I’m Still Standing” has stood the test of time for its lyrical defiance, but it’s also a masterclass in composition. John uses several interesting tactics to create tension and resolution and keep the energy up.
First is his use of pedal tones, which are sustained notes in the bass held while the harmony above moves. “Pedal tones build musical excitement and suspense because they create tension and at times dissonance,” the Jazz Piano Blog explains. “This tension and dissonance (and eventual release) is what gives the music a little shot of adrenaline when we hear pedal tones being used.”
It happens in “I’m Still Standing” from the very start. John plays steady Bb quarter notes in his left hand while his right hand voices Bbmin, Ebmin, and F chords in the intro. He also uses pedal tones in the first half of the verse.
The second interesting approach he uses is parallel keys. Parallel keys are the major and minor scales using the same tonic – in this case, Bb. The intro is in Bb minor, but the verse switches to Bb major. This shifts to a brighter sound, as we typically hear minor sounds as “sad” and major sounds as “happy.” Interestingly, John makes the change without any sort of pivot or setup. The sudden change feels like a switch being turned on.
His third trick is in the chorus. Bernie Taupin wrote ‘I’m Still Standing’ as a declaration of defiance, and you might expect a major harmony to match. Instead, John shifts to Bb minor, playing against Taupin’s lyrics to bring more drama to the ultimate theme of the song.
With its mix of sparkling melody and sharp harmonic contrast, “I’m Still Standing” remains a defining song in Elton John’s illustrious catalog. On his birthday, it feels like the perfect reminder of why his music continues to stand tall.
Get the sheet music for “I’m Still Standing”:
