Elton John "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" First Time Reaction

[@markwade2530]

An absolutely underrated song by Elton. I loved this the first time I heard it & it still resonates strongly.

[@John-et9yl]

Brilliant lyrics by Bernie

[@dawntucker5052]

We miss you John 😢 these lyrics are heartbreaking. Elton and Bernie are so talented.

[@ROUGHSEES]

Imagine a world with John still with us. I want to be in that timeline.

[@paddyotable]

I clearly remember the moment when I heard that John had been killed.....I was in total shock. 😢

[@realbser1956]

Beautiful tribute by Bernie and Elton.

[@ColeenU]

Good tribute songs. I am sad today, but it helps to share with others.

[@dalemcmillan7231]

Great song and tribute from Elton and Bernie ❤

[@annakermode6646]

I like this song a lot. I also find Bob Dylan’s tribute very moving (Roll on John) RIP John.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

You may want to check out, and maybe you did, George Harrison "All Those Years Ago", Paul McCartney "Here Today", and Queen's "Life Is Real (Song For Lennon)".

[@Kieop]

I like the imagery of John as gardener, planting the seeds for all who follow after him, as we all enjoy the fruit.

[@shiannesmith6877]

Thank you for everything ❤

[@hopeklemann1]

🌸 my heart still breaks for Yoko.

[@BuddyAkin478]

Yep, I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. I remember staying up all night with my young bandmates, just out of high school, crying, lighting candles, listening to Beatles records and grieving the bloody loss of one of our biggest heroes. John Lennon. Not a perfect man, but an earnest, intelligent, highly talented and bluntly honest man who never pulled his punches, even at himself. Taken in an instant by a mad man. An insect took the gardener. Still hurts so much. Thanks for this song.

[@Kerazen123]

The harpsichord is so haunting.. a perfect pairing by EJ.

[@robotronrichard]

😢Thanks Laura and L33! Great tribute to the anniversary of a tragic day... ☮❤🎶

[@marthagavey9321]

❤❤ What a beautiful song Laura!! 🎶🙏🎶 Thanks to you and Lee!!

[@lauraallen55]

I had to request it for this month. I was going to request Happy Xmas but someone else did.

[@lauraallen55]

@@marthagavey9321 Glad you liked it. I had to request it for this month. Was nice of Lee to do it today.

[@robrob7400]

Still not over this loss. My son got me a book about his last days at Xmas 3-4 years ago. I can’t pick it up - too hard

[@corawheeler9355]

Beautiful song. Thank you

[@lauraallen55]

Glad you liked it.

[@relativetimeworx8459]

You know, as your community takes your journey of musical discovery with you, those of us who experienced the tracks in real time do our best to share with you the feeling when they came out. Perhaps, what the songs impact was, how they changed the musical landscape etc. This is different. There is no real way to put into words the impact of that dark day. I'm sure many of us had not yet even experienced ANY death in our lives... friends, acquaintances or family... and to all of us, John certainly was family. Howard Cosell broke into a Monday Night Football broadcast to announce the horrible news. Everybody watched MNF meaning everybody learned simultaneously in an instant. There was a spontaneous eruption of universal grief the likes of which was never experienced before or since. It was a gaping, unmendable, evisceration of the collective soul of music itself and everything that it meant to people. It was followed by a shocked numbness as the streets of my college campus became flooded with a tsunami of candle carrying zombies. Some just stared blankly... some tried to summon the will to sing... all cried uncontrollably. I don't know how Elton mustered the strength to sing this track. It always propels back to those first, heart-wrenching moments of realization that our youth was gone. To think Elton had to do this yet again for Princess Diana is incomprehensible. Thanks for including this track on your journey. I've done my best to enhance the context for you.

[@lauraallen55]

I had to request this one. Glad you added context.

[@hopeklemann1]

🌸Thank you, thank you, my friend. 🤍🤍

[@lauraallen55]

Glad you liked it

[@Housemartinuk]

Still gives me chills...

[@richardcollette9884]

thank you so much for being who you are. i was 30 when i heard that the devils best friend ended the magic,Ive never cried like i did when i heard. most men of peace die from violent hands. will we ever change...

[@deechatterton5828]

I cried for three days and then periodically for a year. This day brings them back. He was not a perfect man but he was brutally honest. I always appreciated that. He was my hero and there's not been another one since.

[@ChuckDrennen]

I was 24 when he left it was a shock that the world could go through Beatlemania could do that to him. It’s hard to believe now he’s been gone longer than he was here.

[@hopeklemann1]

🌸 Elton is Sean's godfather.

[@stephanieo2509]

Sean did a really nice interview with Elton on John's 80th birthday to talk about his experiences with his father.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

This song is a grower - this time reduced me to tears. John’s and the Beatles music saved my life 🙏😍

[@darkhorse23xx]

George Harrison's "All Those Years Ago" would be very appropriate to play today. Features Ringo on drums. Paul & Linda on backing vocals.

[@patticrichton1135]

AND also PAUL'S "HERE TODAY"

[@shirleybhs9zd6li5i]

Bernie and Elton doing what they do best. What a great song, done with such reverence. It felt like a personal loss at the time, for someone who was such part of our lives. Wonderful commentary, L33, Thanks for your hard work. We appreciate it. Blessings all. Peace

[@Robie-c1q]

My first thoughts at hearing the news of his assassination was that of complete disbelief…who would ever want to kill a Beatle?? Unbelievable!! Christmas that year was tinged with this utter sadness! I found Elton’s tribute to John to be one of the absolute best! Very emotional!

[@dennispower5362]

MISS HIM STILL

[@Karen_in_Canada]

I have always wanted to see this performed live but Elton would only perform this in Manhatten. 😢

[@lauraallen55]

Thank you, Lee.

[@RandoReport]

As it's that anniversary, check out Paul Simon's "The Late Great Johnny Ace" when you can.

[@rosmeeker1964]

the central park version. The sound of the fellow breaking onto the stage. the mumbling of security agents. The feedback of the guitar. and then the music continues as if nothing happened.

[@robertsaul234]

Rick Springfield has a song called 3 Warning Shots. It's about what he'd like to do to Lennon's assassin.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

He was my hero.😞

[@gbsailing9436]

Who? Elton or Lennon?

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

I was 11 years when John Lennon was murdered. My brother and I were taken to see "Yellow Submarine in 1978, at a cinema revival; (pre-home-video era) and became avid fans of The Beatles, and other music. My Mom woke me up, in the morning, said that I should come out to the TV before breakfast -the news. I cried! That was the first death that I faced,...not family or a Cat.. I went to school, and had two friends who were also into The Beatles. In Art class that day, the three of us drew images of John -vs' the lesson, or Teacher understood.

[@Ocrilat]

It's from the album 'Jump Up!'. It a decent record, but right after this, Elton reunited with lyricist Bernie Taupin and his original band Nigel Olsson drums/vocals, Dee Murray bass/vocals, and Davey Johnstone guitars/vocals for his 'return to the top' album 'Too Low For Zero'.

[@debjorgo]

I grew up with Elvis too. His loss didn't hit me until years later. But John was immediate. I wasn't too interested in his comeback. I remember thinking, Paul McCartney is barely making it in the music business in 1980. John didn't have a chance. I wasn't impressed by Just Like Starting Over either. But when he was shot, all the memories flooded back. And John looked so cool on the cover of his new album.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

You wrote... "Paul McCartney is barely making it in the music business in 1980". What are you talking about..? His "McCartney II" album (released on May 16, 1980) was #1 in the UK and #3 in the US. His "Coming Up" single (released April 11, 1980) was #1 in the US and Canada, #2 in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. McCartney was doing just fine in the music business in 1980. And his music video for "Coming Up" was also a hugely successful - and it inspired John Lennon to start writing songs and to record again.

[@debjorgo]

@@aBeatleFan4ever In the US, With a Little Luck was number 1 in '78. After that, his singles went to 25, 39, 5, 10, 29, 26, 1 (Coming Up), 106.... In the UK, With a Little Luck went to 5, and the following singles 42, 60, 5, 35, 60, 6, 2 (Coming Up), 9, 76.... Not too great for a guy who, as a Beatle, was used to placing every other song at number 1.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

@@debjorgo - You said that he was "barely making it in the music business in 1980". He had a #1 album and a #1 single in 1980 that both sold over a million records. Just admit... that what you said could hardly be more incorrect.

[@debjorgo]

@@aBeatleFan4ever No. It is completely correct. I certainly remember thinking that in 1980. I don't mean they couldn't book at gig at the local nightclub. Of course they could. Paul was still selling out arenas. I'm talking about big success in the recording industry. Hit after hit, after hit, after hit success. John finally got his first number 1 single in 1975 and retired. I think he figured he'd better quit while he was ahead.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

@@debjorgo - OMG. Some people just seem to be afraid to admit they got something wrong. Do you also think the earth is flat..? Any person who actually believes that McCartney was "barely making it in the music business in 1980" - deserves to be laughed at.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

Apparently Elton John hasn't performed this song live very often, it's too upsetting for him. "Jump Up" was the transition album to Elton's comeback in 1983.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

I love how Chapman is referred to as an insect, fitting.

[@patticrichton1135]

@@XFLexiconMatt PLEASE remove his name from your comment. We fans NEVER mention his name, we refer to him as John's murderer or killer. It was one of the reasons he did it, to get notoriety for himself and to be famous. We don't want to give him that satisfaction. Please, thank you.

[@jimbricker4982]

More Elton, YES! The Honky Chateau album needs your love.

[@cynergy4]

I'm still in shock all these years later. I'll never forget the moment that I heard. Yeah he had his faults but didn't deserve to be murdered

[@johno1765]

Bob Dylan also wrote a tribute song to John Lennon, called "Roll On John," which he released in 2012 on his Tempest album.

[@gerstelb]

The “garden” being referenced is Madison Square Garden, where Elton John and John Lennon performed together, in what turned out to be Lennon’s last live performance. They did three songs: “Whatever Gets You Through The Night,” (a single they did together), “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” They’re on the extended version of Elton John’s “Here and There” album. Elton John only ever performed this song live at Madison Square Garden - notably at his 60th birthday concert; you can find the video of that here on KZbin.

[@Kathmak]

Beautiful tribute to John. Have you reacted to McCartney's "Here Today" yet? There is a claymation video of it here on YT that left me in tears.

[@stevenboettcher4796]

Love this song, but it’s heartbreaking at the same time. I haven’t healed from this wound.

[@54fighting5]

The Beatles had almost everything to do with my music education and appreciation, starting with me watching them live that Sunday night on the Sullivan Show. That being said, I was never a fan of John's solo work, as I thought he had lost his way and all his inner feelings had been redirected to, and about Yoko. Frankly I got tired of hearing his solo music that was all influenced by her. But when the tragedy occurred I had just turned 26, lost my own father 2 months prior and hearing of John's death hit me like a full body punch. I guess with the track my life was on it was a final, indisputable realization that my youth was gone and things would never be the same as when I was an innocent kid and experiencing the wonderment of the Beatles. When this song was released 18 months later it just seemed so sad to re-live those feelings again. To this day over 40 years later, I don't hear it very often, but when I do it still makes me tear up. John never deserved that fate. And neither did the world deserve to have him taken fom us.

[@DavidRold-pt3ng]

Again Lee, thank you for this tribute to John Lennon. Beautiful tribute to John by Elton. Like I said in your Lennon video. I remember the radio station playing nothing but John all day long. And seeing people gather outside his apartment in New York & just tears in everybody's eyes & holding candles & signs in tribute to John. It definitely was one of those days you'll never forget. You might want to hit George Harrison's tribute to John after his murder, All Those Years Ago. Finally, yes more Elton John. You're just beginning with Elton too. Definitely more to hit. Check out his cover of the Who's Pinball Wizard from the Tommy movie soundtrack.

[@lauraallen55]

Glad you liked it

[@Stewart-m7i]

I think John Lennons last public performance was a guest appearance at an Elton John concert - they were good friends.

[@kevindriscoll8100]

As mentioned earlier, John joined Elton on stage at Madison Square Garden. This was from a bet between the two that "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" wiuld het to #1. Elton pkayed and sang on that song with John and John played on Elton's cover of " Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (as Dr Winston O' Boogie)

[@Kieop]

James Newton Howard known these days primarily for film scores. This tribute to John is the only one that can tear me up. I have loved it even longer than I've been aware that it was about John. I always sang along when it came on the radio. But I can't belt it out anymore, b/c I get too emotional these days. It was a school night, so I was in bed when it happened. Most kids my age found out when they woke up for breakfast and found their parents crying. My parents were not Beatle fans and I was undergoing a yearlong news moratorium -- I wouldn't let the news be watched or listened to in my presence. I can't remember why. Was it too boring? Too upsetting? Anyway I had memorized the lyrics to both All Those Years Ago and Empty Garden before even knowing that they were tributes to John. Though my parents never told me, I became vaguely aware that he had died. But it was also confusing, because he kept putting out music. I didn't become aware of the circumstances of his death until Milk and Honey came out! I Hard to fathom, right? Especially for a lifelong Beatle fan like me. Fun fact: Elton John's Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds cover is the first Beatle song I remember hearing on the radio.

[@randyteta9170]

Great song, it was Elton who got John to get back up on the stage

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

Elton played this on S.N.L.around release - he could not play it for years, again. Elton got gone to play three songs at NYC's Madison Square Garden in 1975 -what was Lennon's final Live performance (the garden reference, metaphor)

[@Scooterboi60]

Thanksgiving ’74.

[@deechatterton5828]

Check out Paul Simon's Late Great Johnny Ace. It'll tug at you.

[@chrisbatchelor864]

Thanks for this Lee. Try All those years Ago ...George Harrison's tribute to John.

[@richardmiller1289]

Great song by Elton I was 16 when that came out it feels like a hundred years. It's weird that Jim Morrison was born on the same day John Lennon was murdered. I'm surprised you didn't have a doors reaction video today to celebrate morrisons 81st birthday. ☮️

[@John-et9yl]

A fitting tribute on the 44th anniversary of Lennon's death.

[@lauraallen55]

Hard t believe he's been gone for longer than he lived.

[@johnandrews3151]

Elton John/Honky Cat. This is an early hit by Elton and gives just a taste of how well Elton tickles the keys😮😊

[@briancotter2666]

John Lennon was such a part of New York City. The first news broadcast of John's Death was From Howard Cosell, the famous sports announcer during the Yankee game at Yankee Stadium. John had a new album out that resonated with New Yorker's.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

"Empty Garden" is probably my favorite John Lennon tribute song. "11:07 PM" is another one you might want to check out - by the band "Dizzy Mizz Lizzy". kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpPEqGV6aaikj6M And this is Tim Christesen performing his song in his living room on December 8th, 2011. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6GlZ4h3ptSrlbs

[@Raul_Alvarado2458]

Elton John is John Lennon's son Sean's Godfather.

[@Kerazen123]

😭😭

[@mikek5958]

"It's funny how one INSECT can damage, so much grain"

[@Moz1011]

So sad

[@Scooterboi60]

James Newton-Howard conducted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra that performed in the second half of the show when they toured with Elton on Elton John’s Tour de Force, playing 26 shows in 6 cities across the country in December 1986. I can’t find any other artist or band who has actually toured with an orchestra, never mind covering a whole country. James added to the original Paul Buckmaster arrangements from the earlier years because they were written for a 20 piece orchestra compared to the 88 piece on this tour. Here’s a song from then that you might like. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIC0ZY2Vi9mDnc0si=BxUdV6bzAEbXjwe2

[@fineasfogg1461]

Yeah today is the anniversary of his death

[@lauraallen55]

I requested Lee do it this day, and he gracefully obliged.

[@johnking5478]

Please play the Monday Night Football announcement live on air when the his death was announced.