Elton John: Voice Changes

A video of Elton John's voice changes through the years, He sang in a very high falsetto until 1978's A Single Man when he started to sing in a lower register. Around 1986, he destroyed his voice and he had to have surgery later that year. now he's gone from a low tenor range to more of a high baritone, Enjoy!
Songs:
Come Back Baby
Since I've Been Loving You
Lady Samantha
It's Me That You Need
Empty Sky
Your Song
My Father's Gun
All The Nasties
Mellow
High Flying Bird
I've Seen That Movie Too
I've Seen The Saucers
Pinball Wizard
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Philadelphia Freedom
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
And I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Are You Ready For Love
Part-Time Love
Victim Of Love
Little Jeannie
Elton's Song
Blue Eyes
I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Nikita
Gypsy Heart
Say Goodbye To Marlon Brando
Sacrifice
I Swear I Heard The Night Talking
The Last Song
Duets for One
Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Made In England
I Can't Steer My Heart Clear of You
Written in the Stars
Someday Out of the Blue
This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore
Freaks in Love
The Bridge
Monkey Suit
Home Again

[@williambrenner576]

As much as I enjoy all eras of his career, I have to say that his voice sounded best from 1965 to 1976. In my humble opinion, nothing can top his early voice.

[@obscurelyvague]

"William Brenner" much of that is before he hit the big time . I did not hear of him until the near mid-1970s. He really became big from the mid 1970s to near 1980.

[@judymiller8831]

L Martinez William probably knows that. He’s still right though. I love Elton to bits, but early is best, before his throat op.

[@justinm.1]

William Brenner what about 1977 😜

[@Lightner445555555555]

But his voice was at it's peak from the late 70s thru the mid 80s.

[@anthonylarusso9676]

yes I agree

[@weirdguy75]

0:40 he really idolized John Lennon

[@mrpotatocream9499]

Why is it so true lol

[@chestnut9987]

Early to late 70's voice the best! Thank G his nodules were benign, so we could/still can continue to enjoy this great man!

[@wagnercabrerisso1331]

Let's not forget, he's the One ! The time shows it very clear. Thank you Elton for being the soundtrack of my entire life ( since 1972 ).

[@robertkushner156]

Such a wonderful comment about Elton. I love him so much!! Thank you!!

[@maristelarainerimazzucatto8152]

His voice in Blue Eyes? Perfect, beautiful, manly.

[@BabyLambCreations]

I like to describe Elton John's voice change as "going through puberty twice" lol.

[@TheNakedWombat]

Age always changes one's vocals as does throat surgery but no matter what stage he's in, Elton's voice kicks arse. Even when his throat was shot, he performed extremely well.

[@SegundaGuerraMundialES]

The one and only: SIR ELTON HERCULES JOHN :) I agree!

[@jaggass]

TheNakedWombat totally agree elton did perform well when his throat was shot in late 86. he just carried on and gave it his all night after night. he's a fighter

[@TheNakedWombat]

michael jagger They don't make them like they use to. Seems they now cancel tours over a cold.

[@jaggass]

TheNakedWombat no they dont artists back then carried no matter what. it makes me laugh when people cancel or reschedule tours from a cold etc. even dave grohl from the foo fighters carried on playing in a chair after breaking his leg.

[@Reg121]

I'm still amazed he made it through the Australian tour in '86. From the books I've read, they were saying he was spitting up blood and green stuff in between songs by the end of the tour. Must have been awful but he just kept on going.

[@virtualsnake1994]

you can clearly hear the transformation in 4:33. it almost sounds like a different singer... from tenor to baritone his 90's voice was something else... deep, clear and haunting

[@eliassandgren3132]

I thought the same. In 1985 he started having issues with the voice becoming raspier, and in 1986 it was completely destroyed.

[@MichaelAnthonyPresents]

He was always a baritone, just lost the transition to a lighter voice. Freddie Mercury is another example of a baritone who could sing light, but lost that lighter tone in the mid 80s and showed off his harsher and richer baritone sound more

[@CodyBridge]

his voice changed well before surgery too, very noticable change in 1979. compare his live stuff from 77 and 79 and you'll hear his pronounciation changed and he became more nasal

[@seerpou]

he sounds like billy joel in that era wow

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

That's cause he had a vocal surgery in 1987.

[@deandrepablo9110]

so glad someone else recognises the greatness of "mellow". Some great songs here!

[@dosenwurst101]

I love his older Voice from the mid 90's until today. It matured so amazing, its so rich and soulful For me he's one of the best male Singers ever ever

[@jackieduck20]

love all songs. all voices

[@kathiebradley5881]

Born in 77 but when I was a teenager in the 90s, older EJ was dominating and the younger crowd still loved him, which just shows us how mainstay this man is. Young, old, tenor, baritone...an all amazing legend that will live on forever.

[@lilianabotta3876]

I totally agree with you. Thank you for expressing and describing so well "la grandeur" of Elton

[@Chalkhead]

Huge EJ fan I love his voice on his earlier stuff and prefer it to his post surgery voice but Made in England - Songs from the West Coast was fucking golden. His vocals on Believe are haunting

[@tiguy225]

Im more a metal/punk fan, but the voice of this man will always be one of my favorite, mostly in the 80-90s songs, the powerful and deep tone gives me the chills everytime

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

His voice sounded paper-thin on his earliest works from 1969 to 1976. "Philadelphia Freedom" was perhaps the only hit in his classic period in which he started singing in a low register. When he worked with Thom Bell in 1977 on a few songs, including "Mama Can't Buy You Love," the producer suggested Elton sing in a lower range more like he had on that aforementioned 1975 hit. When he returned to the Top 5 in 1980 with "Little Jeannie" (lyrics by Gary Osborne), his voice changed significantly compared to his last Top 10 hit "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" which hit #6 on Christmas Day 1976. The January 1987 surgery he underwent after his 1986 Australian tour really did in most of his falsetto range (and complicated further by his cocaine habit that he finally overcame in 1990 after having learned of Ryan White's affliction with AIDS that took his life that April 8), and he would never again be able to sing many of those high notes he had on his pre-1976 output.

[@GrassLion85]

ClassicTVMan1981X thank you, Wikipedia, for all that information.

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

3:29 I think right there is where his 70s voice and 80s voice started to merge

[@matthewfranjkovic8274]

I agree ! You could really hear the voice changing there , like a merger ...

[@kurtiscassarole784]

Elton John & Phil Collins are my two favorite singers

[@jaggass]

My favourite period of his voice pre throat surgery is 78-84. Favourite period post throat surgery is 1994-2004.

[@RoddyBezerra]

He produced a lot on these periods.

[@milamarinett8046]

How many voices does he have! I like all his voices! Someone thinks that his voice was better in the 70s, someone thinks that in the 90s. But I think his voice has always sounded beautiful, and all his songs are beautiful. In his youth, he had a gentle voice, then his voice became stronger and more powerful in the early 90s and he became even cleaner than before the operation. Then his voice changed again with age, but he still sings well for his age.

[@jfhm1991]

Alot of these are really good back-catalogue songs of his, well done whoever made this :)

[@jaggass]

Elton sounds so young on Come Back Baby. Just listening to that i knew that this was a future star in the making.

[@harmonrabb1922]

I like his voice from the mid 90s until 2001/2002 the most. Thanks for the video.

[@rogerrousco2921]

Lord Elton John has lots of very soulful songs I have never heard before

[@jaggass]

1986 was the most interesting year for Elton's voice. He started the year sounding pretty good and even younger at times. Mid 86 like on The Princes Trust concert sounded like the beginning of voice issues then by the end of the year it was completely shot. He considered having the throat op much earlier but he couldn't turn down the offer ofplaying with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra because he would never get the chance to play with them again.

[@dosenwurst101]

I like his "new" deep voice so much. For me hes at his best in the early 2000's. Those live performances are just amazing. And today hes still great... see him live this year in Germany

[@jaggass]

The early 2000's is my favorite era for Elton's voice and he sounded great on the Songs From The West Coast album. His 'new' voice became a bit nasally and overall much more stable than previous years before.

[@jaggass]

Elton's falsetto never fully disappeared like he claimed it did after throat surgery. It was weaker and couldn't go as high. There are few examples of him doing some fairly high notes in falsetto from shows post 1988 .

[@allthethingsaboutmemyselfandI]

What shows or songs?

[@howsthechowder5863]

Lucas Cavalcanti sacrifice is a great example of his post op falsetto. He stopped after around 1993

[@eliassandgren3132]

@@allthethingsaboutmemyselfandI Elton’s song live in 1999, Bennie and the jets live solo 1997, the whole concert at Grosvenor Hotel in 1990 etc...

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

"Latitude" from Made in England (1995); with George Martin arranging the French horn and strings.

[@jameslerner6768]

this is more regarding the comments on his songwriting than this actual video but I will never understand why people just shit on his career after Captain Fantastic. His song writing slowed down but he still produced so many amazing songs. I Feel Like a Bullet and Sartorial Eloquence stick out in my mind. IMO Elton's quantity of amazing songs slowed down after 1970-1976, but thats a long time versus someone like Kurt Cobain who slowed down by In Utero.

[@mtthwskdmr2]

James Lerner i think by the time Leather Jackets came out in 86/87 was the begin of the decline in quantity. Sure, he did still make some fucking awesome songs, but they just seemed fewer and fewer between.

[@jtsnowman66]

I LOVE "I feel like a Bullet". I have covered it on piano for years. He has so many forgotten gems like that one, if people would bother to listen to them.

[@bishopaz]

Love the song selection for this presentation.

[@MJ-oi5wb]

I think it's awesome that he's maintained his career regardless of his voice changes.

[@dalebaker9109]

His a light baritone now, but has always known, how to use, whatever voice, he has at the time.

[@UnknownYTUser23]

light baritone?? i think his voice is even deeper

[@waltersa1aw]

The best artist this country has ever produced!

[@Mythbusterings]

you guys produced the beatles don't forget that

[@calebproductions5970]

You mean the fabricated four?

[@aprildannette9820]

UK also gave us George Michael too Elton said he was the best

[@fanaticaldueling6337]

April Dannette But Elton is the best

[@matteodipalma1662]

Bowie?

[@TheDiabethick]

I miss his high voice in tiny dancer and and rocket man, but his "new" voice has so much more power. Like the way you look tonight or live like horses. Those songs wouldnt have been as good without that deeper powerful voice.

[@captaincrunch784]

I LOVE Live Like Horses and his other 90's power ballads.

[@maryclark5329]

Sound track of my life. Thank You

[@Starsk25]

I grew up listening to Elton in the 70s. That's my favorite era of his. His voice change makes me want to cry. 😭

[@3075bridget]

Agreed. Sad to witness, actually.

[@michaelmaughan3333]

U know he alive

[@satyabratamishra4670]

His voice is better now. He used to sound like a dying hamster. Now his voice is richer and has more depth.

[@gahloot]

The Eldorado soundtrack was his last great album vocally!

[@shedever]

I like his mature "destroyed" voice more. It is so rythmically driven. Very solid and deep.

[@SammyAscencio98]

+Hopkin Bopkin Saaaameeeee

[@alexstewart2252]

+Hopkin Bopkin Agreed. The fact that this 69 year old is still touring & performing just like he did in the 70's is testament to the man. Yea he sounds different to his 'hey day' but who gives a shit. The fact he is still able to perform & write great tunes is something we should all applaud! Remember........this man conquered major drug addiction & came out the other side (no pun intended)

[@calebproductions5970]

The new voice after 1977 is not him he had a specific tone if you do a voice print of his pre-1977 voice it does not match later tracks. I know he had a double replace him in 1978 but I have found weird look-alikes that the media Took pictures of that through 1974 through 1980. The original Elton was active from 1967 through 1977

[@timkirwan5021]

He also had throat surgery

[@digginyourscene4058]

Intheevening 123 Bullshit

[@jaggass]

My favorite era for Elton John's 'new' voice is the early 2000's like on the Song From The West Coast album. His voice became a bit more nasally, less richer and overall alot more stable.

[@_thebusphotograher_cali]

Michael David: His voiced started going through changes in the 1990s

[@jaggass]

@@_thebusphotograher_cali It's like his voice keeps going through puberty again and again.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

I say it started with 1978's A Single Man.

[@MikeSmith-qv5yc]

This video is an excellent idea, Ethan....well done!

[@marvelandmusicfan2395]

I miss his old voice.

[@3075bridget]

Me too.

[@TaylorFan9]

A great selection of songs. The voice has of course changed so much, but no matter. He was and still is the no1 UK solo artist. The many different vocals are clearly heard here, and they are all great performances.

[@davefrance3721]

His voice has changed, and one some songs it was done deliberately. Blue Wonderful from Wonderful Crazy Night is another of those voice changes. I wasnt even sure at first if Elton sung Blue Wonderful, but had a guest singer.

[@jaggass]

He was quite raspy on Blue Wonderful. The songs sounds like that didn't make the Songs From The West Coast album.

[@jrod1986]

1977-1984 was Elton's vocal prime.

[@davidcarroll1883]

Very good vid! A lifetime of songs.

[@americangraffitisignsdispl9214]

I actually think his voice sounded best on the 1986 Live In sydney with the Melbourne Symphony. Lot of grit and texture even though it was due from all of the nodules on his vocal chords that required surgery. Favorite concert of all time!

[@jerryyeaaah15]

really has that wounded beast vibe，hurt but still strong

[@renatajunqueira754]

Excelente!! 🤩 Elton John 😎

[@mtthwskdmr2]

Hey, Ethan, can i get a list of all the songs used in this video? Too many that I don't recognize, and i need to change that.

[@billtooke6642]

Kudos to the creator too because not only does this show EJ's change, these all might be my favorite songs of his High Flying Bird Mellow My Father's Gun All The Nasties

[@billtooke6642]

I've Seen That Movie Too

[@saxongirl2054]

His 1980s voice is my favorite. It was more masculine than in the 70s.

[@livb6945]

Would have appreciated year and song shown

[@FireAwayProductions]

This is a great example of ageing gracefully.

[@Burrmann]

'Tonight' might have been a good example of his higher register

[@katakisLives]

Its astonishing how quickly he lost all that range from the mid 80's onward

[@jonbersac]

Ethan J. Good work !!!

[@johnscialfa7391]

still the greatest vocalist

[@lillyofthenorth8798]

It's really interesting seeing people's preferences for his voice! I am a 90s kid, so my earlier experiences w/ him were mostly bc of The Lion King & The Road to El Dorado. That's the voice I'm most used to & tend to default to when I think about him, but don't have a preference really. Voices change & he's still performing- i think he's doing pretty well for himself still ^^

[@jasoncarpp7742]

My favourite time is his 1965-76 years

[@johnscialfa7391]

great video,thanks

[@michaeljagger7673]

i would of said from 1978-1984 it didnt change at all he sounded exactly the same as he did uptil the breaking hearts album from a single man. it did change a bit on the ice on album. then 1986 onwards his voice kept changing. in his older years the peak of his 'new voice' had to be on the songs of the west coast album.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

He managed to sing very well through the years. But I have to say that his vocals started to sound like it was on a compressor effect when he tried to hit the high notes in his later years. Maybe a vocalist can elaborate more on this.

[@trisix99]

I've always heard the difference and thought about it when I heard rocket man and tiny dancer. Funny.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I also love Made In England through Captain and the Kid.

[@benjones292]

I like his voice best from 1980-85

[@susyg.7299]

Sorry about the ones I don’t remember, just trying to help 1 - Come Back baby 2- I've been loving you 3- Lady Samantha 4- It's me that you need 5- Empty Sky 6- Your Song 7- My father’s gun 8- All the Nasties 9- Mellow 10- ? 11- I’ve seen that movie too 12- I've seen the saucers 13- Pinball Wizard 14- Someone saved my life tonight 15 - Philadelphia Freedom 16- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 17-? 18- Sorry Seems to be the hardest words 19- Are you ready for love 20- Part Time love 21- 22- Little Jeannie 23- Elton’s song 24- Blue Eyes 25- I’m still standing 26- Sad songs 27- Nikita 28- ? 29 -? 30- Sacrifice 31- I Swear I Heard The Night Talking 32- The Last Song 33-? 34- Can you feel the love tonight 35- Made in England 36- Spirit in the Sky 37-Written In The Stars 38- Someday Out of the Blue 39- This train don’t stop there anymore 40- Freaks In Love 41- The Bridge 42-? 43- Home Again

[@elijahward3920]

5-empty sky

[@elijahward3920]

9- mellow

[@elijahward3920]

11- I've seen that movie too

[@elijahward3920]

14- someone saved my life tonight

[@elijahward3920]

17- I feel like the bullet in the gun of robert ford

[@jaggass]

1986 was the most interesting year for Elton's voice he started off sounding great but as time went by it was slowly deteriorating. Then by the Tour De Force tour his voice was shot. It was the last year of his old voice.

[@fionajackson6036]

in my opinion his voice only got better. I saw him live last night and he was incredible

[@calicoskies808]

It would have been kind of neat if you had put the dates on each of the song. At least the years. It would be easier to follow Elton's voice change. I love his video though. Very great song choices! When you listen to I feel like a bullet (in the gun of Robert Ford) vs Blue Eyes the change is undeniable

[@rogerrousco2921]

He went from child to man, in his later years he could sing opera

[@RetroSoulGirl]

Best voice was in 1989 and 1990, no questions asked. He had a huge range, healthy voice, and rich deepness within, his voice embodied soul.

[@isaacedgargamer4539]

Ok,

[@satyabratamishra4670]

@@torTxoFognaTuluZ pre 79 he had terrible technique was very inconsistent live. Hes better now

[@reed77john]

Excelente!!!

[@arsenjaho8854]

In the 70s elton's voice was cute, getting much better in early 80s especially in 1983's too low for zero. After the operation that he had due an illness in laryngh, his voice reached perfection in 1988's Reg strikes back to be continued in sleeping with the past and throughout early 90s. But after 1995's made in England his voice took a fall gradually. Toward late 90's his voice was so so, to get even worse in 2000's.

[@ella32504]

I has his same vocal range . I've never heard his songs before but I think he is a great artist and I think his voice is amazing . I should really do covers for some of his songs since we have the same vocal range.

[@portcullis5622]

Although I prefer his voice on the 1970s albums, his voice has held up a lot better than most singers from the seventies All voices change with age, but considering that he "destroyed" it in the 1970s, he still sounds quite good in the recent live clips.

[@federicorunci1542]

Elton, the big of the better!!

[@waldenhouse]

When I look at the pictures I can't quite believe it's the same guy!

[@calebproductions5970]

It's not after 1977

[@3075bridget]

@@calebproductions5970 Oh, please! It’s called aging, gravity, drug usage and lack of exercise.

[@SHx589]

Lion King Elton John has my vote.

[@chrisbooth3417]

I like his vocals from about 1980 to 1985. He could still sing falsetto but his lower range had gotten better.

[@reuellucas7187]

Can someone name all of the songs on this video in order? Thinking about expanding my Elton John playlist.

[@llschnitz]

Saw him and Ray Cooper in Manhattan at the Palladium. What a great concert. I was in the second row. He was wearing a yellow suit which look like it was made out of cheap vinyl. Just a few months after the Russian tour. During the Russian tour he look young and thin and healthy and vibrant. In NYC he looked fat, bloated, and white as a sheet. He looked awful.

[@satyabratamishra4670]

Probably drugs

[@jaggass]

Please do one for Elvis Presley.

[@axelasylum7568]

4:44 name of the song?

[@UnknownYTUser23]

gypsy heart, from Leather Jackets

[@marty-fh1rw]

Interesting.He did some songs for budget 'top of the pops' LPs in the 70s.Would like to hear those somewhere.Thanks.

[@callmeerrol]

marty34, do you mean these?: kzbin.info/aero/PLjYOnjnnfV-Idt0mJEtS4zoeVsCTjXWYK He doesn’t sing lead on all of them - background on some and/or piano. Also, this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXW7d36vn6uLp7s

[@marty-fh1rw]

@@callmeerrol Thanks Jordon.I will have a listen to those!

[@callmeerrol]

marty34 , you’re welcome!

[@jayrob5270]

It was about the time of Sad Songs and Nikita that I notice the timbre of his voice changing, from then it's been mostly downhill vocally for Elton. There are exceptions as on his first 4 or 5 albums (before Honky Chateau) he did have a tendency to head voice too much on certain songs but it was never a big problem

[@kurtiscassarole784]

I like when he sang Born To Lose live

[@husseindanora1451]

Please .. the name of the 4:50 song

[@ethanj8131]

Say Goodbye To Marlon Brando

[@LaserGryph]

Nice use of album cuts. My favorite 83 song was Saint, but that's just me. :)

[@livb6945]

Would have appreciated a note in the video saying before/after surgery.

[@ethanj8131]

It would be quite obvious what was before and after surgery and it's also stated in the description.

[@alexdelacruz3543]

big vocal change like MARIAH... both had raspy voices as well. wonder if its because of vocal nodules which both have.. interesting. .. makes it deep and horse... and unique changes but love all the changes of the voice every year from both...

[@fishermanamericani7434]

Can someone tell me the title of the song at min 3:00? love it

[@wojciechmo1540]

I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)

[@fishermanamericani7434]

wojciechmo some of the best harmonics I’ve ever heard

[@MrTerryb1956]

from the album rock of the westies

[@portcullis5622]

One correction to the list: 'I'm Still Standing' wasn't listed.

[@evancarroll2869]

can somebody create a Neil Diamond voice changes side show video like this one ?

[@evancarroll2869]

can someone also create a Neil Diamond voice change video as well ?

[@jonbersac]

The voice will not change in a Single Man, will change after throat operation in late 1986, after the live album Live in Austarlia.

[@evansytube]

Big Picture album

[@pnynx]

Very good idea thank you for sharing, I like the pictures too. I love Elton but he doesn't age very well 😦 my favourite period for his voice was the concert in Russia alone at the piano with Ray Cooper at percussion

[@pnynx]

@Freakyears Elton lover no problem, anyway I'm an Elton's big fan 😁

[@84saints]

The cocaine probably didn’t help either but he’s done well to continue to perform and stayed healthy for a long time. I like his early voice but we’ll take Elton anyway we can get him.

[@seerpou]

THE RANGE

[@thecreepysunbabyfromthetel4657]

What are all of the songs in this?

[@generalkenobi2126]

please post all his songs the video plays in order!

[@generalkenobi2126]

man I see you are really devoted one! Thank you very much! I have only found out this wonderful singer and do not know all his masterpieces) God bless Elton John and you)

[@JackKnight762]

"falsetto"?... not accurate... the "la-la_las" on Crocodile Rock, sure-but not typically--high dos not necessarily mean falsetto: that is the part of the vocal range above the "crack"

[@aheppner9750]

oh its "in the gun of Robert ford"

[@arthurpessoa2888]

I think he is a baritone now