The Last Song (Elton John song)
Encyclopedia
"The Last Song" is the second single
by Elton John
from the album The One. The song was composed by John, with the lyrics by Bernie Taupin
.
This song was written in the memory of Ryan White
, a young AIDS patient who died at age 18, with whom John was close.
"It marked the first of his American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. Taupin faxed the lyrics to Elton in Paris, shortly after Freddie Mercury died. "I was crying all the time as I wrote the music," Elton told The Advocate, "and it was very hard for me to sing it." The song tells of an estranged father coming to terms with the sexuality of his gay son, who is dying of an AIDS-related illness. Gus Van Sant
was not the first choice to direct the video. David Hockney
and Madonna declined the offer. Originally titled "Song for 1992", it was renamed to avoid dating it."
The song was used during a closing montage featuring people who died of AIDS
(including White himself) at the end of the 1993 film And the Band Played On
.
The song notably caused a fit of emotion from Howard Stern Show
producer Gary Dell'Abate
in November 2007. According to Dell'Abate, the song's music video reminds him of his brother, who died close to the release of The One.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
from the album The One. The song was composed by John, with the lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
.
This song was written in the memory of Ryan White
Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
, a young AIDS patient who died at age 18, with whom John was close.
"It marked the first of his American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. Taupin faxed the lyrics to Elton in Paris, shortly after Freddie Mercury died. "I was crying all the time as I wrote the music," Elton told The Advocate, "and it was very hard for me to sing it." The song tells of an estranged father coming to terms with the sexuality of his gay son, who is dying of an AIDS-related illness. Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
was not the first choice to direct the video. David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
and Madonna declined the offer. Originally titled "Song for 1992", it was renamed to avoid dating it."
The song was used during a closing montage featuring people who died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
(including White himself) at the end of the 1993 film And the Band Played On
And the Band Played On (film)
And the Band Played On is a 1993 American television film docudrama directed by Roger Spottiswoode. The teleplay by Arnold Schulman is based on the best-selling 1987 non-fiction book And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic by Randy Shilts.The film premiered at the Montreal...
.
The song notably caused a fit of emotion from Howard Stern Show
Howard Stern Show
The Howard Stern Show is an American radio show hosted by its namesake Howard Stern. It gained wide recognition in the 1990s when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005...
producer Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Patrick Angelo Dell'Abate , also known as "Baba Booey", is an American radio producer, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey, was released on November 2, 2010.-Early life and career:Dell'Abate was born in Uniondale, New...
in November 2007. According to Dell'Abate, the song's music video reminds him of his brother, who died close to the release of The One.