Love Goes Full Circle in “Rocketman”

Sir Elton John had one of the best biopics ever made (or at least, it was a better biopic than “Bohemian Rhapsody” which was for Queen frontman Freddie Mercury). Aside from the historical realignment made on BohRhap, another thing that let it down for me was the presentation of the songs.

“Rocketman” did better for as for me, it was aware of what it was. A musical biopic featuring the songs made by the power duo of Elton John and Bernie Taupin to celebrate the trials and the redemption that Reggie Dwight had overcome to be Sir Elton John.

Elton John's "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from umusic.ca

There are two songs that perfectly highlight the greatness of this film. There was a clear story, complete with the conflict, and ultimately, the resolution, as presented by the songs “I Want Love” and “I’m Gonna Love Me Again”.

“I Want Love” was a ballad release din 2001 from the album “Songs from the West Coast”. A music video was released to accompany the single featuring a lip-synching Robert Downey, Jr. in a one long shot.

The song was used in the film in a very effective manner. Right from the start, the viewers were made aware of the challenges that young Reggie had in his family, comprising his father, mother, and a grandmother.

“I Want Love” speaks about a long-standing longing for love. In the song, love was described as something that is of “a different kind”, something “that don’t mean a thing”, and on his “own terms”. Considering these vague descriptions about the love that he is longing for, I think it would be safe to say that these were like shots in a dartboard.

"I Want Love" album art from wikipedia.org

A vague description was given probably because the writer was unsure whether having his chance at love would even be possible. In the film, it was masterfully presented as parts of the song were given to the mother, the father, the grandmother, and Reggie as if that was their best shot at explaining why love on the family had been elusive.

Fear not though, for Reggie or Sir Elton John would figure it out eventually in the film and in real life. As the song “I’m Still Standing”, another song about redemption, the song “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” starts to play, completing the 360-degree turn of the film’s arc about love that was addressed by “I Want Love”.

“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” was written originally for the biopic. From the title, it could be inferred that the love that he had been longing for could only be satisfied by the love coming from within, from himself. The song which spoke about embracing the imperfections and visible and non-visible flaws, also told us that loving oneself is a decision that one must be inclined to achieve.

The line “Unbound by any ties that break or bend; I’m free, don’t you know?” reiterates that loving yourself first can lead you to being free, by not relying on somebody else’s love for you hold on.

Folks, let’s love us again.