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Bernie Taupin, the man who we all know as the lyricist to all the legendary Elton John classic songs like “Tiny Dancer,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy,” has been awarded one of the most legendary British Awards in the history of the United Kingdom. It was just announced that Bernie Taupin has been recognized in receiving the Commander of the Order of the British Empire Honor also known as CBE. The award is presented in the name of England’s Queen Elizabeth II. The honors were just announced last night about an hour and a half before the stroke of midnight. While a Commander of the Order of the British Empire Honor is not the same as a KnightHood, it is an honor that goes back to the end of the nineteenth century.
Bernie Taupin was not the only one to receive the honorary title. The Commander of the Order of the British Empire Honor was also bestowed upon Rob Stringer who is the chairman of the Sony Music Group. Stringer received the honor for his work in launching a 100 million dollar fund called the “Social Justice Fund,” that combats social issues. Also receiving a similar honor called the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) was Spice Girl and America’s Got Talent judge Mel B for her charitable work.
Bernie Taupin was recognized for the Commander of the Order of the British Empire Honor because of what was stated to be his “exceptional services to music.” In so many ways that’s an understatement when looking back at the body of work Bernie Taupin has collaborated with Elton John. When the Beatles broke up in 1970, Elton John arrived on the scene and in many ways took the band’s place. For the next seven years, Elton John and Bernie Taupin songs would dominate the charts around the world. They had become the new Lennon and McCartney in a very different way from a songwriting perspective but in a much similar way in the commercial success that that both The Beatles and Elton John and Bernie Taupin achieved.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin released their first album in the UK in 1969 entitled Empty Sky. The album was only released originally in the UK. The duo’s second album simply titled Elton John was released in 1970 in both the UK and US. It spawned the song “Your Song,” which turned Elton John into and International star. From that point on Elton John and Bernie Taupin were unstoppable releasing new albums almost every six months filled with highly addicting songs of substance and commercial success.
Bernie Taupin’s lyrics were often ambiguous and open to wide interpretation. Some of his lyrics were just so spectacular like the line from “Levon, when Elton John sings….”He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day,When the New York Times said, “God is dead, And the war’s begun” Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today.”
Elton John and Bernie Taupin worked exclusively together all the way to Elton John’s Blue Moves album released in 1977. It was after that point when Elton John had begun to work with some other lyricists. It was a move that always left a bitter taste in longtime fans. Truthfully the songs were just not the same without Bernie. The two would once again begin working together over the years, but the glory days would always belong to the years between 1969 and 1977.
Bernie Taupin Receives Prestigious CBE British Award article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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