Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Miley Cyrus, Ice Spice and 070 Shake: Queer artists ruled the UK charts in 2023
The Official Charts Company has unveiled its top tracks of 2023, and queer artists dominate three of the top 10 entries. With her chart-topping, disco and funk-tinged breakup anthem ‘Flowers’, Miley Cyrus lands the biggest song of the year with almost 200 million streams.
Her third UK number-one, ‘Flowers’ memorably broke a plethora of streaming records – it became the fastest song in Spotify’s history to surpass one billion streams – and has been nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the upcoming Grammy Awards. ‘Escapism’, RAYE’s collaboration with queer rapper 070 Shake, is in third place.
The electropop and hip-hop banger reached number-one in the UK in January 2023, becoming both artists’ first single to achieve this feat.
Although the success wasn’t replicated in the US, peaking at 22, it’s the highest-charting single for both RAYE and 070 Shake in the country.
