“I Cannot Live Without It”: Elton John’s One Necessity in Life Should Come as No Surprise

Over the last several months, Elton John battled a severe eye infection that left the singer without his eyesight. Struggling with his health over the years, the singer never stepped away from the stage or spotlight. Always sharing his love for music, on April 4th, the singer will release a collaborative studio album alongside Brandi Carlile called Who Believes In Angels? Featuring not only John and Carlile, the singer worked with Chad Smith, Pino Palladino, and Josh Klinghoffer. Recently, John and Carlile sat down with Apple Music to discuss the album and John’s need for music. 

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With just a few weeks to go before the album hit shelves, John and Carlile discussed their new single “Swing For The Fences”, which was an “Anthem” for the LGBTQ generation. “Laura Nyro and Little Richard, who are sort of our queer predecessors. They sort of came before Elton and I in many ways, and weren’t allowed really, I think, to fully walk through the world unabashedly as gay people. And then, we’ve got this song that’s kind of an anthem of encouragement to LGBTQ youth. I think it’s a really interesting way to follow up the lives of those two icons that influenced us so much.”

Wanting their song to do more than entertain, Carlile and John wanted it to encourage. “I love that we were able to take that encouragement, and hopefully, it can aggregate. Hopefully, it can help those marginalized kids and those young people right now, and they can look to me and Elton and they can go, ‘Yeah, I’m going to be okay. I’m going to be all right,’ because we got their back.”

[RELATED: Elton John Performs “Pink Pony Club” Alongside Chappell Roan at Aids Foundation Oscars Party—and It’s as Iconic as You’d Expect]

Elton John Wants Aspiring Artists To Be “Ready”

Besides fashioning an ongoing legacy in music, John also helped nurture rising stars in the music industry. Always willing to help, he insisted that music was his core. “It’s essential to who I am. It’s vital to who I am. I cannot live without new music. I cannot live without it.”

With many artists wanting to make it big right away, John offered some advice about letting stardom happen naturally. “I was playing with Bluesology for years and then, backing Patti LaBelle and Major Lance and Billy Stewart. And when I came to the Troubadour, I was ready. I was totally ready. I saw Chappell Roan in London, I was blown away. She’s ready. Because all heartbreak and all the disappointments, they make you stronger. And I would try to relay that to people… But it’s so great to see these people who are so talented. [I say] it don’t happen too quickly. You have the disappointments. It makes you stronger.”

Following his own advice, John continues to expand his career and share his knowledge and talents with a new generation of artists.

(Photo by John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images)