Sir Elton Comes Out for Hillary; Guess Which Song She Mentions

Nick Gillespie | April 10, 2008

As someone who genuinely enjoys pre-knighted Elton John music from his '70s heyday, I can think of any number of Reggie Dwight-Bernie Taupin tunes that might cover this situation. None is mentioned below, though Sen. Clinton's invocation of "I'm Still Standing" below is the worst mention of a song by a politico since Sen. Bill Bradley once announced lunch for a bunch of New Jersey high school newspaper editors circa 1981 by announcing to the Springsteen-savvy crowd that "everybody has a hungry heart."

Sez the BBC:

Pop star Sir Elton John has raised $2.5m (£1.3m) for Hillary Clinton's US presidential campaign with a concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Former president Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea joined the former first lady at the gig.

Senator Clinton, who is fighting Barack Obama to become the Democratic party's candidate, said: "I'm still standing"—a nod to Sir Elton's 1983 hit song.

The singer told the crowd: "There is no-one more qualified to lead America."

He also accused people who think Mrs Clinton is an unsuitable candidate of being sexist.

"I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country, and I say to hell with them," he told the crowd.

"I love you Hillary, I'll be there for you."

More here.

I mention this story because a) I find celebrity endorsements/anti-endorsements genuinely hilarious (how many votes did David Crosby throw Bush's way by announcing he'd leave for Canada if the Texan beat Al Gore in 2000)?; b) I am genuinely interested in what sort of dinosaur rawk stars will come out for Barack Obama and John McCain (what are The Spokesmen up to these days?); c) I genuinely would have voted for Hillary if she had quipped instead, "I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue," and d) It's a genuine opportunity to link yet again to the ultimate Shatnerian triumph of style, substance, and schmaltz, a.k.a. his dramatic reading of Elton John's "Rocket Man" (pronounced rock-IT maaan):