Songful Style | “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John

For the next round of Songful Style, it was my turn to choose the song that will inspire our outfits. I knew I wanted to feature an Elton John song in this series but the struggle came with deciding on which Elton John song. You know, there are so many that are just so magnificent that a person simply cannot choose one single favorite Elton John song.

Since Sir Elton offers sartorial inspiration just by existing (the man has some seriously enviable style, doesn’t he?), I knew any song choice would be fun to style. But the lyrics to “I’m Still Standing” have always inspired and empowered me when I have felt like life has knocked me on my butt. I get back up and Elton’s voice starts ear worming me…“I’m still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah…” If you’re still standing, I say you can count that as a major win!

About Songful Style

Songful Style is an ageless style challenge series hosted by Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Marsha of Marsha in the Middle. 

Each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit. 

It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.

Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing! 

We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post. Then about a week or two later, I will share a detailed post like this one about the chosen song.

Video Inspiration

The Lyrics

“I’m Still Standing” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold and lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use

And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away

Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah

Once I never could hope to win
You starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now

Y' know, I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah

(Solo)

Don't you know that I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
(fade)

About the Artist and the Song

Reginald Kenneth Dwight, more widely known as Sir Elton Hercules John, doesn’t really need an introduction. In fact, I feel kind of silly writing biographical information about a man everybody knows. Seriously, is there any conscious human on this planet who doesn’t know who Elton John is?

He was born on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, to musical parents and began showing musical aptitude at a very young age. With a career spanning six decades, he is widely acknowledged as a musical genius who has made a significant influence on pop music which has permanently impacted the music industry as a whole. His songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin is recognized as one of the most successful songwriting teams in music history. With a list of awards and nominations that is too long to list here, Sir Elton is the most recent addition to the very elite group of EGOT winners as of January 2024.

I am not going to talk more about this magnificent musical man because there is much better information to be found elsewhere. I highly recommend the 2019 biopic, Rocketman, starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, which earned a lengthly list of accolades in typical Elton John fashion!

Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, “I’m Still Standing” was the second single released in the U.K. and the first single released in the U.S. from Elton’s 1983 studio album Too Low for Zero. Due to heavy video promoting of the music video on MTV, “I’m Still Standing” became a longstanding hit for Sir Elton.

Although the song was written as a kiss off to an old girlfriend, it has assumed the status of an empowerment-in-the-face of adversity anthem. In making the video, the choreographer was visibly stunned by Elton John’s dance moves and quickly re-choreographed his part until he was just snapping his fingers and walking in time with the music. So the man can’t dance. But he can do all the other things really, really well!

The song charted at number one in Canada and Switzerland and has been certified gold in the U.S., Italy, and Germany; platinum in Denmark; and double platinum in Australia and the U.K.

Album Covers and Other Photo Inspiration

You are welcome to do your own research if you need more inspiration or if you are interested in learning more. If you want to join us, we will be hosting a link party on Monday, February 26, 2024, where you can share your outfits. We would love to see your Songful Styles inspired by Sir Elton John!

Happy styling! 

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.