Bernie Taupin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernie Taupin
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Taupin in 2024
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| Birth name | Bernard John Taupin |
| Born | 22 May 1950 Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England |
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| Years active | 1967–present |
Bernard John Taupin (born 22 May 1950) is an English lyricist and artist. He is most famous for writing songs with Elton John. Their partnership is one of the most successful in music history. Bernie has written the words for most of Elton John's songs since the 1960s.
In 1967, Bernie saw an advertisement in a music paper looking for new songwriters. Elton John also answered the same ad. This is how they met and began working together. Bernie and Elton were added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.
In 2020, they won an Oscar for their song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again". This song was featured in the movie Rocketman. Bernie was also honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. In 2024, Bernie and Elton received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Bernie also won an Ivor Novello Award for his amazing contribution to British music.
Contents
Early Life and Growing Up
Bernie Taupin was born in a farmhouse in Lincolnshire, England, on May 22, 1950. His father worked on a large farm. His mother loved French literature. Bernie's grandfather, a teacher, taught him to love nature and stories. These things later helped him write song lyrics.
In 1959, his family moved to a small farm that raised chickens. Their new home did not have good heating or plumbing. Bernie was not a very serious student. He loved writing from a young age. At 15, he left school. He worked for a local newspaper for a short time, hoping to become a journalist.
After that, Bernie spent his teenage years with friends. He would hitchhike to youth club dances. He also played snooker and hung out in pubs. He had several part-time jobs. When he was 17, he saw the advertisement that changed his life. This ad led him to meet Elton John.
How Bernie and Elton Met
In 1967, Bernie Taupin and Elton John both answered an ad. A record company was looking for new songwriters. Neither of them passed the audition. But the person at the company gave Elton a sealed envelope. It contained poems written by Bernie.
Elton read the poems on his way home. He realized he could write music for Bernie's words. This was the start of their famous partnership. They have worked together on more than 30 albums since then.
For a short time, from 1977 to 1979, they worked with other artists. But they soon started writing together again. By 1983, they were back to being a full-time songwriting team. Bernie became Elton's main lyricist once more. Elton sometimes works with other writers for movies or musicals. For example, he worked on The Lion King and Billy Elliot.
Their hit songs in the 1980s include "I'm Still Standing" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues". In the 1990s, they had more hits like "The One" and "Believe". In 1997, Bernie rewrote the lyrics for "Candle in the Wind". This new version, "Candle in the Wind 1997", was a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.
Their writing process is unique. Bernie writes the lyrics on his own. Then, Elton takes the words and creates the music. They often work together in the studio now.
In 2006, their first Broadway musical, Lestat: The Musical, opened. Bernie wrote lyrics for many songs on Elton's 2006 album, The Captain & The Kid. This album celebrated their 40th anniversary of working together. Bernie even appeared on the album cover with Elton for the first time.
In 2007, Bernie surprised Elton at his 60th birthday concert. Elton told the audience that without Bernie, he wouldn't be the Elton John everyone knows. They also wrote songs for The Union in 2010. They wrote five songs for the movie Gnomeo and Juliet in 2011. Their most recent album together is Wonderful Crazy Night from 2016.
In 2019, the movie Rocketman was released. It tells the story of Elton John's life. Bernie (played by Jamie Bell) is a major character in the film. Bernie and Elton wrote a new song for the movie, "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again". This song won them an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Working with Other Artists
Besides Elton John, Bernie has written lyrics for other singers. He co-wrote "We Built This City" for the band Starship. He also wrote "These Dreams" for the band Heart. In 1978, he worked with Alice Cooper on his album From the Inside.
Bernie also helped produce an album called American Gothic for David Ackles in 1972. Music critics loved this album. Later, in 2002, Willie Nelson and Kid Rock recorded Bernie's song "Last Stand in Open Country". Willie Nelson's album also had two other songs by Bernie. One of them, "Mendocino County Line", won a Grammy Award in 2003. It won for best vocal collaboration in country music.
Bernie as a Performer
In 1971, Bernie released a spoken-word album called Taupin. On this album, he read some of his early poems. Elton John later put one of these poems, "The Greatest Discovery", to music. It was included on Elton's second album. Bernie later said he wasn't very happy with his own album.
In 1980, Bernie recorded his first album as a singer, He Who Rides the Tiger. This album did not become popular. In 1987, he released another album called Tribe.
In 1996, Bernie started a band called Farm Dogs. They released two albums. These albums had a rougher, more natural sound. Bernie wrote the lyrics, and the band members created the music together. Their first album, Last Stand in Open Country, was praised by critics. But it didn't get much radio play. Their second album, Immigrant Sons, came out in 1998. It was not successful, even after a tour of small clubs.
Other Projects
In 1973, Bernie gathered all his song lyrics into a book. It was called Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John. This book included lyrics from albums, single B-sides, and his spoken-word album. Famous artists like John Lennon and Joni Mitchell drew pictures for the book.
In 1988, Bernie wrote a book about his childhood. It was called A Cradle of Haloes: Sketches of a Childhood. This book was only released in the UK. It tells the story of his childhood in rural England in the 1950s and 1960s. It ends in 1969 when he goes to London to start his career.
In 1991, Bernie published a book of poems called The Devil at High Noon. In 1994, another book of his lyrics was published. It was called Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Complete Lyrics.
Visual Art
Bernie also spends a lot of time creating visual art. He says his mother inspired his love for art. Since 2010, Bernie has been showing and selling his artwork. His art often includes large, mixed-media pieces. They have been shown in galleries across the United States and Canada. Bernie's artwork often features the American flag.
Personal Life
Bernie Taupin has been married four times. He moved from England to the United States in the mid-1970s. In 1990, he became a US citizen. He now lives in Santa Barbara County, California.
In 2022, Bernie was given a special honor. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This award recognizes his great contributions to music.
Discography
Solo albums
- 1971 – Taupin
- 1980 – He Who Rides the Tiger
- 1987 – Tribe
With Farm Dogs
- 1996 – Last Stand in Open Country
- 1998 – Immigrant Sons
See also
In Spanish: Bernie Taupin para niños
- List of songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
