I'm Going To Be A Teenage Idol by Elton John

Album: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)

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There have been several songs with the phrase "Teenage Idol" in the title. This Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition should more properly be called "I'm Gonna Be A Teenage Idol," because that verbatim phrase is part of the lyric. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, it was recorded along with the rest of the album at Strawberry Studios, Château D'Hierouville, France in June 1972. For Elton, the song's title turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophesy in the nicest possible way, because the front page of the March 31 issue of Melody Maker the following year pictured him playing to a sell out crowd of mainly youngsters in London; its headline was NOW ELTON'S A TEEN IDOL! >>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England
This song is a tribute to Marc Bolan of the band T. Rex. "We played it to him and I think he liked it," Elton said in an interview with Beat Instrumental. "He didn't hit me anyway."

Bolan was alive and well when this song was recorded; he died in a car accident in 1977 at age 29.

Comments: 4

Jeffrey from New YorkYes I remember the video from a Elton John concert at Madison Square Garden in 1974 I believe it was the Thanksgiving show that John Lennon played 3 songs with Elton
Scott Schultz from Tucson, ArizonaWhen I saw Elton John at the Forum back in the 70's, an animated video of Teenage Idol was shown before the concert. Does anyone else remember it? I've tried to find it but to no avail.
Ken from Louisville, KyBoth Bernie and Elton say the inspiration of this song was Marc Boland - England's "teenage idol" of the early 1970's.
Kevin from Reading , PaA good example of the kind of quality album tracks Elton managed to produce in his early to mid 70s heyday. Like many of them, it probably could have been a hit single.

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