(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again

Album: Rocketman (Music From the Motion Picture) (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Rocketman movie chronicles Elton John's journey from his early days as a Royal Academy of Music prodigy to worldwide acclaim as a superstar. It features the highs and lows of Elton's career, including his musical partnership with Bernie Taupin and his personal struggles with his sexuality and addiction. This song finds the rock legend joining forces with Taron Egerton, the actor who plays him in the film.
  • Written by Elton with Bernie Taupin, "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" plays over Rocketman's end credits. It is the only moment on the soundtrack where we hear John's vocals, as Egerton sings most of the tracks by himself.
  • The song finds Elton reflecting on his own story, as chronicled in the movie. During the first verse he reminisces on how he learned to trust the "voice inside (his) head," as he strove to follow his dream. Taron Egerton croons the second verse, in which he expresses gratitude for surviving drug, alcohol, and loneliness issues at the height of his career. They sing together during the redemption-filled choruses.
  • Co-produced by Giles Martin, the soulful stomper is a Motown Pastiche with kitchen-sink production and a horn-driven riff. Martin was music director for Rocketman.
  • The song won the 2019 Golden Globe award for Best Original Song in a motion picture. As Elton pointed out in their acceptance speech, it was the first award he and Taupin ever won together - Taupin somehow never won a Grammy. "This isn't just a song we wrote for a movie, this is a song we wrote for a movie that deals with our relationship," Taupin said.
  • The song plays at the end of the film, when Elton is coming out of rehab and is learning to love himself again after recovering from drugs and alcohol. He told Billboard: "It's an optimistic new chapter in my life, and we both wanted a song that captures that uplifting spirit. Bernie's lyric captured that mood perfectly."
  • Elton wanted the audience to be dancing up the cinema aisles as the song played. "I immediately saw Bernie's lyrics as a Motown-style song," he said. "A celebration! I then checked out the tempo of 'Come See About Me' by The Supremes for inspiration and constructed the melody from there."
  • This won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 2020 ceremony. It was Bernie Taupin's first Oscar and Elton's second - he won in 1995 for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King, which he wrote with Tim Rice.

Comments: 2

  • Shawn N from Green BayElton and Bernie still writing hits in 2019. This is completely crazy.
    I first heard it at work, and I was like - "Is that fricking Elton John?" Unbelievable.
  • Tim from ExeterWho are the musicians in the band on this song?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.