He was supposed to be washed up. By 1983, the critics had already started writing the obituary for Elton John’s career. The glitzy, high-flying dominance of the 1970s felt like a fever dream that had finally broken. People thought he was a relic of the glam rock era, a man lost in a haze of substance abuse and changing musical tastes. Then came that drum beat. That defiant, synth-heavy, relentless stomp. I’m Still Standing didn’t just climb the charts; it basically kicked the door down and announced that the Rocketman wasn't going anywhere.
Honestly, it’s one of the greatest "screw you" songs ever written. But if you look closer at the history, it’s not just about a breakup or a bad business deal. It’s a literal manifesto of survival.
The Riviera, a Pink Suit, and a Very Annoyed Film Director
You can’t talk about this song without the music video. It’s iconic. It’s chaotic. It’s very, very 1980s. Directed by Russell Mulcahy—the same guy who did Highlander and Duran Duran’s "Rio"—the shoot in Cannes and Nice was a total mess in the best way possible. Elton was reportedly drinking heavily during the production. He actually met Duran Duran at a bar the night before the shoot, and let's just say things got out of hand.
There’s a famous story where Elton, after a long night of martinis, decided to trash his hotel room. Not out of anger, really, just because he was in that kind of mood. He allegedly threw his clothes out the window. The next morning, he had to film that famous scene on the Promenade des Anglais. If you look closely at his face in some of those shots, he’s not just acting. He’s genuinely hungover, squinting through the French sunshine, yet somehow delivering a performance that radiates pure, unadulterated confidence.
The video features Arlene Phillips’ choreography and a bunch of dancers covered in body paint. It’s colorful. It’s loud. It was exactly what MTV needed. At a time when New Wave was taking over, Elton proved he could play their game better than the kids could. He looked like a giant, shimmering piece of candy in that boater hat and pink suit. It worked.
It Wasn't Just About Elton: Bernie Taupin’s Real Message
A lot of fans assume Elton wrote these lyrics about his own struggles with the press or his personal life. He didn't. As with almost all of his hits, the lyrics came from his long-time collaborator, Bernie Taupin.
Bernie has been pretty open about the fact that I’m Still Standing was actually written about an old flame. It was a classic "look at me now" song directed at an ex-girlfriend. He wanted to capture that feeling of being discarded and then proving that you're actually doing better without the other person. You’re "looking like a true survivor" and "feeling like a little kid."
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The disconnect that created a masterpiece
- Bernie wrote a song about a breakup.
- Elton turned it into a song about career longevity.
- The public turned it into an anthem for overcoming trauma, illness, and failure.
That’s the magic of the Elton/Bernie partnership. The lyrics are specific enough to feel real but vague enough to be universal. When Elton sings "Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did," he’s reclaiming his throne. He had just come off a string of albums that didn't do much. Victim of Love (1979) was a disco experiment that most fans want to forget. 21 at 33 and The Fox were okay, but they weren't "Elton John" big. This track changed everything.
The Technical Brilliance of the "Too Low for Zero" Sessions
The song was recorded at Air Studios in Montserrat. This is important because Elton went back to his roots for the Too Low for Zero album. He reunited with his core band: Dee Murray on bass, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Davey Johnstone on guitar.
There’s a specific tightness to the rhythm section on this track. It’s not a ballad. It’s a workout. The bass line is driving and melodic, almost acting as a second lead instrument.
Wait.
Listen to the backing vocals. They are incredibly intricate. Elton layered his own voice multiple times to create that "choir" effect in the chorus. It’s a technique he’s used since "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," but here it feels sharper. More modern. The production by Chris Thomas—the guy who worked with the Sex Pistols and INXS—stripped away some of the orchestral bloat of Elton's late 70s work. It was lean. It was mean. It was perfect for the radio.
Why the Song Refuses to Die
You see this song everywhere now. It was in the movie Sing, voiced by Taron Egerton (who would later play Elton in Rocketman). It’s a staple at sporting events. Why?
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Because it’s catchy? Sure. But it’s more than that. The song taps into a very primal human emotion: defiance. Life tries to knock you down. Your job, your partner, your health—it all takes swings at you. And here’s this guy in a ridiculous outfit telling you that he’s still standing. It’s a permission slip to be resilient.
Interestingly, Elton’s voice changed over the years. If you listen to a live version from the 2020s versus the 1983 studio recording, the key has dropped. He can’t hit those high "yeah, yeah, yeahs" the same way. But in a weird way, the lower, gravelly register of "Older Elton" makes the song even more powerful. It sounds like someone who has actually survived the wars he’s singing about.
The "Rocketman" Resurgence
When the biopic Rocketman came out, the song took on a new life. The movie uses it as a triumphant finale. It frames the song as the moment Elton finally got sober and took control of his life.
While the timeline in the movie is a little "Hollywood" (he actually went to rehab years after the song was a hit), the emotional truth remains. The song represents the pivot point between the self-destructive Elton of the 70s and the elder statesman of pop we know today. It marks the beginning of his "Second Act." Without this hit, he might have faded into the "where are they now" files. Instead, he stayed on the charts for another four decades.
Common Misconceptions About the Track
People often get a few things wrong about this era of Elton's career.
First, they think he was "broke" before this. He wasn't. He was still incredibly wealthy, but he was losing cultural relevance. That’s a different kind of poverty for an artist.
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Second, some believe the song was a massive #1 hit in the US immediately. Actually, it peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a bigger hit in the UK and Switzerland. But its "cultural" peak was much higher than its chart peak. It felt like it was #1 for a year because the video was on a constant loop on MTV.
Third, there's a rumor that the song was written for another artist. Nope. This was 100% written by Bernie for Elton. They knew they needed a hit, and they delivered a sledgehammer.
How to Appreciate the Song Today
If you want to really "get" the brilliance of this track, stop listening to it on your phone speakers.
- Find a high-quality version. Put on some real headphones.
- Listen to the left channel. Pay attention to Davey Johnstone’s guitar work. It’s much more complex than a standard pop song.
- Focus on the lyrics of the second verse. "Once I never could hope to win / You're starting down the road leaving me again." It’s actually quite dark. The upbeat tempo masks a story of someone who was treated like dirt.
This song is a lesson in branding. Elton John took his personal struggles and turned them into a bright, shiny product that everyone could dance to. It’s the ultimate survival guide set to a 176 BPM beat.
Actionable Insights for the Elton Enthusiast:
- Check out the "Too Low for Zero" Album: Don't just stick to the hit. Songs like "Cold as Christmas" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" show a band at the absolute top of their game.
- Watch the Restored 4K Music Video: The colors are insane. You can see the actual texture of the body paint on the dancers. It’s a masterclass in early 80s aesthetics.
- Compare the Live Versions: Go on YouTube and watch the 1984 Wembley performance, then jump to his final "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour versions. You can hear the history of his voice changing through the decades.
- Read Bernie Taupin’s Memoir: If you want the "real" story behind the words, Lyrics or his more recent autobiography Scattershot provides the context for why he was writing such defiant prose in the early 80s.