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Sounds of Pride: Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing”

With a career spanning as long as our Community, Sir Elton John’s genius and musical influence can be found on scores of albums, movie screens, stages; and concert halls.  Now at the age of 71, he is about to embark on a three year 300 date “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” concert tour.

His 1983 hit “I’m Still Standing” and accompanying music video quickly became an anthem for LGBT empowerment, strength, and resilience.  Though John wouldn’t publicly come out until 1988, if you look closely in the video, you’ll notice the solid band on his straw skimmer changes to a rainbow.

 

Second only to his work as a musician, has been John’s decades of humanitarian work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Randy Slovacek, writer/editor of the Award winning LGBT blog, “The Randy Report” recently posted this about the mega-star and HIV/AIDS activist.

“Five-time Grammy Award-winner Elton John will deliver this year’s “Diana, Princess of Wales Lecture” on HIV this June in association with the Elton John AIDS Foundation.  The National AIDS Trust began the lecture series in 1999, in honor of Princess Diana who had passed away just two years earlier.

On June 8, John will address an audience of health workers, politicians, civic leaders, celebrities, and people living with HIV/AIDS in London.  John shared a close bond with Diana and her commitment to ending HIV/AIDS.  In his speech, John is expected to call on governments to target the elimination of HIV/AIDS by the year 2030.”

Read his full post via TheRandyReport.com HERE

Follow The Randy Report on Twitter @randyslovacek , Facebook  and be sure to catch his weekly podcasts on iTunes!

Princess Diana’s friends perform the duet, “Don’t let the Sun go Down on Me”

Finally, “Your Song.”  If you notice, the subject of the song, the “your,” is never identified as male or female, only a person who makes them realize “how wonderful life is now you’re in the world.”

 

Previous posts from theOUTfront series “Sounds of Pride –The Music of Community, Love, and Equality”

“I’m Coming Out” – Diana Ross

“Heroes” by the metamorphic, David Bowie

Bette Midler at the Gay Baths

Fanfare for Gay Pride

#proudOUTloud

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