Green Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 Elton John's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits In honor of Sir Elton John's 70th birthday today (March 25), Billboard takes a look at his highest-ranking hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. John's biggest Hot 100 hit, the double-sided single "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight," debuted at No. 1 on Oct. 11, 1997, and ruled for 14 weeks. "Candle," his tribute to Princess Diana, who died that Aug. 31, also won him a Grammy Award for best male pop vocal performance. The singer-songwriter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1994; has won five Grammy Awards; an Academy Award and a Golden Globe (both for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," from Disney's The Lion King); and a Tony Award (for the score of the musical Aida). He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his charity work. (Coincidentally, March 25 also marks Aretha Franklin's 75th birthday, and John and Franklin dueted on 1989's "Through the Storm." The song ranks at No. 38 on the list below of John's biggest Hot 100 hits.) Elton John's Biggest Hot 100 Hits 1, "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight," peak position No. 1 (14 weeks), peak date Oct. 11, 1997 2, "That's What Friends Are For" (Dionne & Friends), No. 1 (four weeks), Jan. 18, 1986 3, "Philadelphia Freedom" (The Elton John Band), No. 1 (two weeks), April 12, 1975 4, "Crocodile Rock," No. 1 (three weeks), Feb. 3, 1973 5, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (Elton John & Kiki Dee), No. 1 (four weeks), Aug. 7, 1976 6, "Bennie and the Jets," No. 1 (one week), April 13, 1974 7, "Island Girl," No. 1 (three weeks), Nov. 1, 1975 8, "Little Jeannie," No. 3, July 19, 1980 9, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," No. 2, Dec. 8, 1973 10, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," No. 1 (two weeks), Jan. 4, 1975 11, "Daniel" No. 2, June 2, 1973 12, "I Don't Wanna Go on With You Like That," No. 2, Aug. 27, 1988 13, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," No. 4, Aug. 6, 1994 14, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," No. 4, Aug. 16, 1975 15, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," No. 2, July 27, 1974 16, "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," No. 4, Jan. 28, 1984 17, "The Bitch Is Back," No. 4, Nov. 2, 1974 18, "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," No. 6, Dec. 25, 1976 19, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (George Michael/Elton John), No. 1 (one week), Feb. 1, 1992 20, "Candle in the Wind," No. 6, Jan. 23, 1988 21, "Nikita," No. 7, March 22, 1986 22, "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," No. 5, Aug. 11, 1984 23, "Rocket Man," No. 6, July 15, 1972 24, "Mama Can't Buy You Love," No. 9, Aug. 25, 1979 25, "Your Song," No. 8, Jan. 23, 1971 26, "The One," No. 9, Sept. 19, 1992 27, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," No. 12, Sept. 15, 1973 28, "I'm Still Standing," No. 12, July 9, 1983 29, "Honky Cat," No. 8, Sept. 23, 1972 30, "Blue Eyes," No. 12, Oct. 2, 1982 31, "Sacrifice," No. 18, March 31, 1990 32, "Healing Hands," No. 13, Oct. 28, 1989 33, "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)," No. 13, May 29, 1982 34, "Believe," No. 13, May 13, 1995 35, "Wrap Her Up," No. 20, Dec. 7, 1985 36, "Who Wears These Shoes?," No. 16, Nov. 3, 1984 37, "Grow Some Funk of Your Own"/"I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)," No. 14, Feb. 28, 1976 38, "Through the Storm" (Aretha Franklin & Elton John), No. 16, May 27, 1989 39, "A Word in Spanish" No. 19, Nov. 12, 1988 40, "Circle of Life," No. 18, Dec. 15, 1994 Elton John's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 hits (as a soloist) chart is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100, through the April 1, 2017, ranking. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted to account for different chart turnover rates over various periods. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7735709/elton-john-biggest-billboard-hot-100-hits
DivaCup Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 i LOVE Rocket Man and Daniel. Tiny Dancer isn't even on the list even though it's one of his most well-known songs
Mekitor Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 So many great smart written songs! Love his music. What a legend indeed!
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 One of the most underappreciated legend alive! Rocket Man is Space Oddity's younger brother and a masterpiece. Tiny Dancer is an amazing song!
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 One of the most underappreciated legend alive! Rocket Man is Space Oddity's younger brother and a masterpiece. Tiny Dancer is an amazing song!
Rusty Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 (edited) Whew, Elton! His certs are at 168M, he is so underrated for being a mega-selling act! Elton's live shows in Vegas >>>> Edited March 26, 2017 by Rusty
brianc33710 Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 I feel fairly certain that Elton John and Cher ("Believe", 1998-9) are the only two artists in Hot 100 history to score their biggest songs after turning 50.
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