Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Step Into Christmas of Elton John has become a timeless and enduring Christmas classic, adding a touch of musical magic to Christmas celebrations around the world.
A song that was intended to be a musical Christmas card for fans of the British artist after the monumental release of his album Goodbye Yellow Brick Roadwhich topped the charts and broke records.
Like many other Christmas classics, Step Into Christmas has returned to become a seasonal favorite. The song was originally released as a stand-alone single in 1973 with Ho, Ho, Ho (Who’d Be a Turkey at Christmas) on side B. Both songs were written and recorded specifically on Sunday, November 11 of that same year at Trident Studios in London, where Elton and the producer Gus Dudgeon they had made their first three albums together. As a curiosity, the official video of Step Into Christmas was recorded at an early hour in the morning, which is why Elton is seen at first faking a yawn and looking at his watch.
The catchy melody of Step Into Christmas, It was published, since it was recorded, in less than a week. However, the song was not released on an Elton album until the 1990 box set, To BeContined… (more recently it can be found in the Deluxe version of Diamonds) and was performed in some of his concerts Christmas Party at the Hammersmith Odeon in London at the end of December 1973 and also on their tour of Japan in February 1974.
The track peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number 24 upon its release; However, proving that it has become a perennial favorite for listeners around the world, it reached a new peak in the #8 on the UK Singles Chart 46 years laterin 2019, and went double platinum in 2021. In the United States it reached the top of the Billboard Christmas Singles chart in 1973 and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2021..
Step Into Christmas has become an essential part of the Christmas musical repertoire and its joyful and festive spirit continues to delight the public during these special dates.
Farewell to the stages
On June 25, Elton John closed the Glastonbury festival in style with an emotional and packed show that was also his last concert in the United Kingdom of his farewell tour.
Before a dedicated audience where several generations and many famous faces came together, the artist gave an exhaustive review of his well-known hits throughout the decades, such as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I guess That’s why they called it the Blues, Sad Songs (Say so Much) either Someone saved my life tonightone of his “favorite songs.”
During the two-hour concert he performed classics such as I’m Still Standing, Your Song either Candle In The Winda song originally written for actress Marilyn Monroe and later rewritten for Princess Diana’s 1997 funeral.
Before ending the show with rocket mana song that was followed by endless applause, John addressed the audience, visibly moved, to thank him for making him “feel so happy” and for “52 years of incredible love and loyalty.”
