Elton John - The Final Duets / DeLuxe Edition, Next Album?

 In the world of music, some voices leave a mark not only for what they create but for who they choose to share the stage with. Throughout his career, Elton John has shown that duets are more than collaborations: they are bridges between generations, styles, and emotions. This project was born from a simple question: what would Elton John’s most iconic songs sound like if they met the artists who now shape contemporary pop and soul? The Final Duets is an imaginative exercise and a tribute: a way to celebrate shared music, explore new possibilities, and offer a portrait of Elton not only as a solo artist but as an artist who has always thrived on musical dialogue. 

This is not a real album but a fantasy booklet that allows us to imagine the blend of talent, history, and style between a music icon and the stars who inherited part of his legacy. Each choice of artist and song reflects a different aspect of Elton’s life and work, from the most intimate emotions to the most theatrical expressions. With this premise, the reader embarks on The Final Duets, a journey that combines what was, what is, and what could have been—always under the central idea: music is more powerful when sung with someone else.

💿 ELTON JOHN — THE FINAL DUETS
Deluxe Edition – Collector’s Vinyl Booklet

If these were my last songs, I wouldn’t want to sing them alone.”
— Elton John

For more than five decades, Elton John has be en more than a musician: he has been a storyteller, a revolutionary, a mirror of his time.With The Final Duets, the legendary British pianist closes his musical circle by sharing songs with a new generation of artists—each chosen not only for their talent but for reflecting a part of his own journey: love, identity, elegance, rebellion, or pure emotion. This album is not a farewell, but a conversation. A dialogue between the one who paved the way and those who continue walking it. Recorded between London, Los Angeles, and New York, produced by Greg Kurstin, Mark Ronson, Andrew Watt, Jack Antonoff, and Dave Cobb, The Final Duets combines the warmth of classic piano with the contemporary energy of artists who grew up listening to his music.

🕯️ Official Tracklist (Deluxe Edition)

1. ADELE – “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”
2025 Version – Produced by Greg Kurstin

A live take, voice and piano. No embellishments—only the honesty of two British artists who understand the power of silence between notes.

Additional track: “What We Left Unsaid”

Reflects unspoken feelings in past relationships, a poetic dialogue that complements the spirit of the original song.

2. SAM SMITH – “Sacrifice”
Produced by Andrew Watt & Dave Cobb

The 1989 classic is reborn with symphonic arrangements and a gospel choir.

Additional track: “Heaven Knows My Name”

Represents self-acceptance and inner faith, a journey of self-recognition that resonates with the original song’s message.

3. HARRY STYLES – “The Bitch Is Back”
Produced by Mark Ronson

Electric guitars, brass, and driving rhythm. A celebration of glam rock with nods to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Additional track: “Velvet Skyline”

An evocation of freedom and sophistication, reflecting the elegance and rebelliousness Harry and Elton share on stage.

4. TAYLOR SWIFT – “Tiny Dancer”
Produced by Jack Antonoff

An acoustic, folk-infused version recorded in Nashville. Taylor and Elton transform the classic into an open letter to time, art, and the road.

Additional track: “Letters from the Road”

Symbolizes narratives of travel, memories, and imagined letters—a bridge between Taylor’s storytelling and Bernie Taupin’s poetry.

5. MICHAEL BUBLÉ – “Blue Eyes”
Produced by Greg Kurstin & David Foster

An elegant reinvention with big band and strings, warm and cinematic.

Additional track: “A Table for Two”

Reflects the intimacy of shared moments and conversations, a nod to mature romance and jazz lounge nostalgia.

6. MADONNA – “I’m Still Standing”
Produced by Mark Ronson & Stuart Price

Elegant electronics, ’80s touches, and a message of resilience.

Additional track: “Rebel Hearts Don’t Fade”

Represents the spirit of survival and artistic struggle, a tribute to the resistance and passion both icons embody.

7. CHAPPELL ROAN – “Bennie and the Jets”
Produced by Andrew Watt & Chappell Roan

Queer synth-pop, theatrical and excessive: glam reinvented.

Additional track: “Neon Saint”

Evokes identity and liberation on the dance floor, reflecting the eccentricity and theatricality Elton always celebrated.

8. BRUNO MARS – “Philadelphia Freedom”
Produced by Mark Ronson

Soul, funk, and brass: a celebration and nod to live performance.

Additional track: “Shine It On”

Positive and infectious energy—a hymn to personal brilliance and the shared groove between the two artists.

9. ALICIA KEYS – “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”
Produced by Alicia Keys & Elton John

Two pianos facing off, recorded in a single take, pure breath and emotion.

Additional track: “The Fire and the Light”

Reflects the healing power of love and music, a hopeful theme complementing the original song’s emotive depth.

10. CHRIS MARTIN – “Rocket Man”
Produced by Coldplay & Brian Eno

A cosmic, choral interpretation. Overlapping vocals and synthesizers for an epic finale.

Additional track: “One Sky”

An anthem of unity and hope, evoking the universal, cosmic perspective Elton and Chris share.

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🌈 General Credits

• Produced by: Greg Kurstin, Mark Ronson, Andrew Watt, Jack Antonoff, Dave Cobb

• Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios (London), Electric Lady (New York), Henson Studios (Los Angeles)

• Engineers: Emily Lazar, Tom Elmhirst, Serban Ghenea

• Cover Art: David LaChapelle

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🎸 Musicians / Band Credits

• Elton John – Piano, vocals

• Bernie Taupin – Lyricist (except Blue Eyes by Gary Osborne)

• Davey Johnstone – Guitars, backing vocals 

• Nigel Olsson – Drums, backing vocals

• Matt Bissonette – Bass, backing vocals

• Kim Bullard – Keyboards, synthesizers

• Ray Cooper – Percussion

• John Mahon – Percussion, backing vocals

• Orchestral Arrangements & Strings: David Campbell & The London Session Orchestra

• Backing Vocalists: Lisa Stone, Rose Stone, Kudisan Kai, Marlena Jeter

• Horn Section: Michael Davis, David Mann, Gerald Albright

🎵 Epilogue

The Final Duets is not a farewell but an invitation. Each collaboration reflects a part of the mirror Elton has built with his music: Adele’s British soul, Sam Smith’s spirituality, Harry Styles’ glam, Taylor Swift’s narrative, Bublé’s elegance, Madonna’s rebellion, Chappell Roan’s theatricality, Bruno Mars’ groove, Alicia Keys’ depth, and Chris Martin’s hope. Each voice is a distinct reflection of his own. Together, they compose his most human portrait.

🔹 Finale

The Final Duets is more than a collection of imagined songs. It is a tribute to the idea that music does not exist in a vacuum: it grows, transforms, and thrives when shared.

Each duet, each note, and each additional track was conceived as a dialogue across generations, a bridge between the classic and the contemporary. Throughout his career, Elton John has taught us that singing with someone else not only amplifies emotion but creates memories that transcend time and trends.

This imaginary project celebrates that philosophy: allowing us to envision a world where today’s artists meet a timeless master, showing us the beauty of collaboration, diversity, and limitless creativity.

As you close this booklet, the invitation remains: listen, share, and above all, sing together. Because, in the end, that is what makes music endure.