The nation waited with baited breath in anticipation for Elton John’s biographical movie-musical ‘Rocketman’, and although it was met with general approval, it wasn’t exactly a memorable experience. This is why many were shocked to see its, “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” snag a Golden Globe for Best Original Song-Motion Picture. For a movie based around the vibrant Elton John’s life, this song was anything but.
Right off the bat, the jukebox-esque number sounds eerily familiar, and it is. With lyrics telling of being your own best friend, renewed self love isn’t exactly a new concept. Self esteem is pop artist Lizzo’s entire brand; Taylor Swift has repeatedly dabbled in the whole “learning to love yourself” shindig, and somehow their ghost writers did a better job of originality than the Elton John biopic did. Although some of the songs lyrical elements reflect a bit of John’s whimsical nature, those moments are few and far between, and not even the fun swooning of the keyboard can make this song worthy of more than a Target store playlist.
The musical number is undoubtedly catchy, but no more so than any generic pop song on the radio. But, when you stack it against the animated juggernaut of Frozen II’s “Into The Unknown”, which although not the best on the list, is very distinctly Frozen – it simply doesn’t add up. Not to mention, the cat-astrophie that was the Cats musical, although complete nightmare fuel, is at least something I’ll never forget, which is more than I can say of Rocketman’s soundtrack. Having the audacity to put “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” in the same league as Disney, Andrew Loyd Webber, and Beyoncé is laughable.
Overall, Rocketman was an underwhelming but passable experience, but to give it an original song award is insulting to not only the competitors, but the viewers as well. It’s “original” song being nothing more than self love mad libs with a generically fun keyboard winning against BEYONCÉ tells us all we need know. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go listen to Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album and pretend this movie and song don’t exist.