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Taron Egerton’s Takes the Spotlight
Elton John greatly benefited from Egerton’s incredible portrayal and performance in the 2019 biopic, Rocketman, where Egerton managed to wow everyone with his acting skills as well as singing. The attention to detail that Egerton had in turning himself into the legendary musician was astounding as it captured every part of the essence that John had. However, as much as Egerton’s performance was brilliant, there is always the question – would someone be able to strut down the runway wearing six-inch stilettos? The answer is likely no, as the fashion-forward and daring persona of Elton John calls for a certain level of bravado and sartorial boldness that is not easily replicated. Now we have Cara Delevingne, the model and actress who never fails to intrigue people with her character and style.
The unconventional beauty has no qualms in sporting and embodying the persona of Elton John’s drag, and with her taking the big and bold approach to how she captivates her viewers, she certainly aims to take on John’s image herself which is quite the large image. This holiday season, she dons the glamorous, larger-than-life look that John himself made famous, stepping into his shoes, quite literally, in a new music video for his timeless hit Step Into Christmas. With Cara Delevingne confidence and flair, she effortlessly channels the spirit of the legendary pop icon, perfectly suited to bring new life to one of John’s most festive songs.
A Classic Hit
Released on November 1973, Step Into Christmas was a departure from the usual fare on Elton John’s albums which added a new dimension to the pop music genre during the time as well. Together with the festive spirit B-side Ho, Ho, Ho (Who’d Be a Turkey at Christmas), the track quickly became a Christmas classic despite being ranked at position number fifty-six on the US charts. Such low ranks did not prevent the song from resonating with people as it therefore went on to reach the first position of the Christmas Singles chart by Billboard. Its enduring popularity led to it being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2022 or 2021, solidifying its place in the world of Christmas classics.
Although there was a music clip when Step Into Christmas was first released, the fact that John has now chosen to record this song after fifty years only serves to add an extra dimension to the song’s nostalgia as well as its celebration. This time, however, he brings in Delevingne to help breathe fresh life into the song’s visual presentation. The recently launched video is a fun yet beautiful version of the original, updating the vintage tune for the present age. Incorporating Delevingne’s style and energy, John reinvents the timeless love song for a younger audience while staying loyal to the original’s essence.
A Holiday Reimagined
Rather, the new Step Into Christmas video goes beyond merely updating an old classic. John’s global image and music aren’t only classic and their performance is matched by a lot of razzmatazz and character. Attention is drawn to Delevingne’s ensemble performance and the overall nature of the video is fashion and fun combined with Christmas cheer. It is the combination and the likeness of not only the song but the artist that is also iconic. In this case, the re-invention of Christmas is a pointer to the fact that John’s fan base remains loyal to him even as he gears up for another onslaught while adding some style to the narrative that is Christmas. Elton John’s latest Step Into Christmas comes as a huge surprise. But, we are glad to see how the pop icon has teamed up with model-movie star, Cara Delevingne.
The duo first met at Glastonbury, where John played a casual conversation with Delevingne about working together. They were all noticed working, but the need was right for that idea to come in time, as collaboration wasn’t too hard to imagine between them – said John in a statement. The sense of humor as well as self awareness John and Delevingne possessed was pure, enabling their effortless match as this creative project’s cast. However, it was an original idea to switch the roles and let Cara Delevingne play John in light of a Christmas-themed rerun of the 1973 Christmas tune’s video, that John managed to grab. I was quite delighted that Cara felt the same as I did. He stated, “As great as I thought about it, it was just perfect.”
Delevingne’s Dream Come True
To narrate, for Cara Delevingne, the fact that one of her idols got to come true, was nothing short than a dream. She was thrilled to be given the opportunity to play John because of his music. “To say that his music has had a massive impact on my life is to say the least,” Delevingne indeed recognized how great John’s work has been in her career. Walking in his shoes and reenact one of his great moments not only became a mystery to her but also something that she never wanted until it was realized.
“To be asked by him to PLAY him in this recreation was a dream that I did not know that I had until it came to pass,” she confessed. Laughingly, she made a statement that she wished she could ““pretend to be Elton every day” because of how well the experiment went. However, her playful hope did not stop there—she more so jokingly suggested that John could do the same. “My fingers are crossed that one day Elton does the same and agrees to play me in my biopic which is a concept and not a written, pitched or even funded book,” she said, smiling, and added a bit of humor into the story.
Bringing the Past to Life
As Delevingne plays John in the new version of Step Into Christmas, the performer has been able to revisit one of his most famous pieces from 1973. The idea of the new video come from the concept of the original, but literally fetiches the model and actress bringing another viewpoint. The merriment and the excitement that Delevingne injects into the video matches, if not exceeds, John’s own brash and charming demeanor, and so it appears to be an extension of his colorful persona. With the help of these collaborations, John manages to preserve the awe from his past while ensuring that his brand of entertainment survives and is relevant in contemporary times. Delevingne’s vivaciousness along with John’s classic album is the ideal dose of entertainment and creativity that has nostalgia for older fans as well as fits the needs of new fans in celebration of the holidays.
Elton John has collaborated with Delevingne for the first time on this occasion. The collaboration isn’t an oddity for John as he has a history of enlisting people to dress like him for music videos as far back as 2001, when Timberlake impersonated John for his song ‘This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore,’ which apparently was a tribute to John’s 1970’s alter ego. John’s eccentricity was highlighted by Timberlake’s exquisite depiction of the pop star. He then set the stage for John’s readiness to work with other musicians, placing them in a position to artistically honor him and allowing for great respect and unity in the fold. It doesn’t sound weird to say that his vision reaches far beyond the music he creates, since John also encourages people to attempt dressing as him or donning other interpretations of himself.
