“YOUR SONG,” MY CHORDS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ELLIE GOULDING’S COVER: Elton John, “Your Song” (1970); Ellie Goulding (2010)

Abstract

The context and timeline of our listening experiences shape our interpretations of song versions. It explores ideas using “Your Song,” comparing Elton John’s 1970 original with Ellie Goulding’s 2010 cover. Goulding’s reworking alters a key element of Elton John’s style: harmony. While largely retaining the vocal melody, Goulding’s version features a simplified piano accompaniment that highlights a relative minor tonal center. Her recentered four-chord progression lacks John’s characteristic extensions and chromaticism, offering a distinct contrast to the original. Nevertheless, crucial points of overlap between the versions shed light on the stylistic differences of the two artists and the expectations of their audiences. The authors grew up listening to “Your Song” and appreciate Elton John’s broader work, particularly his approach to chords as a defining aspect of his sound. The research questions here invite us to consider a version of this song that largely omits these elements and ask us to reflect on how these shape the musicological insights being offered. The authors offer a phenomenology of covers as a framework to incorporate such encounters and positionality into a comparative musicology study. This approach interrogates expectations relating to harmony and the hauntological dimensions of harmony that covers impose on the listener. Show more