John Lewis has released its greatly anticipated Christmas advert featuring a moving tribute to British musical legend Sir Elton John and how his first piano was “more than just a gift”.
Its release on Thursday confirmed weeks of speculation that the music icon would take centre stage in this year’s advert, which has become a popular indicator that the Christmas season has begun.
The two-minute advert, hailed as an “absolute triumph”, features the tune "Your Song" and gives a festive-tinged retrospective of Elton’s life and career.
It begins in the present day with a shot of Elton sitting at his piano in his living room with a Christmas tree in the corner, as he plays the introduction to his 1970 hit song.
As the song gets underway the advert takes us on a journey through the singer’s career highlights, starting with a performance to a huge audience which applauds as he starts to play.
It takes us next to his dressing room before another show where - styling a pink afro, glitzy sunglasses and a sequin jacket – he performs to another crowd in front of a backdrop of lights.
John Lewis pays tribute to another of Elton’s iconic outfits as it shows him wearing an American flag sequin jacket as he stands on his piano before stage diving in an arena packed full of people.
It moves on to capture a moment on his 1970s tour - surrounded by people with long hair and flared trousers – on a private plane as he gives them an intimate rendition of the hit song.
After another performance at a piano wearing a white jacket with two flowers on it, the advert shows a younger Elton singing the original rendition of his 70s hit in a recording booth.
We’re then taken back to Elton’s childhood where he plays for a party full of people dancing and cheering, before his mum is shown teary-eyed at a school performance by Elton on the piano.
As the advert concludes, a young Elton runs down the stairs to see his mum and grandmother on Christmas morning and is shown in awe as he unwraps his first piano.
It ends with the young boy playing the same notes as current day Elton was heard playing at the start of the advert, as a message reads: “Some gifts are more than just a gift.”
Each of the iconic outfits were designed by Joanna Johnston as replicas of the singer’s original outfits.
A range of actors play the singer throughout the advert – Freddie Henderson portrays young Elton, Brandon Stein taking on his teenage years, Oliver Marshall depicting the 70s and Simon Burbage the 80s and 90s.
Elton himself plays the scenes set in the current day.
