The new Rocketman trailer gives moviegoers a fresh look at the upcoming Elton John biopic, but what songs from the legendary artist play during the preview? Fresh off the blockbuster success of Oscar-nominee Bohemian Rhapsody, director Dexter Fletcher (who took over for Bryan Singer on Bohemian Rhapsody late in production) is once again bringing the life of a musical icon to the big screen. Paramount definitely has high hopes for the project, seeing that they have it slated for a prime summer release in May, where it will go head-to-head with Godzilla: King of the Monsters at the box office.
With five Grammys, fifty Top 40 hits, and more than 300 million albums sold (among several other accolades), there's clearly no shortage of terrific music for the Rocketman marketing team to incorporate as they look to get John's fans excited about the film. The first teaser trailer, released late last year, made use of the titular track and that was only the tip of the iceberg. Now that a new preview is available online, several of John's other classic tunes are getting a moment in the spotlight.
Related: Taron Egerton Becomes Elton John In Rocketman Images
The official Rocketman trailer prominently features three Elton John songs. Its opening moments depict the genesis of "Your Song," the hit tune from his 1970 eponymous album. The next section of the trailer transitions into "Bennie and the Jets," from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. Finally, the preview goes out with "Tiny Dancer," which was released on the 1972 album Madman Across Water.
Given how recognizable and popular these three tracks are, it isn't surprising to hear them in the trailer. The promotional approach bears heavy resemblance to the Bohemian Rhapsody trailers, which were set to memorable Queen songs like "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions." Seeing that film became the highest-grossing musical biopic of all-time, it's logical for Paramount to follow that blueprint for Rocketman. Obviously, the combination of Egerton's performance and John's music is the biggest selling point of the film. It'll be interesting to see what songs are featured in future marketing materials, since there's a plethora of others that would be fitting for another trailer or TV spots.
Comparisons to Bohemian Rhapsody may not be the most flattering, since the Freddie Mercury biopic received mixed reviews for its formulaic approach to storytelling and sanitized depiction of certain aspects of its subject matter. Still, there's hope Rocketman can be a step above from an artistic perspective. Fletcher is not taking a conventional route with this biopic, staging elaborate musical fantasy sequences (some of which can be glimpsed in the trailer) to complement the narrative. What's more is that Egerton is doing his own singing, rather than lip syncing to John's recordings. Fingers crossed Rocketman is a film that lives up to its potential and honors Sir Elton's legacy in a compelling fashion.
