ELTON JOHN: PART 1 (with Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield)

ELTON JOHN: PART 1 (with Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield)

Author: DJ Louie XIV June 12, 2025 Duration: 1:59:08

Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield makes his Pop Pantheon debut for our special two-part Pride series on one of the most iconic queer figures in pop history, Elton John. Louie and Rob dig into Elton’s musical roots, his band Bluesology and his early work with lyricist and creative partner Bernie Taupin. From there, they discuss his 1970 breakthrough with “Your Song” and his seminal run of mid-1970s “classic period” albums and hits, including records like 1971’s Tumbleweed Connection, 1972’s Honky Château, 1973’s Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player and Elton’s audacious double-album blockbuster Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973). 


Tune in next week for part two, covering the many peaks and valleys of Elton’s post-imperial run career, his legacy as a queer pop star and his ranking in the Official Pop Pantheon.

Listen to Pop Pantheon's Elton John Essentials Playlist


Gorgeous Gorgeous LA Pride on June 20 at Los Globos

Gorgeous Gorgeous NYC Pride on June 27 at Sultan Room

Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and More

Shop Merch in Pop Pantheon's Store

Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram

Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram

Follow DJ Louie XIV on Twitter

Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and More


Shop Merch in Pop Pantheon's Store


Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram


Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram


Follow Russ on Instagram


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever wonder where your favorite pop icon truly stands in the grand scheme of musical history? On Pop Pantheon, host DJ Louie XIV turns that casual debate into a structured, and often delightfully contentious, ceremony. Each episode dives deep into the career, cultural impact, and artistry of a major pop figure, pulling them apart with a mix of genuine admiration and critical scrutiny. Louie is often joined by fellow music obsessives and critics, leading to conversations that are as much about personal connection as they are about technical analysis. The dialogue is where this podcast truly shines-it’s smart without being pretentious, funny without resorting to cheap shots, and deeply informed by a real love for the genre. After all the overanalysis, the guest and host face the moment of truth: deciding where the artist belongs in the hierarchical tiers of the official Pantheon. It’s a blend of music criticism, biography, and playful debate that goes far beyond simple rankings. You’ll come for the verdict on superstars from Madonna to Billie Eilish, but you’ll stay for the nuanced discussions that make you reconsider what pop music means. Tune in for a listening experience that treats pop culture with the serious, yet joyful, examination it deserves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pop Pantheon
Podcast Episodes
What the 2026 Grammys Got Right and Wrong (Patreon Preview) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:05
In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Louie and Russ dissect last night's Grammy Awards, from the very right (Bad Bunny takes Album of the Year :-)) to the very wrong (Billie Eilish wins Record of…
Final Grammys Predictions! (Patreon Preview) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:33
In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Louie and Russ make their final predictions about who will take home hardware on Sunday night at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. To hear the rest of the this e…
RICKY MARTIN (with Nuria Net) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:38
Before Bad Bunny takes the stage at the Super Bowl, Pop Pantheon is exploring the career and work of another trailblazing Puerto Rican superstar, Ricky Martin. Nuria Net joins Louie to dig into Ricky’s origins as a boy b…