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Bernie Taupin, Elton John‘s legendary songwriting partner, has been saluted on Queen Elizabeth‘s 2022 New Year’s Honors List posted on December 31st. Noise11.com reported Taupin, who first teamed with Elton back in 1967, was honored with the prestigious CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for this contribution to music. Also honored was the Spice Girls‘ Mel B., who was awarded the received the MBE (Member of the British Empire) for her work with domestic violence charity Women’s Aid. Elton John was knighted back in 1998 for his musical accomplishments and work in establishing the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to such instant classics as “Bennie And The Jets,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Daniel,” “Rocket Man,” “Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” “Candle In the Wind,” “The Bitch Is Back,” “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Your Song,” and many others.

In February 2019, Elton John and Bernie Taupin won their first joint their first joint Oscar for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” — the theme to the Rocketman biopic, which was sung with Elton’s silver screen counterpart, Taron Egerton.

Bernie Taupin told us that although his and Elton’s songs have become pop standards over the years, that shouldn’t take away from the quality of the work: “First and foremost, we are good songwriters. And there’s nothing wrong with writing a great song — providing it retains elements of passion, and whatever. As long as it’s not just a surface thing. And I think these songs are very commercial and there’s nothing wrong with being commercial, yet they are at the same time very passionate.”