It’s going to be a long, long time…
Rocket Man was a hit song for pop star Elton John, written by John and his top songwriter, Bernie Taupin. It is based on Ray Bradbury’s short story, Rocket Man, featured in one his wonderful short story collections, The Illustrated Man.
In 1978, at the (first and last) Science Fiction Film Awards, broadcast on independent stations across the USA, Bernie Taupin personally introduced William Shatner’s “interpretation” of Rocket Man. Shatner’s rendition really has to be seen to be believed, and nothing I can say would possibly do it justice. Lets just say fasten your seatbelts, especially for the last 1/4 of the song!
I spent quite a few years looking for this on video, and a few years ago my old pal Andy gave it to me as a Christmas present. It has since become one of the jewels of my collection! Thanks, pal! In the time since then I have screened it (and dubbed it) for many friends and acquaintances, and none have been the same since.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
This really freaked me out, man.
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I found a better source for this video on YouTube.com, so I decided to update this 2004 entry as a ‘Special Edition’ with all an new, higher quality video! Enjoy!
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I never did LSD but I imagine this is what a trip must be like. ((shudder)) Unforgettable indeed!!! Is this what Ray Bradbury envisioned?!?
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This video gets better and better with each repeated viewing!
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Okay V-square, I will watch it a few more times and report back. 8-O\n(braces self)
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Dunno, still a pretty traumatic experience.
But it is damn funny! That 3rd Shat just cracks me up.
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This performance gets better every time!
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Okay, I’ll admit that it does grow on you but I think the third Rocket Shat-Man has been sharing some pharmaceuticals with Major Tom. %-)
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