Elton John and Stevie Wonder have released a nostalgic video for their collaborative song “Finish Line” full of video camera snippets of beloved memories interspersed with clips of the two artists laughing, talking, and performing.
The song from John’s 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions is a gospel-infused tribute to loving and living through tough times. The video even highlights shots of frontline healthcare workers and those who continue to salvation through COVID-19.
“I’ve been through so many down periods in my life. I’ve battled alcoholism and drugs and I’ve been 31 years sober now,” John said about the track. “Of course, I’m going to feel good by hearing this song because I have had redemption and I have now a wonderful life and I lead a good life. … This song really makes me feel very proud of who I’ve become, proud of working with someone like Stevie.”
Wonder touched on how personal the song was for him, as well: “I remember a teacher said to me, ‘You know, Stevie, you’ve got three strikes against you … you’re blind, you’re Black and you’re poor.’ She was saying, ‘You should just stop doing this music thing … because you’ll end up making potholders.’ I knew that that wasn’t going to happen, but I went into the restroom and I cried and [said], ‘God, this is what I’m supposed to do’ … I told my mother the story when I got home and she said, ‘Baby, baby, you will never make no d— potholders’ and I said, ‘I know, mama.’”
Watch the video for “Finish Line” below:
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Photo credit: Andrea Raffin, A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com