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Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival.
Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026.
Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling.
Few artists move as effortlessly between rock anthems, pop hits, and piano ballads quite like Elton John. Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, the shy piano prodigy would grow up to become one of the most successful solo artists in music history. Boasting over 300 million records sold globally and an EGOT status to his name, John's discography has moved listeners all around the world.
Whether listeners know him from his titular "Rocket Man" or his work on The Lion King soundtrack, John has over 60 songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100. However, John was on the verge of pulling out one song of his, believing that releasing it as a single would only be a massive failure. Thanks to heavy airplay in the Detroit area, this thumping tune instead would receive the recognition it deserved.
Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets" Hit #1 on the Billboard 100 in 1974
Released in 1974, "Bennie and the Jets" is easily one of John's most memorable songs from his seventh studio album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Unlike the tough-guy attitude of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" and the autobiographical nature of "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets" stands out as a bit of an oddball. Built around a funky, slightly awkward rhythm, the song depicts a fictional, sci-fi-inspired band whose members wear "electric boots" and "mohair suits." This imagined group is said to play "electric music," a fitting idea for the 1970s. Written during the rise of electronic music, with the introduction of Moog synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers. John himself played a Farfisa electronic organ on the track.
"Bennie and the Jets" went on to become John's second number-one hit in the United States, remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 weeks, and also crossed over to the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, where it peaked at number 15. Co-written with John's longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, the lyricist explained that he imagined the band as a proto-sci-fi punk act led by an androgynous woman, styled like a figure from a Helmut Newton photograph. The futuristic concept was revisited decades later in the song's official 2017 music video, directed by Jack Whiteley and Laura Brownhill, combining early science fiction and modernist aesthetics as seen in Fritz Lang's Metropolis.
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"Bennie and The Jets" Had a Viral TikTok Moment Thanks to an ABBA Mashup
In 2022, "Bennie and the Jets" had some friendly competition thanks to Swedish pop sensations ABBA. That summer, a TikTok mashup combining "Bennie and the Jets" with ABBA's "Chiquitita" started going viral. The audio itself was used in approximately 50,000 videos, reminding younger generations just how iconic both songs' piano openings are. Instead of ignoring the trend, ABBA's Benny Andersson and John joined the trend and had some fun. In a stitched TikTok video, Andersson kicks things off at a black grand piano, playing the opening to "Chiquitita." The video then immediately switches to John with his own grand piano, playing the punchy chords to "Bennie and the Jets."
Over the years, "Bennie and the Jets" has turned into a favorite not just for fans but for other artists, too. John has repeatedly performed the song with different singers, most notably with Cher on The Cher Show. Staying true to the song's theme, the two rocked out to the tune on a space-themed set, with the stage built to look like a fake moon. In 2013, he teamed up with Lady Gaga for Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular. With two pianos and two voices, the pop stars leaned fully into the carefree whimsy of the performance as they took turns playing the keys and belting out melodies.
Katherine Heigl and James Marsden Rocked Out to "Bennie and The Jets" in '27 Dresses'
"Bennie and the Jets" gives off a strong sing-along energy, and it's thanks to producer Gus Dudgeon. Using a fake-live recording technique, Dudgeon mixed real crowd noise, clapping, whistles, and shouts into the studio track. This "realistic" vibe is the reason why "Bennie and the Jets" works so well in the iconic bar scene in 27 Dresses. Looking back on the film, director Anne Flecther reflected on the particular song choice for that moment.
"'Bennie and the Jets' was already written in the script. My music supervisor and I, Buck Damon, we looked at other options, like, I wonder if we can beat this song, because it's great and we loved it but we always do that. Anything we get into musically, we're always like—Can we beat it? Can we beat it?"
The 27 Dresses bar scene, which shows Katherine Heigl's and James Marsden's characters drinking together while "Bennie and the Jets" plays in the background, starts with the two casually complimenting the song. Things quickly escalate when Marsden begins singing complete gibberish, something Heigl finds surprisingly endearing. As they get more into the music, the rest of the bar joins in. Before long, the entire place erupts into a full-blown sing-along to the John classic.
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