Taupin originally wrote it as a “kiss-off” to an old girlfriend , a defiant message that he was doing just fine without her.
The Resilient Groove: Why Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” is the Ultimate Survival Anthem Elton John - I'm Still Standing
On the first day of filming, Mulcahy fell off a pier into the sea with the camera, ruining the day’s footage and requiring a complete reshoot. Taupin originally wrote it as a “kiss-off” to
Over time, the song’s meaning shifted. Taupin himself admitted that the public’s interpretation—seeing it as an anthem for Elton’s own survival in the face of adversity —is perhaps "infinitely more interesting" than the original inspiration. A Music Video Born in Chaos the song’s meaning shifted.
Look closely at the dancers in the video—one of them is a young Bruno Tonioli , who later became a judge on Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars . Why It Still Matters