Elton John’s Son: Named For A Song
Elton John’s son, two-year-old Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was the hit of one of the most desired Oscars 2013 viewing parties in Los Angeles. Barely old enough to walk, the kid “is cooler than pretty much everyone on the planet,” raved Laurel Brown of Zap2It.
Tiny Zachary, in his tiny tuxedo, greeted the guests at the AIDS foundation event by high-fiving them. But when he spent some time practicing his high-five technique with Irish U2 musician and humanitarian Bono, the world went “awwww.”
Elton John and partner David Furnish received a second visit from the stork — or at least the anonymous surrogate mother — on January 11 with the arrival of Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John. But John’s older son isn’t going to let himself be overlooked in the excitement that always comes with a new baby.
However, not everyone was thrilled that a two-year-old attended the prestigious event. Andrew Pierce for the UK’s Daily Mail had a different take:
“They dolled him up like Little Lord Fauntleroy in a grotesque tuxedo, crisp shirt, miniature black bow-tie and designer trainers. The poor child is just two years old! While Zachary is undoubtedly a much loved son, he is also an important public relations prop for an ageing musician.”
Pierce also said that Zachary “not surprisingly” had already been “ridiculed” for his name. John himself acknowledged to Hello that he knows that Zachary’s childhood will be more challenging than average. “Being the child of someone famous is a huge ball and chain around your ankles. It’s going to be very difficult,” he observed.
To those who poke fun at Zachary Levon’s name, Elton John pointed out that he was born on December 25, 2010. “Levon” is a quirky song that appeared on 1970s hit album, Madman Across the Water. The Bernie Taupin lyric, “He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day” may be a tad ironic.
Elton John’s son was indeed born on Christmas Day. But Zachary is far from a pauper — and the poise with which he moves through the glittering Hollywood scene suggests he won’t be a pawn either.
