Elton John on his Manila concert, John Lennon and partnerships

If Sir Elton John's setlist for his recent concert in Malaysia  is any indication, the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, Dec. 8, will reverberate with generation-defining hits.

The Rocket Man promised as much. "My show in the Philippines will include many of my biggest hit singles, as well as several well-known and much-loved album tracks," he said in an interview.

For his one-night-only Manila leg of his 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man Tour, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer certainly has truckloads to choose from: he has had more than 50 Top 40 hits, including his 1997 tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind," which at more than 30 million copies is the biggest selling British and U.S. single ever.

A 45-year partnership

Credit should be shared with Bernie Taupin, of course, John's longtime lyrist. The pair is one of pop history's most enduring songwriting teams, having been collaborating since 1967.

Yet, there's this one intriguing detail in their work routine that music