For the love of rock
Vol III, Issue 24 – Tiny dancer (15 Dec 2018)
www.intheloveofrock.com
Name of song– Tiny dancer
Singer – Elton John
Writers– Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Album- Madman Across The River
Release year– 1971
Peak chart position
# 13 – Australian Charts
# 19 – Canadian RPM Top Singles
# 20 – Canadian RPM Adult Temporary
# 29 – US Cashbox Top 100
# 35 – US Billboard Adult Contemporary
# 41 – US Billboard Hot 100
# 70 – UK Charts
Special mention
# 387 – Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time
Tiny Dancer
Reviewers- Bikash Shrestha/Nirab Kayastha
“Elton John”, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, is one of the richest acts in the music industry. Born in Middlesex with troubled childhood, he was a musical prodigy as a child. He began his unique song writing partnership with Bernie Taupin in his early career and the duo became one of the most successful song writing partnerships ever which has lasted for more than 50 years. Undoubtedly famous for his numerous hits, extravagant stage shows, flamboyant lifestyle, proclaimed bisexuality and gay marriage, political controversies, along with love for football, charity work and AIDS foundation, he has definitely lived the life of a King!
“Madman Across The Water” is John’s fourth studio album produced during his most prolific years of early seventies. The album consolidated his success with hit singles “Levon” and “Tiny dancer”. It was certified multi platinum in 1998 with more than 2 million sales in US.
“Tiny dancer” is the opening track of the album and is a slow, bluesy ballad with phenomenal piano accompaniment. This song was a slow hit for Elton John, and is among one of his numerous hits songs. The song gained a rebirth when it was included in Cameron Crowe’s movie “Almost Famous” in 2000 AD as a main theme. For any die hard fan, this song is perhaps one of Elton’s best songs.
It is a song which Bernie Taupin had written about pure joy of life in California. Although it was rumored that the song was devoted to his first wife, he later cleared that it was about life in California rather than a particular lady. He was absolutely impressed when he had come to California for the first time in 1970. The contrasting life from his English hometown, “Tiny dancer” poured out what he had felt. It was a totally romantic song, centred around the groupies, colorful lives, romance, tragedy and everything. Bernie gave birth to the song, and Elton gave life to it. Absolutely a rock classic, it carries everyone with its smooth melody, blissful piano and masterpiece strings to a romantic fantasy.
The song starts with Elton’s magical piano theme, and soon, he starts to sing and carries the listener with his mastery voice. Slowly, and faintly, there is addition of Paul Buckmaster’s masterpiece strings. The soft percussion and bass, quiet guitars, and lively and romantically vivid lyrics, all blend so perfectly well to create this phenomenal rock classic.
“Elton John” has been one of the most successful pop rock stars with numerous hits and mind blowing records. Just like there are few numbers for which all the great artists shall always be remembered for, in his case, “Tiny dancer” proves all his creations tiny in front of this lively ballad. Hold me closer and listen to it once more!
Happy listening!!
Resources– Wikipedia.org, Allmusic.com, genius.com
Tiny dancer
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you’ll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her, dancing in the sand
And now she’s in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows the tune she hums
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you’ll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she’s in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Lyrics link- https://genius.com/Elton-john-tiny-dancer-lyrics
Video link – https://youtu.be/fh4mZCJ9WK4