Tiny Dancer
"Tiny Dancer" is a 1971 song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It appears on John's fourth album, Madman Across the Water, and was released as a single in 1972. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 19 May 2005, and Platinum on 19 August 2011 by the RIAA.
Background and writing
The song was written by Taupin to capture the spirit of California in 1970 encapsulated by the many beautiful women he met. A common misconception concerning this song is that it was written for and/or about Maxine Feibelman, Bernie Taupin's first wife. In fact, the song was simply dedicated to her on the album Madman Across the Water.[1]
History
The song features a piano-based melody during verses and an arrangement that at the start features pedal steel guitar and light percussion but, transitioning subtly halfway through one of the choruses, by the end is driven by Paul Buckmaster's dynamic strings, along with a barely heard backing choir. Clocking at 6:12, it was one of the longer radio singles of the period.
While "Tiny Dancer" was initially a non-starter as a single – reaching only No. 41 on the U.S. pop chart and not even released in the UK – the song slowly became one of John's most popular songs. A fixture on adult contemporary and rock radio stations, the song grew in popularity.
It was ranked No. 387 on the 2004 List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Other versions
- "Tiny Dancer" has been covered by Lani Hall in the 1970s, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers with John Frusciante on vocals since the early 1990s, by Dave Grohl on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.
- In 2002, Ben Folds covered "Tiny Dancer" for his live album, Ben Folds Live. The song was later released as a promo single.
- Country music artist Tim McGraw covered the song on his 2002 album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. McGraw also performed the song, with Elton John, at the American Music Awards.
- In 2008, a version was released by Italian DJ Marco DeMark and singer Casey Barnes. It was later remixed by Deadmau5.
- In 2009, DJ Ironik and Chipmunk created a remix of the song, featuring John singing the chorus, which peaked at No.3 in the UK Singles Chart.
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Corey Taylor played this song at his Sonisphere Festival Knebworth solo performance as the opening number.
- A sample of the "Tiny Dancer" chorus is featured in a mash-up by Girl Talk called "Smash Your Head" (from the 2006 album Night Ripper).
In popular culture
- A reference to this song was made in sitcoms Friends and Will and Grace. In both shows, the same joke was used where a character (Phoebe in the former, Grace in the latter) confuses the lyrics as "Hold me closer Tony Danza".
- The song was featured in "The Americanization of Ivan" episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. References to the song were made throughout the show, and was featured during the closing credits.
- The cast of Almost Famous (2000) sings along to the song while riding in the tour bus. It is also featured as instrumental incidental music in a phonic reference to Penny Lane.
- The song was featured in a Budweiser TV commercial starring Peter Stormare and Andrew Sensenig that premiered during Fox Broadcasting's telecast of Super Bowl XLV on 6 February, 2011.
References
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