Some additional thoughts/corrections: 1) In case there's any confusion, that voice at the beginning isn't actually Elton John. The statement was made in a print interview, so I had my friend Simon Clark read it. 2) You might be wondering whether or not we're allowed to just, like, ignore the actual bassline in order to construct an apparent, perceived one from a higher note line. To that I'd say sure, we're allowed to do whatever we want. It's music theory, there's no rules. We're all just making it up anyway, y'know? (But more seriously, I'd argue that the goal is to model perception, and the "apparent bassline" does a good job matching my perception of the first couple bars of the song, so while it's potentially a slight bend of the official "rules", it's a correct and useful descriptor none the less.) 3) Taupin has been inconsistent about whether or not the song is actually about Maxine Feibelman. In interviews at the time, he pretty directly confirmed it, but after the two broke up he claimed he'd been misinterpreted and the song was actually about his experiences with women in California. 4) I was discussing the mid-verse progression with a friend and they pointed out that the D/F# could be read as an unresolved secondary dominant, mirroring the G/B at the end of the second half. It's not my preferred analysis 'cause it just goes to Dmi7, so the parallel relationship feels too strong to read it as pointing somewhere else, but if that works for you then sure, I could see that being valid as well.
4) I don't agree with this analysis, either, due to the feeling the i-IV invokes. But I've encountered many songs in the CCM genre which will go from a secondary dominant to the corresponding minor. They'll have a V/V, then follow it it by a ii(7)-V-I. Heck, the V/V will often be part of a larger circle of fifths chain, e.g. I V/vii, vii, V/V, ii, V I.
In case anyone has missed it, here's a link to a video where Elton talks about the composition of Tiny Dancer in 1970 just after he wrote it. Fantastic. ua-cam.com/video/B0W6jCOggWQ/v-deo.html
12tone.....Can you make analysis of Crysis 2 soundtracks and Crysis 3 soundtracks? Specifically.... Crysis 2 - Resolution(please do this.) Crysis 2 - Prophet's Journey (yes. This is name of ost) Crysis 2 - Intro theme(hans zimmer's piece) Crysis 2 - Rampage (action music in game) Crysis 3 - Memories Crysis 3 - New York Memories Crysis 3 - What Are You Prepared To Sacrifice Crysis 3 - Who's The Prey Now reprise Look this will sound egoistical but I just want you to enjoy the details of these musics like I do.....I hope? One music per game should suffice too....but at least reply back about what you think of all of them when you listen them.....you don't have to....but it would be nice to get your opinion if you can.
Seeing Elton John improvise a song on the spot while singing the instruction manual to a range oven as lyrics on a Japanese television show really helped me understand what kind of a genius he is.
This made me cry, in the best possible way... My wife’s nickname was “Tiny Dancer” until her death from Covid-19 almost one year ago to the day. You can read through the lines, but there’s so much more to the story just not for a UA-cam comment. Thank you 12-tone. This video meant more to me than you’d possibly know… thank you. - Tom
bloody hell, man. Not really words to describe your loss. I can understand finding a tiny amount of solace in a song this beautiful. I was 2 weeks in ICU with the Rona, and kinda get it. Stay strong.
Strength and love to you, friend. I'm grieving as well, so I understand ... I'm sure she was a wonderful lady, and I am glad you found some solace in an unexpected place. Be well.~
My main takeaway from this is that I need to stop taking Elton John for granted. There have been many moving, impactful piano-led rock songs released in the 21st century, but this blows most of them away in terms of harmonic and structural sophistication.
I _love_ music theory and these 12 tone videos. At the same time.....I feel like these videos give me some insight into how Punk came about. I can imagine some kid in the 70s listening to Tiny Dancer going, "Gahhhhh. F*ck it... TWO THREE FOUR! E5 - A5 - B5 - E5" while screaming something catchy over top about how sniffing glue feels weird. lol....
@@avedic you're probably on to something. Punk is rebellion, and part of the rebellion is against the conventions of the music scene, and the idea that more sophisticated music is better, that more intelligently designed music is more important. Punk showed up and said "fuck you, power chords, four on the floor, and screaming."
Any time any one of my students asks if there is any point to inversions other than making shifting from one chord to another easier I say "ok everyone, it's time to look at some Elton John songs"
Another interesting quirk is that it takes him 2.5 minutes to get to the chorus. That’s unusual for a pop song. David Bennett Piano did a video on this - which I see you’ve linked in the description 🙂
Superb breakdown of a sublime, timeless song. Rick Beato does a very similar take on his site. I didn't know that Davey Johnstone played on "Tiny Dancer". His first credit on Elton's music was on the title track 'Madman across the water'. Caleb Quaye played on Elton's 1976 "Louder than Concorde" tour, from which he has uploaded picures of on Davey Johnstone's appreciation site. (Facebook/Meta)
12:36 "it sounds awsome, and sometimes that's all you need." A wise musician friend of mine once said "Forget theory; music only has one rule: if it sounds good, it is good!"
I saw your tweet about 11:18, and I can confirm "putting it in an inversion" is an absolute bastard to say in any accent. Beautiful song, great analysis as always!
Had the pleasure of seeing Sir Elton this Tuesday on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, what a legend... he was truly having fun, and so did his band. The percussionist was something else! 😊 Never knew there was so much blues in his music, I have found a "new" artist to get obsessed with. ❤
Thanks for explaining the history. Growing up in the UK in the 70s one couldn’t avoid hearing lots of Elton John, but much later when people started mentioning that they heard “Hold me close, Tony Danza” as a mondegreen, I had no idea what they were talking about since I’d never heard this song. Knowing that it did slightly better in the US then got a later boost from a film helps explain that gap.
I can't speak for song/album sales, but as someone who grew up in the 70's and the 80's I can say that I knew this song by heart well before 1980 rolled around. I never owned an Elton John album or single and I didn't need to because this song among others was on the radio. When I heard it on "Almost Famous" it was a perfect song because of the theme as well as the actual time period in which the song was popular. Anyway, I'm not here to argue but I think you undersold the popularity of the song. Your analysis was very interesting and insightful as always.
Great video!! Two bonus things I’m happy to see here: (1) you clipped the scary nail, and (2) you’re explaining yourself in a lower vocal tone which sounds more relaxed and confident. You make great content so I’m happy hear you sounding more at ease. Keep up the great work!
12tone, have you ever had the experience of almost fully understanding something, and then another thing happens and BAM, you understand it all? That's what I get from watching this video after I have struggled with a lot of how music works. Your videos aren't just *about* music; they're a kind of music of their own. The information comes at its quick pace, and could fly right past me...until I start to get it, and then I get it and it's a joyful experience. I think the narrative you're looking for at 12:30 is the bittersweet longing the song's narrator feels at being so close to loving for real, but the love was not meant to be. I think Bernie and Elton both felt it.
That song...was a sleeper hit for me as well. loved it as a kid of the 70s, but didnt know anything about it until I came of age. Even then, it really didnt hit me until much older when I realized that EVERYTHING that I do is for women; the ones I was born unto and the ones I have loved since coming of age. They are all within me, and I am nothing without them. That is why this song speaks to an archetype that I worship. Many out there would agree. 😎💝💪💥
I think it is just as simple to think that the melody landing on A is targeting the 3rd of F rather than arguing for A minor key. And then it’s all just pretty standard IV -> I resolution it’s just that the melody lines end on the IV chord in the 4th bar of the pattern rather than the I.
“Tiny Dancer” figured into the plot of the 1980 WKRP IN CINCINNATI episode “The Americanization of Ivan.” I’d already known of the song by then and in the years since I’d always known it to be one of Elton’s string of classics.
Sadly, the syndication of WKRP didn't secure the rights to Tiny Dancer. So, at the end, instead of Ivan saying "Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer" and hugging Bailey, a bad dub says "Hold me closer, terrible dresser.". And the closing credits (one of very few, along with the tragic Who concert episode, that didn't use the usual 'Bartender' outro), instead of playing Tiny Dancer, has to play generic piano jazz, over a night shot of the Cincinnati streets.
I can never decide if this or Levon are my 2nd or 3rd favorite song on my favorite Elton album. The title track is my favorite song of the album, without question.
My thing when thinking about the key of the song is if a student/bandmate asked what the key is and in this case, rather than go "Well it's sort of in C, but Am at the same time because of the bassline..." I'd just say "It's in C" and then we're all on board, no messing around. Great analysis as usual though 👏🏼
Tiny Dancer was such a non-entity originally that it didn't appear on Greatest Hits OR the original pressing of Greatest Hits Volume 2! It finally appeared on a rerelease of Vol 2 in the 1980s
David Bennett’s video really focused on song structure more then key and chord structure. But putting your video together with his really shows how much of a musical genius Elton John is. There’s so much that can be done with music. Looking forward to your analysis of Frownland 😈
"The Magical Mystery Tour" and "Madman Across the Water", two of the most underrated, hated, and misunderstood albums EVER! Better company you could never find!
@@inquisitorofkozilekgames4478 , the movie "The MMT", is still so maligned, yet Eric Idle of Monty Python said it was the inspiration for the Flying Circus.
Odd, I remember this being a huge hit when it was first released. Perhaps not "Levon"-level, but big nonetheless. Am I misremembering? I listened exclusively to Progressive FM stations at the time, where it was played quite often, if memory serves, and was likely the full album version
heresy, perhaps, but I don't think i've ever heard this song before... sounds great though. I don't actually know much Elton John. Kinda reminded me of supertramp's "breakfeast in america"for no reason (maybe just the piano.) Great video!
I and many of my musician friends loved the Madman across the Water album when it was current - especially Tiny Dancer and Indian Sunset. Very feasible explanation here as to why the shortened single wasn't a hit first time round.
how much physics does this guy know-- im a huge fan,, both as an aspiring musician and as a nerd who takes pride in noticing even the mildest references u make with those scribbles
When The Phantom of the Opera came out I heard the title track on the radio. It faded out just as the final soprano acrobatics started, before all the modulations. I suspect radio edits have done no favours to a lot of songs…
I thought that album was fabulous...for some reason...I had three of those albums, Mad Man Across the Water...and love Tiny Dancer, and Levon ..plus more
As a not-music theorist music appreciator and occasional music student, I've often found the "yes it's obviously in key X, even if there's tons of stuff that doesn't really match that key but just ignore that" school of thought to be confusing/suspicious
I definitely disagree with your analysis with the C major / A minor co-keys - the song is firmly in C major to my ears - but I thought your idea was really interesting to think about!
I don't know why this song blew up with Almost Famous but it works very well, you have a kid whose kidding his biological family while on the road with this band and finds his spiritual family and thus song starts and it hits so hard may be one of my favorite moments in cinematic history for me, and I'm trying hard not to hear up while thinking about it...
If David Bennett does and analysis on Welcome to the Black Parade, you’re dead to me. Only joking, keep up the good work, and maybe, if you can find it in your heart, do the freaking MCR song, okay?
I _love_ music theory and these 12 tone videos. At the same time.....I feel like these videos give me some insight into how Punk came about. I can imagine some kid in the 70s listening to Tiny Dancer going, "Gahhhhh. F*ck it... TWO THREE FOUR! E5 - A5 - B5 - E5" while screaming something catchy over top about how sniffing glue feels weird. lol....
I’d love to see your music theory perspective applied to some of gaming’s most popular songs. Seeing pop songs picked apart is one thing but I think it would be especially interesting to see video game themes and overworld songs broken down to their elements by you.
One of my top 3 favorite songs of all time. And, funnily, the 2nd that youve covered (the first being Totos Africa). Now i just need your take on Waterfalls by TLC, and the triumvirate will be complete. X3
0:54 - What? I had heard it quite a bit BEFORE that movie. Like, throughout the 80s growing up it was on the radio, like, all the time. About as much as any of his other hits, by my admittedly non-scientific recollection.
@@chaz1357 No, I'm serious. I remember hearing it multiple times as a child, in particular hearing that one line as "Baby darlin', she's so blennen", and wondering what the heck "blennen" means. My mom must have misheard it too, because she thought it sounded funny too. Further, if it didn't get a lot of radio play before ~2000, why are there videos featuring Elton in the 70s explaining how he wrote the song around Bernie's lyrics, and why so many fans love the song?
@@TheMister123 I'm just fooling. I wasn't born until 94 so I can't speak from memory. But I'm sure it was definitely around pre Almost Famous. Perhaps it just elevated it to a ridiculous level of recognition. That scene is pretty iconic
If you're analyzing chord progressions in a minor key, you are doing so in the aeolian mode, so there's no need to add a flat to the degree. So the C major chord in A minor isn't the bIII, it's simply the III chord.
Last year I hit top .01% of listeners to Elton John. He was the first musician my parents introduced me to when I was adopted. - along with The Beatles. Tiny Dancer is still the first song I recall remember ever hearing and learning the lyrics to on the long drive to my new home.
It's not that I think it's leaning on the 6 in the melody creates a sense of melancholy. It's that it doesn't in any way sound resolved on that 6. It sounds like it's on the IV chord. I don't see any motivation to assume he's ending on a tonic, and definitely no reason to assume an Am tonality, even when listening to the melody alone, and definitely not when you put the chords in. (And John tends to put chords first in his compositions.) I don't really hear anything about this or any of the other songs by John that suggest we need to go beyond functional harmony. He brings in his circle of fifths. He plays piano pretty much like I was taught, and I've always thought in terms of functional harmony even before I was formally taught it.
Hi, 12tone. I really enjoy your in depth analysis of songs! In this instance, I only wish you’d credited BJ Cole as playing ‘pedal steel guitar’, not just ‘slide guitar’. Pedal steel is a complex and incredibly nuanced instrument that is too often over simplified as ‘slide guitar’. As a pedal steel player, I’m biased of course, but I feel BJ Cole added the ear candy / pixie dust that took this already great song to a higher level. Stepping off my soap box now! 😊
7:26 Funny! Yeah the other day I was recording background harmonies, and one of the "singers" started chanting repetition legitimizes) overtop/in between the outro repeated chorus. :)
Some additional thoughts/corrections:
1) In case there's any confusion, that voice at the beginning isn't actually Elton John. The statement was made in a print interview, so I had my friend Simon Clark read it.
2) You might be wondering whether or not we're allowed to just, like, ignore the actual bassline in order to construct an apparent, perceived one from a higher note line. To that I'd say sure, we're allowed to do whatever we want. It's music theory, there's no rules. We're all just making it up anyway, y'know? (But more seriously, I'd argue that the goal is to model perception, and the "apparent bassline" does a good job matching my perception of the first couple bars of the song, so while it's potentially a slight bend of the official "rules", it's a correct and useful descriptor none the less.)
3) Taupin has been inconsistent about whether or not the song is actually about Maxine Feibelman. In interviews at the time, he pretty directly confirmed it, but after the two broke up he claimed he'd been misinterpreted and the song was actually about his experiences with women in California.
4) I was discussing the mid-verse progression with a friend and they pointed out that the D/F# could be read as an unresolved secondary dominant, mirroring the G/B at the end of the second half. It's not my preferred analysis 'cause it just goes to Dmi7, so the parallel relationship feels too strong to read it as pointing somewhere else, but if that works for you then sure, I could see that being valid as well.
I KNEW IT WAS SIMON CLARK!
4) I don't agree with this analysis, either, due to the feeling the i-IV invokes. But I've encountered many songs in the CCM genre which will go from a secondary dominant to the corresponding minor. They'll have a V/V, then follow it it by a ii(7)-V-I. Heck, the V/V will often be part of a larger circle of fifths chain, e.g. I V/vii, vii, V/V, ii, V I.
In case anyone has missed it, here's a link to a video where Elton talks about the composition of Tiny Dancer in 1970 just after he wrote it. Fantastic.
ua-cam.com/video/B0W6jCOggWQ/v-deo.html
There was a picture of Maxine in the original album sleeve. I'd say the odds are pretty good.
12tone.....Can you make analysis of Crysis 2 soundtracks and Crysis 3 soundtracks? Specifically....
Crysis 2 - Resolution(please do this.)
Crysis 2 - Prophet's Journey (yes. This is name of ost)
Crysis 2 - Intro theme(hans zimmer's piece)
Crysis 2 - Rampage (action music in game)
Crysis 3 - Memories
Crysis 3 - New York Memories
Crysis 3 - What Are You Prepared To Sacrifice
Crysis 3 - Who's The Prey Now reprise
Look this will sound egoistical but I just want you to enjoy the details of these musics like I do.....I hope? One music per game should suffice too....but at least reply back about what you think of all of them when you listen them.....you don't have to....but it would be nice to get your opinion if you can.
Seeing Elton John improvise a song on the spot while singing the instruction manual to a range oven as lyrics on a Japanese television show really helped me understand what kind of a genius he is.
This made me cry, in the best possible way... My wife’s nickname was “Tiny Dancer” until her death from Covid-19 almost one year ago to the day. You can read through the lines, but there’s so much more to the story just not for a UA-cam comment.
Thank you 12-tone. This video meant more to me than you’d possibly know… thank you.
- Tom
bloody hell, man. Not really words to describe your loss. I can understand finding a tiny amount of solace in a song this beautiful. I was 2 weeks in ICU with the Rona, and kinda get it. Stay strong.
@@jeffsuess377 thanks man
Strength and love to you, friend. I'm grieving as well, so I understand ... I'm sure she was a wonderful lady, and I am glad you found some solace in an unexpected place. Be well.~
I’m sorry for your loss, I hope you continue to carry on
I am so sorry to hear about your loss
My main takeaway from this is that I need to stop taking Elton John for granted. There have been many moving, impactful piano-led rock songs released in the 21st century, but this blows most of them away in terms of harmonic and structural sophistication.
I _love_ music theory and these 12 tone videos.
At the same time.....I feel like these videos give me some insight into how Punk came about.
I can imagine some kid in the 70s listening to Tiny Dancer going, "Gahhhhh. F*ck it... TWO THREE FOUR! E5 - A5 - B5 - E5" while screaming something catchy over top about how sniffing glue feels weird. lol....
@@avedic you're probably on to something.
Punk is rebellion, and part of the rebellion is against the conventions of the music scene, and the idea that more sophisticated music is better, that more intelligently designed music is more important.
Punk showed up and said "fuck you, power chords, four on the floor, and screaming."
Any time any one of my students asks if there is any point to inversions other than making shifting from one chord to another easier I say "ok everyone, it's time to look at some Elton John songs"
Classical music is big on the differentiation between inversions. Four-part choral singing is a good way to hear it too.
Such an amazing song and a great examination of it. 12tone Rules. Great channel.
@limelight81 thanks ever so much! Hope you’re having a marvellous day!!
Wow I never realized Almost Famous made this song Actually Famous. Good on you Crowe…
"And then, if you'll give me a second to distract the copyright bots:"
Heheheh.
Copyright bots were going like: "Damn boy! What was I supposed to do again?"
Squirrel!
His best album, imo.
"All the Nasties", "Rotten Peaches", "Levon", "Indian Sunset", the title track... sooooooooooooo *good!*
Another interesting quirk is that it takes him 2.5 minutes to get to the chorus. That’s unusual for a pop song. David Bennett Piano did a video on this - which I see you’ve linked in the description 🙂
Someone didn’t watch till the end 15:00
@@SamStoverDB I did after right after I wrote it, which is why I edited to call out that he’d linked David’s video in the description.
The cartoons are always so great. I always feel so smart when I get the subtle puns.
"Please just trust me, I have no idea what I'm doing" is such a mood
I absolutely lost it at the Shrek 'S'. I don't know why you draw tiny pictures but I'm so glad you do.
Layers. Like an onion.
Superb breakdown of a sublime, timeless song. Rick Beato does a very similar take on his site. I didn't know that Davey Johnstone played on "Tiny Dancer". His first credit on Elton's music was on the title track 'Madman across the water'. Caleb Quaye played on Elton's 1976 "Louder than Concorde" tour, from which he has uploaded picures of on Davey Johnstone's appreciation site. (Facebook/Meta)
12:36 "it sounds awsome, and sometimes that's all you need." A wise musician friend of mine once said "Forget theory; music only has one rule: if it sounds good, it is good!"
I saw your tweet about 11:18, and I can confirm "putting it in an inversion" is an absolute bastard to say in any accent. Beautiful song, great analysis as always!
Yusss!!! More EJ please :D
I've never disagreed so strongly and often throughout a 12tone video only to be convinced otherwise moments later each time
What an amazing song, great breakdown/examination of it
Had the pleasure of seeing Sir Elton this Tuesday on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, what a legend... he was truly having fun, and so did his band. The percussionist was something else! 😊 Never knew there was so much blues in his music, I have found a "new" artist to get obsessed with. ❤
I don't know how you edit all of this dialogue, music, and speedy drawings, but I like!
Awesome arrangement / orchestration of the song by Paul Buckmaster.
You've cut the nail! Thank you!!! I can watch your videos again!
Thanks for explaining the history. Growing up in the UK in the 70s one couldn’t avoid hearing lots of Elton John, but much later when people started mentioning that they heard “Hold me close, Tony Danza” as a mondegreen, I had no idea what they were talking about since I’d never heard this song. Knowing that it did slightly better in the US then got a later boost from a film helps explain that gap.
this was a terrific analysis of a wonderful song. thanks for posting it.
I love that all the music theory tubers are always more than gracious to shout out one another's thoughts and perspectives.
I can't speak for song/album sales, but as someone who grew up in the 70's and the 80's I can say that I knew this song by heart well before 1980 rolled around. I never owned an Elton John album or single and I didn't need to because this song among others was on the radio. When I heard it on "Almost Famous" it was a perfect song because of the theme as well as the actual time period in which the song was popular. Anyway, I'm not here to argue but I think you undersold the popularity of the song. Your analysis was very interesting and insightful as always.
Great video!!
Two bonus things I’m happy to see here: (1) you clipped the scary nail, and (2) you’re explaining yourself in a lower vocal tone which sounds more relaxed and confident. You make great content so I’m happy hear you sounding more at ease. Keep up the great work!
12tone, have you ever had the experience of almost fully understanding something, and then another thing happens and BAM, you understand it all? That's what I get from watching this video after I have struggled with a lot of how music works.
Your videos aren't just *about* music; they're a kind of music of their own. The information comes at its quick pace, and could fly right past me...until I start to get it, and then I get it and it's a joyful experience.
I think the narrative you're looking for at 12:30 is the bittersweet longing the song's narrator feels at being so close to loving for real, but the love was not meant to be. I think Bernie and Elton both felt it.
I don't always understand the intricacies of music theory, but it's always interesting and I love your doodle drawings!😊❤
such excellent timing! ive just started learning the song on the piano, and in doing so, i just appreciate more every small bit i learn
Great analysis Adam, I love all of Elton John's stuff, he is such a musical genius. Loved your take on it.
Sometimes I forget to appreciate the doodles. Interrupting Cow is great.
"It's just another layer"
*Draws Shrek logo*
The title track is absolutely AMAZING
The biggest secret about this song is he’s actually saying “hold me closer Tony Danza,” a reference to their I’ll-fated relationship.
That song...was a sleeper hit for me as well. loved it as a kid of the 70s, but didnt know anything about it until I came of age. Even then, it really didnt hit me until much older when I realized that EVERYTHING that I do is for women; the ones I was born unto and the ones I have loved since coming of age. They are all within me, and I am nothing without them.
That is why this song speaks to an archetype that I worship. Many out there would agree. 😎💝💪💥
How can anyone hear just the first 4 bars of that and not immediately know it is a brilliant piece?
I think it is just as simple to think that the melody landing on A is targeting the 3rd of F rather than arguing for A minor key. And then it’s all just pretty standard IV -> I resolution it’s just that the melody lines end on the IV chord in the 4th bar of the pattern rather than the I.
“Tiny Dancer” figured into the plot of the 1980 WKRP IN CINCINNATI episode “The Americanization of Ivan.” I’d already known of the song by then and in the years since I’d always known it to be one of Elton’s string of classics.
Sadly, the syndication of WKRP didn't secure the rights to Tiny Dancer. So, at the end, instead of Ivan saying "Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer" and hugging Bailey, a bad dub says "Hold me closer, terrible dresser.". And the closing credits (one of very few, along with the tragic Who concert episode, that didn't use the usual 'Bartender' outro), instead of playing Tiny Dancer, has to play generic piano jazz, over a night shot of the Cincinnati streets.
there's also a Rick Beato version of What Makes This Song Great for Tiny Dancer as well as Rocket Man.
Wonderful discussions on both songs. Have a look!
I can never decide if this or Levon are my 2nd or 3rd favorite song on my favorite Elton album. The title track is my favorite song of the album, without question.
Yes! More Elton! Great video
Would love an analysis of Madman Across the Water. The orchestral break alone is just...so intense...
My thing when thinking about the key of the song is if a student/bandmate asked what the key is and in this case, rather than go "Well it's sort of in C, but Am at the same time because of the bassline..." I'd just say "It's in C" and then we're all on board, no messing around. Great analysis as usual though 👏🏼
Tiny Dancer was such a non-entity originally that it didn't appear on Greatest Hits OR the original pressing of Greatest Hits Volume 2! It finally appeared on a rerelease of Vol 2 in the 1980s
"For now please just trust me. I have no idea what I'm doing"
welp. I'm reassured
David Bennett’s video really focused on song structure more then key and chord structure. But putting your video together with his really shows how much of a musical genius Elton John is. There’s so much that can be done with music.
Looking forward to your analysis of Frownland 😈
"The Magical Mystery Tour" and "Madman Across the Water", two of the most underrated, hated, and misunderstood albums EVER! Better company you could never find!
Agreed, both are great.
@@inquisitorofkozilekgames4478 , the movie "The MMT", is still so maligned, yet Eric Idle of Monty Python said it was the inspiration for the Flying Circus.
You know, it seems like this song was ascending long before “Almost Famous” came out.
Odd, I remember this being a huge hit when it was first released. Perhaps not "Levon"-level, but big nonetheless. Am I misremembering? I listened exclusively to Progressive FM stations at the time, where it was played quite often, if memory serves, and was likely the full album version
You are a friggin Genius, man - awesome video as always!
4:45 God bless you for being a music major who also knows about Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
Clicked so fuggin fast
Fugue fast
Placing a request here for a Meshuggah song breakdown.
❤
I grew up in the early 80's and my mom loved Elton. Tiny Dancer was always a massive hit in my house lol I figured it was a hit right from the get go.
I wonder if anyone else loves that the pre-chorus is edited out in Almost Famous. Did you miss it?
Wow, nice analysis!👍
Everybody gangsta until the high C
Always enjoy these
*Hold me closa Tony Danza*
That is such a great callback. Every time I see Phoebe, I think of it.
No, it's "Hold me closer, Chinese dancer"
heresy, perhaps, but I don't think i've ever heard this song before... sounds great though. I don't actually know much Elton John. Kinda reminded me of supertramp's "breakfeast in america"for no reason (maybe just the piano.) Great video!
wait the minutephysics guy is a patreon supporter! great vid
homie clothes so tiny damn son
Always and forever.
Ah! finally! ''Hold me closer,Tony Danza.....'' Great Song!
I and many of my musician friends loved the Madman across the Water album when it was current - especially Tiny Dancer and Indian Sunset. Very feasible explanation here as to why the shortened single wasn't a hit first time round.
I love madman across the water
This is really good
how much physics does this guy know--
im a huge fan,, both as an aspiring musician and as a nerd who takes pride in noticing even the mildest references u make with those scribbles
When The Phantom of the Opera came out I heard the title track on the radio. It faded out just as the final soprano acrobatics started, before all the modulations. I suspect radio edits have done no favours to a lot of songs…
you are a master at left handed caveman drawings.
"We already know what repetition does by now..."
*Adam Neely has entered the chat*
An interesting dissection, but let us not forget the most technical reason to listen to "Tiny Dancer":
"It has a good beat and I can dance to it."
I thought that album was fabulous...for some reason...I had three of those albums, Mad Man Across the Water...and love Tiny Dancer, and Levon ..plus more
Love the little hollow knight nod, good taste in games as well as music!
As a not-music theorist music appreciator and occasional music student, I've often found the "yes it's obviously in key X, even if there's tons of stuff that doesn't really match that key but just ignore that" school of thought to be confusing/suspicious
All 👏 analyses 👏 are 👏 valid 👏
I definitely disagree with your analysis with the C major / A minor co-keys - the song is firmly in C major to my ears - but I thought your idea was really interesting to think about!
I don't know why this song blew up with Almost Famous but it works very well, you have a kid whose kidding his biological family while on the road with this band and finds his spiritual family and thus song starts and it hits so hard may be one of my favorite moments in cinematic history for me, and I'm trying hard not to hear up while thinking about it...
Madman is my favorite Elton album.
And Captain Fantastic.
And Tumbleweed.
And Goodbye YBR ain’t to shabby, either.
If David Bennett does and analysis on Welcome to the Black Parade, you’re dead to me.
Only joking, keep up the good work, and maybe, if you can find it in your heart, do the freaking MCR song, okay?
This is the first time I heard a good explanation of why the single was a flop. Never realized the single version was a shortened version of the song.
He lives!
My father knows this song first as a Pop Culture reference from WKRP in Cincinnati (the episode in question is listed from 1980) ;)
The first time I head this song was on the teevee show Taxi, so it's indelibly linked in my mind with that Italian American actor, Danny Devito.
I _love_ music theory and these 12 tone videos.
At the same time.....I feel like these videos give me some insight into how Punk came about.
I can imagine some kid in the 70s listening to Tiny Dancer going, "Gahhhhh. F*ck it... TWO THREE FOUR! E5 - A5 - B5 - E5" while screaming something catchy over top about how sniffing glue feels weird. lol....
I’d love to see your music theory perspective applied to some of gaming’s most popular songs. Seeing pop songs picked apart is one thing but I think it would be especially interesting to see video game themes and overworld songs broken down to their elements by you.
every time you mention a stanza, for some reason i feel like singing about it...
Hold me closer, Tony Stanza
One of my top 3 favorite songs of all time. And, funnily, the 2nd that youve covered (the first being Totos Africa). Now i just need your take on Waterfalls by TLC, and the triumvirate will be complete. X3
0:54 - What? I had heard it quite a bit BEFORE that movie. Like, throughout the 80s growing up it was on the radio, like, all the time. About as much as any of his other hits, by my admittedly non-scientific recollection.
Mandela effect 🤣
@@chaz1357 No, I'm serious. I remember hearing it multiple times as a child, in particular hearing that one line as "Baby darlin', she's so blennen", and wondering what the heck "blennen" means. My mom must have misheard it too, because she thought it sounded funny too.
Further, if it didn't get a lot of radio play before ~2000, why are there videos featuring Elton in the 70s explaining how he wrote the song around Bernie's lyrics, and why so many fans love the song?
@@TheMister123 I'm just fooling. I wasn't born until 94 so I can't speak from memory. But I'm sure it was definitely around pre Almost Famous. Perhaps it just elevated it to a ridiculous level of recognition. That scene is pretty iconic
@@TheMister123 Just checked with my mom. She said yeah it was totally on before 2000. She didn't even know what Almost Famous is.
If you're analyzing chord progressions in a minor key, you are doing so in the aeolian mode, so there's no need to add a flat to the degree. So the C major chord in A minor isn't the bIII, it's simply the III chord.
My takeaway from this is that radio edits suck and ruin songs. Who knows how many great songs were lost to radio edits robbing their potential
Last year I hit top .01% of listeners to Elton John. He was the first musician my parents introduced me to when I was adopted. - along with The Beatles. Tiny Dancer is still the first song I recall remember ever hearing and learning the lyrics to on the long drive to my new home.
5 min mark. Heisenberg's uncertainty equation? not just your average music channel, apparently!
Brilliant ... even if I don't understand what the hell you're talking about
It's not that I think it's leaning on the 6 in the melody creates a sense of melancholy. It's that it doesn't in any way sound resolved on that 6. It sounds like it's on the IV chord. I don't see any motivation to assume he's ending on a tonic, and definitely no reason to assume an Am tonality, even when listening to the melody alone, and definitely not when you put the chords in. (And John tends to put chords first in his compositions.)
I don't really hear anything about this or any of the other songs by John that suggest we need to go beyond functional harmony. He brings in his circle of fifths. He plays piano pretty much like I was taught, and I've always thought in terms of functional harmony even before I was formally taught it.
Hi, 12tone.
I really enjoy your in depth analysis of songs!
In this instance, I only wish you’d credited BJ Cole as playing ‘pedal steel guitar’, not just ‘slide guitar’.
Pedal steel is a complex and incredibly nuanced instrument that is too often over simplified as ‘slide guitar’.
As a pedal steel player, I’m biased of course, but I feel BJ Cole added the ear candy / pixie dust that took this already great song to a higher level.
Stepping off my soap box now! 😊
7:26 Funny! Yeah the other day I was recording background harmonies, and one of the "singers" started chanting repetition legitimizes) overtop/in between the outro repeated chorus. :)
I would love it if you would do a video on Lithium, and Baker Street
0:18 - Great attempt at a Brit accent. 😅 (Actually, probably a bit better than I could do without a LOT of practice.)
EDIT: Oh, that wasn't you? 😮
Is it just me? I am hearing the F as the center in the intro based on the piano part alone.