Elton John “Tiny Dancer” What Makes This Song Great
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2022
- In this episode of What Makes This Song Great? I breakdown the Elton John classic "Tiny Dancer".
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It never ceases to amaze me how many times Rick has added extra dimensions of enjoyment for songs that I thought I knew intimately already. Its like listening to a song in black and white sound, and then Rick comes along and helps you access the whole colour spectrum of sound. There isn't many people that really feel music like Rick does. Love what you do man, its priceless.
Same here. This has long been one of my favorite EJ songs, but it would have never occurred to me how much is going on in it and how intricate it is. Rick, with these analysis vids, is for me supercharging the "appreciation" in "music appreciation". And wow, now I'm also appreciating how long I've been away from EJs music! Time to put on some headphones and indulge.
I agree, it adds context that most of us just don't appreciate. I've re-discovered several songs through Rick
Yeppers
Nicely put
Not sure if you also play music but I would say all who do not play an instrument, listen to music in back and white.
100%!!! I'm not a musician at all so the level of detail that Rick goes into just opens up a whole new world for me!!
Love this song so much, even more now!!
"Count the headlights on the highway"--that line is embedded in my DNA.
Yes!!💯💯💯Same for me!
Aah Rick. Three things always happen when I watch these: 1. I learn; 2. I appreciate; 3. I smile. You’re awesome.
well said!!
I don’t know music cords but I love this breakdown!
Right on. The smiles are the best.
Absolutely! Great song and a brilliant breakdown and analysis. Fabulous work as always, Rick.
I'm 68 years old and am extremely fortunate to have lived in what is arguably the greatest generation of music. Elton John is just one of many great artists that filled our airwaves.
As the t-shirt says: yeah we're old but we saw all the cool bands.
Dale....I feel fortunate as well.
It’s not arguable. You did.
I’m 47 and while I didn’t live through all you did I agree with you and choose my music accordingly
I’m also 68.. and I get it..👍🏼❤️
I love how Rick recognizes all the player by name. Drummers. Bass players. Mixers. Engineers. They all are given credit showing the collaborative nature of so much of music.
Eltons output just in his first 5-6 albums of the 70s is almost unparalleled. Up there with the Beatles.
Better than Beatles for me. Same amazing "catchiness", but more diversity and technical ability
Those who came after the Beatles benefited from standing on the shoulders of giants, for sure. But I agree: John/Taupin's best 8 -10 songs exceed the average quality of Lennon-McCartney in richness, complexity and sophistication. I'd frankly the same thing about Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, and Steely Dan. The 70s were amazing. On the other hand nobody could crank out catchy, hummable, very pretty melodies like the Beatles could. It's the sheer volume that staggers: close to 100 songs most of us instantly recognize. @@danielecardinali7349
Absolutely
Agreed!
@@danielecardinali7349 wow
And for Elton, it was just another day of great songwriting. No big deal for him. Genius.
Even geniuses get excited about creations.
well, he had Bernie.
I’d love to hear Elton John’s “Funeral for a friend” given the Beato treatment.
One of my favorite songs.
I think that's the song that got me hooked on prog rock!
Amen!
Good call!
Oh yeah!
1974, I was nine years old and two of my older sisters had tickets to see Elton John during his original Yellow Brick Road tour. I grew up listening to Elton John, but never saw him live. Fast forward to Nov 2019, I see EJ perform in Charlotte, NC. He played Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding…I was blown away.
The scene in Almost Famous where they sing this on the bus is one of the most perfect portrayls of what music means, or should mean. Truly uniting people in joy of something beautiful. Too many people just let the music play and don't really listen. Even those of us who truly listen need a Rick to help us hear what we are missing. Your love for the music is infectious amd we appreciate you, sir!
For me it will always be associated with WKRP and the Bailey Quarters character.
First time I heard this masterpiece, thank you Cameron Crowe.
I scrolled through to find THIS comment. Almost Famous is one great movie and this is probably the most memorable scene.
Not only a truly great song but also added so much to a truly great scene in a truly great movie. I had heard this song long before the movie but for me it will always be linked to that movie.
I was in junior high on my first theater date watching Aloha Bobby and Rose. Between the excitement of being there with a new flame and a story about a beautiful girl and a rough dude I was entranced and never forgot the song. Still reminds me of that girl and holding her hand when I hear it.
Hello Rick, I’m Paul Buckmaster’s sister! I just came across your video analyzing Tiny Dancer. Thank you so much. I love the way you separate the tracks, showing the complexity of the parts, but when played together it all sounds so unified and perfect.
You remind me a little of Paul, his characteristics and personality.
He passed away sadly in 2017. He was only 25 when he worked on Madman Across the Water.
I miss him dearly.
But thank you for this. Kind wishes.
I was around 6-7 years old when my Mom bought Madman Across The Water. She would get high and listen to it into the early morning. I had the lyrics memorized by the age of 8. Tiny Dancer always sounded a little forlorn to me but strangely comforting. When she passed in 2015, I made a video of her life with Tiny Dancer. I just absolutely love this song and miss her so much. ❤
❤
very nice. ❤
What amazes me is Elton was writing these songs in his early and mid twenties. There's like 20 great Elton John songs that Rick could breakdown.
No digital short cuts, no Pro Tools, no auto-tune, genuine beauty and excellence.
with good songwriting, you don't need a bunch of props. it's like makeup, a little is nice. alot is another thing.
If I were rich enough I would pay handsomely for the complete and utter destruction of autotune.
@Ezekiel Plumb Totally agree, I have Pro Tools and use it frequently. Point being the stellar quality of this 50+ yr old recording, and the amazing human musical performances it contains, is stunning considering the technology of the time.
Another gatekeeper, great 😒
Yes goddamnit! Real Music.
Fun fact: the C. Bechstein piano used on this song was also used on “Bang A Gong”, “Seven Seas of Rhye”, “You’re So Vain”, “Martha My Dear” and countless other songs that were recorded at Trident Studios.
It sounds like it too!
No kidding? That is crazy---You're So Vain and Martha My Dear? In that same vein, weren't alot of Joni Mitchell and Carole King's hits done on the same piano in that studio in LA? (the name escapes me)
@@Marcus_C51 A&M
You're So Vain: once you hear Mick Jagger backin' vocals you'll never unhear.
@@LCA84 very true.
I mean honestly, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It's just gorgeous. There aren't enough words to describe how beautiful it is.
I agree... AND (but?), it might not rank in the top 10 most beautiful songs Bernie Taupin wrote! So... Wild!
@@davideaston6944 this is true and yes crazy. 😲
Spot On ! Magical
Heard this song a million times. Wasn’t until I sat down to transcribe it one day that I realized the chorus doesn’t hit until around 2:45 into the song. Most modern songs are only that long to begin with. This song is amazing on so many levels. Modern pop music writing isn’t even in the same universe as this masterpiece.
I don't play any instrument yet enjoy Rick's knowledge
Elton makes it interesting at the beginning and it teases that something bigger is to come. "Unresolved tension" is a term I only heard recently but this song seems full of it.
Same here. Blows my mind and only adds to my love of this song.
I’d never put my finger on it before Rick pointed it out, but that slight tempo change just before the chorus is one of many beautiful moments in this song.
My favorite parts by far.
No click track probably. They played with feel and let the tempo flex when needed. I worked with Rick years ago and he was talking about this and used some AC/DC songs as examples - some of those change 4 or 5 BPM in a couple of measures but you'd never noticed without looking for it because the vibe was right and timing should change in some spots. I try not to use click tracks whenever possible.
There will never be a better song written about the great Tony Danza.
What's more, I do a lot of driving and have never seen head lice on the highway.
@@davidklaproth8698 But have you ever been laid down in sheets of Lennon? Great song though - always makes me emotional and brings tears to my eyes.
@@davidklaproth8698 lol
@@davidklaproth8698 😂
Hilarious 😂
A song he still plays in concert 50 years later and people of all ages cheer (or shed a tear) from the first note
I love the way drums sounded in the 70s, and this song is a prime example.
Totally agree.
Ditto.
but his Original Drummer Nigel Olsen was amazing..
Yes! I always loved the 'thud' of the snare drums on Elton's records.
Back when drums sounded like drums.
The entire album, “Madman Across The Water” is absolutely terrific. It has always been my favorite of Elton’s. The title track is so moving and magnificent.
Absolutely agree - Rick could do an entire series on just the songs from this album - each one an epic gem...
Could not agree more, David.
his best work
Holiday Inn is my favorite on it (at least today)
Videos on Levon and Indian Sunset would be amazing to see. Such a great album.
That guitar isolated in the beginning, I would never have guessed it belonged to this song. One thing I love about these videos is hearing everything so nicely isolated. It really helps you appreciate how magnificent these compositions are.
And how brilliant the session musicians coming up with these parts are!
Has he ever said what he uses to isolate the parts so well?
@@GhostRider92 Friends with connections who can provide the original stems probably! Or they're songs where the stems are available anyway, like the ones that were in the Rock Band games
@@GhostRider92 Many of them available on torrent sites. Not all of them, but quite a few are.
@@rkk578 what format would a multichannel file have there?
It's up there with Bohemian Rhapsody levels for me. I love most of Elton's work but this and 'Rocketman' speak to me on a deep emotional level. Bernie Taupin deserves a hell of a lot of credit too - the lyrics/stories are a huge part of why the songs are so special.
Rocketman is my alltime favorite song. ...like you, it touches me on a emotional level..ever since I heard it as a preteen kid in the 70s, it just spoke to me
I think one of the reasons Elton wrote such interesting melodies is because he had a relatively large vocal range and he used all those notes to soar all over. It's in these older songs like Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Rick Beato needs to be protected at all costs. What a gift of a man
That scene in the "Almost Famous" movie really made me love that song..Awesome
Great scene 👌
Exactly the same!)
exactly man.great👍
Oh yeah. “Almost Famous”.
“I’m a golden god!!”
….then back on the bus with a hangover. Love that movie.
Absolutely 💯 %
Elton is just a superlative freaking talent. So much is said about the writing, as it should happen, but my gosh, his singing right from the start tells about how much he engaged with his own music and purpose. It’s so fully rendered with tone and style. As Mozart said, genius is, above all, the clearest expression of love (which is our best possible form of energy).
The best guitar I ever owned was an early 70's Strat that had been previously owned by Elton's guitarist Caleb Quaye. Sadly it was stolen a year after I acquired it in 1984 at the club Madame Wong's in Santa Monica. I took my eye off of it for a minute. Gone. Years later I got to be friends with Caleb who remembered the instrument and informed me that it's best that I don't know what tracks he used it on. I had to agree with him.
He shared with me a great story about growing up in London in the 60's. Caleb worked for a while for Dick James music, the Beatle's publisher, and among his many tasks was to pick up master tapes from studios so the Dick James company could transcribe the records so that the sheet music could be released at the same time as the album. This one particular time Caleb was summoned to Abbey Road to pick up a master, but instead of heading straight back to the Dick James offices he found his friend Reg Dwight (Elton John) and they took the tape to his house where they listened to it from start to finish. The recording left them speechless. It was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Wow! I remember picking up the album sleeve while listening back when -early 70s - at a friend's place, eager to learn the names of the players, especially the guitarist as I was a budding player. l'd forgotten Caleb's name 'til I saw it here! I always remembered the era with Davey Johnstone et al, saw 'Yellow Brick Road' in Toronto, '75.
thank you for sharing this with us. wonderful.
WOW!! What a story!
Thank you Tom fantastic post - really appreciate you sharing
Thank you for sharing that rock and roll story. Perfect ❤️
Metalhead here. Elton is an all-time favorite of mine, I have almost all his LPs and Tiny Dancer is one of the songs of my life. 🤘
Have you seen the rock and roll jeopardy episode with Dave Mustaine from Megadeth? They had a category on Elton John, and Dave cleaned up! You're not the only metalhead that appreciates the genius of Elton.
I love how Elton masters the use of the Piano as a percussive instrument. That opening is a master class in that art.
I don't know of any other piano player that uses dynamics like he does to get more complexity in his playing. I also notice that he seems to play all the notes of chords at _exactly_ the same time, so close together that it seems like one note. You hear it in Bennie and the Jets for example.
Absolutely!!
One of the greatest songs of all time. I remember first hearing it as kid and it has lived with me ever since.
There is something so wistful and intimate about this song. It evokes nostalgia and sensuality and spirituality. Bernie and Elton were magic together.
Another Elton John song that I would love to see you do a WMTSG episode on is Funeral For A Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding. What a masterpiece.
I agree entirely Greg. FFAF is so gorgeously symphonic then the way it transitions into the foot-stomping classic rock piece LLB is at a stratospheric level above most rock music. Have always particularly loved the interplay between the high piano and piping synth work (Gus Dudgeon?) then the way Johnstone's gutsy guitar comes in in the instrumental in LLB. I have always wondered if the above-mentioned synth sound was influenced by Pete Thowsend's unique synth work in the epic song "Won't Get Fooled Again", which synth work had never been done before and which has never been repeated, as far as I am aware.
Meant "Thownsend" of course
The whole yellow brick road álbum was a masterpiece.
@@MusicalABC I remember buying it for my sisters birthday many moons ago. It represents the absolute peak of his musical career IMHO.
Fully agree… I listen to that often thinking, ‘imagine picking up that new Elton John record, going home and putting it on the turntable and being met with that opening’… what a way to start an album!
The song was written in a time long ago before “don’t bore us get to the chorus “ became the norm. It was written to engage us to entertain us and enlighten us. It was a art project not a recipe for cash flow.
Don't need to WAIT for the chorus, because the whole song is sweet. :)
you can delight in every note.
I agree. 2 min 37 sec before the chorus. Many songs these days aren't longer than 2 37
Agreed, but both this and EW&F's "Fantasy" would've been bigger hits if they'd have emphasized the chorus more.
Oh, I'm not so sure I agree with that. Elton John's songs, and I DO like them, are nothing but pop sales-oriented songs with chord progressions that are meant to nab you amd not let go.
Evidence for this can be that he did the same thing over and over and over - because IT SOLD. It worked.
But I get what you were saying. It was sales music, but in a different time.
The target market today is different, and so is what the people who TARGET the markets are promoting as popular. You KNOW they push what they want us to like.
The musical dynamics of "Tiny Dancer" are astounding. Unusual chords, great tension and drama in the melody, Elton's vocal range is amazing. The musicianship by all concerned is first rate. Perfect marriage of lyric and melody. Back in 1972 "Tiny Dancer" only made #41 on the Billboard chart. Rick puts it into perspective as the song has a slow buildup to the chorus and radio programmers' attention span wanted the 3-minute single. Brilliant, insightful presentation for a classic, gem of a song.
Sorry, but the bass at 5:31 on is sloppy, and now that I noticed this, it is sloppy throughout the song. A well written song with production issues, sorry...
@@petertrast Peter, respectfully, the bass playing by Dave Glover is good. The production by Gus Dudgeon is tip top. Gus also produced Davis Bowie's "Space Oddity". You have every right to your opinion but I'm then curious what you consider a great production then?
@@petertrast I'd rather hear human sloppiness than the programmed, autotuned, and pitch corrected music on the charts today.
@@mastafull Oh so would I. Your statement seems to imply that playing "in time" doesn't occur without "programmed, autotuned and pitch corrected music" there are literally thousands of great songs with near perfect playing that far exceeds the bass line he highlighted. I am not saying it is horrible, just that I am surprised it is one of the relatively few songs he has chosen to talk about in this series. I personally love a laid back groove where the guitars, voice, or other instruments fall behind the beat. This is not that.
@@petertrast the bass has special presence , the inconsistency/slop does not detract
I recorded this song off the radio onto my walkman and listened to it a hundred times on a bus trip from Portland to Yreka. I could NOT believe what I was listening to, it was SO poignant and complex. It is a joy to hear you break it down and let us listen to its components. It only enhances my admiration of it. Thank you!!!
It's good to know there are still others out there who come from a time when recording off the radio programming was the fastest option to get ahold of a song!
@@sergiosaunier It certainly made them more 'precious' and personal, didn't it?
@@AlterEgoNumber42 It truly did! The current consumption of music, as if it were cereal off the supermarket shelf, makes it less special. There were those rituals to pick a record off the cabinet and put it on the turntable, or to select a number of tapes preparing for a car trip, which made you really appreciate what you would be listening to. I know I’m sounding like the “old man yells at cloud” meme, but that’s where we are now.
Did you take it upon yourself to "count the head lice🪲🪲🪲 on the highway🛣️?"
How many would you estimate were peppering -- or clogging -- the road?
@@teemcshanney8910 🤣🤣🤣 I never got that confused , but I can sure see why a person would!
60 year old guy and I still tear up every time I hear this. There goes the tough guy shield again Elton. Thankyou for being central to the soundtrack of my life.
Right on man, it's hard to be MACHO when Tiny Dancer plays...the one that got away? IDK.
@@docrockmusic6274 I was lucky enough to see Elton with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra tour of OZ, when his voice was still original. Those strings, when played by an orchestra, highlight how great he is as a composer. He played a final televised national concert at the end of the tour as a thankyou.
@@fhmconsulting4982 omg ur very lucky good sir. Im only 16 i wish to see elton on the final tour but life is too busy. Ive listened to his 2022 shows on yt and he still sounds phenomenal. The 2 year lockdown break rlly helped him.
Elton John and Bernie's work will continue to be admired long after after 2022, great music is timeless.
Elton John fancies himself as a modern day Mozart. If reincarnation were a thing he just might be.
You can't really understand how brilliant this is until you isolate. Just amazing and a guy like Rick and his brilliance brings the magic
It's amazing that this song didn't even make the top 40 when it was released. It's become more timeless than many of Elton's bigger hits. Madman across the Water the album as a whole is one of Elton's greatest accomplishments.
Nor did it make the cut for "The Very Best of Elton John" double-album from 1990. Such ineptitude from the record label.
One of his all time classic songs. Just beautiful.
The isolated choir track at 7:23 is so awesome
I heard this on the radio driving the kids today through a sunny country road, and looked in the rear view mirror to see my young ones grooving. Lovely.
That sequence in Almost Famous where they sing this on the tour bus to cheer up their lead singer was a really special moment. Such a beautiful song so well delivered. The way the song builds up to the chorus is really special, like he knew it was something special.
I watched this scene here a couple of hours ago!
Just to add. Elton has a genuinely original voice on the piano. The same 88 notes as everyone else with a very different outcome. Not so easy on the piano. Sir Elton is a UK National Treasure.
I always considered this a "night song" because I'd fall asleep to music like this as a kid driving out of town to visit my grandparents each weekend
There's a great story in Elton's memoir about the recording of the Madman album--they completed it in just four days. They'd actually booked five, but the night before recording sessions were to begin, Paul Buckmaster stayed up to finish writing the arrangements... and spilled a bottle of ink over the only copy of the score. He wrote the entire score again. In 24 hours.
I was mesmerized by this song when I was 17. I’m 70 now and still in awe. One of my fav albums. Love me some early Elton.
69 and also Tumbleweed Connection. Where to Now St Peter is my favorite Elton John song. Poetry.
It happens that just today I watched “Rocketman” and I appreciated this and other wonderful pieces much more. When you learn the context behind the song and what happens in the artist’s mind when he composed it, and on top, having Rick showing us all the little details, it’s a real treat.
Be careful thinking you are watching a true story when you are at the cinema...
Movies often re-invent and bend facts for entertainment purposes.... Movie makers are telling a story that will sell and engage an audience -- Real lives are a much slower grind and it's not necessarily the truth that you are watching.
Rocketman is a good movie but it is full of many factual innacuracies. It can't be taken at face value. What it gets right is the general feel of Elton's struggle.
Pure myth.
Mmm
I was totally disappointed with Rocket man.I expected some insight into the writing and creating of Eltons music.I was virtually none of that
Listening to Rick break down this song makes me realize how listening to Elton John when I was growing up made me love these elements in other music. Elton is a master! And Rick’s love for music is infectious. Great episode all around.
I feel the same way. I still like Elton but I have never much liked his newer songs. Watching this video and hearing his vocals has stirred up the emotions I recall having with his early music and just how exciting and mysterious the music and the man seemed at the time. All you ever usually knew about a band was on the album cover which is next to nothing so I guess your imagination fills it all in.
@@guidedmeditation2396 I love everything he wrote before 1976. After that, not so much.
@@lms2932 What are a couple of your favorite early Elton songs that may not have been hits? One of my favorites is "What Now St. Peter" though it seems to have a very dark theme.
@@guidedmeditation2396 oh my gosh I was telling a co-worker a few weeks ago that that song was my favorite EJ song!
Heard Elton play this live 5 or 6 times over the years, but the scene from Almost Famous often come to mind when I hear it. Saw him on his 1st US tour and no one even knew who he was. Local radio played a song a day or two before the concert. I was 14 and have been a fan ever since.
Literally one of the most beautifully written songs ever
I'd add that anyone in the 60yo to 80yo age group grew up listening to amazingly innovative and timeless music. I don't think we'll ever hear music like this again except on recordings. Thanx, Rick!
I think it’s sad that people think that…there’s great music coming out every day… it just doesn’t sell like the garbage today’s youth enjoy so you need to do a little digging.
Im 16 this dude has taken over my life. Cant stop listening to him. In fact even his modern albums are brilliant. Pure genius he still got it. The union and diving baord are out of this world.
yeah yeah
When you are this good, you can take as long as you want to get to a chorus. It's becoming apparent to me that many of us loved the songs Rick presents, although we didn't know exactly why. It seems that quality calls out to those who will hear it.
It's often said "They don't write songs like that anymore", as if great songs are no longer written. I don't think that's true. They may not be in mainstream music, but they are out there, if you will hear them... :)
Glen Hansard is proof of fabulous song writing in a modern era!
They are indeed. Musical talent didn't end a generation ago. If anything there's more talent now than ever. However, the mainstream pop industry is now a factory churning out gunk.
Bypass all that and it's not that hard to find great music.
That's a great way to put it. My kids are surprised when I like something new and I will say to them I know good music when I hear it. In saying that give The Mysterines a listen.
@@thedappercook agreed
So very true
I was a little kid when this came out.... I was so enthralled with the melody and story. One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Elton songs hands down with Levon. Madman Across the Water is one of the best albums. Watching Rick appreciate and FEEL the music while explaining the notes and chords is such a delight... The man LOVES Music which makes me love music more. NOW I KNOW WHY I LOVE THIS SONG. It is brilliant.
It amazes me how much (at the tender age of 74) I still miss when I listen, re-listen, and re-re-listen to a song. My wife didn't believe I was a "true" musician....I could never make out the words. Everything else, pretty much so, just not words. Love your breakdown of the music....it tells me I have much to learn. Keeo up the excellent work.
Rick - you might be interested to know that this was one of three numbers recorded in just one session. Roger Pope, drummer and bass player Dave Glover were working all day at their day job laying main drainage down in Andover, and they left work early with Roger covered in cement - no time to shower - to get to London to the studio. Roger said that it was hot in the studio and the cement was hardening mixed with the sweat !! lol. Also what a lot of people don't know is that the instrumental parts are not written down in notes and dots for them, the musicians just listen to Elton run through the number and then they add their own artistic interpretation for their instruments, so in fact they all create the number.
that's absolutely mad, and just one more anecdote to add to the fact that you don't need to know how to read music as long as your ear is good enough. although, if you want to be your very best, reading sheet music will get you far
Amazing. Simply amazing.
Wow!
Real musicians doing unreal work.
This song and Levon are my two favorite Elton John songs.
I've heard this song about a billion times over the years and had no idea so much individual elements were going on in the song!
I love the way each instrument enters in staggered fashion the way people arrive at a party; before you know it, the joint's jumping.
This is my favourite Elton/Bernie song, after "Harmony". It's more than just a ballad; it's one continuous lump in the throat. And that chorus kicks my a** everytime. Memories of my girl, the '70's, full, happy days together. Songwriters have more power than anybody. True magicians.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written. But he and Bernie wrote so many great tunes. Another one that I would love for you to cover is "Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters."
I really love Come Down In Time which doesn't really seem to get much attention.
Yes. Tiny Dancer and Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters are perhaps (in my estimation) his two best (of many really good John/Taupin) songs. And I am so old I still have the original LPs bought when they first came out.
I absolutely love _"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"._
@@cooldebt I second that! Been my absolute favorite RegKenDwight song for 45 years.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road makes me feel a range of emotions and stronger emotions than any other song I've ever heard. And Im a musician so Im a guy that naturally feels at least something from every song Ive ever heard so, to say It is not only my favorite Elton John songs, but I think it is one of the best pop/radio songs ever written is really saying something for me.
I remember seeing this performed on the Old Grey Whistle Test (UK music programme) with just Elton's vocal and piano and was immediately hit by the power of the song. As someone who until then was a full 'guitar band' person this certainly broadened my musical horizons.
“I got to talk to Paul Buckmaster once…”
This is what separates and elevates Rick Beato above all else. The Professor’s connections provide insight and convey the authority of “been there, done that, knew them, played it, taught it…was there then and bringing it to you now”.
For baby boomers, Elton John’s music is the best way to remember and maybe relive all the great moments in our lives. Thank you, Sir Elton John!!!
"Tiny Dancer" followed by "Levon" might be the most solid one-two punch opening of any album I can name.
And now I want Rick to do a top ten one-two punch album openings of all time! :D
Completely different genre but Battery into Master of Puppets is my personal favorite.
Brown Sugar/Sway for me. That it’s followed by Wild Horses blows my mind.
So beautiful I cried.
And we got the full Beato treatment here, complete with air drums, air guitar and air piano!
Thank you Rick for this amazing breakdown of an iconic song.
And thank you, Elton and Bernie, for your 50+ years of musical magical masterpieces!
Amen !
Guess he really liked it 😀 (going to watch Rocketman tonight........again)🤣
It always makes me tear up as well. Such a powerfully emotive piece of music.
Especially when it was played in the Californication TV show. Totally elevated that episode. Genius.
Just needed some air cello to round it all out…
I always loved the "build" of this song... Starts with just a piano and his voice (and as if that's not enough), then adds a few instruments, then the choir, and the whole string section until you have this HUGE sound towards the end... Excellent choice for WMTSG!
I never noticed this song was over six minutes or that the chorus was delayed. The whole of it is so marvelous. It is a masterclass of building tension and drama through arranging and dynamics. And of course brilliant musicians to pull it off. One day they won't even know how to do this.
Elton's piano playing on this song always gives me chills, even though I've heard it a thousand times.
Anticipation creates tension (that when it is released) creates satisfaction. Elton's songs have that in abundance. Great breakdown Rick.
Agreed. I especially like the tension in the chorus with the arpeggiated chords that Rick mentioned. First part they run up, teasing us, then back down. Second time around we get the full run up the keys to the release.
My favorite Elton John song is Someone Saved my life tonight. Especially with headphones on. The piano and drums are just incredible. I'm a couple of years older than you but I just love whenever you do a 70's song. Thank you for teaching me to really listen to the music.
There’s a lot of talent in that song. Well…all of Elton’s songs. ❤ I just love and admire the fact there are so many people and so many instruments being played, and they all come together to form such beautiful music.
The first time I heard this gem was when I was traveling in my parents car heading towards my grandparents home...I was 5 or 6 and I thought...this is the best thing I have ever heard! Music has ruled my life ever since!
Bernie Taupin has to be in the top five greatest writers of all time. His stuff is so evocative.
Bernie Taupin, Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan are in my personal top 5 for lyrics.
@@craenor I hope there is room for Joni Mitchel as well 🙂
@@mrdaddy6686 purely on lyrical content, she's at least in my top 10, but really, once you get to the top 10, they could be in any order... ;)
For lyrics, yes!
@@mattrogers1946 To be fair to Rick, he's focused much more on the musical content than the lyrical, and I think that's both reasonable and wise of him.
Now, when it comes to me, my musical talents are not only lacking, they're probably negative. There's a reasonable chance that just by being in a room I reduce the quality of the music around me.
Words however, are my friend, and though I'm somewhat intoxicated at the moment, I'm very comfortable with words.
Bernie Taupin is a master of words. Bob Dylan is a master of words. Paul Simon is a master of words, who, with Kathy's Song, wrote my favorite stanza or verse ever.
"And as I watch the drops of rain,
Weave their weary paths and die.
I know that I am like the rain,
There but for the grace of you, go I."
~Paul Simon from the autobiographical Kathy's Song.
Beautiful song and don’t underestimate the brilliance of Bernie Taupin’s lyrics : “…the boulevard is not that bad …” It all works together so perfectly.
As a guitar player and songwriter I owe it to myself to buy all your learning materials and educate myself further because what I actually know compared to your rich mine of knowledge is about 0.5%. I should be ashamed of myself! This is one man who knows his craft and rightly deserves to be called a professional musician at the top of his game. You would blow probably most famous musicians out of the park for the knowledge Rick. That’s why people like Brian May hold you in so much high esteem. Because they recognise a man who knows his stuff and who can actually teach them a thing or two…even with all their platinum albums and world tours under their belt. You are a true inspiration and amazing asset to the musical world Rick. Awesome teacher and educator!! You and your family should be extremely proud of what you have and will undoubtedly go on to achieve!
Saw Elton during the Yellow Brick Road tour. I was sitting there during the opening and started feeling sick. Then I realized I was holding my breath. What a treasure he is.
Your videos always make this non-musician feel happy! 😊
From the point of view of a music lover with very little musical knowledge or aptitude: watching these is like hanging out in the basement with your cool uncle. Rick gets so much joy out of great musicianship, and he spreads the enthusiasm and shares the wealth of knowledge he has. I've loved Elton since 1970 and now I love him even more. And I love you, Rick Beato!
I love that hiding in the background on this song is Davey Johnstone playing acoustic guitar, and Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray in the choir singing backing vocals.
I enjoy all of your videos, Rick. But as a singer, I especially like it when you isolate the vocals. Elton has such a great voice. Absolutely no need for auto-tune! Thank you.
And to think, Elton was going to try to make it as a songwriter because he didn’t think his voice was good enough for performance. He’s actually the only person I know of who didn’t love his voice straight away.
@@crusheverything4449 Second favorite voice behind Thom Yorke,
I choose to sing Love Lies Bleeding on karaoke night in an Irish pub here(germany).Somewhat 2000 ish. The dj announced Elton John, title, nobody knew the song, people stared in awe as they were blown away expecting a ballad.. never ever had so much fun on stage killing the audience ! :-)
That pedal steel really brings it home for me...what a rad song
As a keyboard player this is my all time favourite song to play.
It’s so rewarding.
Love the way that you’ve broken it down
I write songs as a hobby but when I listen to you especially on this song it makes me feel like giving up. But seriously I learned so much from you, thank you
Well, you need to do the opposite and write songs all day. However, if you notice all of the great rock and pop songs are written by people before they are in their mid-20's. Creativity and brain power are at their peak. But, Tin Pan Alley guys like Rodgers, Kern, Van
Heusen, Arlen, Berlin et al. were able to do it to middle age. So, keep at it.
It is a journey. Some seem to have it all. Just stay the path and put the work in. Some things will be for you alone. See you down the road
@@danielabilez3619 spot on comment 🎯 It sounds vain, but the most "authentic" songs I've ever heard were initially composed for an audience of 1? It doesn't have to be perfect except for that inner critic...👍
This takes me back to my 14th birthday when I was given a cassette player by my parents. I can't remember how I was able to obtain the Caribou cassette tape but it was my first introduction to Elton John. I must have played that cassette a thousand times. I've been a life long fan of Elton ever since. One time I was dating a woman and we were standing in her living room and she put on the LP Don't shoot me I'm only the Piano player. It blew my mind that she knew the words to Texan Love Song. We sang it together. One of the most intimate times in my life. Thank you for the video Rick. Awesome as always.
Nice story. Great memory.
The layering here is just SO beautiful
bass is subtle, but with that drum it fills everything in beautifully...
Rick, what a great breakdown. Back in those rich days when this music was coming out, nobody was "waiting for the chorus", (except A&R guys - thoughts&prayers) because everything before and after it was just so damn good.
The song wasn't a hit initially. It wasn't released in the UK as a single and "only" reached 41 in the US. For Elton John's reps, that was considered a failure based on the success of 'Friends' and 'Your Song,' and 'Levon' making it the first song released in the US not to hit the top 40 since Border Song in 1970.
It didn't make it to Gold status as a single until 2005 and then went platinum in 2011. It sold better in those 6 years than it had in the previous 30 years combined due to digital sales.
Is it a GREAT song? Yes. Great doesn't mean successful. A ton of these songs Rick does aren't the most financially rewarding for artists. He did Bohemian Rhapsody for Queen - which is probably their greatest song, is extremely long for a pop song, doesn't even HAVE a chorus, and didn't even hit number 1 in the US when it first came out - but Another One Bites the Dust (a 3 minute diddy) was their best selling single up until a decade or so ago just like Elton John. You could do that with probably half of the 100+ videos that Rick picks I'm sure.
Don't think audiences or A&R are much different today than they were in the 70s. They were releasing bubble gum 2 minute jams back then, too. Get to the hook was as much a theme then as it is today. Elton John simply had enough clout after Your Song to push past it.
So much of Elton's early albums feature brilliant production, song-writing and masterful playing and singing. For 1971 (one year after his first important album), it's important to remember that these arrangements were absolutely cutting edge. His 1970 self titled album with Paul Buckmaster string arrangements, made people sit up and really take notice as the style of arranging and production was so intimate compared to what else was in the charts at the time (think Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, David Bowie etc. etc.)
I am partial to Tumbleweed Connection. Every track is so evocative of Bernie Taupin's fascination with Americana.
@@BifMcAwesome Yes, it's really good too. I love all of the early albums all the way up to and including Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The song writing both from Bernie and Elton is quite fantastic. Also amazing the amount of material they produced in those 2-3 years.
Buckmaster and Dudgeon were heavily involved with Soace Oddity. In fact Rick Wakeman played organ on a track on the madman album as well as mellotron on Bowie Space Oddity and there were a number of other musicians who worked with both musicians, that is to say David Bowie and Elton John
@@BifMcAwesome make a playlist of Tumbleweed Connection and Eagles Desperado and put it on shuffle play...
This song had me trying to hold back tears all day at work today.
This song has me holding back the tears, every time I hear it. It just so beautiful.
The discussion of the performance and how it relates to the writing is out of this world. It’s the stuff so beautiful that it makes you cry …
Rick, simply amazing video. Rack this one right up there with your WMTSG "More Than a Feeling" by Boston video, it's just beautiful, brother.
Also I gotta say, damn....did the 70's give us the best rock music ever? I think so....
Yes, music really did peak in the 70’s.
This may be heretical but I like Wings over Beatles.
@@vickis.9363 Not heretical at all. I like most every 60's & 70's band over the Beatles. The ridiculous worship of that band & John Lennon is simply absurd and wildly unwarranted... their "legacy" far, far outweighs their actual talent or skill as a band. They're decent, but they ain't "that good". Hell, no one is......
@TexasRaider
Couldn’t disagree with you more, and I know Rick would feel the same, as The Beatles are his favourite band.
@@joba4848 There's a difference between a band being 'your favorite' and a band being 'the most talented'. I've no doubt the Beatles are millions of folks favorite band, but musically that doesn't make them objectively 'better' than other bands. I'd argue many prog rock bands like Yes, Pink Floyd, Rush or Genesis are far more accomplished, musically. Doesn't mean the Beatles suck, just means they're ain't "all that" and a hat of cattle. Hell, my 'favorite' rock band of all time is the Rolling Stones, and apart from the Mick Taylor era, they're markedly inferior in complex musical ability to the Beatles. But they're a better pure rock band than the Beatles, who are clearly a better pop band. Anyway, it's really all just preference.
A: The perfect interaction between the piano and Elton's voice!
I like to hear isolated segments of the song. It makes the song so much more interesting and thrilling to hear. Isolated tracks requires your brain to understand why the whole song in its entirety is so awesome!
What can I add that hasn’t already been said? Yet another heartfelt, incredible, educational, ‘puts a smile on your face’ analysis by the great RB! Please don’t ever stop making these videos!
Nobody did piano chords like Elton. Early Elton is a goldmine of wonderful songs. The perfect collaboration of his melodies and bernies lyrics plus the backing harmonies of davey, dee and nigel. Perfection
Yep! Talented young musicians at their peak.
This song perfectly illustrates the power of a studio full of expertise vs a laptop in a bedroom.
The collaborative power of all the master musicians on this recording is crucial to why this song is great.
I didn't realize the song (Tiny Dancer) was that long. It's so good - doesn't drag. Chorus is amongst best around (as Rick well notes here) Timeless song (almost makes movie "Almost Famous") And now Sir Elton has new version out with Britney as duet partner!
Mesmerising... The song is as wonderful now as it was when 'Madman Across the Water' first appeared. Hearing it broken down into it's component parts is amazing - the quality of the recording, the individual artists and your dissection astounds me.
Always thought this song was a masterpiece of songwriting, song arrangement, production and delivery by every musician. Great video Rick