Made in England (song)

The song is deliberately made to sound pro-English, but its underlying currents are actually very negative and scolding of some English stereotypes, cliches, and the shameless paparazzi that he had to deal with during his 40 years in England, notably his 1987 court battle with The Sun, which ran a series of false stories about his personal life.{{Cite web|last=SongMeanings|title=Elton John – Made in England Lyrics|url=https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/16124/|access-date=18 July 2022|website=SongMeanings|date=4 June 2004 |language=en}} The key line at the end wraps up John's sneaky meaning to the song: "But the joke's on you, you never read the song, they all think they know, but they all got it wrong." In addition, the verses exclusively feature American cultural assets such as Cadillac, Little Richard, Georgia (Peach), (boy from) Tupelo, Rock and Roll, (Ford) Cortina or Yankee (summer), which further underlines the satirical context of the song.

Upon its release, the title track received general positive reviews from critics. J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun noted its "irrepressible uplift."{{cite news|first=J.D.|last=Considine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1qlJAAAAIBAJ|title=Books & Music: Album Reviews|work=The Baltimore Sun|via=Bangor Daily News|date=12 May 1995|page=MW2|access-date=7 January 2023|author-link=J.D. Considine}} Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel named it a highlight of the album, describing it as "a surprisingly catchy up-tempo pop/rock ditty."Campbell, Chuck (31 March 1995). "Traci Lords' Passion Turns To Techno Music." Knoxville News Sentinel. In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated that the second single from the album of same name "in so many ways is a much better single. Forget all these mushy ballads about divorce and middle-age he has been churning out recently, posterity will record that Elton John is the master of the out-and-out pop stormer – and this song, both a homage to this wonderful country and yet at the same time a protest against homophobia is possibly one of the best records he has made for several years."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending May 20th 1995|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-may-20th-1995|website=Chart Watch UK|date=14 May 1995|accessdate=19 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}}

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "In the past the inscription was found on the back of a Matchbox or a Dinky Toy. Elton puts it differently by singing he was made in England like the Cortina. Who cares, all these cars roll. But what's more, the song rocks too!" That aspect also instantly struck Norwegian Radio 102/Haugesund head of music Egil Houeland. He said, "After a whole string of ballads it's interesting to see Elton return with a solid uptempo rocker. He can still do it."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-05-20.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=20|page=13|date=20 May 1995|access-date=19 May 2021}} Paul Moody from NME felt the "decidedly frisky title track has the same self-righteous fizz of 'I'm Still Standing' right down to the immortal line, I got a bloody nose/For rock'n'roll."{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Moody|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53412702518/|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=25 March 1995|page=41|access-date=30 December 2023}} People Magazine described it as "a prototypical Elton rocker that should echo nicely off the concrete walls in the stadiums he’ll play in this summer."{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-made-in-england-vol-43-no-16/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Made in England|magazine=People|date=24 April 1995|accessdate=18 October 2021}} Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits viewed it as "something jaunty".{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Sutherland|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/54270374580/in/album-72177720323211111|title=New Albums|work=Smash Hits|date=15 March 1995|page=55|access-date=9 February 2025}}

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Howard Greenhalgh.{{Cite web |title=Elton John – Made In England (Official Music Video)|date=2 December 2016 |via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-OD1rodlSU |language=en |access-date=24 March 2022}} A "live" performance of the song was filmed in the Ballroom of the British Ambassador's residence in Paris for broadcast on the BBC's Top of the Pops. As Elton's schedule couldn't accommodate a trip to England at the time, the Embassy property was deemed the next best thing.{{Cite web |title=Elton John – Made In England (TOTP 1995) |date=3 May 2021 |via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE9qMPOu4Ts |language=en |access-date=21 March 2022}}

• Elton John – vocals, piano, keyboards
• Guy Babylon – keyboards, programming
• Bob Birch – bass guitar
• Ray Cooper – percussion
• Davey Johnstone – guitars
• Charlie Morgan – drums

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Category:1995 singles

Category:1995 songs

Category:Elton John songs

Category:Island Records singles

Category:Mercury Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh

Category:The Rocket Record Company singles

Category:Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin

Category:Songs with music by Elton John