Tiny Dancer#Tim McGraw version

{{for2|the Ironik song|Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)|a fictional call sign|Marvel's Avengers (video game)#Main story}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Tiny Dancer

| image = Tiny dancer by elton john US single side-A variant A.png

| alt = side-A label

| caption = One of side-A labels of the US single

| type = single

| artist = Elton John

| album = Madman Across the Water

| B-side = Razor Face

| released = February 1972{{cite magazine |title=New Radio Action and Billboard Picks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=February 26, 1972 |page=44 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yygEAAAAMBAJ&dq=elton+John+tiny+dancer&pg=RA1-PA44}}

| recorded = 9 August 1971

| studio = Trident Studios, London

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=6|s=12}} (album version)
3:45 (7" promotional version)

| label = Uni

| writer =

| producer = Gus Dudgeon

| prev_title = Levon

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Rocket Man

| next_year = 1972

| misc = {{External music video

|type = single

|header = Music video

| 1 = {{YouTube|yYcyacLRPNs|"Tiny Dancer"}}

}}

"Tiny Dancer" is a song written by English musician and composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water as its opening track, and was later produced and released as a single in 1972.

In the United States, it was certified gold on 19 May 2005, platinum on 19 August 2011 and 5× platinum on 6 December 2024 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).{{cite web | url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?share=11651 | title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA: Elton John | access-date=December 9, 2024 | publisher=Recording Industry Association of America}} In the UK, "Tiny Dancer" was certified gold on 17 August 2018 by the British Phonographic Industry, platinum on 2 August 2019, 2× platinum on 24 December 2021, and 3× platinum on 16 August 2024.

Background and writing

With lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, the song was first featured as the opening track to John's 1971 album, Madman Across the Water. The song's lyrics were inspired by Taupin's first visit to the US in 1970, and were intended to capture the spirit of California, where he found the women he met highly contrasted with those whom he had known in his home country of England.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-best-elton-john-songs-of-all-time-18029/1-tiny-dancer-20501/ |title=Readers' Poll: Best Elton John Songs of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cite web|last=Singh |first=Anvita |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/happy-birthday-elton-john-tiny-dancer-5108771/lite/ |title=Why Elton John's Tiny Dancer's oft-misread lyrics doesn't stop it from being a favourite |work=The Indian Express |date=25 March 2018 |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.berniejtaupin.com/discography.bt?ds_id=356|title=Bernie Taupin :: Discography|work=berniejtaupin.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221233559/http://www.berniejtaupin.com/discography.bt?ds_id=356|archive-date=21 December 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1647|title=Tiny Dancer by Elton John|publisher=Songfacts|access-date=26 May 2018}} Taupin also stated in a 1973 interview in Rolling Stone that the song is about Maxine Feibelman, his wife at the time.{{cite news |last1=Gambaccini |first1=Paul |title=Elton John: The Rolling Stone Interview He and Bernie Taupin talk about the ups, downs and in-betweens |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-the-rolling-stone-interview-76059/ |access-date=13 February 2019 |work=Rolling Stone |date=16 August 1973}} In 2019, Feibelman said, "I knew [the song] was about me. I had been into ballet as a little girl and sewed patches on Elton's jackets and jeans",{{cite news | last=Kaplan | first=Michael | date=7 December 2019 | title='I knew it was about me': Maxine Taupin talks 'Tiny Dancer,' other Elton John hits | work=New York Post | url=https://nypost.com/2019/12/07/i-knew-it-was-about-me-maxine-taupin-talks-tiny-dancer-other-elton-john-hits/ | access-date=17 May 2020}} referring to the song's description of a "seamstress for the band".

History

The song features piano-based accompaniment during verses. The arrangement start features pedal steel guitar played by British guitarist B. J. Cole, light percussion, Paul Buckmaster's strings and a quiet choir. Back-up vocals are provided by Tony Burrows, among others.[https://bestclassicbands.com/tony-burrows-hits-8-7-18/ Tony Burrows: A Six-Time One-Hit Wonder]

Due to the song's lengthy run time of 6 minutes, 12 seconds, "Tiny Dancer" was initially a non-starter as a single in the US, reaching only No. 41 on the U.S. pop chart, and was not even released as a single in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/behind-song-tiny-dancer-elton-john/|title=Behind the Song: "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John|date=4 October 2019}} Some radio edits ended the song following the first chorus, because the first verse repeats. Some radio stations banned the song, due to the controversial opening lines of the second verse: "Jesus Freaks/ Out in the Streets". The song fared better in Canada, where John had much of his early commercial breakthrough success, peaking at #19. It was also a hit in Australia, peaking at #13. Eventually, the song slowly became one of John's most popular songs even in the territories that initially failed to embrace it, and the full-length version is now a fixture on North American, UK and Australian adult contemporary and rock radio stations. The song also received a boost of popularity after being prominently featured in the 2000 film Almost Famous. The song was also featured in the 1975 film Aloha, Bobby and Rose.

In 1971, Elton John performed the song on the first series of The Old Grey Whistle Test. The performance has been released as part of The Old Grey Whistle Test – Volumes 1–3 Box Set.{{cite AV media|title=The Old Grey Whistle Test|medium=DVD|publisher=Warner Home Video|year=2003}}

In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 397 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{cite magazine | title=Tiny Dancer #47 | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/elton-john-tiny-dancer-2-1225291/|magazine=Rolling Stone | access-date=18 September 2021 }} It was ranked No. 47 on the 2021 revision of the list.

In 2020, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.{{Cite web | url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#t | title=Grammy Hall of Fame Award - starting with T | access-date=2024-08-11 | website=www.grammy.com}}

Live performances

Since 1971, John regularly performed this song alongside "Levon" on his concert tours in various decades.{{Cite web |title=Tiny Dancer by Elton John Song Statistics {{!}} setlist.fm |url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?songid=73d7960d |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=www.setlist.fm}}

An orchestral live version of the song was performed by John with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on 14 December 1986 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre during the final concert of his 1986 Tour De Force tour in Australia. That performance was included on his 1987 live album Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Music video

In May 2017, an official music video for "Tiny Dancer" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival as a winner of Elton John: The Cut, a competition organised in partnership with AKQA, Pulse Films, and YouTube in honour of the fiftieth anniversary of his songwriting relationship with Taupin. The competition called upon independent filmmakers to submit treatments for music videos for one of three Elton John songs from the 1970s, with each song falling within a specific concept category. "Tiny Dancer" was designated for the live-action category, with the competition won by Max Weiland. The video was filmed in Los Angeles, and features scenes of various residents driving around the city,{{cite web|title=WATCH: Elton John and Bernie Taupin's 'Tiny Dancer,' 'Rocket Man' and 'Bennie and the Jets' Just Got New Music Videos|url=http://people.com/music/elton-john-tiny-dancer-rocket-man-bennie-and-the-jets-music-videos-the-cut/|website=People|access-date=26 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=Elton John Premieres Three Music Videos for His '70s Classics|url=http://www.out.com/music/2017/5/25/elton-john-premieres-three-music-videos-his-70s-classics|website=Out Magazine|date=25 May 2017|access-date=26 May 2017}} including performer Marilyn Manson and Iris Karina.{{cite web |title=Behind the Scenes of the New 'Tiny Dancer' Video |url=https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/behind-the-scenes-of-the-new-tiny-dancer-video |website=EltonJohn.com}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable"
align="left"\|Chart (1972) !align="left"\|Peak position
align="left"\|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book\|last=Kent\|first=David\|author-link=David Kent (historian)\|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992\|edition=illustrated\|location=St Ives, NSW\|publisher=Australian Chart Book\|year=1993\|pages=158–159\|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|13
align="left"\|Canadian RPM Top Singles{{cite web\|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7708&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=9jd117g2lslrhg2gm7eq4es294\|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada\|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216155540/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7708&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=9jd117g2lslrhg2gm7eq4es294\|archive-date=16 February 2016}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|19
align="left"\|Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary{{cite web \|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7687&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4njnvrh1jgqpq28ugofunq7347 \|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada \|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca \|access-date=7 October 2016 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216170821/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7687&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4njnvrh1jgqpq28ugofunq7347 \|archive-date=16 February 2016 }} \| style="text-align:center;"\|20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite book \|title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955–2012 \|last=Whitburn \|first=Joel \|authorlink=Joel Whitburn \|year=2013 \|publisher=Record Research \|page=436}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|41
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary{{cite book\|first= Joel \|last= Whitburn \|author-link= Joel Whitburn \|year= 1993 \|title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 \|publisher= Record Research \|page=122}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|35
U.S. Cash Box Top 100{{cite web\|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720408.html\|title=Cash Box Top 100 4/08/72\|website=tropicalglen.com\|access-date=26 May 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112831/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720408.html\|archive-date=26 May 2018\|url-status=dead}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|29

class="wikitable sortable"

align="left"|Chart (1972)

!align="left"|Peak
position

align="left"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, NSW|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|pages=158–159|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

| style="text-align:center;"|13

align="left"|Canadian RPM Top Singles{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7708&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=9jd117g2lslrhg2gm7eq4es294|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216155540/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7708&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=9jd117g2lslrhg2gm7eq4es294|archive-date=16 February 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"|19

align="left"|Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7687&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4njnvrh1jgqpq28ugofunq7347 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=7 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216170821/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7687&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4njnvrh1jgqpq28ugofunq7347 |archive-date=16 February 2016 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|20

U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955–2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=436}}

| style="text-align:center;"|41

U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=122}}

| style="text-align:center;"|35

U.S. Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720408.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 4/08/72|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=26 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112831/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720408.html|archive-date=26 May 2018|url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"|29

class="wikitable"
align="left"\|Chart (2015) !align="left"\|Peak position
UK Singles (OCC){{Cite web\|title=Elton John {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company\|date=23 January 1971 \|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21478/elton-john/\|access-date=2020-10-18\|publisher=Official Charts Company}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|70
align="left"\|Chart (2019) !align="left"\|Peak position
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|6\|artist=Elton John\|access-date=April 18, 2021}}

class="wikitable"

align="left"|Chart (2015)

!align="left"|Peak
position

UK Singles (OCC){{Cite web|title=Elton John {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|date=23 January 1971 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21478/elton-john/|access-date=2020-10-18|publisher=Official Charts Company}}

| style="text-align:center;"|70

align="left"|Chart (2019)

!align="left"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|6|artist=Elton John|access-date=April 18, 2021}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=1972|certyear=2020|access-date=23 April 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Gold|id=9903|relyear=1972|certyear=2021|access-date=12 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Gold|relyear=1972|certyear=2021|id=9376|access-date=29 November 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Platinum|number=6|type=single|relyear=1972|certyear=2025|access-date=19 January 2025|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Gold|relyear=1972|certyear=2024|access-date=4 March 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|id=13802-733-1|access-date=16 August 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Elton John|title=Tiny Dancer|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=2000|certyear=2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

Personnel

Elton John – acoustic piano, vocals
Caleb Quaye – electric guitar
B. J. Cole – pedal steel guitar
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar
David Glover – bass guitar
Roger Pope – drums
Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements and conductor
David Katz – orchestra contractor
Tony Burrows – backing vocals
Nigel Olsson – backing vocals
Roger Cook – backing vocals
Dee Murray – backing vocals
Lesley Duncan – backing vocals
Barry St. John – backing vocals
Terry Steele – backing vocals
Liza Strike – backing vocals
Sue and Sunny – backing vocals

Covers

In 2009, DJ Ironik and Chipmunk created a remix of the song, featuring John singing the chorus, which peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web | last=McAlpine | first=Fraser | date=24 April 2009 | title=DJ Ironik ft. Chipmunk & Elton John – 'Tiny Dancer' | publisher=BBC | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2009/04/dj_ironik_ft_chipmunk_elton_jo.shtml | access-date=28 March 2018}}

In 1990, John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed his first impromptu performance of the song for the audience of Pinkpop that year.{{Citation|title=John Frusciante – Tiny Dancer (HD) Pinkpop 1990| date=3 August 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkCVhdy3Pis |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/fkCVhdy3Pis |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-06-13}}{{cbignore}} He has since performed the song at least fifty times during Red Hot Chili Peppers shows.{{Citation|title= Tiny Dancer • RHCP Live Archive|url=https://rhcplivearchive.com/song/tiny-dancer-169 |access-date=2022-02-20}}

A version featuring Mary Black, Paddy Casey and Declan O'Rourke was recorded in Galway, Ireland in 2012 as a charity single. This version reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/video-elton-heads-galaxy-of-stars-backing-lilymaes-cancer-fight-3303420.html|title=Video: Elton heads galaxy of stars backing Lily-Mae's cancer fight|work=Irish Independent|access-date=26 May 2018}}[http://www.eltonjohn.com/news/news_details.aspx?postid=58721679-ac79-4af6-96c7-b1c65ba5a42b "Tiny Dancer – A Song for Lily-Mae"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127222758/http://www.eltonjohn.com/news/news_details.aspx?postid=58721679-ac79-4af6-96c7-b1c65ba5a42b |date=27 November 2012 }}, November 2012

In season 3 episode 1 of Friends "The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy", when discussing the most romantic songs, Lisa Kudrow's character Phoebe says that her favourite, the song "Tiny Dancer", was in fact written for Tony Danza which she tries to prove by singing the line "Hold me close, young Tony Danza". After a Friends: The Reunion episode, Courteney Cox invited Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Brandi Carlile to pay a short tribute to Lisa's character once famously misquoting the song.{{cite news| url= https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/courteney-cox-elton-john-ed-sheeran-brandi-carlile-tony-danza-tiny-dancer-lisa-kudrow-friends_uk_60bdd58ae4b0134269b0869a| title= Lisa Kudrow Spots A Flaw As Courteney Cox Leads Star-Studded Rendition Of Friends Musical Gag| date= 7 June 2021| first= Ash| last= Percival| website= HUFFPOST| access-date= 8 June 2021}}

In 2022, it was reported that John was teaming with Britney Spears in a remake of "Tiny Dancer". Later on, John announced a song titled "Hold Me Closer", with Spears also confirming her involvement in the track.{{cite news |first=Carys |last=Anderson |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/britney-spears-records-tiny-dancer-211918552.html |title=Britney Spears Records 'Tiny Dancer' Duet with Elton John |work=Consequence |via=Yahoo Entertainment |date=8 August 2022}} The song was released on 26 August 2022, though it leaked online a week ahead.{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Roberts |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/britney-spears-new-single-with-elton-john-leaks-online/news-story/11bf2d1c92e35fdba4639a08c3602281 |title=Britney Spears' new single with Elton John leaks online |website=news.com.au |date=19 August 2022}} "Hold Me Closer" is a duet between John and Spears that blends the chorus of "Tiny Dancer" with verses from John's 1992 single "The One".{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Kennedy |url=https://apnews.com/article/britney-spears-elton-john-hold-me-closer-song-release-5aa9fb3bc3013c647978352b4dce0b2a |title=Elton John and Britney Spears unite on a new dance single |publisher=Associated Press |date=26 August 2022 }}