The song with its never-arriving chorus! It’s time to talk about Elton John’s iconic “Tiny Dancer”. The piano ballad, which is over 6 minutes long, appears on Elton John’s fourth studio album “Madman Across the Water”. The song is composed by Elton John and lyrically written by his life-long companion Bernie Taupin. In this article, we’ll explore the story and meaning behind the song!
Two Meanings; True Meaning?
“Tiny Dancer”, like most songs in Elton’s repertoire, is written by lyricist Bernie Taupin. So rather than diving into Elton John’s life, we’re diving into Bernie Taupin’s life to discover the meaning behind the song.
In the first verse, Taupin exposes the song is about a blue-jean-wearing lady from Los Angeles. So, who is this blue-jean lady? Well, the most logical connection to this mysterious woman would be Taupin’s first wife Maxine Feibelman. Feibelman was the “seamstress for the (Elton John) band” and met Taupin in 1970. This assumption gets confirmed by Taupin’s message in the liner notes of “Tiny Dancer”. It states: “With love to Maxine.”
Feibelman herself had no doubts about the meaning behind “Tiny Dancer”. In an interview with the New York Post, she said: “I knew it was about me. I had been into ballet as a little girl and sewed patches on Elton’s jackets and jeans.” Feibelman remembered the first time she heard the song: “Elton was on one side of me and Bernie was on the other. That song was like having your really good friends give you the best gift you could ever receive.”
Feibelman and Taupin eventually married in 1971, with Elton John as best man. They divorced in 1976.
That’s Feibelman’s side of the story. The other side of the story obviously comes from writer Bernie Taupin himself. Although Taupin once admitted the song was about Maxine, he later claimed the song was about Californian women in general. Especially Californian women in contrast with English women.
Taupin clarified “Tiny Dancer” was about the spirit of LA on his now-gone website: “We came to California in the fall of 1970, and sunshine radiated from the populace. I was trying to capture the spirit of that time, encapsulated by the women we met – especially at the clothes stores up and down the Strip in LA. They were free spirits, sexy in hip-huggers and lacy blouses, and very ethereal, the way they moved. So different from what I’d been used to in England.”
It could be that the song was written about Californian women, but dedicated to Feibelman. Another option could be that Bernie Taupin changed his mind about “Tiny Dancer’s” meaning after divorcing Maxine Feibelman. We will never know. Or will we?
For what does the “Rocketman” Elton John himself think about the meaning behind “Tiny Dancer”? Well, in the rare documentary “Elton John Aquarius 1971” Elton John said: “There’s one here that I’ve done the other day. It’s called ‘Tiny Dancer’, which is about Bernie’s girlfriend. I looked through all the lyrics, and that was the one I fancied writing. Mainly because I knew Bernie would like me to do this one because it’s about his girlfriend.”
Read more: The 10 Best Elton John Songs of All Time
You’d think this would answer our question, but it does not. Because in later interviews Elton John spoke differently of “Tiny Dancer”. In “Tiny Dancer – The Inspiration” Elton said: “Tiny Dancer was just a breeze. Because we were both infatuated with it here. This is where we first happened – In Los Angeles – so it meant a great deal to write a song about LA.”
I guess we’ll never know the one true meaning behind the song, if it even has only one!
Rocketman
In Elton John’s biopic “Rocketman”, the song tells yet a different story. Rather than diving into the beauty of LA, the song delves into the loneliness Elton experienced as a musician. While his best friend Bernie is getting along with Californian women, the pop star is left behind alone. It showcases the unique dynamic between the songwriting duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Elton was the main man running the show, whereas Bernie, who only wrote lyrics, was enjoying himself behind the scenes.
The Legacy of Tiny Dancer
“Tiny Dancer” is often referred to as the song with its never-arriving chorus. The chorus of “Tiny Dancer” eventually appears 2-and-a-half minutes into the song. This, and the length of the song in general, prevented “Tiny Dancer” from becoming a major hit. Radio stations wouldn’t embrace the song, and honestly, for the better. Instead, “Tiny Dancer” became Elton John’s slow-ripening fruit. Popular appearances in the movie “Almost Famous” and a super bowl commercial by Budweiser helped the song’s ripening process. Eventually, radio stations embraced the song and it’s now played in its full glory.
All in all, “Tiny Dancer” is one of Elton John’s finest records. The piano ballad is a fan favorite and will continue to be so!
Interested in more stories behind Elton John songs? Click here
Explains so much!! Thank u!!