Watch the exact moment Elton John wrote 'Tiny Dancer' on the piano in 1970

20 October 2022, 12:26

It's always fascinating to watch a genius at work, and a recently unearthed clip allows us to do just that.

The clip below shows Sir Elton John at his trusty piano, writing what would become one of his most beloved hits: 'Tiny Dancer'.

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It's incredible to watch Elton - then still known by his closest pals as Reg - going through his process after his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin had handed him the lyrics to the tune.

Elton would eventually include it on his album Madman Across the Water two years later.

Elton John - Tiny Dancer (Live in 1970)

"That's the one I fancied writing, mainly because I knew Bernie would like me to do this one as it's about his girlfriend," Elton says in the clip.

Reciting the lyrics, he said "you know it's got to be gentle and quite slow," before he begins singing the now famous tune.

Bernie had written the song about his then-girlfriend (his future first wife), Maxine Feibelman, whom you can also see in the clip enjoying the song.

The video perfectly demonstrates Elton John's incredible talent for writing music, especially for songs like 'Tiny Dancer' which would go on to stand the test of time.

It was one of the first songs they'd written together, having spent months on the roading touring the US for the first time ever.

Their fruitful partnership was just beginning, and they'd spend much of the decade writing together in turn making Elton John one of the world's most successful musicians.