Daniel (Elton John song)

"Daniel"
Single by Elton John
from the album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
B-side"Skyline Pigeon"
ReleasedJanuary 1973 (1973-01)
Recorded10 June 1972,
Château d'Hérouville, France
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length3:54
LabelMCA (US)
DJM (UK)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Crocodile Rock"
(1972)
"Daniel"
(1973)
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
(1973)

"Daniel" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was first released on John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. The original single release was also notable for a re-recorded version of 'Skyline Pigeon" (from John's 1969 debut album Empty Sky) on its B-side, which went on to be a popular track in its own right.

In the United Kingdom, the song reached No. 4 in the official chart.[2] In the United States, the song reached No. 2 on the pop charts (only held from number one by "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings) and No. 1 on the adult contemporary charts[3] for two weeks in the spring of 1973.

In the US, it was certified gold in September 1995 and platinum in May 2018 by the RIAA. In Canada, it became his second No. 1 single, following "Crocodile Rock" earlier in the year, holding the position for two weeks in the RPM 100 national singles chart.[4] John and Taupin received the 1973 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.[5] The song appeared on the soundtrack of the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

  1. ^ Fontenot, Robert. "Oldies Music Encyclopedia: "Soft Rock"". About.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  2. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Elton John – Daniel". Official Charts. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  3. ^ "allmusic – Elton John – Billboard singles". Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  5. ^ Lister, David, Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion, The Independent (London), 28 May 1994