MELISMA | SPRING 2021 | 9
Madman Across the Water is Elton John’s debut album, and it’s absolutely timeless. It carries hits such as “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon,” but that is only a portion of the finesse this album encapsulates. Its title track, “Madman Across the Water” contains an earworm guitar and piano motif and all the drama you might assume from its mysterious title. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are one of the best songwriting pairs in history, and this debut hit the ground running, setting up their future success and superstardom. The music has mass appeal that spans genre boundaries; it’s rock, it’s pop, it’s “honky tonk,” it’s borderline theatrical, and it tells meaningful stories. Madman Across the Water is a complex record, yet it’s easy listening. That’s a mark of true musicianship.
By: Kayla Avitabile
Managing Editor
