Little Jeannie Explained

Little Jeannie
Cover:EltonJohnLittleJeanie7InchSingleCover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Elton John
Album:21 at 33
B-Side:Conquer the Sun
Released:1 May 1980 (US)
Recorded:August 1979
Genre:Soft rock[1]
Length:4:46 (single)
5:08 (album)
Label:Rocket
Producer:Elton John, Clive Franks
Prev Title:Johnny B. Goode
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)
Next Year:1980

"Little Jeannie" (spelled "Little Jeanie" on the cover of certain single releases) is a song written by English musician Elton John and Gary Osborne recorded by John, and released as a single in 1980 from John's studio album 21 at 33. It reached number three on the Billboard pop chart in the United States, becoming the singer's biggest U.S. hit since 1976's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (a duet with singer Kiki Dee), and his highest-charting solo hit since 1975's "Island Girl". In the US, it would be John's highest-charting single co-written with Gary Osborne, while in the UK, where the song only reached number 33, "Blue Eyes" would eventually hold that honour.

It became John's fifth No. 1 on the U.S. Adult contemporary chart,[2] and was certified Gold by the RIAA.[3] It peaked at No. 3 in both Billboard and Cash Box. In Canada, it hit number one on the RPM 100 national singles chart.[4]

Despite its impressive performance in the US charts, Elton John has rarely performed "Little Jeannie" live, doing so only on his 1980 tour and during 2000's One Night Only concerts.[5]

Composition

Composed in the key of B flat, which allowed its notable saxophone solo to ring out, the song can be described as an uptempo ballad similar in feel, with its electric piano, to his earlier 1973 hit, "Daniel".

Critical reception

Billboard's reviewer noted that "this melodic midtempo ballad recalls the consummate commercial craftsmanship which characterized John's output around the time of Caribou in 1974" and "some brassy horn fills constitute the only real update on John's traditional sound."[6] Cash Box said that "the Latin-flavored percussives and brass add a new exciting dimension to the mid-tempo beat."[7] Record World said that it shows the "stylistic genius that brought us 'Your Song' and other pop ballad hits."[8]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 9
Belgium (Ultratop) Singles Chart[10] 20
Canadian RPM 1001
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[11] 2
German Singles Chart[12] 23
New Zealand Singles Chart (RIANZ)[13] 5
South African Singles Chart[14] 8
Switzerland Singles Chart[15] 4
UK Singles Chart[16] 33
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 1

Year end charts

Year-end chart (1980) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 80
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[20] 16

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Elton John's 50 greatest songs – ranked!. Dave. Simpson. 13 September 2018. The Guardian.
  2. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996
  3. United States. Little Jeannie.
  4. Library and Archives Canada. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7835a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1fetjl5dimcjovbnngneubjrg4
  5. Web site: Little Jeannie by Elton John Song Statistics setlist.fm . 2022-03-29 . www.setlist.fm.
  6. Review: Elton John – Little Jeannie. Billboard. 3 May 1980. 11 February 2022. 92. 18. 55. New York. Billboard Publications Inc.. World Radio History. 0006-2510. https://web.archive.org/web/20220208141804/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1980/BB-1980-05-03.pdf. 8 February 2022.
  7. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. 3 May 1980. 20. Cash Box. 2022-01-01.
  8. Record World. May 3, 1980. 2023-02-20. Hits of the Week. 1.
  9. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6 .
  10. Web site: "Little Jeannie" on the Belgium Singles Chart . ultratop.be . 16 February 2019.
  11. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 26 July 1980 . 3 June 2019.
  12. Web site: "Little Jeannie" on the German Singles Chart . Charts.org.nz . 16 February 2019.
  13. Web site: "Little Jeannie" on the New Zealand Singles Chart . Charts.org.nz . 16 February 2019.
  14. Web site: "Little Jeannie" on the South African Singles Chart . . 25 September 2010.
  15. Web site: "Little Jeannie" on the Swiss Singles Chart . . 21 February 2019.
  16. Web site: OfficialCharts.com . . 1 May 2017.
  17. Billboard: The Hot 100, 19 July 1980. Billboard. 1 May 2017.
  18. Billboard: Adult Contemporary Chart, 14 June 1980. Billboard. 1 May 2017.
  19. Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1980. . 341 . . 5 January 1981 . 17 January 2022 .
  20. 20 December 1980 . 1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles . TIA-10 . Billboard . 92 . 51. 5 April 2020.