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Indian Sunset

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"Indian Sunset"
Song by Elton John
from the album Madman Across the Water
Released5 November 1971
Recorded14 August 1971 at DJM Studios
Genre
Length6:45
LabelDJM
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon

"Indian Sunset" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water.

Background

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It's a story, it's not a protest song, which many people think it seems to be.

— John before performing the song at BBC studios[1]

The song chronicles the story of an unnamed American Indian warrior on the verge of defeat from the white man.[2] Taupin was inspired to write the lyrics after seeing the Frederic Remington painting, "The Scout: Friends or Foes?".[citation needed] It contains numerous inaccuracies, most notably the line about Geronimo being shot by U.S soldiers. In reality, the Apache warrior died of pneumonia at the age of 79.[citation needed]

John told Rolling Stone in 2011 that this song was one of his favourites to play live: "I do 'Indian Sunset' with Ray Cooper. Nobody knows that song at all, it's an obscure track from Madman Across the Water, and it gets a standing ovation every night. It's a six-minute movie in a song."[3]

Sampling

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In 2004, the song was sampled in an Eminem-produced Tupac Shakur song entitled "Ghetto Gospel". It topped the charts in United Kingdom, Australia, Czech Republic, Ireland, and Scotland. It also become a Top Ten and Top 20 hit on some countries.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Philip Anness (4 January 2014). "Elton John – Indian Sunset (1971) Live at BBC Studios". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "The 10 best Elton John deep cuts". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ Scaggs, Austin (17 February 2011). "The Rolling Stone Interview: Elton John". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  4. ^ Roxborough, Tim (28 June 2015). "10 Years On From 2Pac & Elton John's 'Ghetto Gospel' – The Genius of Eminem". Roxborough Report. Retrieved 29 December 2017.