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A Word In Spanish
Pop · 1988

A Word In Spanish

Elton John

A mid-tempo 1980s ballad blending polished synth-pop textures with evocative Spanish guitar flourishes and a weathered, soulful vocal performance.

November 1, 1988 · The Rocket Record Company

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A Word In Spanish captures a very specific moment in the late 1980s when Elton John was refining his adult contemporary sound. It is a track that feels both expensive and intimate, characterized by the high-gloss production of the era but grounded by a genuinely emotive vocal performance. The song is built around a sophisticated interplay between Elton's signature piano work and the bright, percussive nylon-string guitar flourishes provided by Davey Johnstone. This Latin influence gives the track a rhythmic flair that sets it apart from the more straightforward power ballads of the same period.

Moments Worth Listening For
the moment the nylon-string guitar solo mimics the vocal melody with a sharp percussive attack
the transition from the sparse synth-padded verse into the more driving rhythmic pulse of the chorus
elton john's vocal delivery on the word spanish where he leans into a weathered soulful register
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does A Word In Spanish sound next to the rest of Elton John's catalogue?

Late Night+2.5σ

Late Night saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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