A once chart-topping song of Elton John quietly slipped into the background of rock history. However, the 1975 song “Island Girl” eventually found its light again, transforming a once-forgotten hit into a timeless rock anthem that continues to resonate decades later.
With his rise to fame in the early 1970s, the singer-songwriter released his tenth studio album, Rock of the Westies, with “Island Girl” being his lead single.
At the time, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, securing the top spot for three weeks.
In addition, it ranked No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.
Beyond its chart success, “Island Girl” stood as one of the British musician’s commercial milestones, earning a Gold certification in 1975 and later achieving Platinum status in 1995 from the RIAA.
Marking a slight departure from his usual style, the track featured a reggae-infused pop-rock sound, highlighted by a high-strung Caribbean guitar sound and marimbas.
As for the lyrics, it was another project between Elton John and his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, who also wrote his classics like “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Candle in the Wind.”
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However, unlike their previous collaborations, “Island Girl” was a song that they regret releasing.
The 1975 song shifted from one of Elton John’s successful hit songs to one of his most controversial and problematic works due to its lyrics.
Basically, the song tells a story of a tall Jamaican woman who was working as a prostitute in New York City. She then meets a Jamaican man, who was referred to in the chorus, who wants to rescue her from the “racket boss” and hopes to bring her back to her island.
In a 2023 interview with Vulture, Taupin described the song as “horrible” and “inappropriate.”
The composer admitted that the message conveyed a “straight-up sexist” and “misogynistic” tone that they considered “totally inappropriate” and “insensitive.”
“That’s one that’s been erased from our work,” Taupin told the outlet, as cited by Collider, adding, “You will never see it on a greatest-hits album! It’s horrible. I don’t know what I was thinking of.”
As a result, Elton John officially retired “Island Girl” from his setlist and has not performed the song live since 1990.
The final known live performance took place during the Sleeping with the Past Tour at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
Despite the song fading from the spotlight over the years, it remains a distinctive entry in Elton John’s catalog, capturing the sound, style and experimental spirit of mid-’70s pop-rock at its peak.
Related: 1972 Rock Classic, Named No. 1 Hit Song for Three Weeks, Became a Timeless Anthem