Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John - MP3 instrumental karaoke

British singer Elton John was firing on all cylinders in 1972, crafting hit after hit while also stretching the boundaries of pop music. With his collaborator Bernie Taupin, he was able to create songs that blended melodic sophistication and poetic lyrics. His album Honky Château is best known for its hit “Rocket Man,” but its track listing also includes “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” one of the most interesting songs of Elton John’s career. The lyrics to the song were inspired by an incident where Bernie Taupin heard a gun go off near his hotel window during his first-ever visit to New York City. The song goes on to paint a picture of New York City through the viewpoint of a wide-eyed outsider, capturing all its splendor and its chaos. “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” is a piano-based ballad that also includes mandolins and violins, providing an almost country-western feel. Elton John has referred to the song as one of his favorites and performed a heartfelt rendition of it at the Concert for New York City at Madison Square Garden in the wake of the September 11 attack.