"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Elton John | ||||
from the album Caribou | ||||
B-side | "Sick City" | |||
Released | 24 May 1974 [1] | |||
Recorded | January 1974 | |||
Studio | Caribou Ranch | |||
Genre | Orchestral pop [2] | |||
Length | 5:35 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon | |||
Elton John singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally recorded by John for his eighth studio album, Caribou (1974), and was released as a single that peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.
A version of the song recorded live as a duet between John and George Michael reached number one in the UK in 1991 and in the US in 1992. The pair had performed the song together for the first time at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in July 1985.
During his headlining appearance at the Glastonbury Festival on 25 June 2023, John dedicated the song to Michael, who died in 2016. [3]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin during a ten-day period in January 1974 along with the other songs for John's Caribou album. The song was released as the first single from the album on 24 May 1974 in the United Kingdom, and on 10 June 1974 in the United States.
The chorus of the song is supported with a horn arrangement by Del Newman, and features backing vocals by Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys, Billy Hinsche, and Toni Tennille. The original backing vocalists were Johnston, Cat Stevens, Danny Hutton, Gerry Beckley, Dusty Springfield, and Brian Wilson but according to Johnston, who handled the vocal arrangements, "everyone was afraid of one another and I couldn't get a performance out of anyone". [4] Also on the song are percussion accents provided by Ray Cooper and a mellotron played by Dave Hentschel.
Cash Box called it "a gradually building track with pretty lyrics that is as brilliant in performance as it is in production" [5] Record World said that "More poetic than anything he's released since 'Daniel', this expansive ballad begins simply and builds into a bonanza of bright harmonies." [6]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" charted on 1 June 1974 in the UK, reaching number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The song reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after four weeks, peaking at number two for two weeks from 27 July behind John Denver's "Annie's Song". In the US, the single was certified Gold on 6 September 1974 by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached number one, becoming his fifth chart topper in that country. [7]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male [9] | Nominated |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Certifications
|
Elton John recorded a live version on 14 December 1986 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre that appears on the Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra album. In his 2019 autobiography, Me , John claimed that this performance is special because he thought it was the last time he was ever going to sing as he was having a dangerous throat surgery a few days later. An edited version of this same recording was released as a single in 1987 and also appears in the To Be Continued... box set.
On 17 May 1990, Elton John recorded a performance on MTV Unplugged at the Chelsea Studios in New York City. [20] An acoustic version of the song was included as a track on The Unplugged Collection, Volume One. [21]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by George Michael and Elton John | ||||
B-side | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live) | |||
Released | 2 December 1991 [22] | |||
Recorded | 23 March 1991 | |||
Venue | Wembley Arena, London | |||
Length | 5:47 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | George Michael | |||
George Michael singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Elton John singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" on YouTube |
In 1991,"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was covered in a live version as a duet by George Michael and Elton John. The pair had first performed the song at the Live Aid concert in 1985 (with Michael singing and John playing,featuring backup vocals by Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley and Kiki Dee). [23] Six years later,Michael's Cover to Cover tour regularly included the song,and for the final show at Wembley Arena,London on 23 March 1991,Michael brought out John as a surprise guest to sing it with him.
Released as a single later that year,the song reached number one on both sides of the Atlantic,spending two weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in December 1991 and one week on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated 1 February 1992. The duet also spent two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. [24]
This version of the song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards.
It appears on John's Love Songs , Greatest Hits 1970–2002 and Diamonds compilation albums,as well as his 1993 Duets album. The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 charities for children,AIDS and education.
The footage used for the single's music video (directed by Andy Morahan) [25] was taken from a concert at the Rosemont Horizon,Chicago,during Michael's Cover to Cover tour. It is interspersed with footage shot in an airline hangar in Burbank,California,where Michael had been rehearsing. [26]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [70] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [71] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [72] | Silver | 125,000* |
Netherlands (NVPI) [73] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [74] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [75] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Nicholas David Kershaw is an English singer,songwriter,multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He came to prominence in 1984 as a solo artist. He released eight singles that entered the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart during the decade,including "Wouldn't It Be Good","Dancing Girls","I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me","Human Racing","The Riddle","Wide Boy","Don Quixote",and "When a Heart Beats". His 62 weeks on the UK Singles Chart through 1984 and 1985 beat all other solo artists. Kershaw appeared at the multi-venue benefit concert Live Aid in 1985 and has also penned a number of hits for other artists,including a UK No. 1 single in 1991 for Chesney Hawkes,"The One and Only".
Greatest Hits is the eleventh official album release for English musician Elton John,and the first compilation. Released on 8 November 1974,it spans the years 1970 to 1974,compiling ten of John's singles,with one track variation for releases in North America and for Europe and Australia. It topped the album chart in both the United States and the United Kingdom,staying at number one for ten consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and eleven weeks on the UK Albums Chart. In Canada,it was number one for 13 weeks between 14 December 1974,and 22 March 1975,missing only 28 December 1974,at number two to Jim Croce's Photographs &Memories.
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell,on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy,Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album:You're All I Need,the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford &Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart,the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.
Love Songs is a compilation album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 6 November 1995 by John's own label The Rocket Record Company,in conjunction with Mercury Records,and in North America by MCA Records on 24 September 1996. In the US,it was certified gold in December 1996,platinum in March 1997,double platinum in December 1998 and triple platinum in August 2000 by the RIAA.
"True Love" is a popular song written by American songwriter Cole Porter,published in 1956. The song was introduced by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the musical film High Society. "True Love" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Kelly's contribution on the record is relatively minor,duetting with Crosby on only the final chorus. Nonetheless,the single is co-credited to her.
"Your Song" is a song written by musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin,and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single.
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is a song released by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael as a duet in 1987. The song was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Billboard listed "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as Franklin's all-time biggest Hot 100 single. The song was Franklin's biggest hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart,reaching number two. The song was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Franklin and Michael won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
"The Edge of Heaven" is a song by English pop duo Wham!,released on Epic Records in 1986. It was written and produced by George Michael,one half of the duo,and was promoted in advance as Wham!'s farewell single.
Duets is the first collaboration studio album by English musician Elton John,released in 1993. The album debuted at No. 7 in the UK. In the US,it peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in January 1994 by the RIAA.
Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is the twenty-eighth official album release for English musician Elton John,released in 1987. It is a live album recorded at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on 14 December 1986 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
"Don't Give Up" is a song written by English rock musician Peter Gabriel and recorded as a duet with English singer Kate Bush for Gabriel's fifth solo studio album So (1986). An edited version was released as the third single from the album in the UK on 20 October 1986 and as the fourth single in the US in March 1987. It spent eleven weeks in the UK Top 75 chart in 1986,peaking at number nine.
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by John and released in 1976,both as a single and as part of the Blue Moves album. It was John's second single released by The Rocket Record Company. The song is a mournful ballad about a romantic relationship which is falling apart.
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin,and performed by John. It is the title track on John's album of the same name. The titular road is a reference to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz film and book series.
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a duet by English musician Elton John and English singer Kiki Dee,released by The Rocket Record Company on 25 June 1976. It was written by John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms "Ann Orson" and "Carte Blanche",respectively,and intended as an affectionate pastiche of the Motown style,notably the various duets recorded by Marvin Gaye and singers such as Tammi Terrell and Kim Weston. John and Taupin originally intended to record the song with Dusty Springfield,but ultimately withdrew the offer;Springfield's partner Sue Cameron later said this was because she was too ill at the time.
"Nikita" is a song by English musician Elton John from his 19th studio album,Ice on Fire (1985). It was released as the album's lead single on 4 October 1985,charting at number three on the UK Singles Chart,peaking at number seven in the United States,and reaching the top 10 worldwide,topping the charts of eight countries. The song features George Michael on backing vocals and Nik Kershaw on guitar.
"The Last Song" is a song by English musician Elton John,released as the third single from his 23rd studio album,The One (1992). It was composed by John,with lyrics provided by Bernie Taupin. The song marked the first of John's American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. It reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 21 in the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 40 in several countries worldwide,including Australia,Ireland,New Zealand,and the United States.
"Wrap Her Up" is a song by English musician Elton John,released as the second single from his 1985 album,Ice on Fire. George Michael provides backing vocals on the song. The single had limited success worldwide.
The Cover to Cover tour was the second solo concert tour by English singer-songwriter George Michael. The tour spanned 9 months between January and October 1991,comprising 29 shows across the United Kingdom,Brazil,Japan,Canada and the United States.
"Mama Can't Buy You Love" is a hit single for English musician Elton John from the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. The song was written by LeRoy Bell and Casey James. Bowing at number 69 on the Hot 100 on 9 June 1979,the track became John's first US top ten hit in almost three years when it peaked at number 9 on 25 August 1979. "Mama Can't Buy You Love" also spent one week at number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In the US,it was certified gold on 17 August 1979 by the RIAA.
"Runaway Train" is a song by English musicians Elton John and Eric Clapton. A CD,cassette and 7-inch vinyl single from Elton John's album The One was released in July 1992 and was later accompanied by a music video shot the same year. It was also used in the Lethal Weapon 3 movie soundtrack.
...John wrote a vast orchestral pop song around those lyrics.