1974 single by Elton John
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me " is a song by British musicianElton John and lyricistBernie Taupin . It was originally recorded by John for his eighth studio album,Caribou Billboard Hot 100UK Singles Chart .
A version of the song recorded live as a duet between John andGeorge 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 atLive Aid atWembley Stadium in July 1985.
During his headlining appearance at theGlastonbury Festival on 25 June 2023, John dedicated the song to Michael, who died in 2016.[ 3]
Elton John in 1974 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was co-written byElton John andBernie Taupin during a ten-day period in January 1974 along with the other songs for John'sCaribou
The chorus of the song features backing vocals byBrian Wilson ,Carl Wilson andBruce Johnston ofthe Beach Boys withBilly Hinsche andToni Tennille .[ 4] Del Newman augments and reflects Johnston's chorale lines, with trumpets echoing Carl Wilson's high notes.[ 5] Cat Stevens ,Danny Hutton ,Gerry Beckley ,Dusty Springfield , andBrian 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] Ray Cooper and amellotron played byDave Hentschel .Davey Johnstone 's electric guitar stylings provide a counterpoint to the melody, the signal routed through aLeslie speaker , but his acoustic guitar part was not used in the final mix. His electric guitarstring harmonics are heard ringing out between vocal lines.[ 5]
Cash Box [ 6] Record World Daniel ', this expansive ballad begins simply and builds into a bonanza of bright harmonies."[ 7]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" charted on 1 June 1974 in the UK, reaching number 16 on theUK Singles Chart . The song reached the top 10 on theBillboard Hot 100John Denver 's "Annie's Song ". In the US, the single was certifiedGold on 6 September 1974 by theRIAA . In Canada, it reached number one, becoming his fifth chart topper in that country.[ 8]
May 1974 US and UK 7-inch vinyl single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" "Sick City" February 1991 UK 7-inch vinyl single and cassette "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" "Song for Guy " February 1991 UK 12-inch vinyl and CD single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" "Song for Guy" "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word " Chart (1974) Position Brazil (Crowley )[ 17] 7 Canada Top Singles (RPM )[ 18] 22 USBillboard Hot 100[ 19] 78
Region Certification Certified units /salesUnited Kingdom (BPI )[ 20] Silver 200,000‡ United States (RIAA )[ 21] Gold 1,000,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
[ edit ] Elton John recorded a live version on 14 December 1986 at theSydney Entertainment Centre that appears on theLive in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Me To Be Continued...
On 17 May 1990, Elton John recorded a performance onMTV Unplugged Chelsea Studios inNew York City .[ 22] The Unplugged Collection, Volume One .[ 23]
George Michael and Elton John version [ edit ] In 1991, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was covered in a live version as a duet byGeorge Michael and Elton John. The pair had first performed the song at theLive Aid concert in 1985 (with Michael singing and John playing, featuring backup vocals byWham! partnerAndrew Ridgeley andKiki Dee ).[ 25] Cover to Cover tour regularly included the song, and for the final show atWembley 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 theAtlantic , spending two weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in December 1991 and one week on theBillboard Hot 100 chart dated 1 February 1992. The duet also spent two weeks at number one on theAdult Contemporary chart.[ 26]
This version of the song was also nominated for aGrammy Award forBest Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the35th Annual Grammy Awards .
It appears on John'sLove Songs Greatest Hits 1970–2002 Diamonds Duets AIDS and education.
The footage used for the single's music video (directed byAndy Morahan )[ 27] Rosemont Horizon ,Chicago , during Michael's Cover to Cover tour. It is interspersed with footage shot in an airline hangar inBurbank, California , where Michael had been rehearsing.[ 28]
US and UK 7-inch vinyl and cassette single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"(duet withElton John , live atWembley Arena 23 Mar '91) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) "(live) US and UK 12-inch vinyl single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"(duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"(live) "Last Christmas "(performed byWham! ) UK and European CD single (Epic 657656)"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"(duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"(live) "If You Were My Woman "(live at Wembley Stadium, 11 Jun '88 ) "Fantasy " US CD single (Columbia 44K-74240)"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"(duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"(live) "Freedom " (Back to Reality mix) "If You Were My Woman"(live at Wembley Stadium, 11 Jun '88) All B-sides and additional tracks were performed solo by George Michael, except "Last Christmas" which is performed by Michael's duo Wham! The live version of "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" had previously been issued as the lead track on a free promotional cassette given away at Michael's Wembley Arena gigs in March 1991. It was promoted to urban radio in February 1992.[ 29] [ 30] Annual chart rankings for the George Michael collaboration Chart (1991) Position Italy (Musica e dischi )[ 59] 84 UK Singles (OCC)[ 60] 15
Chart (1992) Position Australia (ARIA)[ 61] 57 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 62] 7 Belgium (Ultratop)[ 63] 4 Brazil (Crowley )[ 64] 5 Canada Top Singles (RPM )[ 65] 12 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM )[ 66] 21 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[ 67] 2 Europe (European Hit Radio)[ 68] 30 Germany (Media Control)[ 69] 29 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[ 70] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[ 71] 5 New Zealand (RIANZ)[ 72] 35 Sweden (Topplistan)[ 73] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[ 74] 7 USBillboard Hot 100[ 75] 26 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard )[ 76] 20 USCash Box Top 100[ 77] 43
1990s chart rankings for the George Michael collaboration Chart (1990–1999) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 78] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[ 79] 34 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan )[ 80] 92 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[ 81] 69
Certifications and sales for the George Michael collaboration Region Certification Certified units /salesAustralia (ARIA )[ 82] Platinum 70,000‡ Denmark (IFPI Danmark )[ 83] Gold 45,000‡ France (SNEP )[ 84] Silver 125,000* Netherlands (NVPI )[ 85] Platinum 100,000^ New Zealand (RMNZ )[ 86] 2× Platinum 60,000‡ United Kingdom (BPI )[ 87] Gold 400,000‡ United States (RIAA )[ 88] Gold 500,000^ * Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Roger Daltrey cover during end credits of Lost Boys movie (1987)
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