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"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his lyricist 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.

Not to be confused with I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
One of side-A labels of the original UK vinyl single
Single by Elton John
from the album Caribou
B-side"Sick City"
Released20 May 1974
RecordedJanuary 1974
StudioCaribou Ranch
Length5:35
Label
  • MCA
  • DJM
  • Rocket
  • Phonogram
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Candle in the Wind"
(1974)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1974)		 "The Bitch Is Back"
(1974)

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.


Elton John version


Elton John in 1974
Elton John in 1974

Background


"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 in 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 and Toni Tennille. The original backing vocalists were Cat Stevens, Danny Hutton, Gerry Beckley, Dusty Springfield and Brian Wilson but according to Bruce "everyone was afraid of one another and I couldn't get a performance out of anyone".[1] Also on the song are percussion accents provided by Ray Cooper and a mellotron played by Dave Hentschel.


Reception


Cash Box called it "a gradually building track with pretty lyrics that is as brilliant in performance as it is in production"[2]

"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.[3]


Track listings


  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
  2. "Sick City"
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
  2. "Song for Guy"
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
  2. "Song for Guy"
  3. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"

Personnel



Accolades



Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1975"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Record of the YearNominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male[5]Nominated

Charts and certifications



1986–1987 live version


Elton John recorded a live version on 14 December 1986 that appears on the Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra album. In his 2019 autobiography, Me, Elton claims that this performance is special because he thought it was the last time he was ever going to sing. The singer was going in to 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.


1990 MTV Unplugged


On 17 May 1990, Elton John recorded a performance on MTV Unplugged at the Chelsea Studios in New York City.[16] An acoustic version of the song was included as a track on The Unplugged Collection, Volume One.[17]


George Michael and Elton John version


"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)
Released25 November 1991
Recorded23 March 1991
VenueWembley Arena, London
Length5:47
Label
  • Columbia
  • Epic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Cowboys and Angels"
(1991)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1991)		 "Too Funky"
(1992)
Elton John singles chronology
"Easier to Walk Away"
(1990)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1991)		 "The One"
(1992)

Background


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).[18] Six years later, George 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.


Reception


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.[19]

This version of the song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

It appears on John's Love Songs and Greatest Hits 1970–2002 compilations, as well as his 1993 Duets album. The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 charities for children, AIDS and education.


Music video


The footage used for the single's music video (directed by Andy Morahan)[20] was taken from a "live" concert in Chicago with 70,000 fans. "The video was actually shot over several days," confirms Michael Pagnotta, George's publicist. "It was shot in an airline hangar in Burbank, California where George had been rehearsing; Elton came in for a night and they ran through the song a couple of times. Then the song was filmed in its entirety live in Chicago in the middle of October as part of that Cover to Cover tour, and when Elton came out from the wings, that place went crazy."[citation needed]


Track listings


  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
  2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91 – edit)
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
  2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91)
  3. "Last Christmas" (performed by Wham!)
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
  2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91)
  3. "If You Were My Woman" (live at Wembley Stadium, 11 Jun '88)
  4. "Fantasy"
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
  2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91)
  3. "Freedom" (Back to Reality Mix)
  4. "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. Therefore, it is likely to have been recorded at a venue earlier in the tour.


Charts



Certifications


Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64] Platinum 70,000
France (SNEP)[65] Silver 125,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[66] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[68] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.


Other notable versions



References


  1. Elliott, Brad (1982). Surf's Up ! The Beach Boys On Record 1961–1981. Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA: Pierian Press. p. 287.
  2. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 15 June 1974. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  4. "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: Elton John". Planetmellotron.com. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male". rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. "Elton John Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  7. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 August 1974. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  8. "Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  11. "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  12. "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  13. "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013.
  14. "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  15. "American single certifications – Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
  16. Elton John – Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me (MTV Unplugged 1990) on YouTube
  17. Sinclair, Tom (16 December 1994). "The Unplugged Collection, Volume One". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  18. "George Michael: 20 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. 7 January 2018.
  19. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 169.
  20. Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com – George Michael – "Don't let the Sun go down on me"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  21. "George Michael / Elton John – Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me". Discogs.
  22. "George Michael / Elton John – Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (1991, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  23. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  24. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  25. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  26. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2054." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  27. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2061." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  28. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 3. 18 January 1992. p. 30. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  29. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 7. 15 February 1992. p. 25. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  30. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Elton John". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 117. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  31. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  32. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  33. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 9. 29 February 1992. p. 34. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  34. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  35. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 3. 18 January 1992. p. 30. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  36. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  37. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  38. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  39. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  40. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 14. 4 April 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  41. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  42. "George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  44. "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  45. "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  46. "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 20. 11 January 1992.
  47. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  48. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1992" (in German). Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  49. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  50. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  51. "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  52. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  53. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  54. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  55. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  56. "End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  57. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1992" (in German). Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  58. "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  59. "1992 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. 26 December 1992. p. YE-38. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  60. "Bestenlisten – Singles 1990er". Austrian Charts Portal (in German). Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  61. "Ultratop Nineties 500" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  62. Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on 29 August 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  63. "Top 100 – Decenniumlijst: 90's". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  64. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  65. "French single certifications – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  66. "Dutch single certifications – George Michael & Elton John – Don't Let the Sun" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Don't Let the Sun in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  67. "British single certifications – George Michael ft Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". British Phonographic Industry.
  68. "American single certifications – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
  69. "OLETA ADAMS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 April 2021.



На других языках

[de] Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me ist ein Lied von Elton John aus dem Jahr 1974, das von ihm und Bernie Taupin geschrieben wurde. Für die Produktion des Songs war Gus Dudgeon verantwortlich, er erschien auf dem Album Caribou.
- [en] Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

[es] Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Tan exitosa como había sido la grabación de 1974, lo fue la versión grabada en dueto con George Michael en 1991, de manera tal que "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" tuvo un éxito de los más grandes. Ambos ya habían interpretado la canción en el Live Aid concert en 1985. Fue grabada en vivo en un concierto en estadio Wembley, en Londres el 25 de marzo de 1991, donde Elton John era un invitado sorpresa de George Michael. El dueto se convirtió en un éxito masivo a ambos lados del Atlántico. Fue publicado menos de un año más tarde y alcanzó el N.º 1 en el RU por dos semanas en diciembre de 1991 y fue N.º 1 en el Billboard Hot 100 por una semana en febrero de 1992. La canción es el único N.º 1 de la era moderna en ser grabado en exteriores, fuera de un estudio.

[it] Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me è un brano composto e interpretato dall'artista britannico Elton John; il testo è di Bernie Taupin. È uno dei pezzi più famosi mai scritti dal duo, sicuramente un classico di John; basti notare il numero delle esecuzioni live e delle reinterpretazioni eseguite da altri artisti nel corso degli anni[2]. Proviene dall'album Caribou[2] (1974).

[ru] Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me

«Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me» — песня, написанная английским музыкантом Элтоном Джоном и автором текста Берни Топином. Первоначально она была записана Джоном для его восьмого студийного альбома Caribou и была выпущена в виде ведущего сингла в мае 1974 года, который занял второе место в Billboard Hot 100 и 16-е место в британском чарте синглов.


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