"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" is the first single from British musician Elton John's 1974 album Caribou; it was released that year during the latter half of May in Great Britain, and on June 10 in the United States. The song was written by John and his collaborator Bernie Taupin, and produced by Gus Dudgeon. It was written in the key of C major. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Caribou is the eighth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 7 may mean: A seven-inch single gramophone record A seven-inch extended play (EP) gramophone record This number-oriented article is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... For the meaning of cassette in genetics, see cassette (genetics). ... A Compact Disc or CD is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Piano rock, sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a term for a style of music that is based around the piano, and sometimes around piano-related instruments, such as the Fender Rhodes, the Wurlitzer electric piano, and keyboard-based synthesizers. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Music Corporation of America, commonly known as MCA, is a United States based corporation in the music business. ... DJM Records was the record label of Dick James. ... The Rocket Record Company was a record label founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Steve Brown among others, in 1972. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Bernie Taupin (born May 22, 1950) is an English lyricist most famous for his collaboration with Elton John. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Gus Dudgeon (1942 - 2002) was a British record producer, and the inventor of audio sampling as a musical device. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Candle in the Wind is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Caribou is the eighth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... Bernie Taupin (born May 22, 1950) is an English lyricist most famous for his collaboration with Elton John. ... Gus Dudgeon (1942 - 2002) was a British record producer, and the inventor of audio sampling as a musical device. ...

Lyrics

In the song, Elton sings to someone he has helped and from whom he is now experiencing rejection:

I took a chance and changed your way of life
but you misread my meaning when I met you
closed the door and left me blinded by the light
don't let the sun go down on me
although I search myself its always someone else I see

. It was written with the other songs on the album during a ten day period in January 1974.

Music

The chorus of the song is supported with a horn arrangement by Del Newman, and features backing vocals of the Beach Boys' Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston, and Toni Tennille. Also on the song are percussion accents provided by Ray Cooper and a mellotron played by Dave Hentschel. The Beach Boys, originally the Beech Boys, a small team of four brothers from the south of Poland, emigrated to America in the early 1950s in search of a fortune to be made in the Arizonian logging industry. When it soon became evident they had been the victims of... Carl Wilson on the cover of his eponymous 1981 album. ... Bruce Arthur Johnston (born Benjamin Baldwin and then adopted, on June 27, 1942 in Peoria, Illinois) is a member of The Beach Boys and a Grammy Award-winning songwriter for composing I Write the Songs. ... Toni Tennille (born, Cathryn Antoinette Tennille on May 8, 1940, in Montgomery, Alabama) is one-half of the 1970s Grammy Award winning duo Captain & Tennille. ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... Ray Cooper Ray Cooper (born August 19, 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English musician. ... The Mellotron is an electromechanical polyphonic keyboard musical instrument originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. ...

Chart History

"Don't Let the Sun" charted on June 1, 1974 in Great Britain, making it to number 16. In the United States, it was released while "Bennie and the Jets" was still in the Top 40, and reached the Top 10 after four weeks. On August 10, the song's two week stay at number 2 ended. It could not oust John Denver's "Annie's Song," nor Paper Lace's "The Night Chicago Died" from the top spot. But a number 2 pinnacle guaranteed it further airplay. By September it would become Elton's fourth gold single. June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... John Denver (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. ... Annies Song is a song recorded and written by singer/songwriter John Denver. ... Paper Lace was a band consisting of two people, Peter Robin Callander and Mitch Murray. ... The Night Chicago Died is a song by the British group Paper Lace, written by Peter Robin Callander and Mitch Murray, that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in 1974. ...

Charts

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γιώργος-Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on June 25, 1963) is an English [1] singer-songwriter and pop star who performs soul influenced pop, and who (as a solo artist and half of the duo WHAM!) has enjoyed global success since 1982. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... 7 may mean: A seven-inch single gramophone record A seven-inch extended play (EP) gramophone record This number-oriented article is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... For the meaning of cassette in genetics, see cassette (genetics). ... A Compact Disc or CD is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Piano rock, sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a term for a style of music that is based around the piano, and sometimes around piano-related instruments, such as the Fender Rhodes, the Wurlitzer electric piano, and keyboard-based synthesizers. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Bernie Taupin (born May 22, 1950) is an English lyricist most famous for his collaboration with Elton John. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γιώργος-Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on June 25, 1963) is an English [1] singer-songwriter and pop star who performs soul influenced pop, and who (as a solo artist and half of the duo WHAM!) has enjoyed global success since 1982. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE [2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Cowboys And Angels was a song written and performed by George Michael and released on Epic records in 1991. ... Too Funky was a song written and performed by George Michael and released by Epic Records in 1992. ... The One may refer to: // The One (magazine), a video game magazine The One, an ambiguous character in the Animorphs book series The One (comic), a comic book published by Epic Comics The One (manhua), a manhua by Nicky Lee The One, a game based on the movie The One...

1991 version

As successful as the 1974 record had been, it was as a duet with George Michael that "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" had its greatest success. The pair had performed the song at the Live Aid concert in 1985. Recorded live at a concert at Wembley Stadium, London on March 25, 1991 when Elton John was a surprise guest of George Michael, the duet became a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It was released later that year and reached number one on the UK singles chart for two weeks in December 1991 and a single week on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992. The song was the only #1 single of the modern era to be recorded at an outdoors venue. George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γιώργος-Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on June 25, 1963) is an English [1] singer-songwriter and pop star who performs soul influenced pop, and who (as a solo artist and half of the duo WHAM!) has enjoyed global success since 1982. ... Ethiopia, as its borders were in 1985. ... Wembley Stadium is a football stadium in Wembley, London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

The footage used for the music video of the song was not taken from the same concert. "The video was actually shot over several days," confirms Michael Pagnotta, George's publicist. "It was shot in an airline hanger in Burbank where George had been rehearsing; Elton came in for a night and they ran through the song a couple 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." It appears on John's "Love Songs" compilation. A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ...

The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS and education. A male Caucasian toddler child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ... Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ...

Charts

Format and tracklist

• May 1974 US/UK 7" vinyl single

1. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. "Sick City"

• February 1991 UK 7" vinyl single

1. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. "Song for Guy"

• February 1991 UK audio cassette single

1. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. "Song for Guy"

• February 1991 UK 12" vinyl single

1. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. "Song for Guy"
3. "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"

• February 1991 UK compact disc single

1. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. "Song for Guy"
3. "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"

• November 1991 US/UK 7" vinyl single

1. (John & George Michael) "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. (Michael) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"

• November 1991 US/UK audio cassette single

1. (John & George Michael) "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. (Michael) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"

• November 1991 US/UK 12 vinyl single

1. (John & George Michael) "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. (Michael) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
3. (Michael) "Last Christmas"

• November 1991 US/UK compact disc single

1. (John & George Michael) "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. (Michael) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
3. (Michael) "Last Christmas"
4. (Michael) "If You Were My Woman"
5. (Michael) "Fantasy"

• November 1991 US/UK compact disc single

1. (John & George Michael) "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
2. (Michael) "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
3. (Michael) "Freedom (Back to Reality Mix)"
4. (Michael) "If You Were My Woman"

Other versions

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" has been a popular song for other artists to perform or record as well. Roger Daltrey sang it for the 1987 soundtrack The Lost Boys. Gloria Estefan recorded it in 1989. Jazz singer Oleta Adams recorded it on the 1991 tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Late 1990s punk cover specialty act Me First and the Gimme Gimmes also took it on. Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944) is a rock vocalist, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of The Who, an English rock band. ... The Lost Boys is the soundtrack from the 1987 film The Lost Boys, released by Atlantic in 1990. ... Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García on September 1, 1957 in Havana, Cuba) is a five-time Grammy Award-winning Cuban American singer and songwriter. ... Oleta Adams (born May 4, 1962 in Seattle, Washington) is an American soul and jazz singer. ... Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock cover band that formed in 1995. ...

In the 2000s, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" has become a frequent selection of reality television singing contestants. Most notably, Clay Aiken's nailed performance of it in the semi-final wild-card round of the second season of American Idol propelled him into the finals and later a very successful recording career. "Don't Let" became one of Aiken's signature performances, and was reprised in the fifth season in a surprise appearance involving Aiken wannabee Michael Sandecki. Perhaps inspired by this success, and by the song's soaring melody allowing singers to shine without overcooking the song, other such constestants who have performed it include American Idol's Justin Guarini, Jasmine Trias and Bo Bice, Canadian Idol's Tyler Hamilton, New Zealand Idol's Clinton Randell, and The X Factor's Journey South. Lately, it has become popular on Spanish show "Operación Triunfo", sung by Moritz. Forest Whitaker sang "Don't Let" in a comedy skit when he hosted the television show Saturday Night Live on February 10, 2007. Reality television is a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary people instead of professional actors. ... Clay Aiken (born Clayton Holmes Grissom on November 30, 1978) is an American pop singer who rose to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. ... The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. ... AMERICAN IDOL HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO DEATH OF SIMON ... The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. ... Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell on October 28, 1978 in Columbus, Georgia) is a singer/songwriter, actor who rose to fame in 2002, as the first runner-up on the debut season of the television show “American Idol”. His father, Eldrin Bell, is a former Atlanta Chief of Police. ... For the album, see Jasmine Trias (album) Jasmine Soriano Trias (born November 3, 1986) is a Chinese American singer and entertainer who was the third-place finalist on the third season of American Idol due in part to tremendous call-in support from California, New York To China (source: *USA... Harold Elwin Bo Bice, Jr. ... Canadian Idol is a reality television show on the Canadian television network CTV, based on the popular British show Pop Idol and its American counterpart American Idol. ... Categories: Stub | Canadian Idol ... NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, is the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. ... Clinton Randell Clinton Randell was a contestant on season 3 of NZ Idol. ... The X Factor is a British TV music talent show, broadcast on Saturdays on ITV1 in the UK and on TV3 in the Republic of Ireland, with spin-off behind-the-scenes shows The Xtra Factor and The X Factor 24/7 screened on ITV2. ... Journey South are a musical duo originating from Middlesbrough, England, consisting of brothers Carl and Andy Pemberton. ... Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an award-winning American actor, producer, and director. ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late night 91-minute American comedy-variety show based in New York City that has been broadcast live by NBC on Saturday nights since October 11, 1975. ...