Sacrifice (Elton John song) explained

Sacrifice
Cover:EltonJohnSacrifice7InchSingleCover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Elton John
Album:Sleeping with the Past
A-Side:"Healing Hands" (second release)
B-Side:
  • "Love Is a Cannibal" (first release)
  • "Durban Deep" (12-inch releases)
Released:
  • (first release)[1]
  • May 1990 (second release)
Studio:Puk,[2] Randers (Denmark)
Genre:
Length:5:07
Label:
Producer:Chris Thomas
Prev Title:Healing Hands
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Club at the End of the Street
Next Year:1990

"Sacrifice" is a song by British musician Elton John, written by John and Bernie Taupin, from John's 22nd studio album, Sleeping with the Past (1989). It was first released in October 1989 as the second single from the album. It achieved success in 1990, particularly in France and the United Kingdom, becoming John's first solo chart-topper in both nations. The song describes how hard it is to stay faithful and devoted in a marriage, challenging the mantra that a successful union requires sacrifice.[5] Due to the song's success, John has played this song in various locations in the years since it was released.[6]

Chart performance

"Sacrifice" was initially released as a single in 1989 but stalled at number 55 in the UK and at number 18 in the US in March 1990. In mid-1990, English DJ Steve Wright began playing the song on BBC Radio 1, soon followed by many more radio DJs. The song was then re-released as a double A-side single, along with "Healing Hands", and reached number one in the UK in June 1990. Thus, it became John's first solo number-one single in the UK Singles Chart, remaining on the top spot for five weeks. With this re-release, Elton John also got his first number one in France and stayed on the chart for 26 weeks.

Critical reception

David Giles from Music Week wrote, "Probably the best track from his slightly disappointing recent LP. Elton's in subdued, wistful mood — it's a ballad, and that's where his strength lies these days — but it bears the stamp of true songwriting genius, the innate sense of which chord goes next to make the most interesting tune."[7] Much more critical, Iestyn George of Record Mirror described "Sacrifice" as "a hackneyed old ballad written by Bernie Taupin (also responsible for one of Cliff Richard's recent aberrations) which is blown out of all proportion in the production suite".[8]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Sacrifice" was directed by Alek Keshishian and starred supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri and singer-songwriter Chris Isaak.[9] The video, which follows the song's lyrics, portrays a man and woman having problems in their relationship after being married and raising a daughter. After they go their separate ways, the man raises his daughter alone.[10]

Track listings

First release

  1. "Sacrifice"
  2. "Love Is a Cannibal" (from the Columbia Motion Picture Ghostbusters II)
  1. "Sacrifice"
  2. "Love Is a Cannibal" (from the Columbia Motion Picture Ghostbusters II)
  3. "Durban Deep"

Second release

  1. "Sacrifice"
  2. "Healing Hands"
  1. "Sacrifice"
  2. "Healing Hands"
  3. "Durban Deep"

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1990)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 20
US Cash Box Top 100[22] 19
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[23] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 47
Belgium (Ultratop)[26] 10
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[27] 31
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[28] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[32] 8

Samples

Notes and References

  1. New Singles. Music Week. 41. 21 October 1989.
  2. Web site: 30 December 2020. Legendary Danish Studio Used By JUDAS PRIEST, GARY MOORE And MESHUGGAH Destroyed In Fire. 12 August 2021. blabbermouth.net.
  3. Web site: Neither 'Rocket Man' Nor 'Tiny Dancer' Is Elton John's Best Song. Kirkl. Justin. 29 May 2019. Esquire. 8 August 2019.
  4. Web site: The Elton John Remix That Has Taken the World by Storm .
  5. Web site: Songfacts. Sacrifice by Elton John – Songfacts. 22 January 2022. songfacts.com. en.
  6. Web site: Sacrifice by Elton John Song Statistics setlist.fm. 22 January 2022. www.setlist.fm.
  7. David. Giles. Singles. Music Week. 28 October 1989. 29. 13 March 2023.
  8. George . Iestyn . Singles reviewed by Iestyn George . . 28 October 1989 . 14 . London . Spotlight Publications Ltd.. World Radio History . 0144-5804 . 25 October 2021.
  9. Book: Spignesi . Stephen . Lewis. Michael . 2019 . Elton John: Fifty Years On: The Complete Guide to the Musical Genius of Elton John and Bernie Taupin . Post Hill Press . 978-1-64293-327-7 . 16 February 2022.
  10. Web site: Elton John: Sacrifice. IMDb.
  11. Sacrifice. Elton John. 1989. UK 7-inch single sleeve. The Rocket Record Company. EJS 20, 876 330-7.
  12. Sacrifice. Elton John. 1989. US & Canadian cassette single. MCA Records. MCAC-53750.
  13. Sacrifice. Elton John. 1989. German mini-CD single liner notes. The Rocket Record Company. 876 412-3.
  14. Sacrifice. Elton John. 1989. UK 12-inch single sleeve. The Rocket Record Company. EJS 20 12, 876 331-1.
  15. Sacrifice. Elton John. 1989. UK CD single liner notes. The Rocket Record Company. EJSCD 20, 876 331-2.
  16. Sacrifice / Healing Hands. Elton John. 1990. UK 7-inch single sleeve. The Rocket Record Company. EJS 22, 875 808-7.
  17. Sacrifice / Healing Hands. Elton John. 1990. UK cassette single sleeve. The Rocket Record Company. EJSMC 22, 875 808-4.
  18. Sacrifice / Healing Hands. Elton John. 1990. UK 12-inch single sleeve. The Rocket Record Company. EJS 2212, 875 809-1.
  19. Sacrifice / Healing Hands. Elton John. 1990. UK CD single liner notes. The Rocket Record Company. EJSCD 22, 875 809-2.
  20. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 25. IV. 23 June 1990. 1 July 2020.
  21. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. 2021. Elton John. 117. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. 27 June 2022. fi.
  22. Top 100 Singles. Cash Box. 20. 7 April 1990. 28 October 2021.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  24. Web site: Julio Top #100 Canciones (SGP) . . 5 August 2024 . es . https://archive.today/20240805213214/https://www.sgp.com.py/listado/262/julio-top-100-de-canciones-de-sgp . 5 August 2024 . live .
  25. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990. ARIA. 1 July 2020.
  26. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1990. Ultratop. nl. 1 July 2020.
  27. Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 1 July 2020.
  28. Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990. Music & Media. 7. 51. 22 December 1990. 36. 29800226. 15 January 2020. World Radio History.
  29. Web site: Single top 100 over 1990. Top40. nl. 12 April 2010.
  30. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990. MegaCharts. nl. 1 July 2020.
  31. 1990 Top 100 Singles. Music Week. Spotlight Publications. London, England. 41. 2 March 1991.
  32. Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1990. Billboard. 9 March 2021.
  33. Web site: Elton John teams up with Dua Lipa on new remix single Cold Heart. Official Charts Company. Copsey. Rob. 11 August 2021. 11 August 2021. live. 11 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210811164429/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/elton-john-teams-up-with-dua-lipa-on-new-remix-single-cold-heart__33771/.

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