Video hit Elton John

Elton John - I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That

"I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" is a hit song from British performer Elton John's 1988 album, Reg Strikes Back.

The song was written by John and his long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. The song reached #30 on the UK Singles Chart. It fared better in the United States, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1988, becoming John's biggest hit of the 80's there (kept out of the top spot by fellow British singer and vocal collaborator George Michael's hit single "Monkey"). The song also became John's eighth #1 on the adult contemporary chart.

The song describes a lovers' relationship breaking up.

The song was regularly played by John in concert during the 1990s, before he retired it in 2000.

The lyrics:

I've always said that one's enough to love

Now I hear you're bragging one is not enough

Well, someone tells me you're not satisfied

You got plans to make me one of four or five

I guess this kind of thing's just in your blood

But you won't catch me carving up my love

I ain't no puzzle piece that needs to fit

If it takes more than me, let's call it quits

'Cause I don't wanna go on with you like that

Don't wanna be a feather in your cap

I just don't wanna tell you honey I ain't mad

But I don't wanna go on with you like that

Woah, woah, woah, oh yeah

It gets so hard sometimes to understand

This vicious circle's getting out of hand

Don't need an extra eye to see

That the fire spreads a faster in a breeze

And I don't wanna go on with you like that

Don't wanna be a feather in your cap

I just don't wanna tell you honey I ain't mad

But I don't wanna go on with you like that

No I don't wanna go on with you like that

One more set of boots on your welcome mat

You'll just have to quit them if you want me back

'Cause I don't wanna go on with you like that

Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

Oh, if you wanna spread it around, sister that's just fine

But I don't want no second hand feeding me lines

If you wanna hold someone in the middle of the night

Call out the guards, turn out the light

And I don't wanna go on with you like that

Don't wanna be a feather in your cap

I just don't wanna tell you honey I ain't mad

But I don't wanna go on with you like that

No I don't wanna go on with you like that

One more set of boots on your welcome mat

You'll just have to quit them if you want me back

No, I don't wanna go on with you like that

Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

I don't wanna, I don't wanna

Video hit Elton John

Elton John - Sacrifice

Sacrifice is a ballad performed by musician Elton John.

The lyrics are by Bernie Taupin and the music by Elton John.

The song appears on the 1989 album Sleeping with the Past. It was first released in October 1989, then in 1990, and was the second single from the album. It achieved success, particularly in France and the UK.

The song was also featured in the UK soundtrack of Disney's 1994 animated classic The Lion King although this song was not written by Tim Rice, who collaborated with Elton John to write the songs of the film.

Background and writing

"Sacrifice" is inspired both by the Aretha Franklin song "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and described as a Percy Sledge song by Elton. The song is beloved by both Elton John and Bernie Taupin and deemed a bookend of sorts to their first hit "Your Song". Bernie has said he is surprised he wrote it, and said in an interview, "I think 'Sacrifice' is one of the best songs we've written." The song is not a typical love song, but rather a song about a breakup of a marriage where the loss of the relationship is "no sacrifice."

Although the single was successful, Elton John did not tour Europe in both 1989–1990 to support the Sleeping with the Past album (with the exception of one appearance in Knebworth Park on 30 June 1990) touring only in the U.S. and Australia. The 1989 European tour was, instead, in support of the Reg Strikes Back album, with no material representing Sleeping with the Past. In all shows that were done to support Sleeping with the Past in 1989–1990, Elton played this song solo on his RD-1000 Roland Digital Piano.

Music video

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.

The version used in the promo video is slightly sped up compared to the album version. The result is a higher pitched vocal and shorter length time. The video was filmed in Los Angeles in 1989, and was the second video made after Elton rejected a version from Ken Russell.

Cover versions

"Sacrifice" was covered by Sinéad O'Connor for the 1991 Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album.

German music project Gregorian covered it for their third album.

Rob de Nijs, formerly known as the Dutch Cliff Richard, recorded the song in 1995 as Iets Van Een Wonder (Some Kind Of Miracle). The "Cold cold heart"-bit re-translates as "Foolish heart how blind are you, lust is illusion baby passing through". De Nijs had recorded translations of Elton John songs for previous albums.

Karmina covered the song "Sacrifice" on their album "Rewriting Chapter 2" (2009).

Richard Clayderman covered the song "Sacrifice", which is available on most of his compilation albums.

Himanshu Chikara (from India) also covered "Sacrifice", which has been viewed in 179 countries so far with over 36,000 views on YouTube. He will release a music video of the song with improved audio.

The lyrics:

It's a human sign

When things go wrong

When the scent of her lingers

And temptation's strong

Into the boundary

Of each married man

Sweet deceit comes calling

And negativity lands

Cold, cold heart

Hard done by you

Some things lookin' better, baby

Just passin' through

And it's no sacrifice

Just a simple word

It's two hearts livin'

In two separate world

But, it's no sacrifice

No sacrifice

It's no sacrifice, at all

Mutual misunderstandin'

After the fact

Sensitivity builds a prison

In the final act

We lose direction

No stone unturned

No tears to damn you

When jealousy hurts

Cold, cold heart

Hard done by you

Some things lookin' better, baby

Just passin' through

And it's no sacrifice

Just a simple word

It's two hearts livin'

In two separate world

But, it's no sacrifice

No sacrifice

It's no sacrifice, at all

Cold, cold heart

Hard done by you

Some things lookin' better, baby

Just passin' through

And it's no sacrifice

Just a simple word

It's two hearts livin'

In two separate world

But, it's no sacrifice

No sacrifice

It's no sacrifice, at all

No sacrifice, at all

No sacrifice, at all

No sacrifice, at all

No sacrifice, at all

Video hit Elton John

Elton John - Something About The Way You Look Tonight

Something About the Way You Look Tonight is a song by Elton John, released in 1997 as the first single from The Big Picture.
The song and its video were dedicated to the memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, who died that year.

The single was released later also as a double A-side single with "Candle in the Wind 1997".

This double A-side is the second highest-selling single of all time, having sold over 33 million copies worldwide according to the Guinness World Records, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas".

However, it is considered the highest-selling single worldwide in terms of actual certified sales.

The video for the song featured actors and actresses from the UK television programme This Life, as well as supermodels Kate Moss and Sophie Dahl and is regarded as one of Elton John's best videos. John has publicly revealed (through his "warts and all" documentary Tantrums and Tiaras) that he finds videos "fucking loathsome" and after the album The Big Picture refrained from appearing in his own videos unless they were cameo appearances.

In the UK alone, the double A-side single with "Candle in the Wind 1997" sold over 4,864,600 copies (8× Platinum), making the song the best-selling single ever in UK history. It remained for five weeks at the number-one position. In the US, the double A-side single spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. On the US adult contemporary chart, however, "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" and "Candle In the Wind 1997" charted separately; while the tribute to Princess Diana peaked at #2 on this chart, "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" spent ten weeks at #1 in late 1997 and early 1998.

The lyrics:

There was a time

I was everything and nothing all in one

When you found me

I was feeling like a cloud across the sun

I need to tell you

How you light up every second of the day

But in the moonlight

You just shine like a beacon on the bay

And I can't explain

But it's something about the way you look tonight

Takes my breath away

It's that feeling I get about you, deep inside

And I can't describe

But it's something about the way you look tonight

Takes my breath away

The way you look tonight

With a smile

You pull the deepest secrets from my heart

In all honesty

I'm speechless and I don't know where to start

And I can't explain

But it's something about the way you look tonight

Takes my breath away

It's that feeling I get about you, deep inside

And I can't describe

But it's something about the way you look tonight

Takes my breath away

The way you look tonight 

Video hit George Michael and Elton John

George Michael and Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Live)

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 the United Kingdom, and on 10 June in the United States.

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 Arena, London on 25 March 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 duet also spent two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The footage used for the music video of the song 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."

It appears on John's Love Songs compilation. The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS and education.

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, it's always someone else I see.

I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free

but losing everything is like the sun going down on me.

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

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 lyrics:

I can't light no more of your darkness

All my pictures seem to fade to black and white

I’m growing tired and time stands still before me

Frozen here on the ladder of my life

It’s much too late to save myself from falling

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, it's always someone else I see

Id just allow a fragment of your life to wander free

But losing everything is like the sun going down on me

Ladies and gentlemen mr. Elton John

I can't find

Oh, the right romantic line

But see me once and see the way feel

Don't discard me baby don't

Just because you think I mean you harm

Just because you think I mean you harm, oh

But these cuts I have, cuts I have

They need love

They need love, they need love to help them heal

Oh, don't let the sun go down on me

Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see

Id just allow a fragment of your life to wander free

Cause losing everything is like the sun going down on me

Don't let the sun go down on me

Although I search myself, it's always someone else I that see, yeah

Id just allow a fragment of your life to wander free baby, oh

Cause losing everything is like the sun going down on me 

Video hit Dire Straits feat.Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John & Phil Collins

Dire Straits feat.Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John & Phil Collins- Money For Nothing (Live)

Dire Straits perform Money For Nothing live with Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, & Phil Collins at the Prince's Trust Concert on Wembley Arena in 1986.

“Money for Nothing" is a single by British rock band Dire Straits, taken from their 1985 album Brothers in Arms. It was one of Dire Straits' most successful singles, peaking at number one for three weeks in the United States, and it also reached number one for three weeks on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. In the band's native UK, the song peaked at number four.

The recording was notable for its controversial lyrics, groundbreaking music video and cameo appearance by Sting singing the song's falsetto introduction and backing chorus, "I want my MTV."

The video was also the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network started on 1 August 1987.

"Money for Nothing" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1986 at the 28th Grammy Awards.

Mark Knopfler described the writing of the song in a 1984 interview with critic Bill Flanagan:

The lead character in "Money for Nothing" is a guy who works in the hardware department in a television/​custom kitchen/​refrigerator/​microwave appliance store. He's singing the song. I wrote the song when I was actually in the store. I borrowed a bit of paper and started to write the song down in the store. I wanted to use a lot of the language that the real guy actually used when I heard him, because it was more real....

Notable performances

When Dire Straits performed "Money for Nothing" at the 1985 Live Aid Concert at Wembley Stadium, the performance featured a guest appearance by Sting.

Knopfler performed "Money for Nothing" using his Pensa-Suhr signature MK-1 model guitar with a pair of Soldano SLO-100 tube/valve amplifier heads and Marshall speaker cabinets during the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute and Prince's Trust concerts in 1988, as well as the Nordoff-Robbins charity show at Knebworth in 1990 and the On Every Street world tours in 1991/1992. These versions featured extended guitar solos by Knopfler, backed by Eric Clapton and Phil Palmer.

"Money for Nothing" and "Brothers in Arms" were performed at the 1997 Music for Montserrat concert, with Clapton on rhythm guitar, Sting performing background vocals and Phil Collins on drums.

The lyrics:

Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it

You play the guitar on the MTV

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and chicks for free

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb

Maybe get a blister on your little finger

Maybe get a blister on your thumb

We gotta install microwave ovens

Custom kitchen deliveries

We gotta move these refrigerators

We gotta move these colour TV's

See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup

Yeah buddy that's his own hair

That little faggot got his own jet airplane

That little faggot he's a millionaire

We gotta install microwave ovens

Custom kitchens deliveries

We gotta move these refrigerators

We gotta move these colour TV's

I shoulda learned to play the guitar

I shoulda learned to play them drums

Look at that mama, she got it stickin' in the camera

Man we could have some fun

And he's up there, what's that? Hawaiian noises?

Bangin' on the bongoes like a chimpanzee

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Get your money for nothin' get your chicks for free

We gotta install microwave ovens

Custom kitchen deliveries

We gotta move these refrigerators

We gotta move these colour TV's, Lord

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it

You play the guitar on the MTV

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

Money for nothin' and chicks for free

Video hit Elton John

Elton John - Crocodile Rock

Crocodile Rock is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in January 1972 at Trident Studios, London. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the U.S., as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and stayed there for three weeks. In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the RIAA.

In Canada, it topped the chart as well, remaining at No.1 on the RPM 100 national singles chart for four weeks from 17 February – 10 March.

It was the first song released as a single on the MCA label (catalogue #40000) after MCA dissolved its Uni, Decca, Kapp and Coral labels. (John had previously been with the Uni label).

"Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ, played by John, with a carnival-like sound and honky-tonk rhythm. The lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock 'n' roll, and dating and youthful independence in that era. Regular Elton John band members, such as Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, are among the song's performers.

Like "Tennessee Waltz", "Crocodile Rock" is a self-referential song, i.e. a song about the song itself, although Ken Mackintosh had a popular song in 1955 called the "Crocodile Crawl", following up his successful song "The Creep" from 1954, so it may also be paying homage to Britain's skiffle and postwar jazz era of music.

The song was inspired by John's discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single, with 1,000,000 sold. "Eagle Rock", which was the most successful Australian single of the early 1970s, remaining at No.1 for a record of 10 weeks. John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it.

The cover of John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (the album on which "Crocodile Rock" is included) features a photo of John's lyricist Bernie Taupin wearing a "Daddy Who?" promotional badge. The song also appears to have been strongly influenced by songs from the late 50s-early 60s ("when Rock was young"), including Del Shannon's 1962 "Cry Myself to Sleep" and "Little Darlin'", most famously recorded in 1957 by The Diamonds (originally recorded by The Gladiolas.) The chorus resembles "Speedy Gonzales" by Pat Boone. While there was no actual "Crocodile Rock", there was a dance called The Alligator.

Bernie Taupin also stated in an interview with a magazine that Crocodile Rock was a funny song in that he didn't mind creating it but it wouldn't be something he'd listen to, but it was something fun at the time.

Covers and tributes

Between 1972 and 1974, this song was covered by Singapore-based female singer Ervinna, backing music by The Stylers, on her LP album Top Hits with the local White Cloud Record.

On the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin recorded in 1991 by a symposium of eminent performers as the soundtrack of the documentary film Two Rooms, the song "Crocodile Rock" is covered by The Beach Boys. Their interpretation emphasises the vocal reminiscence of the Rock and Roll era and tones down the honky tonk and cha-cha-cha ambiance of the original.

Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for the 1990 TV special Rockin' Through the Decades and its corresponding soundtrack.

In 1991 CKBE-FM David Tyler.

The song was featured in the 1994, critically acclaimed and box office hit Four Weddings and a Funeral where Elton also provided the soundtrack.

In 2002, the Baha Men covered the song for the 2002 movie The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, with slight lyric changes.

The song was prominently featured in The Vicar of Dibley episode "Community Spirit".

The Cast of VeggieTales performed this song in the album "Bob and Larry Sing the 70's."

The song was featured in Bob the Builder: The Album.

Crocodile Rock is featured as one of the songs in the video game Lego Rock Band.

Nelly Furtado and John himself covered the song in 2010 redoing a few of the lyrics, i.e., "I remember when rock was young, Gnomeo and Juliet had so much fun.", instead of "Me and Susie had so much fun". It was recorded for the soundtrack of the 2011 film Gnomeo and Juliet.

The lyrics:

I remember when rock was young, me and Suzie had so much fun

Holding hands and skimming stones

Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own

But the biggest kick I ever got was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock

While the other kids were Rocking ‘Round The Clock, we were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock

Well, Crocodile Rocking is something shocking when your feet just can't keep still

I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will

Oh lawdy mama, those Friday nights when Suzie wore her dresses tight and the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight

But the years went by and the rock just died

Suzie went and left us for some foreign guy

Long nights crying by the record machine

Dreaming of the Chevy and my old blue jeans

But they'll never kill the thrills we've got burning up to the Crocodile Rock

Learning fast as the weeks went past

We really thought the Crocodile Rock would last

Well, Crocodile Rocking is something shocking when your feet just can't keep still

I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will

Oh lawdy mama, those Friday nights when Suzie wore her dresses tight and the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight

I remember when rock was young, me and Suzie had so much fun

Holding hands and skimming stones

Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own

But the biggest kick I ever got was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock

While the other kids were Rocking ‘Round The Clock, we were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock

Well, Crocodile Rocking is something shocking when your feet just can't keep still

I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will

Oh lawdy mama, those Friday nights when Suzie wore her dresses tight and the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight