Sacrifice (song)
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| “Sacrifice” | |||||
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| Single by Elton John from the album Sleeping with the Past |
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| B-side | "Love is a Cannibal" (first release) "Healing Hands" (second release) |
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| Released | 1989 (first release) 1990 (second release) |
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| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 5:07 | ||||
| Label | Rocket Records MCA Records (US/Canada) |
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| Writer(s) | Elton John Bernie Taupin |
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| Producer | Chris Thomas | ||||
| Certification | Silver France, 1990 | ||||
| Elton John singles chronology | |||||
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"Sacrifice" is a ballad performed by musician Elton John. The lyrics are by Bernie Taupin and music by Elton John. The song appears on the 1989 album Sleeping with the Past. It was first released in October of 1989, and was the second single from the album.
The song was subsequently re-released as a single in 1990 and became John's first independent number one single along with "Healing Hands" on the UK Singles Chart, remaining on the top spot for six weeks, as it became his first hits of the 1990s. With this re-release, Elton John got also his first number one in France and stayed on the chart for 26 weeks.
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[edit] Background and writing
"Sacrifice" is inspired both by the Aretha Franklin song "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and said to be like a Percy Sledge song by Elton. The influence of Percy Sledge is present in Elton's vocals. 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 a interview that "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'. Bernie Taupin was going through marital problems at the time which served as inspiration for the song.
The song was initially released as a single in 1989, but stalled at #55 in the UK charts and at #18 in the US charts. By the next year English DJ, Steve Wright, started to play the song on BBC Radio 1, followed by many more Radio DJs. The song was then re-released as a double a-side single along with "Healing Hands", reaching #1 in England on or about late June/early July 1990.
Although the single was successful, Elton John did not tour Europe in both 1989-1990 to support the Sleeping with the Past album (with exception to one appearance in Knebworth Park on June 30, 1990). Elton only toured the US and Australia in 1989-1990 to promote the album. The 1989 Tour that was done in Europe was in support of the Reg Strikes Back album with no material representing Sleeping with the Past. In all shows that were done to support the album for Sleeping with the Past in 1989-1990, Elton played this song solo on his RD-1000 Roland Digital Piano.
It was soon thereafter covered by Sinéad O'Connor for the 1991 Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album.
The song was also covered by the German music project Gregorian (band), for their 3rd album.
[edit] Music video
It features a man and woman having relationship problem after being married and raising a daughter. after they go in their separate ways, the father raises his daughter alone.
[edit] Formats and track listings
- First release
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- 12"-Single - UK - Rocket EJS 20
- "Sacrifice" (5:07)
- "Live Is a Cannibal" (3:53) (From the Columbia Motion Picture Ghostbusters II)
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- CD-Single - United States
- "Sacrifice" (5:07)
- "Love Is a Cannibal" (3:53) (From the Columbia Motion Picture Ghostbusters II)
- "Durban Deep"
- Second release
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- 12"-Single - UK - Rocket EJS 22
- "Sacrifice" (5:07)
- "Healing Heands" (4:22)
[edit] Charts, certifications, sales
[edit] References
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