Your Song

"Your Song"
Single by Elton John
from the album Elton John
B-side
  • "Take Me to the Pilot"
  • "Into the Old Man's Shoes"
Released 26 October 1970 (1970-10-26)
Format
Recorded January 1970; Trident Studios
(London, England)
Genre Pop[1]
Length 4:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Take Me to the Pilot"
(1970)		 "Your Song"
(1970)		 "Friends"
(1971)

"Take Me to the Pilot"
(1970)		 "Your Song"
(1970)		 "Friends"
(1971)

"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin. It originally appeared on John's self-titled second album (1970).

The song was released in the United States in October 1970 as the B-side to "Take Me to the Pilot". Both received airplay, but "Your Song" was preferred by disc jockeys and replaced "Take Me to the Pilot" as the A-side, eventually making the top ten in several countries.

"Your Song" was first released by Three Dog Night in March 1970 on the album It Ain’t Easy. Elton was an opening act for them at the time and let them record it. They did not release it as a single as they wanted to let Elton, as an upcoming artist, have a go with it.

In 1998, "Your Song" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[2] In 2004 the song was placed at number 137 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", as well as in its 2010 list.

A demo version was included in John's 1990 box set album To Be Continued.[3] The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Ellie Goulding, whose version reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in late 2010.

Composition and inspiration

Taupin wrote the song's lyrics after breakfast one morning on the roof of 20 Denmark Street, London, where John worked for a music publishing firm as an office boy, hence the line "I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss".

The instrumental focus is on John's Leon Russell-influenced piano work, along with acoustic guitar, Paul Buckmaster's string accompaniment, and a shuffling rhythm section.

The lyrics express the romantic thoughts of an innocent person. Taupin offers a straightforward love-song lyric at the beginning: "It's a little bit funny this feeling inside / I'm not one of those who can easily hide / I don't have much money but boy if I did / I'd buy a big house where we both could live." At times the self-deprecating narrator stumbles to get out his feelings, which despite being a melodramatic device, AllMusic calls "effective and sweet":[4]

"Your Song" was the inspiration for the song "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" on John's 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.[5]

Reception

"Your Song" was praised by critics upon its release and in subsequent years. Bill Janovitz from AllMusic described it as a "near-perfect song".[4] In a 1975 interview with Rolling Stone, John Lennon recalled, "I remember hearing Elton John's 'Your Song', heard it in America—it was one of Elton's first big hits—and remember thinking, 'Great, that's the first new thing that's happened since we (The Beatles) happened.' It was a step forward. There was something about his vocal that was an improvement on all of the English vocals until then. I was pleased with it." John Mendelsohn from Rolling Stone called the song a "pretty McCartney-esque ballad".[6]

Commercial performance and impact

The song was John's first pop hit. It rose to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. In 2002, John re-recorded the song as a duet with opera singer Alessandro Safina for the first Sport Relief charity telethon, and it reached number four in the UK. In the US, it was certified Gold and Platinum on December 13, 2012 by the RIAA on digital downloads. On March 31,2017 it was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry representing the sale of over 400,000 digital downloads.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Elton John.[7]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Gold 400,000^
United States (RIAA)[33] Platinum 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Performances and renditions

John performed "Your Song" live with Ronan Keating at Madison Square Garden, New York, in 2000, the recording of which can be found on Keating's 2010 album Duet. On 20 October 2001, John performed the song with Billy Joel at The Concert for New York City, a tribute show to the September 11 attacks. In 2004, Daniel Bedingfield performed a cover of the song to Elton John at An Ivor Novello Tribute: Elton John. John performed "Your Song" to open the Concert for Diana on 1 July 2007.[34] John and Lady Gaga performed a medley of "Your Song" with Gaga's song "Speechless" at the 2010 Grammy Awards on 31 January.[35] At the 2013 Grammy Awards, Colombian singer Juanes performed a bilingual rendition of "Your Song".[36]

Other artists who have notably covered the song include The Beach Boys, Billy Paul,[37] Cissy Houston, Rod Stewart, Cilla Black and Ellie Goulding, as well as actor Ewan McGregor, who performed it in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!.[38]

Rod Stewart version

"Your Song"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
B-side "Broken Arrow"
Released 17 April 1992 (1992-04-17)
Format
Recorded 1991
Genre Rock
Length 4:49
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Trevor Horn
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"People Get Ready"
(1992)		 "Your Song"
(1992)		 "Broken Arrow"
(1992)

"People Get Ready"
(1992)		 "Your Song"
(1992)		 "Broken Arrow"
(1992)

English singer and songwriter Rod Stewart covered "Your Song" for the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1991). His version was released in 1992 as a double A-side single with "Broken Arrow".

Track listings

  1. "Your Song" – 4:47
  2. "Broken Arrow" – 4:11
  3. "Mandolin Wind" – 5:27
  4. "The First Cut Is the Deepest" – 3:52
A. "Your Song" – 4:47
AA. "Broken Arrow" – 4:11

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[39] 25
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[40] 23
France (SNEP)[41] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 60
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[43] 41
US Billboard Hot 100[44] 48
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[45] 6

Ellie Goulding version

"Your Song"
Single by Ellie Goulding
from the album Bright Lights
Released 12 November 2010 (2010-11-12)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2010; The Pool, The Square
(London, England)
Genre
Length 3:10
Label Polydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Ben Lovett
Ellie Goulding singles chronology
"The Writer"
(2010)		 "Your Song"
(2010)		 "Wonderman"
(2011)

"The Writer"
(2010)		 "Your Song"
(2010)		 "Wonderman"
(2011)

English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding covered "Your Song" for inclusion on the re-release of her debut album, titled Bright Lights. Produced by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons, it was released digitally on 12 November 2010 as the re-release's lead single.[46] The song was featured in the Christmas 2010 television advert for department store chain John Lewis.[47]

Goulding performed "Your Song" at the reception party of Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding at Buckingham Palace on 29 April 2011, to which the newly married Royal Couple shared their first dance.[48] She also performed the song on Saturday Night Live on 7 May 2011.[49] Goulding's version was featured at the end of the 29 July 2011 episode of the Syfy supernatural drama series Haven, titled "Love Machine".[50]

Critical reception

Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song four out of five stars, commenting that producer Lovett "shrouds her beautifully fluttery vocals in little but piano and strings, just adding a few harmonies towards the finish, allowing her to draw out the tenderness in Bernie Taupin's lyrics and the utter loveliness of one of Elton John's very best melodies. The result is a quiet, modest triumph, but a triumph nonetheless."[51] Caryn Ganz of Spin magazine opined that her cover is "everything Gaga's Grammy version wasn't—a tender, vulnerable gift".[52] Jon O'Brien critic AllMusic, in his review for Bright Lights, called it "unimaginative" and felt that it "sounds out of place alongside the rest of her rather more adventurous material."[53]

Commercial performance

"Your Song" debuted at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart for the week of 14 November 2010. The single jumped to number three the following week, selling 84,896 copies.[54] In its third week, it climbed to its peak position of number two (behind The X Factor Finalists 2010's cover of David Bowie's "Heroes") on sales of 72,292 copies,[55] becoming Goulding's highest-peaking single after the 2013 chart-topper "Burn".[56] It maintained its position the following week, selling 63,753 units.[57] The song also topped the UK Singles Downloads Chart for the week ending 11 December 2010.[58]

The single was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 22 July 2013,[59] and had sold 755,326 copies in the UK by August 2013.[60] Elsewhere, "Your Song" reached number four in Austria,[61] number five in Ireland,[62] number 22 in Denmark,[63] number 25 in Sweden[64] and number 56 in Switzerland.[65]

Music video

The music video, directed by Ben Coughlan and Max Knight,[66] premiered on YouTube on 14 November 2010. Shot in a home video look, it depicts Goulding's life on the road with friends. Areas from Goulding's hometown of Hereford can be seen throughout the video, including Hereford railway station.[67]

Track listing

  1. "Your Song" – 3:10

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bright Lights.[68]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Norway (IFPI Norway)[76] Platinum 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Platinum 775,000[77]

*sales figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Wigney, Allan (July 16, 2006). "Elton John's enduring appeal". jam.canoe.ca. Sun Media. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Grammy Hall of Fame Award". Grammy.org Retrieved 16 December 2012
  3. ↑ "To Be Continued: Elton John". Amazon.com. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  4. 1 2 Janovitz, Bill. "Your Song". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 16 July 2006.
  5. ↑ We All Fall In Love Sometimes, Iconic Songs with Glenn A. Baker, Afternoons with Tim Webster, Radio 2UE, 20 November 2008
  6. ↑ Mendelsohn, John. "Elton John". Rolling Stone. Super Seventies RockSite!. Retrieved 16 July 2006.
  7. ↑ Elton John (LP liner notes). Elton John. Polydor Records. 1970. DJLPS 406.
  8. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Your Song" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3742." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Your Song". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1971" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  14. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Your Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Search listener". Flavour of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Elton John: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  17. ↑ "Elton John – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Elton John. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  18. ↑ "Elton John – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Elton John. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: Week ending January 23, 1971". Cashbox. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "Elton John – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Elton John. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Your Song". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  22. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Elton John – Your Song" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Your Song" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Elton John | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  25. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 29, 2002". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John & Alessandro Safina – Your Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  27. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2002-07-21". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2002-07-21" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  29. ↑ "European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 6th December 2010" (PDF). Billboard. Pandora Archive. p. 27. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  30. ↑ "RPM100 Top Singles of '71". RPM. 16 (20). 8 January 1972. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1971". Cashbox. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "British single certifications – Elton John & Alessandro Safina – Your Song". British Phonographic Industry. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2015. Enter Your Song in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  33. ↑ "American single certifications – Elton John – Your Song". Recording Industry Association of America. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  34. ↑ "BBC Timeline". BBC. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 14 Dec 2016.
  35. ↑ Smith, Lizzie (1 February 2010). "Elton John gets dirty with Lady Gaga as they duet at the Grammys". Daily Mail. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  36. ↑ "Juanes Performance At The Grammy Awards 2013: Colombian Star Adds Some Latino Flavor To A Spectacular Night (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  37. ↑ Hamilton, Andrew. "360 Degrees of Billy Paul – Billy Paul". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  38. ↑ Kohlenstein, Brad. "Moulin Rouge [Original Soundtrack] – Various Artists". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  39. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2084." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  40. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6828." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  41. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Rod Stewart – Your Song" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rod Stewart – Your Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  43. ↑ "Rod Stewart: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  44. ↑ "Rod Stewart – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Rod Stewart. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  45. ↑ "Rod Stewart – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Rod Stewart. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  46. 1 2 "Your Song – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  47. ↑ "First the advert, now the album: John Lewis vies for chart dominance". The Daily Telegraph. London. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  48. ↑ "Ellie Goulding covers The Killers, Stevie Wonder at Royal Wedding reception". NME. Time Inc. UK. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  49. ↑ "Watch Ellie on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE this weekend". Interscope Records. 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  50. ↑ "Love Machine". Haven. Season 2. Episode 3. 29 July 2011. Syfy.
  51. ↑ Levine, Nick. "Ellie Goulding: 'Your Song'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  52. ↑ Ganz, Caryn. "Ellie Goulding, 'Lights'". Spin. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  53. ↑ O'Brien, Jon. "Bright Lights – Ellie Goulding". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  54. ↑ Jones, Alan (22 November 2010). "Boy bands rule the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  55. ↑ Jones, Alan (29 November 2010). "Boy bands and X Factor dominate charts". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  56. 1 2 "Ellie Goulding: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  57. ↑ Jones, Alan (7 December 2010). "X Factor's Heroes frozen at top of singles chart". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  58. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 5–11 December 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  59. 1 2 "British single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Your Song". British Phonographic Industry. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014. Enter Your Song in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  60. ↑ Jones, Alan (19 August 2013). "Official Charts Analysis: Richard & Adam need just 19k sales to hold on at No.1". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 20 August 2013. (subscription required)
  61. 1 2 "Austriancharts.at – Ellie Goulding – Your Song" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  62. 1 2 "Chart Track: Week 49, 2010". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  63. 1 2 "Danishcharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Your Song". Tracklisten. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  64. 1 2 "Swedishcharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Your Song". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  65. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Your Song". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  66. ↑ Knight, David (18 November 2010). "Ellie Goulding's Your Song by Ben Coughlan/Max Knight". Promo News. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  67. ↑ "Lyonshall singer to serenade royal couple with "Your Song"". Hereford Times. Newsquest. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  68. ↑ Bright Lights (CD liner notes). Ellie Goulding. Polydor Records. 2010. 2758676.
  69. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201107 into search. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  70. ↑ "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  71. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Your Song" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  72. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ellie Goulding – Your Song". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  73. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2010-12-04". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  74. ↑ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  75. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2013" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  76. ↑ "Trofésøknad" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  77. ↑ Myers, Justin (15 February 2014). "BRITs Critics' Choice winners: Their biggest hits and album sales revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
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