Today's Elton Rewind is a flashback to the summer of the bicentennial, when Elton John scored a number one hit with 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', his duet with fellow Rocket Records artist Kiki Dee,
Watch the promotional film at left for 'Dont Go Breaking My Heart' by Elton John and Kiki Dee.
'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' was Sir Elton John's sixth number one single in the US, hitting the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on August 7, 1976, and remaining there for 4 weeks.The song also became Elton's previously elusive first number one single in the UK in July 1976, and stayed at that chart position for six weeks.
The song was penned by Elton and his lyricist Bernie Taupin, though under pen names: Bernie was Ann Orson and Elton was Carte Blanch, a play on both the British phrase "an horse and cart, blanche" and the Carte Blanche credit card that was popular in the '60s and '70s.
The promotional film for 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', an art form which would come to be known as 'music video', was designed to look like Elton John and Kiki Dee were laying down the vocals to their song in a recording studio. The most memorable image, other than the unfortunate plaid suit, was of Sir Elton leading his singing partner through an awkward but charming dance sequence during the bridge.
'Snow Queen' was the B-side of 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' and Kiki Dee provided backing vocals. It's a hauntingly beautiful song about a woman living a superficial life - supposedly inspired by Cher. Neither 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' or 'Snow Queen' were album tracks, though both were recorded around the time of the Blue Moves sessions. Later, 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' would appear on the original version of Elton's Greatest Hits Volume II record.
We'll revisit 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' in future Elton Rewind columns. Not only are there are videos of Elton and Kiki singing this song live over the years, but Elton John sang it with RuPaul, the Spice Girls, Minnie Mouse and...Miss Piggy!
Also watch for an Elton John Examiner profile of vocalist Kiki Dee in the coming weeks.
Share your memories of the summer of 1976, when 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' was everywhere! Continue the conversation and comment below.
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