Sacrifice (Elton John song)

"Sacrifice" is a song by English 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.[4] Due to the song's success, John has played this song in various locations in the years since it was released.[5]

For the 2021 mash-up featuring this song, "Rocket Man", "Kiss the Bride" and "Where's the Shoorah?", see Cold Heart (Pnau remix).

"Sacrifice"
Single by Elton John
from the 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
  • 23 October 1989 (1989-10-23) (first release)[1]
  • May 1990 (second release)
StudioPuk,[2] Randers (Denmark)
GenreSoft rock[3]
Length5:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chris Thomas
Elton John singles chronology
"Healing Hands"
(1989)		 "Sacrifice"
(1989)		 "Club at the End of the Street"
(1990)
Music video
"Sacrifice" on YouTube

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 those days — but it bears the stamp of true songwriting genius, the innate sense of which chord goes next to make the most interesting tune."[6] 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".[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Sacrifice" was directed by Alek Keshishian and starred supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri and singer-songwriter Chris Isaak.[8] 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.[9]

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

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[47] Silver 200,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Samples

References
  1. "New Singles". Music Week. 21 October 1989. p. 41.
  2. "Legendary Danish Studio Used By JUDAS PRIEST, GARY MOORE And MESHUGGAH Destroyed In Fire". blabbermouth.net. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. Kirkl, Justin (29 May 2019). "Neither 'Rocket Man' Nor 'Tiny Dancer' Is Elton John's Best Song". Esquire. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  4. Songfacts. "Sacrifice by Elton John – Songfacts". songfacts.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. "Sacrifice by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. Giles, David (28 October 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 29. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  7. George, Iestyn (28 October 1989). "Singles reviewed by Iestyn George" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  8. 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. ISBN 978-1-64293-327-7. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  9. "Elton John: Sacrifice". IMDb.
  10. Sacrifice (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. EJS 20, 876 330-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Sacrifice (US & Canadian cassette single). Elton John. MCA Records. 1989. MCAC-53750.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Sacrifice (German mini-CD single liner notes). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. 876 412-3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Sacrifice (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. EJS 20 12, 876 331-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Sacrifice (UK CD single liner notes). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. EJSCD 20, 876 331-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJS 22, 875 808-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK cassette single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJSMC 22, 875 808-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJS 2212, 875 809-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK CD single liner notes). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJSCD 22, 875 809-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. "Elton John – Sacrifice". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  20. "Elton John – Sacrifice" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  21. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9210." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  22. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6674." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  23. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 25. 23 June 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  24. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Elton John". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 117. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  25. "Elton John – Sacrifice" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sacrifice". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  28. "Elton John – Sacrifice" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  29. "Elton John – Sacrifice". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  30. "Elton John – Sacrifice". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  31. "Elton John – Sacrifice". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  34. "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  35. "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  36. "Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. 7 April 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  37. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Sacrifice" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  39. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  40. "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  41. "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 1 July 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  42. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 36. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 15 January 2020 – via World Radio History.
  43. "Single top 100 over 1990" (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  44. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  45. "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 2 March 1991. p. 41.
  46. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  47. "French single certifications – Elton John – Sacrifice" (in French). InfoDisc. Select ELTON JOHN and click OK. 
  48. "British single certifications – Elton John – Sacrifice". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  49. Copsey, Rob (11 August 2021). "Elton John teams up with Dua Lipa on new remix single Cold Heart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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