"Sacrifice" is a song by British 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.[5] Due to the song's success, John has played this song in various locations in the years since it was released.[6]
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 these days — but it bears the stamp of true songwriting genius, the innate sense of which chord goes next to make the most interesting tune."[7] 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".[8]
Music video
The accompanying
music video for "Sacrifice" was directed by
Alek Keshishian and starred supermodel
Yasmeen Ghauri and singer-songwriter
Chris Isaak.[9] 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.[10]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Samples
This song, along with other Elton John songs "
Rocket Man", "
Kiss the Bride" and "Where's the Shoorah?", was sampled in the 2021 collaboration between John and
Dua Lipa titled "
Cold Heart".[52]
References
^"New Singles". Music Week. 21 October 1989. p. 41.
^Sacrifice (US & Canadian cassette single). Elton John.
MCA Records. 1989. MCAC-53750.{{
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^Sacrifice (German mini-CD single liner notes). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. 876 412-3.{{
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^Sacrifice (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. EJS 20 12, 876 331-1.{{
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^Sacrifice (UK CD single liner notes). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1989. EJSCD 20, 876 331-2.{{
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^Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJS 22, 875 808-7.{{
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^Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK cassette single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJSMC 22, 875 808-4.{{
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^Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJS 2212, 875 809-1.{{
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^Sacrifice / Healing Hands (UK CD single liner notes). Elton John. The Rocket Record Company. 1990. EJSCD 22, 875 809-2.{{
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link)