"Sad Songs (Say So Much)" by Elton John

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  1937
Date:  06/09/1984
Debut:  49
Peak:  5
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  After a dismal start to the 80s, Elton John's career bounced back with two solid selling LPs, 1982's Jump Up! and 1983's Too Low for Zero, which featured the #4 hit "And I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues." Keeping his same band, producer, and of course co-writer (Bernie Taupin), John plowed ahead and finished his fourth album for the Geffen label, Breaking Hearts. This first single got things kicked off and it was a winner getting to #5 Pop and #2 AC. It also found its way to the Rock chart for a quick #24 showing. It would help the album reach #20 and quickly go gold. Over time the LP would reach platinum status.

ReduxReview:  Truth be told, John released nine albums in the 80s and despite featuring several hits, they are pretty forgettable within his catalog. Too Low for Zero was probably the best of the bunch. However, I will say that I rather enjoyed Breaking Hearts. I liked this hit and a few other tracks on the LP, especially the big ballad "Burning Bridges." Elements of that tune remind me of the Elton of the 70s and I think it's one of his most overlooked songs. Critics were not kind to the album, but what they didn't know was that his next two were going to be far worse. This was another solid hit for John, but oddly it hasn't lasted as well as some of his other hits.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This song was also a hit in the UK where it reached #7. However, the LPs second single there did even better. On "Passengers," John and lyricist Bernie Taupin got a bit political and created an anti-apartheid song. The video for the song followed suit and both became popular in the UK. The reggae-tinged single would end up reaching #5 in the UK and be certified as a Silver seller. However, it seems the label thought the song's sound and message would be lost on a US audience and it was not issued as a single. Instead, two other tracks would get released - "Who Wears These Shoes?" and "In Neon."

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