THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

481-Elton John and Kiki Dee-Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

1976-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.53. Watching Elton’s dance moves in the iconic video, makes you realise why when performing in concert, he tends to spend most of his time sat at the piano.

‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ was co-written by Elton John, and his usual songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, but this time using the pseudonyms ‘Anna Orson’ (Elton John) and ‘Carte Blanche'( Bernie Taupin) (see also best songs 946-237 and 62.) Both were big fans of the ‘Motown’ style duet of the 1960’s, such as those performed by Marvin Gaye, and Tammi Terrell, and Kim Weston. At first the idea was to cover The Four Tops song ‘Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever,’ until they came up with this original gem. Elton had planned to record the duet with Dusty Springfield (see also best songs 882 and 171) but she had to withdraw because she was too ill at the time. The song went on to become the first UK Number 1 single for Elton John, although it would be a further 14 years until his first solo UK Number 1 ‘Sacrifice.’ In 1993 Elton John re-recorded the song in a Disco style with the drag queen RuPaul, for his duets Album, the song was produced by Giorgio Moroder (see also best songs 78 and 11,) and reached Number 3 in the UK.

Kiki Dee was born Pauline Matthews on March 6th, 1947, in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, it was the songwriter Mitch Murray who created her stage name. Her breakthrough occurred when signing with Fontana Records in 1963, releasing 11 non charting singles, and an Album in 1968. In 1970 she became the first British white artist to sign with ‘Motown’ records on its subsidiary ‘Rare Earth’ label, which was a short lived label dedicated to Rock music, played by white artists. She released one Album ‘Love Makes the World Go Round,’ for the label in 1970. It was her next move to ‘Rocket’ records co-owned by Elton John which saw her finally break into the charts when ‘Amoureuse’ reached Number 13 in the UK in 1973. In total Kiki Dee has recorded 12 studio Albums, and achieved nine top 40 singles.In 1993 Kiki Dee and Elton John once again joined forces, recording the 1956 Cole Porter song ‘True Love,’ for Elton’s ‘Duets’ Album, the song made Number 2 in the UK, and is to date Kiki Dee’s last appearance on the chart.

‘Nobody knows it, when I was down, I was your clown.Nobody knows it, right from the start, I gave you my heart.’