"Sad Songs (Say So Much)" is the closing track on English musician

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

's 18th studio album ''

Breaking Hearts ''Breaking Hearts'' is the eighteenth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 18 June 1984 through John's The Rocket Record Company, Rocket label in the UK and Geffen Records in the US. Like the preceding ''Too Low for ...

'', written by John and

Bernie Taupin Bernard John Taupin (born 22 May 1950) is an English lyricist and visual artist. He is best known for his songwriting partnership with Elton John, recognised as one of the most successful partnerships of its kind in history. Taupin co-wrote th ...

, released in 1984 as the lead single of the album. It reached No. 7 on the UK chart and No. 5 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The song reached the Top 10 of many countries except in Germany and Italy where it reached the Top 20. The single version of this song appeared on the 1990 box set '' To Be Continued...'' and various versions of the 2007 compilation '' Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits''. The lyrics describe how listening to old

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

songs on the radio can help someone who is hurting to feel better. "When all hope is gone, sad songs say so much."

Music video

The music video, directed by

Russell Mulcahy Russell Mulcahy ( ; born 23 June 1953) is an Australian director of film, television, and music videos. He began his career directing music videos for artists like Elton John and Duran Duran, before making his feature directorial debut with the ...

and shot on a street in

Rushcutters Bay Rushcutters Bay is a harbourside inner-east suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney. The suburb of Rushcutters Ba ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, featured John without his familiar trademark glasses in some scenes. The single sleeve likewise featured John with no glasses. The song and the music video were both used in an early 1980s US TV advertisement for Sasson Jeans, altering the lyrics to "Sasson says so much."

Performances

John played this song on his concerts from 1984 to 1993 and then again in 2000 to present on rotation after he performed the song on '' One Night Only: The Greatest Hits Live at Madison Square Garden'' in October 2000 with Canadian rock star

Bryan Adams Bryan Guy Adams (born November 5, 1959) is a British and Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer. He is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million album, records and Single (music), si ...

. In 2013, John was joined by

Rod Stewart Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British singer and songwriter. Known for his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time, having sold ...

in a special performance of the song at the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in Soho. The theatre was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1910. The auditorium holds 2,286 people. Hundreds of stars have played there, many wit ...

after being presented with the first Brits Icon award in recognition of his "lasting impact" on UK culture.

Personnel

* Elton John – vocals, piano, synthesizer, clavinet *

Davey Johnstone David William Logan Johnstone (born 6 May 1951) is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his long-time collaboration with Elton John as a member of the Elton John Band. Career Johnstone was born in Edinburgh. At the age of s ...

– acoustic guitar, backing vocals *

Dee Murray David Murray Oates (3 April 1946 – 15 January 1992), known as Dee Murray, was an English bass guitarist. He was best known for his long-time collaboration with Elton John as a member of the Elton John Band. Biography Murray was born in Gilli ...

– bass, backing vocals *

Nigel Olsson Nigel Olsson (born 10 February 1949) is an English drummer, best known for being a lifelong member of the Elton John Band. He has had an equally long career as a session musician and composed, recorded and produced albums as a solo artist. Ca ...

– drums, backing vocals

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control Elton John songs 1984 songs 1984 singles Songs with music by Elton John Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas (record producer) Music videos directed by Russell Mulcahy Songs about music Songs about depression Geffen Records singles The Rocket Record Company singles