Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee

Album: Greatest Hits 1970–2002 (1976)

Charted: 1 1

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Kiki Dee explained in the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner & Spencer Leigh, "Both Elton and I were big fans of those duets on Motown by the likes of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and as there hadn't been any around for a bit, we thought we'd do one ourselves."

Elton recorded his part in Toronto, then the tape was sent to London where Kiki Dee recorded her vocal. Producer Gus Dudgeon recalls, "I was with Elton in Canada and he actually sang about three quarters of the song and gave Kiki about four lines. I said, "Hang on a minute, is this supposed to be a duet or a guest appearance? Elton replied, 'A duet.' Then you've got to give her at least 50% of the song."

After Elton recorded his part in Toronto, the tapes were sent to London and when Kiki got them she remembered, "Elton had recorded the song abroad and also did my vocals in a high-pitched voice which was quite funny, so I knew which lines to sing."
This was the second-biggest-selling record of 1976 in both the UK and US (In the UK, "Save Your Kisses for Me" was #1; in the US it was "Silly Love Songs" by Wings.

It was a huge international success, topping the charts in a number of countries, including France, Italy, Australia and Canada.
Originally, Elton and Kiki were going to record a cover version of the Four Tops' "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever."
Elton and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin wrote this song using the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche.
This was Elton's first #1 in the UK. He had to wait 14 years for his next UK #1, which was "Sacrifice."
Bernie Taupin recalled the genesis of this song in his 2023 autobiography Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me):

"I was in Barbados one evening in 1976 when Elton called from Toronto to play me a backing track he'd just cut with the band. Half cut myself by this point, the afternoon's poolside cocktails having muddied my brainwaves, I listened and took note. Elton was in need of a lyric that could be done as a duet. I told him I would give it a shot, hung up, and stuck my head in the ice bucket.

In 10 minutes, I'd thrown something together that was simplistic without being overly trite, and that is how 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' came about."
Elton released a version with RuPaul for his 1993 Duets album that was issued as a single, charting at #7 in the UK. This was 16 years before RuPaul's Drag Race when he was little-known outside the drag community. This duet version of the song was featured in the 1999 film Summer Of Sam.
When Elton John performed this on a season 2 episode of The Muppet Show in 1977, he performed the song with Miss Piggy. The porcine puppet was clearly smitten with Elton, and late in the duet exclaims, "Eat your heart out, Kiki."
Roger Pope played drums on this track. He was a favorite drummer of Elton John's who can also be heard on "Tiny Dancer," and "Island Girl."
In 1993 Elton and Kiki teamed up again with a cover of "True Love," this time reaching #2 in the UK.
Elton sang some of this in a 2018 Snickers commercial where he plays the alter ego of a battle rapper who loses his edge when he's hungry. Yeah, it's a stretch.
Q-Tip and Demi Lovato teamed up to record this for the 2018 tribute album Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. That same year, Shawn Mendes and SZA performed it on a Grammy tribute to John and Taupin.

Comments: 15

Howard L. from Levittown, PaInteresting that "Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever" was Elton and Kiki's first choice. It had been in The Band's act for some time and Elton 's a fan.

Either I missed or there's no mention so far of Valerie Bertanelli and Mackenzie Phillips performing it on "One Day at a Time" with Valerie in Elton getup at the piano. Barbara and Julie were playing at a senior home.
Rileah from NopeWOW, but i would love to know the meaning behind the lyrics!!
Kenneth Reginald Jenkins from Savannah, Georgia The song and video was so cool with the vocals with both Elton and Kiki was delightful and very playful.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 18th 1976, a video of Elton John & Kiki Dee performing "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" was aired on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Three months earlier on June 28th, 1976 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #66; and on August 1st, 1976 it peaked at #1 {for 4 weeks} and spent 20 weeks on the Top 100...
It also reached #1 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and of course in the United Kingdom...
And on September 5th, 1976 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart {and it was re-placed at #1 by another "Don't" record, Olivia Newton-John's "Don't Stop Believin'".
Pamela from Farmington, MiI think that this song can be interpreted to be about the rollercoaster ride effect of a dysfunctional male and female couple in the throws of meating; mating; courtship; marriage; and kids. It's about how they know that they are dysfunctional(no body told us cause no body showed us). But they know that they have a resposibility to there kids to get their act together; (And now it's up to us Babe). They go on to express that they are head over hills in love with eachother. You can hear loud and clear that she is love addicted to him and that pleasing him is her main concern. This song is a clear metaphore of a dysfunctional couple; single or married. When looking through a child's eves it's Mommy and Daddy acting very immature; living beneath there potential; shirking responsibility; thinking that the kids don't realize what's going on. In actuality they play around; fool around while the kids are sthill too young to know what's going on; as time goes by they realize that not only are the kids getting older but they are too. They then decide let's grow up and take care of our kids and let's put our priorities in line and become somebody. I might be wrong; but this is the vision I saw as a young person growing up when I heard this song.
Pamela from Farmington, MiI think that this song can be interpreted about the rollercoaster ride effect of a dysfunctional male and female couple in the throughs of meeting; mating; courtship; marriage and kids. It's about how they know that they are dysfunctional(no body told them cause nobody showed them); but they know that
they have a resposibility to their kids to get their act together(but now it's up to us
Bill from Pensacola, FlKiki Dee had great hair in that video!
Which came first hers' or Toni Tenille's?
Tyler from Pittsburgh, PaThe song's promotional film has been cited among the cheapest music videos ever produced. The circumstances behind its conception were detailed on an episode of Pop-Up Video. The video's director was found in the midst of filming a Rod Stewart television special. He was pulled aside, located an unused soundstage, hastily dressed it to give the appearance of a recording studio, setup three cameras and had the two singers pretend to record their vocals. Shot in a single take while being told to 'improvise', Elton John and Kiki Dee often missed their cues and John's attempt to lead Dee in a very haphazard dance sequence caught his companion off guard. The Music video with RuPaul features a black grand piano, something Elton has not used since 1987.
Brock from Jackson, Miin the 6th. grade talent show I dressed up as Elton and my music teacher dressed up as Kiki Dee and we did this song together!!
Emily from London, United KingdomI love this song. It just so catchy.
Don from Indianapolis, InThis was one of those songs the you always find yourself singing along too before you realize it. And as much as I love the song, watching Kiki DANCE in the video is FUN-NEE!!!
Jerry from Brooklyn, NyElton also once said he had a fun time touring with Kiki, because, as he put it, "we date some of the same blokes".
Kent from Toronto, CanadaThe original single had the track "Snow Queen", another John/Dee duet, as its B-side. Unfortunately, this was not added as a bonus track to the "Rock Of The Westies" CD... it is a very beautifully crafted piece, which evokes storybook pictures even if it was apparently written about Cher, meaning the "snow" was certainly not the fall-from-the-sky variety! (It IS available on one of those expensive multi-CD sets.)
Jerry from Brooklyn, NyElton John also did a duet of this on the Muppet Show, with Miss Piggy. During the musical break, Piggy says, "Eat your heart out, Kiki!" Fun show!
Justin from Albany, Nyfantastic song

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