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Post by BiteUrLip on Dec 6, 2020 11:46:37 GMT
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin
Piano and vocals: Elton John
Bass: Kenny Passarelli
Electric piano: James Newton-Howard
Vibes: Ray Cooper
Accordion: Carl Fortina
What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there
What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word
It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word
What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word
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Post by BiteUrLip on Dec 6, 2020 11:46:58 GMT
One of my least favorite hits, but still great.
4½ stars.
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Post by dougs on Dec 6, 2020 13:00:35 GMT
"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" from BLUE MOVES:
Apparently Elton wrote the music to "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" months prior to the early-1976 BLUE MOVES recording sessions at Eastern Sound in Toronto. The song has been listed in some sources as an outtake from the summer of 1975 ROCK OF THE WESTIES sessions. What is most interesting about the song is that it was one of the very first Elton-Bernie songs to have the music written first; "The musician not only composed the music for the song without having the words in front of him, but also wrote most of the lyrics himself" according to author Elizabeth Rosenthal. Elton recalled that while in LA in 1975 out came the line "What have I got to do to make you love me." Elton stated to Sounds magazine that "most of the lyrics on "Sorry" are mine." Bernie says "It's probably our best song from that period." Apparently Bernie added the finishing touches to the lyric and to the song's title. "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" was based on a relationship that wasn't to be.
"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" is a very emotional and sad song with a spare accompaniment. Carl Fortina's accordion adds a beautiful heart-pulling touch to the song. It is one of several songs on BLUE MOVES without drums. Recorded on March 22, 1976 it became the first single from BLUE MOVES when released in early November later that same year. It went on to achieve Gold sales status in both Canada and the US. It charted at #3 in Canada and Ireland, #6 in the US, #7 in New Zealand, and #11 in the UK. It also charted #1 on Canada's Adult Contemporary chart - a chart that his more middle of the road singles would own for the next three decades.
This is the song that Frank Sinatra performed in concert in London in 1977 that encouraged Elton & Bernie to write "Remember" for him. In 2002 the UK boy-band Blue released "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" with a little help from Elton and it went Top 5 around the world and #1 in several countries; #1 in the UK, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Hungary. It went to #2 on the Eurochart Hot 100 and for the entire year of 2003 charted at #2 on the Dutch Top 40 chart.
Elton clearly has a passion for the song. Rarely is it excluded from his tours. He has played it in concert in 1976 to 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988 to 1990, 1992 to 1995, and EVERY year from 1997 to 2020.
Clearly, "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" is an Elton classic. It generates a strong welcome when played, especially in Europe. The song is honest and touches hearts. It isn't one I play a lot but is one that I certainly appreciate.
Rating: 5 to 5 1/2 stars
Doug
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Post by newloneranger on Dec 6, 2020 19:31:01 GMT
Great lyrics by Elton and Bernie, Pretty good song from Blue Moves but there are a few better.
5 stars
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Post by Commodore Orpington on Dec 13, 2020 3:45:19 GMT
I only grudgingly took to the song when I noticed the vibes, or whatever, going back and forth between speakers... Nice effect. Sonically it's a nice recording. As a song, I think it's sort of obvious and maudlin. A lot of it seems to be taken up by repeating the word "sad"...
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Post by rocketman on Dec 22, 2020 21:16:31 GMT
4 stars...Among Elton's more recognizable ballads, though possibly a step below in terms of popularity when compared to some of his other 1970's classics. In other words, this isn't likely to be one of the first songs that pops into someone's mind when recalling Elton's classics from that decade.
Indeed, in terms of quality, I believe it's also a notch below those classics. I was rather surprised, back then, that the song reached number 6 in the US. I had attributed it at the time to Elton's huge popularity rather than the quality of the song, but that was my state of mind at the time - surely, a sad, almost depressing song couldn't be *that* popular. In that sense, I clearly underestimated the reaction to it, although there may be some truth to the impression that it was momentum from 1975 that was at least partly responsible for the song's chart success.
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Post by Commodore Orpington on Jan 9, 2021 18:12:57 GMT
And 76. Don't Go Breaking was huge. A Crazy Water 45 right after could have gotten him past that bisexual announcement slump?
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