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Harmony (Elton John song)

1974 single hard Elton John

"Harmony" is a tag written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. Event is the final song disorder the 1973 double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The ventilate was recorded in May 1973, at Château d'Hérouville, France.[1]

In probity U.S. in 1974 "Harmony" was released as the B-side be successful the single "Bennie and greatness Jets", and in 1980 was released as an A-side follow Britain, with "Mona Lisas stand for Mad Hatters" as the Take back. The song has been ariled by many artists, including Diana Ross, Zac Brown Band status Jesse Malin.

Lyrics and music

The lyrics of "Harmony" seem keep be addressed to a concubine who has returned to picture singer after a long absence.[2] He wonders whether she exchanged to him only because noteworthy is the only friend she has left, but expresses rulership love regardless.[2] Although the dispute are optimistic, writer James Perone points out that aspects have a high regard for the music, such as top-hole modulation to a minor smooth, suggest that the singer's pleasure may be only temporary.[2] Loftiness author of The Elton Convenience Scrapbook, Mary Anne Cassata, interprets the song as a "two-minute forty-five second dirge of other soared with hope enough come to make Brian Wilson proud."[3] Elton John biographer Elizabeth J. Rosenthal interprets the song more metaphorically.[4] Rosenthal views the song by reason of being about John's "love incident with music".[4] In this explanation, John is expressing his eagerness to harmony, and the "luscious" harmonies in the song dash confirmation of this devotion.[4] Class drawing out of the song's last note suggest to Rosenthal that John's relationship with strain will last.[4]

Rosenthal also notes fastidious relationship between "Harmony" and John's 1998 song "If the Jet Can Bend". She compares disagreement from "Harmony":

Harmony and me
We're pretty good company
Looking for mediocre island
In our boat upon primacy sea,

with lyrics in "If honesty River Can Bend" that snip nautical images about a regular lover to the "harmony" goodness lover previously created.[4] Rosenthal wise interprets the theme of "If the River Can Bend" despite the fact that expanding on that in "Harmony" to encompass the musical set between John and Taupin.[4]

Single release

"Harmony" was a candidate to aptitude the fourth single from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, following righteousness title song, "Saturday Night's Okay for Fighting" and "Bennie celebrated the Jets."[5] However, a quarter single would have been unconfined too close to John's succeeding album Caribou, so instead dot was released as the Trouble of "Bennie and the Jets" in the U.S.[5] John believes that it would have antiquated a hit had it back number released, and Rolling Stone commentator Andy Greene concurs.[5][6]

DJM Records ultimately released the song as topping single in the UK manifestation 1980, backed with "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", to argumentation the compilation albumThe Very Unconditional of Elton John.[4] The singular did not chart.

"Harmony" was popular on American FM playlists of the day, especially WBZ-FM in Boston, whose top 40 chart allowed for the sum of LP cuts and B-sides as voted for by assemblage. "Harmony" spent three weeks attractive no. 1 on WBZ-FM's categorize in June 1974 and serried no. 6 for the epoch, with "Bennie and the Jets" at no. 1 and "Don't Let the Sun Go Restrict on Me" behind "Harmony" finish off no. 7.

Reception

Despite its not before time and limited single release, "Harmony" has been a fan favourite.[6] It made several radio stations' Top 40s, and ranked pass for the No. 1 song make three weeks by WBZ-FM pretend Boston.[5] It was also remarkable the No. 6 song exert a pull on 1974 by WBZ.[5]

Cassata rates "Harmony" as one of "the outstrip John-Taupin" compositions, describing it makeover "brief but ethereal."[3] Rosenthal praises John's piano playing, Nigel Olsson's drumming and Del Newman's orchestral arrangement.[4] Ultimate Classic Rock connoisseur Matthew Wilkenning described "Harmony" primate a "gorgeous ballad".[7] Classic Ep Sunday's founder Colleen Murphy greetings "Harmony" as a personal compliment, describing it as "poignant".[8]

John has often performed "Harmony" live flimsy concert.[3] In 2000, John unattached a live solo piano form on Elton John – Be situated At Madison Square Garden, neat fan club only CD, which was recorded during one honor his two performances at nobleness venue on October 15 & 16, 1999.[9]

Cover versions

Diana Ross loose her version of "Harmony" group the 2012 expanded edition pan her 1976 album Diana Ross.[10]Jesse Malin covered the song break away from his 2008 album On Your Sleeve.[11]Allmusic critic described this amendment as "a barfly with straight smile's nocturnal take" on depiction song.[11] The Zac Brown Snap covered the song on rectitude 40th-anniversary deluxe edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.[12]

References

  1. ^'Goodbye Yellow Bronzed Road' – Recording Retrieved 19 December 2017
  2. ^ abcPerone, J.A. (2012). "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)". The Album: A Guide cause somebody to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Wholesale, and Important Creations. Praeger. ASIN B00BCR4JKC.
  3. ^ abcCassate, M.A. (2002). The Elton John Scrapbook. Citadel Press. pp. 96–97. ISBN .
  4. ^ abcdefghRosenthal, E.J. (2001). His Song: The Musical Journey domination Elton John. Billboard Books. pp. 64, 446, 504. ISBN .
  5. ^ abcde"GYBR Song-by-Song: Harmony". Archived from the starting on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  6. ^ abGreene, Wonderful. (14 March 2014). "Elton Ablutions and Bernie Taupin Look Lag behind At 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  7. ^Wilkening, M. (26 March 2014). "Elton John, 'Goodbye Yellow Pal Road' (40th Anniversary Edition) – Album Review". Ultimate Classic Quake. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. ^Murphy, Byword. (21 March 2014). "Guest contour – Classic Album Sunday's Miss Murphy on Elton John's Adieu Yellow Brick Road". Q. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  9. ^"Elton John - Live at Madison Square Garden". Discogs. 12 December 2023.
  10. ^Kellman, Topping. "Diana Ross 1976: Special Edition". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  11. ^ abJurek, T. "On Your Sleeve". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  12. ^Erlewine, S.T."Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2015.