Elton John’s 1976 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” has officially joined the Spotify Billions Club! This catchy duet features Kiki Dee and topped charts around the world. The song was written by John and Bernie Taupin, using the names “Ann Orson” and “Carte Blanche.”
Originally, the song was meant to be a duet with Dusty Springfield. Kiki Dee had previously sung backup for Springfield on tracks like “Some of Your Lovin’” and “Little by Little.” She made history as the first white British artist signed to Motown, which led her to meet Elton John’s manager, John Reid. Reid encouraged her to join their new label, Rocket Records, and her third album, Loving & Free, was released in 1973.
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was recorded during the sessions for John’s 1976 album, Blue Moves, but it was never included on an original album. The song became a massive success, marking the first No. 1 single for both John and Kiki Dee in the UK, where it stayed at the top for six weeks. It also became John’s sixth No. 1 in the US. In 1976, John and Taupin won the Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
In 1994, American drag queen RuPaul teamed up with John for a new version of the song, produced by Giorgio Moroder, which reached number three on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. John even performed “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show in 1977. Kiki Dee joined him on stage during his Live Aid performance in 1985.
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