Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”
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Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” is a classic song that has been loved by fans for decades. But what many people don’t know is that the song is actually about the pain and heartache of addiction.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the lyrics of the song and explore what they mean in the context of addiction and recovery.
The song’s writing and composition
Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s songwriting partnership
Elton John and Bernie Taupin first met in 1967, when John was a 17-year-old staff songwriter at DJM Music and Taupin was a 19-year-old aspiring lyricist. The two collaborated on several songs for other artists, including “Scarecrow” for Ocean and “Give Peace a Chance” for Lulu, before John asked Taupin to become his regular writing partner. The songwriting team wrote more than 30 charting singles for John, including nine that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” was one of the first songs John and Taupin wrote together after Taupin moved into John’s London apartment in 1970. The song is about the pain of lost love and includes references to many classic blues songs, such as B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.”
The song’s musical composition
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” is a song composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The song was released in October 1982 as the lead single from John’s album Too Low for Zero. In the U.S., it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became a Gold record. Elsewhere, it topped the charts in Canada and Ireland while reaching the top five in Australia, New Zealand, and several countries in Europe.
The song is written in the key of A major with a moderate tempo of 106 beats per minute. The verses follow a I–vi–IV–V chord progression, while the chorus has a ii–V–I progression. The bridge section features a ii–V–iii–IV progression.
The song’s release and commercial reception
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” is a song co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The song was released on John’s album Too Low for Zero in 1983. The song was released as a single in 1984 and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number twelve on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been covered by many artists and has been described as a “blue-eyed soul” ballad.
The song’s release as a single
Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” was released as a single on February 25, 1983, with “Blue Eyes” as the b-side. The song was included on the album Too Low for Zero, which was released in May of that year. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In the UK, the song was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of over 400,000 copies. In the US, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over one million copies.
The song’s commercial reception
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” was released as a single on 29 March 1983 in the United Kingdom and on 20 May 1983 in the United States. It was an instant hit, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In his native England, it became John’s seventh single to be certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry. In the United States, it garnered similar success, becoming John’s fourth top-ten hit from Too Low for Zero and ultimately selling one million copies there. The song also performed well in other countries, reaching the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.
The song’s critical reception
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The song was released in 1984 and was included on John’s album Too Low for Zero. The song received positive reviews from critics.
The song’s critical reception
Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” was released in 1984 to mixed reviews. Some critics praised the song for its catchy melody and soulful lyrics, while others felt that it was a recycled version of John’s previous hits. Overall, the song was a moderate success, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and receiving heavy rotation on radio stations.
The song’s place in Elton John’s discography
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” is a song co-written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John, and recorded in 1983. It was included on the Two Low for Zero album and released as a single, which became a top ten hit in both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100.
In the US, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies. The song has been described as a “John/Taupin classic” and has been covered by a number of artists.
In October 1983, “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” was released as the lead single from Two Low for Zero in both the UK and US. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming John’s nineteenth top ten single in that country. In the US, it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, giving John his fifth top ten single from the album and his fourteenth overall.
