Heartache All Over the World

1986 song by Elton John

"Heartache All Over the World"

Single by Elton John

from the album Leather Jackets

B-side

"Highlander" (John)

Released

September 1986

Recorded

1985–1986

Studio

Wisseloord, Hilversum; CTS, London; The SOL, Cookham

Genre

Pop

Length

4:24 (single)
8:02 (12" remix)
3:57 (music video)
4:17 (album)

Label

Geffen (US), Rocket (UK)

Songwriter(s)

Elton John
Bernie Taupin

Producer(s)

Gus Dudgeon

Elton John singles chronology

"Cry to Heaven"
(1986)

"Heartache All Over the World"
(1986)

"Slow Rivers"
(1986)

"Heartache All Over the World" is an upbeat song by English musician Elton John from his 20th studio album, Leather Jackets (1986). Written by John and Bernie Taupin, it was released as the album's lead single in September 1986, charting at number 45 in the UK Singles Chart and at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the top 10 in Australia, where it peaked at number 7. The song talks about not being able to date for a night.^[1]

John performed the song four times during his Tour De Force tour in Australia in 1986, which is notable for John's problems with his vocal cords during that time.^[2]

Release and reception

"Heartache All Over the World" reached number 45 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed on the chart for four weeks,^[3]^[4] number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 58 in Canada, making this song one of the worst-charting singles in John's career. However, the song found better success in Belgium (No. 26),^[5] Ireland (No. 24), New Zealand (No. 22)^[6] and notably Australia, peaking at number 7.

Billboard said that the lyrics are "of the 'lonely teenager' school" and the overdubs are "out of the Spector handbook."^[7] Cash Box said it has a "a perky groove" after a "high-tech/rap intro."^[8]

In 2001, Elton John regarded "Heartache All Over the World" as the worst song he had ever recorded, calling it "pretty insubstantial".^[9] On his 2019 autobiography Me, he described the song as "lightweight".^[10]

Music video

The music video, directed by Mike Brady, features John and his band playing the song in a stage-like background. It also includes clips from mid-1940s movies and some historical events.^[11]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[12]	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[13]	26
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[14]	58
Ireland (IRMA)^[15]	24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16]	22
UK Singles (OCC)^[17]	45
US Billboard Hot 100^[18]	55

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[19]	76

Personnel

Elton John – vocals
Charlie Morgan – drums
Davey Johnstone – guitars, backing vocals
Fred Mandel – Prophet 2000, Roland P60 and programming
Gus Dudgeon – electronic percussion
Graham Dickson – electronic percussion
Vicky Brown, Alan Carvell, Gordon Neville – backing vocals^[20]

References

^ Spignesi, Stephen; Lewis, Michael (2019). Elton John: Fifty Years On: The Complete Guide to the Musical Genius of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Post Hill Press. ISBN 978-1-64293-327-7. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
^ "Heartache All Over the World by Elton John song statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
^ "Elton John | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. 23 January 1971. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "Elton John Belgian Singles". Ultratop.be. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
^ "Elton John New Zealand Singles". charts.nz. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
^ "Reviews". Billboard. 18 October 1986. p. 95. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 18 October 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ Uncut, September 2001 "Elton – The Magnificent Showman", page 46
^ "The one album Elton John hates: "It was a disaster"". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ "Elton John – Heartache All Over the World". Retrieved 19 February 2022 – via YouTube.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Elton John – Heartache All Over the World" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0859." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Heartache All Over the World". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "Elton John – Heartache All Over the World". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via Imgur.
^ "Elton John Lyrics: Heartache All Over The World". eltonography.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.