This Classic Made Elton John Famous, But Ed Sheeran And James Blunt Take It To Another Level

Apr 02, 2021 by apost team

In March 2017, Ed Sheeran and James Blunt performed a duet of Elton John's “Sacrifice” on Taratata, a TV show based in France. It is likely that nothing in the world will ever hold a candle to this superstar duo delivering a fierce performance of one of pop music’s greatest hits.

The crowd goes absolutely nuts when the recognizable opening notes begin to resonate. Blunt’s piano-playing mastery exquisitely meshes with Sheeran’s stylistic guitar licks to yield true auditory brilliance. Fortunately, this stirring cover was captured for France’s premium source of high-quality concerts.

The arena seems completely packed with diehard followers, and their initial reaction to such an impressive pairing makes the performance even more exciting to watch. After you observe the charm of these English superstars joining forces, you will understand why there was such a feverish response as these two began to play.

Thanks to the convergence of their dynamic musical acts, Sheeran and Blunt are no longer “two hearts living in two separate worlds.” Both men were dressed to the nines for this occasion, and their suave sophistication only served to maximize the charismatic appeal.

Their magnificent tribute probably made the original songwriter proud, if not a little bit jealous. There are plenty of standout moments in this clip, but one particularly poignant moment arises when they harmonize and croon, “Into the boundary of each married man, sweet deceit comes calling and negativity lands.”

Younger listeners might be surprised to learn that John actually started his ascent towards stardom based on the emotional strength of this tune. With this knowledge, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could do it better than him.

Until now, no one had even conceived that this masterpiece required a duo to fully tackle its glory.

Although he may have been outshined by a pair of young gents, Elton John, an internationally acclaimed legend, can console himself knowing that “it’s a human sign when things go wrong” and that perhaps it’s just a “mutual misunderstanding after the fact.” Regardless, it’s a real treat to see two talented musicians take on such a storied pop song like “Sacrifice.”

Fans of John covers like this one have to check out “Revamp,” a 2018 tribute album that features heavy-hitting recording artists like Sheeran, Coldplay, Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige.

“Ed Sheeran takes ‘Candle in the Wind’ and plays it as a gentle country lope, with luscious backing vocals,” Michael Hann writes in his three-star review of the album for The Guardian. “The phrasing is sometimes odd, but it makes something wildly familiar sound fresh, a triumph in itself. Alessia Cara’s ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,’ driven by a Fender Rhodes, loses the blowsiness of the original and becomes a convincing piece of country soul. And Q-Tip and Demi Lovato give ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ a compellingly bouncy, funky reinvention, proving that melodies as good as these really are hard to ruin.”

Purists can rest assured that The Rocket Man curated the entire album himself ahead of his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, which is slated to run from 2018 to 2023. John and his fellow collaborators also released the “Revamp” album alongside “Restoration,” which was another tribute album curated by John’s well-known songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.

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“It’s always a huge compliment when an artist loves your song enough to take the time and effort to rework it,” John said of the albums in a press release. “As songwriters, Bernie and myself are thrilled when singers we admire and respect as much as those on Revamp and Restoration choose to add their own unique twist in the process. It means that our music is still relevant and ultimately that our songs continue to reach new audiences. We’re humbled and thank them all for their generosity.”

If fan reactions to the below video are any indication, it seems that covers of The Rocket Man’s music are in high demand. With more than 4,000 comments, the video seems to have impressed viewers from around the world.

“Literally hearing this for the first time today,” Joseph Miller wrote in the comments. “Massive Blunt and Sheeran fan, seen Ed live and have tickets to James next year. One of my favourite Elton John songs too. Incredible ❤️”

“James Blunt made this song an absolute piece of art, Ed just adds to its beauty,” Michelle Doiron added. “I can't stop listening!!”

In the end, there is nothing sacrificial about taking the time to watch this splendid interpretation of a legendary song. By showcasing two globally renowned geniuses at their respective apexes, this video offers a rare window into the power of artistic synchronization at the highest level.

Once you press play, be ready to get swept away by sheer acoustic bliss. If your heart is captured by the end of this video, then its own lyrical prophecy is true: “Sensitivity builds a prison in the final act.”

Don’t let your friends and family miss out on this exceptional live performance of unrivaled talent. And let us know what you think: Does this version compare to John's original?