Sir Elton John sets new UK chart record with Dua Lipa and ‘Cold Heart’

Words: Alastair James; pictures: Gregg Kemp/Universal Music Group

Sir Elton John has set a new Official UK Chart record by becoming the first artist to score a top 10 single in six different decades!

Talk about ‘Rocketman’!

His latest single ‘Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)’, a collab with Dua Lipa, has set its sights on the number one spot and is the music icon’s 33rd top 10 hit.

‘Cold Heart’ heads up Elton’s upcoming album The Lockdown Sessions, which features collaborations with Lil Nas X, Stevie Wonder, and more.

It comes 50 years after the star made his chart debut with ‘Your Song’ in 1971, which reached number seven. It re-entered the chart in 2002 and peaked at number one.

“So proud”

In a video with Spotify, Dua said it had been a “real honour” to collaborate with one of her icons. She also said she was “so proud” of the track and that it was a “massive dream come true”.

She added: “‘Rocketman’ is one of my favourite songs. I also feel like I kind of manifested this to happen because I’ve been singing that song non-stop up until the day Elton asked me to be on it.”

An acoustic version of the song was released on Tuesday (12 October).

The acoustic version of Cold Heart with Dua Lipa is out now! 💙🪕💙https://t.co/G5zQtzW9gy@dualipa @pnaupnau #coldheart #thelockdownsessions pic.twitter.com/hRDe3yWPhB

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) October 12, 2021

The 70s saw Elton land 10 singles in the top 10, followed by eight in the 90s.

He’s now leapt over Elvis, Cher, Cliff Richard, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, who have each landed at least one top 10 single in five different decades.

Among Elton’s top 10 hits are seven number one singles. His first was 1971’s ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ with Kiki Dee, while his biggest chart-topper is 1997’s ‘Candle In The Wind 97/Something About The Way You Look Tonight’ – the UK’s best-selling single of all time with nearly 5 million sales.

According to the Official UK Charts, Sir Elton could extend his run of number ones to eight this week, as ‘Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)’ could dethrone Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shivers’ from the summit after three weeks at number two.  

Elton’s Top 10 singles by decade are:

1970s

‘Your Song’ (4), ‘Rocket Man’ (2), ‘Crocodile Rock’ (5), ‘Daniel’ (4), ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’ (7), ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (6), ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ (10), ‘Pinball Wizard’ (7), ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ (1), ‘Song For A Guy’ (4)

1980s

‘Blue Eyes’ (8), ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’ (5), ‘I’m Still Standing’ (4), ‘Sad Songs (Say So Much)’ (7), ‘Passengers’ (5), ‘Nikita’ (3), ‘Candle In The Wind (Live)’ (5)

1990s

‘Sacrifice/Healing Hands’ (1), ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ (1), ‘The One’ (10), ‘True Love’ (2), ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart ft. RuPaul’ (7), ‘Live Like Horses’ ft. Luciano Pavarotti (9), ‘Candle In The Wind 97/Something About The Way You Look Tonight’ (1), ‘Written In The Stars’ ft. Leanne Rimes (10).

2000s

‘I Want Love’ (9), ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ ft. Blue (1), ‘Are You Ready For Love’ (3) ‘Ghetto Gospel’ ft. 2Pac (1), ‘Electricity’ (4), ‘Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)’ ft. Ironik, Chipmunk (3)

2010s

‘Step Into Christmas’ (8)

2020s

‘Cold Heat (Pnau Remix)’ ft. Dua Lipa (2)

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