Something About the Way You Look Tonight
Encyclopedia
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" is a song by Elton John
, released in 1997 as the first single from The Big Picture
. The song and its video were dedicated to the memory of Gianni Versace
, murdered that year.
The single was released as a double A-side
single with "Candle in the Wind 1997
". This double A-side is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.
The video for the song featured actors and actresses from the UK television programme This Life
, as well as supermodels Kate Moss
and Sophie Dahl
and is regarded as one of Elton John's best videos. John has publicly revealed (through his "warts and all" documentary Tantrums and Tiaras) that he finds videos "fucking loathsome" and after the album The Big Picture refrained from appearing in his own videos unless they were cameo appearances.
, murdered that year.
In the UK
only, the single sold over 4,864,600 copies (8x Platinum
), making the song the best-selling single ever in UK history. It remained for five weeks at the number-one position. In the US
, the song was considered a double-A-side
with Candle in the Wind 1997 and spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100
. On the US adult contemporary chart
, however, Something About the Way You Look Tonight and Candle in the Wind 1997 charted separately, and while the tribute to Princess Diana peaked at #5 on this chart, Something About the Way You Look Tonight spent ten weeks at #1 in late 1997 and early 1998. It was certified 11x Platinum on 8/16/2011 by the R.I.A.A.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, released in 1997 as the first single from The Big Picture
The Big Picture (Elton John album)
-Outtakes:The original single version of "Live Like Horses" was a duet with Luciano Pavarotti in 1996, but was performed solo for this album. "Past Imperfect" and an alternate version of "Recover Your Soul" were completed by Elton John for inclusion on The Big Picture...
. The song and its video were dedicated to the memory of Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
, murdered that year.
The single was released as a double A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
single with "Candle in the Wind 1997
Candle in the Wind 1997
"Candle in the Wind 1997" is a rewritten and rerecorded version of Elton John's own 1973 hit "Candle in the Wind" that was released as a tribute single to the late Diana, Princess of Wales....
". This double A-side is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.
The video for the song featured actors and actresses from the UK television programme This Life
This Life
This Life is a BBC television drama that was produced by World Productions and screened on BBC Two. Two series were broadcast in 1996 and 1997 and a reunion special in 2007....
, as well as supermodels Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
and Sophie Dahl
Sophie Dahl
Sophie Dahl , born Sophie Holloway, is an English author and former model. She was born in London, the daughter of actor Julian Holloway and writer Tessa Dahl. Her maternal grandparents were author Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal. Her paternal grandparents were actor Stanley Holloway and...
and is regarded as one of Elton John's best videos. John has publicly revealed (through his "warts and all" documentary Tantrums and Tiaras) that he finds videos "fucking loathsome" and after the album The Big Picture refrained from appearing in his own videos unless they were cameo appearances.
Sales and chart positions
Something About the Way You Look Tonight and the video were dedicated to the memory of Gianni VersaceGianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
, murdered that year.
In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
only, the single sold over 4,864,600 copies (8x Platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
), making the song the best-selling single ever in UK history. It remained for five weeks at the number-one position. In the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song was considered a double-A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
with Candle in the Wind 1997 and spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. On the US adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
, however, Something About the Way You Look Tonight and Candle in the Wind 1997 charted separately, and while the tribute to Princess Diana peaked at #5 on this chart, Something About the Way You Look Tonight spent ten weeks at #1 in late 1997 and early 1998. It was certified 11x Platinum on 8/16/2011 by the R.I.A.A.
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1997) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
End of decade charts
| Chart (1990-1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
All-time charts
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 41 |