I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Infobox Single
Name = I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me


Cover size =
Caption = First Release
Artist = Nik Kershaw
from Album = Human Racing
7" = I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me / Dark Glasses
12" = I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Extended Mix) / Dark Glasses
Released = 16 September 1983
Format = 7" / 12" Vinyl
Catalog No = MCAT 816 - NIK1
Recorded =
Genre = New Wave
Length = 03:20.5
Label = MCA
Writer = Nik Kershaw
Producer = Peter Collins
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single = "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1983)
Next single = "Wouldn't It Be Good" (1984)
Misc =

"I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song by singer Nik Kershaw, first released on his hit debut album "Human Racing".

The song was written during the latter part of the Cold War period when nuclear war between the two superpowers of the USSR and USA was still a very real concern, and the lyrics reflect a satirical view of politics and the threat of war with lines such as: "old men in stripey trousers, rule the world with plastic smiles", and: "forefinger on the button, is he blue or is he red?"

"I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" only reached number 47 in the UK charts when first released. However, the follow up single from the same album, "Wouldn't It Be Good", reached the top five and on the back of that success "I Won't ..." was re-released and soared to number two. It was also subsequently a major hit in several other countries and was responsible for bringing Nik Kershaw to greater public attention.

Robin Cook

Infobox Single
Name = I Won't Let the Sun Go Down


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Robin Cook
from Album = Land of Sunshine
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1996
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 03:20.5
Label =
Writer =
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single = I Won't Let the Sun Go Down
(1996)
Next single = Comanchero
(1997)
Misc =

The song was released by Jonas Ekfeldt as Robin Cook under the name "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down" and later formed part of the album "Land of Sunshine" in 1997.

Sampled by Sveriges Radio

Ekfeldt filed a lawsuit against Sveriges Radio for sampling "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down" and accused them for using the sample without permission in the parody "I Won't Let Susan Go Down on Me" on the album "Rally 2" from the radio show "Rally" on the channel P3. Sveriges Radio denied the accusations, but the National Laboratory of Forensic Science in Sweden compared the songs [Elin Törnqvist. [http://www.polisen.se/inter/util%5Cnodeid=21434&pageversion=1.jsp?articleid=6918976 "Ny analysmetod avslöjar olagliga musiksamplingar"] (in Swedish). "Swedish Police Service"'s webpage, 23 November 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2007.] and asserted that the former song indeed had been sampled.

The amount of Ekfeldt's compensation was not made public, but was said to be of a significant amount and a lot more than if the channel had asked for permission first [Tony Fischier. [http://gp.se/gp/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=286&a=293848 "Återskapad inspelning var stöld"] (in Swedish). "Göteborgs-Posten"'s webpage, 31 August 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2007.] .

References

MCA Recording 1983