Elton John - Heartache All Over The World

What this video is

Released in September–October 1986, 'Heartache All Over the World' arrived during one of the most turbulent periods of Elton John's career. The accompanying album Leather Jackets was recorded while John was struggling with personal difficulties and vocal problems caused by polyps on his vocal cords. The video's stripped-back, dark performance aesthetic — low brightness, theatrical spotlight, frenetic editing —…

Why it matters

Represents a synth-pop inflected arena-pop sound that defined mid-tier UK chart singles of 1986, bridging the bombastic production of the early-80s Elton John renaissance (Too Low for Zero, Breaking Hearts) with the leaner, more anonymous sounds of late-80s commercial pop. The video is a textbook…

The director

Mike Brady is a British music video director active primarily in the 1980s and 1990s. He is known for directing videos for The Jam ('Town Called Malice', 1982), Eurythmics ('Love Is a Stranger', 1982), Wham! ('Bad Boys', 1983), Rick Astley ('Together…