America Idol's Paul McDonald Sings "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"

America Idol Season 10's Paul McDonald Sings "I Guess That's Why They call It the Blues" by Elton John on the Top 12 show. Idol contestants got to choose any song from their birth year. Paul was born in 1984. "Some killer tunes came out that year," says Paul.


"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is a song by British singer Elton John featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The song received largely favourable reviews, with Bill Janovitz of Allmusic declaring the song "likely to stand the test of time as a standard." It was one of Elton John's most-played songs on the radio in the 1980's. It is also quite well known for being played at Chelsea FC's home matches (soccer).

The song appeared on the album Too Low for Zero. Released as a single in April 1983, the song reached #5 on the UK chart and #4 in the US chart six months later. The music video features two young lovers that are separated when he leaves for military training, and then they are finally reunited at the end of the song. It was filmed in the The Rivoli Ballroom in London and it is one of the very few times Elton John was filmed or videotaped without wearing his trademark eyeglasses.