Tyler Brooks
Candle in the Wind is a song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin that was originally written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The song was first released in 1973 and included on John's album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Despite being widely regarded as a dedication to Monroe, Taupin has since stated that the song was not originally inspired by her. In 1997, a rewritten version of the song, Candle in the Wind 1997, was released as a tribute to Princess Diana following her death.
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What You'll Learn
Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.
Taupin has stated that the song is about "the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in their prime". He also noted that it could have been about other famous figures who died young, such as James Dean, Montgomery Clift, or Jim Morrison. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (commonly spelled Jean) Mortenson.
Taupin has disputed the idea that he was a Monroe fan, saying that she was a metaphor for fame and dying young. Despite this, he acknowledged that the song is one of the best marriages of lyric and melody that he and Elton John have created.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had recently died. Taupin penned the new lyrics for the song, which became a massive commercial success, selling over 33 million copies worldwide.
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It was originally written in 1973
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written and performed by English musician Elton John, and composed by songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier in 1962, aged 36. The song was first released on the album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" on 5 October 1973 and later as a single in the UK on 22 February 1974.
The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (also spelled as Jean) Mortenson. Taupin has stated that the song is about "the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in their prime". He has also noted that the theory that he was a ""rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic" is a misconception, and that Monroe served as a metaphor for fame and dying young. Taupin has also revealed that the song's title was inspired by the phrase "candle in the wind", which he had heard used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. This version became a massive commercial success, peaking at No. 1 in the UK, the US, and several other countries, and selling over 33 million copies. The original version of "Candle in the Wind" also experienced chart success, reaching No. 11 in the UK singles chart in 1974.
The song has been recognised for its impact in the music industry. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine listed the original version of "Candle in the Wind" as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song's commercial success, particularly the 1997 version, has also been acknowledged, with Guinness World Records listing it as the second-best-selling single in the world.
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The song was inspired by the death of Marilyn Monroe
"Candle in the Wind", written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, was originally a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The song was written in 1973, 11 years after Monroe's untimely death at the age of 36 in 1962. The opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, and the song goes on to address the pressures and hounded by the press that she faced during her life.
Despite the song's clear references to Monroe, Taupin has disputed the idea that he was a fan of hers. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, he stated that Monroe was "absolutely not someone I admired a lot as a kid or anything". She was just a metaphor for fame and dying young, and people sort of overdoing the indulgence, and those that do die young. Taupin also revealed that the concept of "candle in the wind" came from hearing the phrase used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin.
While the song was originally inspired by Monroe, it speaks to a wider conversation about the pressures and glamorisation of fame, as well as the impact of fandom and the immortalisation of celebrities who die young. Taupin himself noted that the song could have been about James Dean, Montgomery Clift, or Jim Morrison.
In 1997, John and Taupin re-recorded the song with new lyrics as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had recently died in a car crash. This version, "Candle in the Wind 1997", became a massive commercial success, selling over 33 million copies and becoming the second-biggest selling single of all time.
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The lyrics were rewritten in tribute to Princess Diana
The lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" were rewritten and performed by Elton John as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who passed away in an automobile accident on 31 August 1997. The new version, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", was released in September 1997 and peaked at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind," written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John, was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years before its release in 1973. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean," refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane Mortenson.
Following Princess Diana's death, Richard Branson suggested that Elton John rework the song and perform it at her funeral. John then contacted Taupin to revise the lyrics. Taupin stated that he rewrote the lyrics in half an hour and that the new version was meant to be sung from a nation's standpoint, contrasting the third-person narrative of the new version with the first-person perspective of the original.
The rewritten lyrics of "Candle in the Wind 1997" reflect on Princess Diana's life and legacy. The opening lines were adapted from "Goodbye Norma Jean" to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts." The song highlights Diana's grace and her impact on the nation, referring to her as "England's golden child." It also acknowledges the tragic circumstances of her death, with lines such as "your candles burned out long before / Your legend ever will."
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became the fastest-selling single in the UK, with over 650,000 copies sold in the first 24 hours. All artist and composer royalties, as well as record company profits, were donated to Diana's charities through the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Elton John has not performed this version live since Diana's funeral and it has not appeared on any of his subsequent albums.
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It is one of the best-selling singles of all time
"Candle in the Wind" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The song was later re-recorded and released as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", with new lyrics honouring Diana, Princess of Wales, who passed away in 1997.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" was released as a single in the UK in 1974 and peaked at No. 11 on the charts. It was not released as a single in the United States, where ""Bennie and the Jets" was chosen as the single release instead. Despite this, the original version of the song has stood the test of time and was ranked No. 347 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, dropping to No. 356 in 2010.
The re-recorded version, "Candle in the Wind 1997", peaked at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. It sold over 33 million copies, making it the second-biggest selling single of all time, only surpassed by Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" from 1942, which has an estimated 50 million sales. "Candle in the Wind 1997" became the biggest-selling single since the charts were formalised in the 1950s and John's fourth No. 1 single in the UK.
The song's enduring popularity and commercial success can be attributed to its emotional resonance with audiences. The original version, dedicated to Monroe, captures the tragedy of a life cut short and the glamorisation of death. Similarly, the re-recorded version for Princess Diana struck a chord with people around the world, mourning the loss of a beloved public figure. The song's lyrics and melody, crafted by John and Taupin, seamlessly blend to create a powerful tribute that has resonated with generations of listeners.
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Frequently asked questions
No, 'Candle in the Wind' was written and performed by Elton John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin.
The song was written about Marilyn Monroe, although it has been said that Bernie Taupin was not a fan of Monroe and that the song could have been about "someone being cut short in their prime".
Yes, the song has been covered by countless artists, although many of these covers came before the 1997 reworking.
