Brooke Martin
5000 Candles in the Wind is a song from the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. The song was performed by Chris Pratt, in character as Andy Dwyer, at the show's wrap party. It was written as a tribute to Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's famous miniature horse, and is performed by Andy's band Mouse Rat. The song is an original composition, drawing inspiration from Elton John's Candle in the Wind.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Song | 5000 Candles in the Wind |
| TV Show | Parks and Recreation |
| TV Show Genre | American comedy |
| TV Show Season | Season 3 |
| Episode Number | 46 |
| Episode Name | Li'l Sebastian |
| Singer | Chris Pratt |
| Singer's Character Name | Andy Dwyer |
| Singer's Band Name | Mouse Rat |
| Songwriter | Mark Rivers |
| Songwriter's Character Name | Andy Dwyer |
| Inspiration | Elton John's Candle in the Wind |
| Tribute | Li'l Sebastian, a miniature horse |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chris Pratt sings '5000 Candles in the Wind' at the ''Parks and Rec' wrap party
Chris Pratt, who played Andy Dwyer in the beloved comedy series Parks and Rec, sang "5000 Candles in the Wind" at the show's wrap party. The song, written by Andy Dwyer in the show, was performed as a tribute to Li'l Sebastian, the miniature horse who was a local celebrity in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana.
"5000 Candles in the Wind" was inspired by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" and was intended to be 5000 times better, as per the show's canon. The song was performed by Andy's band, Mouse Rat, and has become a memorable part of the show, with its absurd yet emotional lyrics, specifically about a deceased horse.
The wrap party marked the end of filming for the show's final season, and the cast and crew took to Twitter to share photos and memories, expressing their nostalgia for the show. While not many details of the party were revealed, it is known that Chris Pratt took the stage to perform the now-iconic song, possibly in character as Andy Dwyer. The performance added to the sentimentality of the occasion, providing a touching tribute to the show's beloved miniature horse character.
The song has clearly resonated with fans, as evidenced by Nick Offerman's live performance of it, which received a surprising reaction from the audience, who sang along. The song's writer, Mark Rivers, also shared his surprise at the song's emotional impact, acknowledging its absurdity while also recognizing its ability to evoke nostalgia and emotion among fans.
"5000 Candles in the Wind" has become an enduring legacy of the show, with the cast even reuniting for a special episode in 2022, where they performed the song together virtually, once again showcasing their love for the show and its impact on audiences.
Candles for Sex: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Andy Dwyer's tribute to Li'l Sebastian
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a tribute song written and performed by Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) for the miniature horse and Pawnee legend, Lil' Sebastian. The song was performed by Andy's band, Mouse Rat, on the show.
The song's lyrics are a heartfelt tribute to Lil' Sebastian, with references to his impact on the people of Pawnee:
> Up in horsey heaven here's the thing
> You trade your legs for angels wings
> And once we've all said goodbye
> You take a running leap and you learn to fly
> Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian
> Miss you in the saddest fashion
> Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian
> You're 5000 candles in the wind
The song's emotional impact is enhanced by its catchy and absurd nature, now regarded with nostalgia by fans of the show. The song has become so popular that it has been performed by the cast outside of the show's context, with the audience singing along.
The tribute song also draws inspiration from Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," but with a specific focus on the loss of Lil' Sebastian:
> And though we all miss you every day
> We know you're up there eating heaven's hay
> And here's the part that hurts the most
> Humans cannot ride a ghost
> Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian
> You're 5000 candles in the wind
> Maybe someday we'll saddle up again
> And I know I'll always miss my horsiest friend
Andy Dwyer's tribute to Lil' Sebastian, delivered through the song "5000 Candles in the Wind," is a memorable and emotional moment in the show, showcasing the character's love for the miniature horse that was a beloved part of Pawnee.
Candles: Odor Neutralizers or Odor Maskers?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song was written by Mark Rivers
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a song by the fictional band Mouse Rat, which appeared in the Parks and Recreation episode "Li'l Sebastian". It is a memorial song for Li'l Sebastian, a miniature horse who was a town hero in the show. The song was written by Mark Rivers, who also wrote and performed most of Mouse Rat's songs on the show. Rivers got his start playing in rock bands in Boston, where he met several "young, struggling comics" such as David Cross, Marc Maron, and Janeane Garofalo. Cross asked him to write the theme song for the HBO sketch show Mr. Show with Bob and David, which led to a dual career of writing comedy scripts and songs for various TV shows.
The song "5000 Candles in the Wind" is a play on the famous Elton John song "Candle in the Wind", with the joke being that "5000 candles in the wind" are better than just one. The song was performed by Chris Pratt, in character as Andy Dwyer, at the Parks and Recreation wrap party. It has become an emotional anthem for fans of the show, who sang along when Nick Offerman performed it at Largo. While Mouse Rat is a fictional band, the songs were recorded by real musicians, with the band members miming along to the prerecorded tracks in most cases.
The song has been described as "catchy, absurd, and now nostalgically moving". It includes lyrics such as "Up in horsey heaven, here's the thing/You trade your legs for angel wings" and "Bye bye Li'l Sebastian/Miss you in the saddest fashion". The song is included on Mouse Rat's album "The Awesome Album".
While Mark Rivers wrote the song, it is credited in the show as being written by Andy Dwyer, who is portrayed by Chris Pratt. Andy Dwyer is a character in the show who is a part of the band Mouse Rat. Chris Pratt is a passable guitar player and a decent singer, according to Mark Rivers.
Candler Park: Beltline Access or No?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Performed by Mouse Rat
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a song performed by Mouse Rat, the band of Andy Dwyer, the character played by Chris Pratt in the TV show Parks and Recreation. The song is a memorial for Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's famous miniature horse, and was written by Andy Dwyer. The song was inspired by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind", with the intent to be 5000 times better than the original.
The song was performed by Chris Pratt at the 'Parks and Rec' wrap party, possibly in character as Andy Dwyer. The cast of Parks and Rec also performed the song as a group during their at-home quarantine special episode, which aired on April 30, 2022.
The song was written by Mark Rivers, who also wrote and performed most of Mouse Rat's songs on the show. Rivers played Andy's drummer onscreen and described the process of recording the songs:
> "Yeah, generally [the band onscreen is miming]. I think a couple of times they actually used some of our live recorded stuff and blended it with the [prerecorded track]."
Rivers also shared his thoughts on Chris Pratt's musical abilities:
> Is Chris Pratt a good singer and guitar player? [...] He's a passable guitar player. I think he plays more like fingerpicking style and country music stuff. He’s very self-taught. But yeah, he’s a decent enough singer—certainly compared to other actors I’ve worked with. He’ll hear it, and he can get it on key."
Ear Candling: Lie Down or Sit Up?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song was inspired by Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind'
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a song inspired by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind." The song is performed by Chris Pratt, in character as Andy Dwyer, as a tribute to Li'l Sebastian, a miniature horse, on the show Parks and Recreation. The song was written by Mark Rivers, who also wrote and performed most of Mouse Rat's—Andy's band—songs on the show.
The song's lyrics draw a parallel between the original "Candle in the Wind," a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, and Li'l Sebastian's death. The chorus includes the lines "Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian/Miss you in the saddest fashion/Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian/You're 5000 candles in the wind." The verses also contain references to the afterlife, with lines like "Up in horsey heaven, here's the thing/You trade your legs for angels' wings."
The song has become an emotional and nostalgic moment for fans of the show, with its absurd yet catchy nature. It has been described as "5000 times sadder" than the original "Candle in the Wind," highlighting the humorous yet touching nature of the tribute.
The song is featured on Mouse Rat's debut album, "The Awesome Album," and has gained a life of its own outside the show, with fans singing along at live events. "5000 Candles in the Wind" showcases the impact of a well-crafted song, even in a comedic context, and has become a beloved part of the Parks and Recreation legacy.
Why You Should Keep Candles and How to Store Them
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Chris Pratt, in character as Andy Dwyer, sang "5000 Candles in the Wind" at the 'Parks and Rec' wrap party.
Andy Dwyer, played by Chris Pratt, wrote the song "5000 Candles in the Wind" as a tribute to Li'l Sebastian, a miniature horse. The song was inspired by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind".
The band onscreen mimed along to a prerecorded track. However, Chris Pratt is a self-taught guitar player and a decent singer compared to other actors.
The song was performed in the sixteenth episode and season finale of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, which originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 19, 2011. It is also available on Awesome Album by Mouse Rat, Andy Dwyer's band in the show.
