Maddie James
Candle in the Wind is a threnody-style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. John performed a rewritten version of the song, Candle in the Wind 1997, as a tribute to Princess Diana after her death in 1997. The song has been covered by various artists and has been a part of John's live performances for many years. Despite this, it is unclear if John still performs the song during his concerts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Songwriters | Elton John and Bernie Taupin |
| Year of original composition | 1973 |
| Inspiration | Marilyn Monroe |
| Year of tribute to Princess Diana | 1997 |
| Position on the UK Singles Chart | 5 |
| Position on the US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| Grammy nomination | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance |
| Grammy Award | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance |
| Grammy Award year | 1998 |
| Brit Award nomination | Best British Single |
| Brit Award nomination year | 1998 |
| Highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s | Yes |
| Position on the German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Position on the Australian Singles Chart | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
- Elton John performed 'Candle in the Wind' at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997
- The song was originally written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe
- Elton John has released multiple live versions of the song
- The song has been covered by other artists, including Ed Sheeran
- The song has sold over 33 million copies worldwide
Elton John performed 'Candle in the Wind' at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997
On 6 September 1997, Elton John performed a rewritten version of his 1973 song "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's funeral. The song, also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" or "Candle in the Wind '97", was originally written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe. John's 1997 version honoured his close friend Diana, Princess of Wales, who had passed away that year.
The performance was almost not meant to be, as Buckingham Palace did not want John to sing the song at the service. However, the Dean of Westminster argued for its inclusion, and ultimately, John's tribute went ahead. It was well-received, with John's performance considered one of the most memorable parts of the funeral. The song topped charts around the world, including the UK and US singles charts, and won John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.
The revised version of "Candle in the Wind" featured a change to the first line, from "Goodbye Norma Jeane" to "Goodbye England's Rose". Princess Diana had identified with the sentiment of the original song, especially the lyrics, "They made you change your name, never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in" and "even when you died, the press still hounded you." John's rewritten version captured the meaning of being a "candle in the wind" for both women.
John's performance at Princess Diana's funeral remains the only time he has performed the revised version of "Candle in the Wind" in public. He never sang the Princess Diana version of the song again after her funeral, despite receiving numerous requests.
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The song was originally written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe
"Candle in the Wind", written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, was originally written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The song was penned in 1973, 11 years after Monroe's death. The opening line of the song, "Goodbye Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (also spelled Jean) Mortenson.
Taupin has stated that the song is about "the idea of fame, youth, or somebody being cut short in their prime". He has also said that the song could have been about other famous figures who died young, such as James Dean, Kurt Cobain, or Sylvia Plath. Taupin has disputed the idea that he was a huge fan of Monroe, stating that she was a metaphor for fame and dying young.
The song was released on John's 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and as a single in 1974. It reached No.11 in the UK charts that year and was ranked No.347 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. In 2010, the ranking dropped to No.356.
In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote and re-recorded the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died that year. This version, known as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", peaked at No.1 in the UK and other countries. It became the best-selling single in UK chart history and John's ninth US number-one single. The 1997 version won John a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.
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Elton John has released multiple live versions of the song
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad 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. Elton John has released multiple live versions of the song.
In 1986, Elton John released a live version of "Candle in the Wind" as part of the set "Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra". This version featured only Elton John backing himself on the piano, with atmospheric keyboard textures and bass pedals played by John via MIDI and keyboardist Fred Mandel. The performance earned John a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male in 1988.
In 1987, "Candle in the Wind" was included in John's album "Live in Australia", marking the song's release as an American single. This pared-down version reached No.6 on the Hot 100 and No.5 in the UK, becoming John's first Top 10 hit in the UK since "Nikita" in 1985.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died that year. Known as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", this version featured new lyrics and was released as a single, with global proceeds going towards Diana's charities. The song topped the charts in multiple countries, including the UK and the US, and won John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.
In addition to these live versions, "Candle in the Wind" was also included in John's setlists for the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" tour and its sequel, the "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour.
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The song has been covered by other artists, including Ed Sheeran
"Candle in the Wind", written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, is one of the most famous songs in music history. Originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, the song was re-recorded in 1997 as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose" in memory of Princess Diana. The song has been covered by several artists over the years, including Ed Sheeran.
Ed Sheeran, a favourite of Elton John, first covered "Candle in the Wind" in 2014 for the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Revisited & Beyond" album. Sheeran's version was produced by Peter Asher, a longtime Beatles associate and friend of Elton John. In 2018, Sheeran and Asher collaborated once again to record another version for the tribute album "Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin". Sheeran also performed the song on the CBS special "Elton John: I'm Still Standing—A Grammy Salute".
Sheeran's cover of "Candle in the Wind" holds special significance for the singer-songwriter, as Elton John's songbook first sparked his interest in music and inspired him to write his own songs. Sheeran's performance of the song during the "Elton John: I'm Still Standing—A Grammy Salute" TV concert special was particularly memorable, showcasing his talent and honouring his musical idol.
In addition to Ed Sheeran, other artists have also covered "Candle in the Wind". The song has been included in various albums and live performances, paying tribute to Elton John's iconic original. The song's enduring popularity and emotional resonance have made it a staple in the music industry, with covers and tributes keeping the flame burning for new generations of listeners.
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The song has sold over 33 million copies worldwide
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad 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 released in 1974 as a single and appeared on John's album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
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. The new version of the song became an international success, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. It stayed at number one on the Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks, breaking records for a male solo artist.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" sold 3.5 million copies in the US in its first week and 1.5 million in the UK. It also had impressive pre-order numbers, with 2 million pre-orders in Germany and 400,000 in Australia. The song went on to sell over 33 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. All artist and composer royalties and record company profits were donated to Princess Diana's charities via the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
The success of "Candle in the Wind 1997" solidified the song's place in popular culture and led to numerous covers and interpretations. The original version of the song has also been covered by various artists, including Ed Sheeran, who recorded a version for the 40th-anniversary edition of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". The song continues to be a staple in Elton John's live performances, with its enduring message and melody resonating with audiences worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Elton John has played 'Candle in the Wind' many hundreds of times since its release and it has retained its place in his Farewell Yellow Brick Road setlists.
Yes, Elton John performed 'Candle in the Wind' at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.
Yes, Elton John released a live version of 'Candle in the Wind' in 1986, as part of the set Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
