Tyler Brooks
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-written and re-recorded in 1997 as Candle in the Wind 1997 or Goodbye England's Rose, this time as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales. The song has been a commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time in several countries, including the UK and Australia. It has also received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone magazine listing it as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time. With its universal themes of vulnerability and the fleeting nature of fame, Candle in the Wind has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. But is it a pop song?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Candle in the Wind |
| Artist | Elton John |
| Songwriter | Bernie Taupin |
| Year Released | 1973 |
| Tribute To | Marilyn Monroe |
| Re-recorded Version | Candle in the Wind 1997 |
| Tribute To | Princess Diana of Wales |
| Genre | Pop |
| Awards | Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male |
| Chart Performance | No. 11 in the UK charts in 1974, No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1988, No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1988, No. 347 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, No. 356 on the same list in 2010 |
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What You'll Learn
Is the song considered pop?
"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's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane Mortenson.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a tragic car accident that year. The new version of the song became the best-selling single in UK chart history and John's ninth (and final) US number-one single.
The song has been described as a "pop hymn" in Germany, where it is the 8th best-selling song in that genre. In 1988, a live version of the original song earned John a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The 1997 version of the song also won John a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male.
While the song has been associated with the pop genre, it is worth noting that it has also been classified as soft rock, piano rock, and adult contemporary, among other genres. Ultimately, whether or not the song is considered pop may depend on individual interpretation and the specific musical categories used in different regions or platforms.
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The song's popularity
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The opening line "Goodbye, Norma Jean" refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane Mortenson.
The song was later re-written and re-recorded in 1997 as "Candle in the Wind 1997", this time as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who died in a tragic car accident that year. The song was released on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death, and entered at number one on the UK singles chart after only one day of sales. It became John's fourth UK number-one single and the best-selling single in UK chart history. In October of the same year, it became his ninth (and final) US number-one single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" also enjoyed immense success in other parts of the world. In Australia, it spent six weeks at number one on the ARIA Charts and is one of the all-time best-selling singles in the country. According to Musiikkituottajat, the Finnish music industry federation, it is the best-selling single of all time in Finland. In Germany, it is the 8th best-selling pop hymn ever.
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The song's original version
"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's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (or Jean) Mortenson.
The song explores the pressures and vulnerabilities of fame, the fleeting nature of life, and the fascination with those who die young. Taupin has emphasised that the song's themes are universal, allowing it to resonate with audiences regardless of the specific individual it was written for. The lyrics evolved over time, reflecting not only the tragedy of Marilyn Monroe but also the universal fragility of human existence.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" 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 but was not initially released as a single in the United States, where "Bennie and the Jets" was chosen instead. The song was later re-recorded as Candle in the Wind 1997 or Goodbye England's Rose as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who died in 1997.
The 1997 version became the best-selling single in UK chart history and John's ninth US number-one single. It spent 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The original version of "Candle in the Wind" remains highly regarded, being listed as one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.
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The song's 1997 version
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a threnody by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It is a rewritten and re-recorded version of their 1973 song "Candle in the Wind", originally written in honour of Marilyn Monroe. The 1997 version was released on 13 September 1997 as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.
John and Taupin adapted the song to pay tribute to Princess Diana, resulting in a version that touched the hearts of millions worldwide. The song was produced by Sir George Martin, who added a string quartet and woodwind instruments to the recording. It was recorded at Townhouse Studios in West London, immediately following the funeral. The song was released as a double A-side single with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" in many countries, and all proceeds from the song went towards Diana's charities.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" entered at number one on the UK singles chart after only one day of sales, giving John his fourth UK number-one single. It became the best-selling single in UK chart history. In October 1997, it became John's ninth and final US number-one single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks. The song was also a huge success in other countries, including Canada, Germany, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, and France. It is considered one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 33 million copies sold worldwide.
John has only performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" once in public, at Princess Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. He has repeatedly turned down requests to perform the song again, vowing never to sing it unless asked by Diana's sons. The song has never been released or re-released on any of his albums or compilations.
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The song's live performances
"Candle in the Wind" was originally written in 1973 by Elton John and Bernie Taupin as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The song was performed live by John on 14 December 1986 in Sydney, Australia, and released as a single in 1987. This version featured John on the piano with keyboard effects and bass pedals, played by John via MIDI and keyboardist Fred Mandel. The performance earned John a Grammy nomination in 1988 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. This version of the song became the fastest-selling single in the UK, with 658,000 copies sold on its first day of release and over 1.5 million in its first week. It topped the UK singles chart and the Billboard Hot 100, becoming John's fourth UK number-one single and ninth US number-one single.
John has not performed the 1997 version of the song live since Diana's funeral and has repeatedly turned down requests to do so, even for the memorial Concert for Diana in July 2007. However, he continues to perform the original version of the song at his concerts. The 1997 version has also never been released or re-released on any of John's albums or compilations.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" has been included on John's albums and compilations, such as his 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and the 2003 EP "Remixed". It has also been performed live by John at various concerts, such as Farm Aid IV on 7 April 1990, where he dedicated the song to Ryan White, who was suffering from AIDS.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, "Candle in the Wind" is a pop song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
The song explores the idea of fame, youth, and the transient nature of life, focusing on individuals who died young and the impact of their deaths on the public.
Elton John rewrote and re-recorded "Candle in the Wind" in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who passed away in a tragic car accident that year. The new version, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose," became a poignant farewell to another cultural icon.
