Jessie Taylor
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. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, Candle in the Wind 1997, at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. This version became the best-selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold. John has not performed this version live since Diana's funeral, and it has not appeared on any of his subsequent albums.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | Candle in the Wind |
| Singer | Elton John |
| Songwriter | Bernie Taupin |
| Tribute to | Marilyn Monroe (1973 version), Princess Diana (1997 version) |
| Genre | Threnody-style ballad |
| Year of Release | 1973 (original version), 1997 (rewritten version) |
| Performance at Princess Diana's funeral | Yes |
| Performance at Princess Diana's memorial concert in 2007 | No |
| Performance at Princess Diana's tribute in 2022 | No |
| Commercial Performance | Ranked 347 on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time, second-best selling single in the world with 33 million copies sold, best-selling single in Billboard history, certified Diamond in the US, shipped over 11 million copies in the US |
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What You'll Learn
- Elton John performed the song at Princess Diana's funeral
- The song was originally written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe
- The 1997 version became one of the best-selling singles of all time
- John has not performed the 1997 version live since Diana's funeral
- The song's lyrics were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death
Elton John performed the song at Princess Diana's funeral
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written and performed by English musician Elton John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.
In 1997, Elton John performed a rewritten version of the song, titled “Candle in the Wind 1997”, at the funeral of his close friend Diana, Princess of Wales. The funeral took place at Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997, less than two weeks after Princess Diana's tragic death in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.
John's performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral was an incredibly emotional and powerful moment. He has stated that he wanted to pay tribute to his friend and cope with his own grief through the song. Richard Branson, who had been contacted by the Spencer family, asked John to consider performing the song at the funeral, noting that many people writing in the book of condolence at St. James's Palace were quoting the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind". John reworked the lyrics with Taupin to honour Princess Diana specifically, adapting lines such as “Goodbye Norma Jean” to “Goodbye England's rose”.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" was released as a single on 13 September 1997, with global proceeds going towards Princess Diana's charities. It became an enormous commercial success, selling over 33 million copies worldwide and breaking records for sales figures. Despite this, John has not performed the 1997 version of the song live since Princess Diana's funeral and it has not appeared on any of his subsequent albums. He continues to perform the original version of the song at his concerts but has repeatedly turned down requests to perform the revised version, vowing never to sing it again unless asked by Princess Diana's sons.
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The song was originally written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe
"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 (also spelled "Jean") Mortenson.
Taupin has noted that the theory that he was a "rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic" is a misconception. He has said that the song could have been about several famous figures who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, or Virginia Woolf. The inspiration for the song's lyrics came from hearing the phrase "candle in the wind" used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin.
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 died that year. The lyrics of the 1973 version were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death. John has not performed this version live since Diana's funeral and it has not appeared on any of his subsequent albums, which instead use the original version.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" is one of the best-selling singles of all time, with 33 million copies sold. It was also John's first number-one single in over 20 years. The song won John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998.
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The 1997 version became one of the best-selling singles of all time
"Candle in the Wind 1997" is a version of the song "Candle in the Wind", rewritten and performed by Elton John as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, following her tragic death in 1997. John performed the song publicly only once, at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" was a commercial success, with sales in the US totaling 11 million and 4.75 million copies sold in Germany. In the UK, the single sold 658,000 copies on its first day of release and 1.5 million within a week. It was the only single ever certified Diamond in the United States at the time. The song was also a critical success, winning John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.
All proceeds from the sales of the 1997 version went to charitable causes that were important to Princess Diana. A fund was set up, and after it closed in 2012, a total of £138 million ($177 million) had been raised, with £38 million ($49 million) coming from the sale of "Candle in the Wind 1997" alone.
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John has not performed the 1997 version live since Diana's funeral
"Candle in the Wind 1997" was a rewritten version of the 1973 song "Candle in the Wind", with new lyrics by Bernie Taupin, honouring Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in 1997. John performed the song publicly only once, at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997.
The 1997 version was produced by George Martin, who added a string quartet and woodwind instrumentation to the recording. The song peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom and several other countries, becoming John's fourth No. 1 single. Guinness World Records lists the 1997 version as the second-best-selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold, and as the highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s.
The original 1973 version of "Candle in the Wind" was written in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The 1997 version adapted the original lyrics to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death. For example, the opening line "Goodbye Norma Jean" from the 1973 version, referring to Monroe's real name, was changed to "'Goodbye England's rose" in the 1997 version.
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The song's lyrics were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death
Indeed, "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John is closely associated with the tragic death of Princess Diana and is often considered a funeral song. Originally written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, the lyrics were adapted and performed by Elton as a heartfelt tribute to Diana, reflecting on her life, legacy, and untimely death.
The original song, released in 1973, was a poignant reflection on Marilyn Monroe's life and her struggle with fame and its dark side. With the unexpected death of Princess Diana in 1997, the song took on a new life and meaning. The lyrics were altered to pay respect to Diana and capture the essence of her life and the impact she had on the world.
In the adapted version, Elton John performed the song with modified lyrics that reflected Diana's humanitarian efforts and her status as a beloved figure. The line "Your candle burned out long before, Your legend ever did" captures the tragic nature of her death at a young age and the enduring legacy she left behind. The song also references her compassion and empathy, with the line "You walked with kings and queens, with commoners, too," highlighting her ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
The performance of the song at her funeral was a powerful moment that resonated with people worldwide. The adapted lyrics struck a chord and provided a sense of comfort and reflection during a time of immense grief and loss. The song's message of remembering and honoring a life cut short captured the emotions of the moment and has since become an enduring tribute to Princess Diana.
Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" has become synonymous with Princess Diana's memory, and the adapted lyrics beautifully captured the essence of her life and the impact she had on those around her. The song's ability to take on new meaning and provide comfort in times of tragedy showcases the power of music to heal and unite people in their grief.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, "Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was performed by John at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.
Richard Branson shared that several people writing in the book of condolence at St James's Palace were quoting the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind". Branson asked John if he would rewrite the lyrics and sing them at the funeral.
No, Elton John has not performed the 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" since Princess Diana's funeral. He continues to sing the original version of the song at his concerts.
The 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" sold 33 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.
