Jessie Taylor
Elton John's Candle in the Wind is a ballad commemorating the life of Marilyn Monroe, who died in 1962. The song was originally released in 1973 and later re-recorded in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who died in a car accident. The original version, written by John and Bernie Taupin, is a threnody-style ballad with a slow rock melody and bluesy, gospel-like syncopation. It features John's piano and Davey Johnstone's guitar, with bass and drums provided by Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, respectively. The 1997 version, also known as Goodbye England's Rose, has a more arpeggiated and foundational piano accompaniment, providing a bed for John's vocals. It also includes a string quartet and woodwind instruments, produced by Sir George Martin. Both versions of Candle in the Wind have achieved commercial and critical success, with the 1997 version becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Ballad, threnody |
| Lyricist | Bernie Taupin |
| Tribute to | Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana of Wales |
| Year of original version | 1973 |
| Year of tribute to Princess Diana | 1997 |
| Album | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road |
| Single release ranking (UK charts, 1974) | 11 |
| Single release ranking (Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, 2004) | 347 |
| Single release ranking (Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, 2010) | 356 |
| Ranking in the US Billboard Hot 100 (1988) | 6 |
| Grammy nomination (1988) | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance |
| Grammy Award (1998) | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance |
| Brit Awards nomination (1998) | Best British Single |
| Opening lines (original version) | Goodbye Norma Jean / Though I never knew you at all |
| Opening lines (1997 version) | Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts |
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What You'll Learn
- The original version of the song was written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe
- Elton John performed the song at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997
- The 1997 version of the song is the second highest-selling physical single of all time
- Elton John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, was inspired by Janis Joplin to write the song
- The song is a threnody-style ballad
The original version of the song was written in 1973 as a 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 (more commonly spelt Jean) Mortenson.
Taupin has stated that the song was inspired by his fascination with Monroe's tragic life and how it mirrored society's treatment of its idols. The lyrics evolved to reflect not only the tragedy of Monroe's life but also the universal fragility of human existence.
The original version of the song, in the key of E major, appeared on John's 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and was released as a single in 1974. The single reached No. 11 in the UK charts but was not released as a single in the United States. Despite this, the song has endured as one of John's most beloved and recognised hits.
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. This version became a poignant farewell to another cultural icon and touched the hearts of millions worldwide.
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Elton John performed the song at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997
"Candle in the Wind" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", at Princess Diana's funeral. The new version was a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash on 31 August 1997.
Elton John's performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral was a memorable and emotional moment. John and Princess Diana were very good friends, and he wanted to pay tribute to her with this song. The song was released as a single on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death, and it became the best-selling single in UK chart history. It also topped the charts in several other countries, including Germany, Australia, and the United States.
The lyrics of the 1997 version were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death. The opening lines of the original 1973 version, "Goodbye Norma Jean / Though I never knew you at all", were changed to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts". The new lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, John's songwriting partner.
The performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral was almost not meant to be. The royal family initially resisted the inclusion of the song in the service, deeming the new lyrics too sentimental. However, Dr Wesley Carr, the Dean of Westminster, wrote a personal plea to the royal family and successfully argued for the song's inclusion.
Elton John has stated that he will not perform the revised version of "Candle in the Wind" again unless asked by Diana's sons. The song holds a special significance as a tribute to Princess Diana and a reflection of the grief felt by many people around the world following her tragic death.
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The 1997 version of the song is the second highest-selling physical single of all time
"Candle in the Wind" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote and re-recorded the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in an automobile crash on 31 August 1997. The new version, titled “Candle in the Wind 1997” or "Goodbye England's Rose," featured new lyrics and was released on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became an instant success and sold an unprecedented number of copies worldwide. In its first week, the song sold 658,000 copies in the UK, and in its second week, it sold 1.54 million copies. It spent five weeks at number one in the UK and has sold 4.9 million copies there as of September 2017. In the US, the single debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 3.5 million copies in its first week. It remained at the top of the Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks and shipped over 11 million copies in the US.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" also achieved significant chart success in other countries. It topped the German Singles Chart for seven weeks, the Australian Singles Chart for six weeks, and the charts in many other countries. The song is the best-selling single of all time in Finland and has sold over 33 million copies worldwide. According to the Guinness Book of Records, "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the second highest-selling physical single of all time, only surpassed by Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" from 1942.
The song's success and impact were heightened by the tragic circumstances of its creation and its role as a tribute to Princess Diana. The original "Candle in the Wind," written for Marilyn Monroe, had also explored the theme of dying young and the price of fame. The 1997 version won Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998.
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Elton John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, was inspired by Janis Joplin to write the song
"Candle in the Wind," written by Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin, was inspired by Marilyn Monroe and the transient nature of fame. The song was originally written in 1973, 11 years after Monroe's death.
Taupin was inspired to write the song after hearing Clive Davis use the phrase "candle in the wind" to describe Janis Joplin. Taupin said, "I just kept hearing this term. I thought, what a great way of describing someone’s life." He was fascinated by the idea and how it captured the public's perception of celebrities and their fame:
> So, [this song is] really about how fame affects the man or woman in the street, that whole adulation thing and the fanaticism of fandom. It’s pretty freaky how people really believe these people are somehow different from us. It’s a theme that’s figured prominently in a lot of our songs, and I think it’ll probably continue to do so.
Taupin has clarified that Monroe was a metaphor for fame and dying young, and not someone he admired greatly. He stated that the song could have easily been about any other celebrity who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, or Kurt Cobain.
Taupin's lyrics for "Candle in the Wind" explore the public's perception of celebrities and how they claim subconscious "ownership" of their idols. The song became a beloved classic and one of Elton John's most famous works.
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The song is a threnody-style ballad
"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 lyrics, penned by Taupin, were inspired by the phrase "candle in the wind," which he had heard used by Clive Davis in an obituary for Janis Joplin.
The song was later re-recorded and re-written in 1997 as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose," in memory of Princess Diana of Wales, who died in a tragic car accident that year. The new version featured revised lyrics by Taupin, drawing parallels between the lives of Diana and Monroe, who both died at the age of 36.
The original 1973 version of "Candle in the Wind" is a slow rock ballad, with Elton John's piano playing off Davey Johnstone's guitar, which dominates the sound. Elton's trademark bluesy/gospel-like syncopated playing can be heard in this version. The 1997 version, on the other hand, features a more arpeggiated and foundational piano accompaniment, providing a bed for Elton's vocals. It also includes a unique turn after the chorus, which Elton added to his solo versions.
The song "Candle in the Wind" has become one of Elton John's most beloved songs, with the 1997 version becoming the best-selling single in UK chart history and the second highest-selling physical single of all time. The song's success and impact demonstrate the power of music to provide comfort and connection during times of tragedy and loss.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'Candle in the Wind' is a threnody-style ballad written by Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
The song 'Candle in the Wind' is about the life of Norma Jeane, also known as Marilyn Monroe. It chronicles her rise to fame and tragic death at the age of 36. The song also explores the idea of the price of fame and our collective fascination with those who die too soon.
Yes, the song has been remade twice. The first remake was in 1986, and the second was in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who died in a car accident that year. The 1997 version is known as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose".
