Chloe Adams
Elton John's Candle in the Wind is a threnody-style ballad written by John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. The original version of the song was written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, Candle in the Wind 1997, as a tribute to his close friend Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral. The song became the best-selling single in the UK and US, with proceeds going towards Diana's charities.
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What You'll Learn
Elton John's performance at Princess Diana's funeral
On 6 September 1997, Elton John performed a special tribute to his close friend Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral in Westminster Abbey. John sang a rewritten version of his 1973 song "Candle in the Wind", now known as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose". This version of the song was written by John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and produced by Sir George Martin.
John's performance at the funeral was almost cancelled. The royal family was opposed to the idea of him performing the song, deeming the new lyrics too sentimental. The Dean of Westminster, the late Very Reverend Dr. Wesley Carr, had to advocate for the song's inclusion. He argued that John's tribute would be an "imaginative and generous" gesture to the public, many of whom had turned against the royal family following Princess Diana's death.
John's performance at the funeral was the only time he has performed the revised version of "Candle in the Wind" in public. He has since vowed never to perform it again unless asked by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
John later recalled his performance at the funeral as "one of the most surreal things I have ever done". He said that his focus during the performance was on not showing any emotion: "Don't sing a wrong note. Be stoic. Don't break down and just do it to the best you can possibly do it without showing any emotion whatsoever."
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The song's success and impact on the music industry
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose", is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was a re-written and re-recorded version of their 1973 song "Candle in the Wind", which was originally written in honour of Marilyn Monroe. The 1997 version was released as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died earlier that year.
The song was a commercial success, entering at number one on the UK singles chart after only one day of sales and becoming the best-selling single in UK chart history. It also topped the charts in several other countries, including Germany, Australia, and Canada. The song is the second-best-selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold, and the highest-selling single since the 1950s. The global proceeds from the song went towards Diana's charities, raising $38 million for the fund.
The song also had a significant impact on the music industry. It was the first single ever to be certified Diamond in the United States, shipping over 11 million copies in the country. It was also the first single to be a double A-side, with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight". Additionally, the song broke Elton John's "Kiki jinx", as it was his first number-one solo single in over 20 years.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" also won Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998. It was also nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single in the same year. The song's impact can also be seen in the fact that it was played during the broadcast of the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, replacing the usual theme music of the BBC news.
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The original version of the song, written for 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 spelled Jean) Mortenson.
Taupin has stated that the song is about "the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in the prime of their life". He has also noted that the theory that he was a "rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic" is a common misconception. In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Taupin said that Monroe was ""absolutely not someone I admired a lot as a kid or anything" and was instead a metaphor for fame and dying young. Taupin has also noted that the song could have easily been about James Dean, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, or Virginia Woolf.
The original version of the song, which is 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 release reached No. 11 in the UK charts in 1974. At the time, it was not released as a single in the United States, as "Bennie and the Jets" was chosen instead. This version 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 performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. This version of the song peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom and several other countries, becoming John's fourth No. 1 single in the UK. It was produced by George Martin and featured additional instrumentation, including a string quartet and woodwind.
John has not performed the 1997 version live since Diana's funeral and it has not appeared on any of his subsequent compilation albums, which instead use the original version.
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The rewritten lyrics and their significance
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose", is a rewritten version of the 1973 song "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The 1997 version was re-recorded and released as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The song was performed by Elton John at the funeral of Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind", written by Taupin, was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died in 1962. The 1997 version retained the same vocal take as the original 1973 recording but featured a stripped-back instrumentation with only Davey Johnstone's acoustic guitar accompanying Elton John's vocals. The song's lyrics were adapted to reflect the life and death of Princess Diana, with the opening line "Goodbye Norma Jean" from the 1973 version being changed to "Goodbye England's rose/May you ever grow in our hearts".
The decision to perform "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral was met with some resistance from the royal family, who were opposed to the idea. However, the Dean of Westminster argued for the song's inclusion, and it ultimately became a memorable part of the service. The song struck a chord with the public, and the single sold a colossal 33 million copies, making it the biggest-selling chart hit of all time since the 1950s.
The significance of the rewritten lyrics lies in their ability to capture the essence of Princess Diana's life and legacy. The original song's tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who died young and faced struggles with fame and indulgence, served as a fitting metaphor for Princess Diana's own experiences with fame and her untimely death. The adapted lyrics honoured her as "England's rose", reflecting her impact on the nation and the world.
Elton John has not performed the 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" live since Princess Diana's funeral and it has not appeared on any of his subsequent compilation albums. The song holds a special place in the hearts of many as a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of Princess Diana and the impact she had during her lifetime.
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The controversy surrounding the song's inclusion at the funeral
The inclusion of "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997 was surrounded by controversy. Elton John's performance of the song was well-received, and it became one of the most memorable parts of the service. However, newly released documents revealed that the British royal family was opposed to the song being performed at the funeral.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin 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 a car crash earlier that year. The new version, known as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", featured new lyrics adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death.
The royal family's opposition to the song's inclusion at the funeral stemmed from their concern that the new lyrics were too sentimental. The Dean of Westminster had to argue for the song's inclusion, and it was ultimately allowed. Elton John and Princess Diana were close friends, and the revised version of the song had already gained popularity as a tribute to the Princess.
Despite the initial controversy, Elton John's performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at the funeral was highly acclaimed. The song became a best-selling single, peaking at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. John's emotional delivery and professionalism were praised, and the performance was considered a fitting tribute to Princess Diana.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Elton John performed the 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997.
Yes, Elton John and Bernie Taupin rewrote and re-recorded the 1973 version of "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Princess Diana. The 1997 version, also known as "Goodbye England's Rose", was released on September 13, 1997, and peaked at No. 1 in several countries.
Elton John and Princess Diana were close friends. John rewrote the song to pay tribute to Diana and cope with the grief of her sudden death.
