Tyler Brooks
Elton John's Candle in the Wind '97 is a tribute to Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997. John performed the song at her funeral in Westminster Abbey, London, and it became a chart-topping hit, selling millions of copies. The song was a re-written version of John's 1973 song Candle in the Wind, with lyrics adapted to honour Diana's life and death. Despite its success, John has only performed the song once and has declined requests to perform it again, even at the 2007 Concert for Diana. The single's success and association with Princess Diana's funeral have made it memorable, but it is unclear if it holds any monetary value today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Candle in the Wind 1997 |
| Also Known As | Goodbye England's Rose, Candle in the Wind '97 |
| Artist | Elton John |
| Songwriter | Bernie Taupin |
| Original Song Release Date | 1973 |
| Tribute To | Diana, Princess of Wales |
| Songwriters | Elton John and Bernie Taupin |
| Song Release Date | 13 September 1997 |
| Performance at Funeral | 6 September 1997 |
| Funeral Location | Westminster Abbey, London |
| Awards | Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance |
| Nominations | Brit Award for Best British Single |
| Chart Performance | Number-one on the UK singles chart, number-eight song of 1998, number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks |
| Sales | Over 33 million copies sold, 11 million copies shipped in the US |
| Certifications | Diamond certification in the United States |
| Proceeds | Global proceeds donated to Diana's charities |
| Resistance from Royal Family | Yes, but performed due to support from the Dean of Westminster |
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What You'll Learn
Elton John's performance at Princess Diana's funeral
The performance at the funeral was almost not meant to be, as the British royal family was opposed to John singing the song. They expressed concern that the new lyrics were "too sentimental". However, the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr Wesley Carr, successfully argued for its inclusion, stating that John's tribute would be an ""imaginative and generous" gesture to the public, who had turned against the royal family after Diana's death.
John's performance encapsulated what Diana meant to the British public and symbolised the national outpouring of emotion after her untimely passing. It was considered one of the most iconic performances of the decade and has become synonymous with the late Princess of Wales. John later recalled that performing at the funeral was "one of the most surreal things" he had ever done. He also stated that he vowed to never perform the rewritten version of the song again unless specifically asked by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The single "Candle in the Wind 1997" became a commercial success and the biggest-selling chart hit of all time up to that point. It entered at number one on the UK singles chart and became the best-selling single in UK chart history. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and became the best-selling single in Billboard history. The song's global proceeds went towards Diana's charities.
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The song's success
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It is a re-written and re-recorded version of their 1973 song "Candle in the Wind", which was originally a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The 1997 version was released as a tribute single to Diana, Princess of Wales, following her death in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The song was recorded at Townhouse Studios in West London and produced by Sir George Martin, who added a string quartet and woodwind instrumentation to the recording.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became an enormous commercial success and is considered one of the best-selling singles of all time. In the United States, the single shipped over 11 million copies and was the only single ever certified Diamond at the time. Overall, the song sold a colossal 33 million copies and spent three years in Canada's Top 20. In the UK, the song entered at number one on the singles chart after just one day of sales, becoming John's fourth UK number-one single and the best-selling single in UK chart history. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and became the best-selling single in Billboard history. The song's success earned John a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.
Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at the funeral of Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. This remains the only time he has publicly performed the revised version of the song. The performance was particularly memorable and well-received, despite initial resistance from the royal family. John has expressed ambivalence about the song's success, vowing never to perform it again unless asked by Diana's sons, and stating that he only listened to the track once to ensure the mixing met his standards.
The success of "Candle in the Wind 1997" is a testament to the impact of Princess Diana's death and the power of music to help people cope with grief. The song's lyrics, adapted to honour Diana's life and death, resonated deeply with millions of grieving people around the world. The song's release and John's performance at the funeral served as a touching tribute to Princess Diana and provided some comfort during a difficult time.
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The song's creation
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It is 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 died in a car crash in Paris, France, on 31 August 1997.
The idea to rewrite the song for Princess Diana came from Richard Branson, who called John and told him that many people writing in the book of condolence at St James's Palace were quoting the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind". Branson, who John believed had been contacted by the Spencer family, asked if John would consider rewriting the lyrics and performing the song at Princess Diana's funeral. John then contacted his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, and asked him to revise the lyrics to honour Princess Diana.
Taupin has given different accounts of how he misunderstood the request from John during a transatlantic phone call in the days following Princess Diana's death. In one version of the story, Taupin claims he was asked to write something similar to the original, Marilyn Monroe-themed song, which he interpreted as a request to simply rewrite the lyrics of the original "Candle in the Wind". In another interview, Taupin disputed the idea that he was a Monroe fan, saying that she was "just a metaphor for fame and dying young".
John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997, just one week after her death. The song was recorded at Townhouse Studios in West London immediately following the funeral. It was produced by Sir George Martin, who added a string quartet and woodwind instruments to the recording.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became an enormous commercial success, selling over 33 million copies worldwide and becoming the second-best-selling single of all time, after Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". It is the only single ever to receive a Diamond certification in the United States and spent three years in Canada's Top 20. The song also won John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1998.
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The song's original version
"Candle in the Wind" is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. The original version of the song was released in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The opening lines of the original song were "Goodbye Norma Jean / though I never knew you at all". The title "Candle in the Wind" was inspired by a phrase used by legendary music producer Clive Davis while referring to Janis Joplin following her death in 1970.
The song appeared on John's 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and was released as a single the following year. The 1973 version of the song is still played on golden oldies radio and at John's live shows. John has expressed his intention to only perform the 1997 version of the song at the request of Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry.
The original version of the song was inspired by the life and death of Marilyn Monroe, with the opening line referencing her birth name, Norma Jean Baker. The song has been described as a threnody or a mournful, melancholic song. It has also been described as a tribute to Monroe, with the lyrics reflecting on her life and death.
The 1973 version of "Candle in the Wind" has a slower tempo and a more melancholic melody compared to the 1997 version. The instrumentation is also different, with the original version featuring a piano, guitar, and string orchestra, while the 1997 version adds a string quartet and woodwind instruments. The original version also has a more subdued production style, with a softer and more intimate vocal performance from John.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" received positive reviews from music critics and fans. It has been praised for its emotional and heartfelt lyrics, as well as John's vocal performance and the song's beautiful melody. The song has become a classic in John's extensive catalogue and is considered one of his most beloved ballads.
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The song's proceeds
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a rewritten and rerecorded version of the 1973 song "Candle in the Wind" by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was released on 13 September 1997 as a tribute single to Diana, Princess of Wales, and the global proceeds from the song went towards Diana's charities.
The song entered at number one on the UK singles chart after only one day of sales, giving John his fourth UK number-one single, and 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. It was also John's final top-40 hit as a solo artist. The song is the best-selling single in Billboard history, shipping over 11 million copies in the US. It is the only single ever certified Diamond in the United States at the time, selling a colossal 33 million copies.
The song was recorded at Townhouse Studios in West London, immediately following Princess Diana's funeral, where it was famously performed by Elton John. It was produced by Sir George Martin, who added a string quartet and woodwind instruments to help balance the recording. The song was included on "Diana, Princess of Wales: The BBC Recording of the Funeral Service" but has never been released or rereleased on any of Elton John's albums or compilations.
Elton John has stated that he will only perform the song again at the request of Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry. He has repeatedly turned down requests to perform the song, even at the memorial Concert for Diana in July 2007, and has vowed never to perform it again unless asked by Diana's sons.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Candle in the Wind 1997 single is considered valuable. It is the biggest-selling chart hit of all time, with 33 million copies sold. It is also the only single to receive a Diamond certification in the US.
Candle in the Wind 1997 was written as a tribute to Princess Diana, who died in 1997. Elton John was a close friend of Diana's and performed the song at her funeral. The song's lyrics were adapted from the 1973 version, originally a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death.
You can find copies of the Candle in the Wind 1997 single on eBay.
