Tyler Brooks
Candle in the Wind is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, first released in 1973. The song was originally written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The lyrics, which open with the line Goodbye, Norma Jean (Monroe's real name), sympathetically portray Monroe's life and the tragedy surrounding her untimely death. However, in 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song as a tribute to Princess Diana, who had died earlier that year. This version, known as Candle in the Wind 1997 or Goodbye England's Rose, replaced references to Monroe with allusions to Princess Diana and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. Despite the song's enduring association with Monroe, Taupin has stated that it could have been about any iconic figure who died young, such as James Dean or Jim Morrison, and that Monroe was simply a metaphor for fame and dying young.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Songwriters | Elton John and Bernie Taupin |
| Year of original release | 1973 |
| Song subject | Marilyn Monroe |
| Song inspiration | The life of Marilyn Monroe, the phrase "candle in the wind", and the book title of a book by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn |
| Song inspiration (according to Bernie Taupin) | Taupin has said the song could have been about James Dean, Montgomery Clift, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, or Virginia Woolf. |
| Opening line | "Goodbye, Norma Jean" (Marilyn Monroe's real name) |
| Year of rewritten release | 1997 |
| Subject of rewritten version | Princess Diana |
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What You'll Learn
The song's opening line, Goodbye, Norma Jean
The song "Candle in the Wind" was written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had passed away 11 years earlier. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, Norma Jeane (commonly spelled Jean) Mortenson.
Taupin has stated that the song is not specifically about Monroe, but rather about the idea of fame, dying young, and the indulgences that can lead to an early death. He has noted that the song could have been about other iconic figures who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, or Kurt Cobain. However, he acknowledges that Monroe's tragic life and her status as a cultural icon made her a compelling subject for the song.
In an interview, Taupin revealed that the inspiration for the song came from his fascination with Monroe's life and how it mirrored the way society often treats its idols. The lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" evolved to reflect not only the tragedy of Monroe's life but also the universal fragility of human existence. The song has become an anthem for a beloved figure who was exploited and hounded by the pressures of fame, ultimately meeting an untimely demise.
While the original version of "Candle in the Wind" was written for Monroe, a rewritten version of the song, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose," was performed as a tribute to Princess Diana after her untimely death in 1997. Taupin changed the lyrics to focus on Diana, replacing references to Norma Jeane with "England's Rose." This version of the song became a poignant farewell to another cultural icon and peaked at No. 1 in several countries.
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Marilyn Monroe as a metaphor for fame and dying young
"Candle in the Wind", written by Bernie Taupin and performed by Elton John, was originally a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years prior to its release in 1973. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, and the lyrics paint a sympathetic picture of her life.
Taupin has stated that the song is about "the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in their prime". Indeed, Monroe's untimely death at 36 has cemented her as a metaphor for dying young. She died of a suspected drug overdose, with her tragic life and death becoming synonymous with the pressures of fame.
Taupin has also said that the song could have been about any number of famous figures who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, or Kurt Cobain. He has disputed the idea that he was a Monroe fan, saying that she was a "metaphor for fame and dying young". Taupin's lyrics were inspired by the phrase "candle in the wind", which he first heard used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin. Taupin felt it was a "great way of describing someone’s life".
The song has become an anthem for a beloved figure "hounded to death", and its poignancy was reflected in its use as a tribute to Princess Diana following her sudden death in 1997. Taupin rewrote the lyrics, changing references to Monroe to references to Diana, such as "England's Rose". The new version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", was performed by John at Diana's funeral and became the second-best-selling single in the world.
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The rewrite of the song for Princess Diana
"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.
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 in Paris that year. The new version, with the subtitle "Goodbye England's Rose", was written and recorded in half an hour and included new lyrics that focused on the late Princess. The song was released in September 1997 and peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom and several other countries. It has been listed as the second-best-selling single in the world by the Guinness World Records, with 33 million copies sold.
According to Taupin, the song was not specifically about Monroe, but rather 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 misconception, and that the song could have been about other famous figures who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, or Virginia Woolf.
The rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind" has only been performed once, at Diana's funeral, and has not appeared on any of John's subsequent compilation albums, which use the original version instead. Despite this, the song's impact was significant, with its message of hope and redemption resonating with people around the world.
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The inspiration behind the song's title
The song "Candle in the Wind," originally written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, was indeed inspired by the life and tragic death of Marilyn Monroe. The original version of the song, released in 1973, was a tribute to the Hollywood icon and reflected on her untimely demise.
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, rose to stardom in the 1950s, becoming one of the most famous and desired women in the world. However, her life was marked by personal struggles, including a difficult childhood, unstable relationships, and a dependence on drugs and alcohol. On August 4, 1962, she was found dead in her Los Angeles home, with her death ruled as a probable suicide.
The song "Candle in the Wind" captures the fragile nature of Monroe's life and the intense public scrutiny she endured. The lyrics "Your candle burned out long before, Your legend ever did" reflect on how her fame and impact endured, even as her life was cut short. The line "They crawled out of the woodwork to grieve for the girl" refers to the public outpouring of grief and the sense that many opportunists tried to capitalize on her death.
The title "Candle in the Wind" is a poignant metaphor for Monroe's life, suggesting a fragile flame that was vulnerable to the winds of fate and the pressures of celebrity. The song laments the loss of a bright light that burned too quickly and reflects on the fleeting nature of fame and the vulnerability of those in the public eye.
In conclusion, "Candle in the Wind" is a powerful and emotional tribute to Marilyn Monroe, capturing the essence of her tragic life and the impact she had on the world. The song's title and lyrics beautifully convey the fragile nature of fame and the enduring legacy of those who burn brightest in the public eye.
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The song's sympathetic portrayal of Marilyn Monroe
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song 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 shared that the inspiration for the song came from a fascination with Monroe's tragic life and how it mirrored the way society often treats its idols. Taupin also noted that the song could have been about several other famous figures who died young and became immortalised, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, or Virginia Woolf.
Despite some misconceptions, Taupin has clarified that he was not a "rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic", and that Monroe served as a metaphor for fame and dying young. Taupin has expressed that he did not particularly admire Monroe, but chose her as the subject because people would perceive her as a fragile character, fitting the "candle in the wind" metaphor. The song's lyrics portray Monroe sympathetically, reflecting on the tragedy of her life and the pressures of fame that contributed to her untimely death.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died earlier that year. The new version featured modified lyrics, with references to Norma Jeane replaced with allusions to England's Rose, honouring Princess Diana.
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Frequently asked questions
The song 'Candle in the Wind' was written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin.
The song 'Candle in the Wind' was originally written in 1973 about Marilyn Monroe, who died 11 years earlier. In 1997, Elton John performed a rewritten version of the song as a tribute to Princess Diana.
Bernie Taupin has said that the song was inspired by the phrase "candle in the wind" which he heard used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin. Taupin also said that the song was about the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in their prime.
The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (also spelled Jean) Mortenson.
