Maddie James
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 was first released on John's 1973 double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and was later released as a single in the UK in 1974. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, Candle in the Wind 1997, as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who had died in a tragic car accident that year. This version became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 33 million copies sold worldwide.
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What You'll Learn
'Candle in the Wind' is on the album *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road*
"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 in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The song was first released on John's double album *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road* on October 5, 1973. It was then released as a single in the UK on February 22, 1974, with "Bennie and the Jets" on the B-side.
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 tragic car accident that year. This version was produced by George Martin and featured a string quartet and woodwind. It was released on September 13, 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death, and John performed it for the first and only time with the new lyrics at her funeral on September 6.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" has been covered dozens of times, including by Sandy Denny for her solo album *Rendezvous*, released in 1977, and by Kate Bush in 1991 as the B-side to her cover of another Elton John song, "Rocket Man". The song was also included on the 30th Anniversary edition of *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road* as an acoustic remix, which stripped away all the instruments except for Davey Johnstone's acoustic guitar and the backing vocal arrangement.
"Candle in the Wind" has become one of Elton John's most beloved songs, with the 1997 version being named the bestselling single since charts began. The song has sold 33 million copies worldwide and is the second-best-selling single of all time, according to the Guinness World Records.
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Elton John performed the song
"Candle in the Wind" is a song written and performed by English musician Elton John, with lyrics penned by his longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. The original version of the song, included in John's 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who passed away 11 years before its release. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, Norma Jeane Mortenson.
In 1997, Elton John performed a rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind", titled Candle in the Wind 1997, as a tribute to his close friend Princess Diana, who had died in a tragic car accident that year. John's performance of this version at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997, was the first and only time he sang it publicly. The song was released as a single and became a commercial success, peaking at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom.
The impact of John's performance at Diana's funeral was profound. He honoured his friend and captured the world's grief with his emotional rendition of "Candle in the Wind 1997". The song's lyrics, adapted to reflect Diana's life and untimely death, resonated deeply with those in attendance and the millions watching worldwide. John's powerful delivery of the song became a defining moment in the global mourning for Princess Diana.
Elton John's performance of "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's funeral was a significant cultural moment that highlighted the power of music in healing and uniting people in grief. John's connection to the song, both as its performer and a friend of Diana's, added to the emotion of the occasion. The song's subsequent commercial success and enduring legacy are a testament to the impact of that performance.
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The song was written by Bernie Taupin
"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. Taupin, who wrote the lyrics for the song, was inspired by hearing the phrase "candle in the wind" used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin. In a later interview, Taupin clarified that Monroe was ""absolutely not someone I admired a lot as a kid or anything". Instead, she was "just a metaphor for fame and dying young".
Taupin is well known for his songwriting partnership with Elton John, which has resulted in numerous hits over the course of several decades. The pair began working together in 1967 and formed a long-lasting relationship, despite rarely writing in the same room. Taupin has described his creative process with John as one of "critical distance", where he would maintain a certain remove from the limelight and only write when sober. In addition to "Candle in the Wind", Taupin wrote the lyrics for many of John's most famous songs, including "Rocket Man", "Crocodile Rock", "Bennie and the Jets", "Tiny Dancer", and "Your Song", among others.
In 1973, Taupin collected all his lyrics up to that point, including those from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, into a book titled Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John. The book also included lyrics to single B-sides, rarities, and Taupin's 1970 spoken-word album. Taupin has since published several other books, including a collection of poems called The Devil at High Noon and another book of lyrics titled Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Complete Lyrics.
In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had recently died. The new version, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", featured revised lyrics adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death. John performed the song at Diana's funeral and released it as a single, but he has not performed it live since. The 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 33 million copies sold.
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The song was originally written about Marilyn Monroe
The song "Candle in the Wind," originally written and composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, is a poignant and emotional tribute to the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe. The original version of the song, released in 1973 on John's album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," was penned as an elegy to the Hollywood icon, reflecting on her tragic life and untimely death. With lyrics like "Your candle burned out long before, Your legend ever did," John and Taupin captured the world's fascination with Monroe's enduring allure and the fragile nature of her existence. The song struck a chord with audiences and became one of John's most recognizable and beloved ballads. It stood as a testament to Monroe's impact on popular culture and served as a reminder of the darker side of fame and the vulnerability of those in the public eye. The original version of "Candle in the Wind," with its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics, not only showcased Elton John's musical brilliance but also ensured that Marilyn Monroe's memory would forever be etched in the annals of popular music.
"Candle in the Wind" was originally included on Elton John's seminal album, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," released in 1973. The album was a critical and commercial triumph, solidifying John's status as a musical powerhouse. "Candle in the Wind" stood out as one of the album's most poignant and reflective moments. Bernie Taupin's lyrics, inspired by the life and demise of Marilyn Monroe, struck a delicate balance between sadness and admiration. Taupin's words painted a picture of Monroe's fragility and the intense scrutiny she faced, contrasting it with her enduring legacy and iconic status. Elton John's melodic piano playing and heartfelt vocals brought the song to life, making it a standout track on an album filled with hits. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" cemented Elton John's place in music history, and "Candle in the Wind," with its touching tribute to Marilyn Monroe, remains one of the most memorable and enduring songs in his extensive catalog.
The song "Candle in the Wind" was initially a heartfelt eulogy to the tragic life and untimely death of Marilyn Monroe, penned by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The original version, with its somber and reflective tone, explored the themes of fame, vulnerability, and the dark side of Hollywood glamour. John's performance of the song during a benefit concert in 1974 brought it further into the public consciousness, emphasizing its emotional impact. However, it was the re-recording of the song in 1986, with modified lyrics, that truly cemented its place in pop culture history. This new version, a tribute to another tragic figure, Princess Diana, following her untimely death, became one of the best-selling physical singles of all time. While the song's association with Princess Diana is widely recognized, it is important to remember its origins as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, reflecting on the parallels between two iconic women who suffered under the intense pressure of public scrutiny.
Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" has become synonymous with mourning and remembrance, with its origins as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The song's lyrics, penned by Bernie Taupin, capture the fragile nature of Monroe's existence, reflecting on her tumultuous personal life and the pressures of stardom that ultimately contributed to her untimely death in 1962. Taupin's words, set to John's haunting melody, evoke a sense of sadness and sympathy for a woman who, despite her global fame and iconic status, struggled with emotional demons and a sense of isolation. The song's enduring popularity and cultural impact lie in its ability to humanize a larger-than-life figure, reminding listeners of the fragility of life and the vulnerabilities that even the most celebrated among us can face. "Candle in the Wind" stands as a testament to the power of music to memorialize and pay homage, ensuring that the legacy of Marilyn Monroe, and later Princess Diana, remains forever etched in our collective memory.
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The song was re-recorded as a tribute to Princess Diana
"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 of the song are a sympathetic portrayal of Monroe's life, with the opening line "Goodbye, Norma Jean" referring to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (commonly spelled 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 on 31 August of that year. The new version featured lyrics adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death, including the famous opening line "Goodbye England's rose May you ever grow in our hearts". The song was produced by Sir George Martin and included a string quartet and woodwind section.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" was released on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death. John performed the song for the first and only time at her funeral on 6 September 1997 at Westminster Abbey. The song became an instant hit, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart the day after its release and staying at number one for five weeks. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, selling 3.5 million copies in its first week.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" is considered one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 33 million copies sold worldwide. All artist and composer royalties and record company profits were donated to Diana's charities via the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. The song has not been performed live or included on any of John's compilation albums since Diana's funeral, with the artist preferring to perform the original version of the song at his concerts.
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Frequently asked questions
The original version of 'Candle in the Wind' is featured on Elton John's 1973 album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'.
Yes, the song was re-recorded in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who died in a car accident that year. The new version was called 'Candle in the Wind 1997'.
No, the 1997 version of 'Candle in the Wind' was never included in any of Elton John's albums or compilations.
