Maddie James
Candle in the Wind is a song by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, performed by John. 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 as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Songwriters | Elton John and Bernie Taupin |
| Original inspiration | Marilyn Monroe |
| Original dedication | None, but Taupin has said it 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) |
| Theme | "The idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in their prime." |
| First released | 1973 |
| Peaked at | No. 11 in the UK charts in 1974 |
| 1997 version | Dedicated to Diana, Princess of Wales |
| 1997 version opening line | "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts" |
| 1997 version peak | No. 1 in the UK |
| 1997 version sales | 33 million copies worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
The song's original inspiration
"Candle in the Wind" is a song written by British musician Elton John and lyricist 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. Taupin has stated that the song was inspired by his fascination with Monroe's tragic life, and how it reflected the way society treats its idols. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (commonly spelled Jean) Mortenson.
The concept of "candle in the wind" was first introduced to Taupin by industry producer Clive Davis, who used the phrase to describe Janis Joplin. Taupin was struck by the phrase, thinking it was a powerful way to describe someone's life. He elaborated on this idea, stating that the song is about "how fame affects the man or woman in the street, that whole adulation thing, and the fanaticism of fandom".
While Monroe was the primary inspiration for the song, Taupin has noted that it could have been about other iconic figures who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, or Virginia Woolf. He wanted to capture the idea of a life cut short in its prime and the way that certain individuals become immortalised and forever young in the public imagination.
In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. The new version, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", featured modified lyrics to reflect the circumstances of Diana's life and death. The opening line was changed to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts". This version of the song became a poignant farewell to a cultural icon and peaked at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom.
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The concept of candle in the wind
"Candle in the Wind" is a song by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, performed by John. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The opening line "Goodbye, Norma Jean" refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (more commonly spelt Jean) Mortenson.
The concept for the song came from Taupin, who was inspired by the phrase "candle in the wind" used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin. Taupin has explained that the song is about "the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in their prime". He has also said that the song is about "how fame affects the man or woman in the street, that whole adulation thing and the fanaticism of fandom".
In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. The opening lines were changed to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts". The new version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 33 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.
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The song's evolution
"Candle in the Wind", written by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, was originally composed as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had passed away 11 years before its release in 1973. The song's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, and the lyrics portray a sympathetic image of her life. Taupin has stated that the song was not solely inspired by Monroe, but rather by the concept of a "candle in the wind", which he first encountered when industry producer Clive Davis used it to describe Janis Joplin. Taupin was intrigued by the idea of someone's life being likened to a flickering candle, vulnerable and easily extinguished.
The most significant evolution of the song occurred in 1997, following the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash. John and Taupin reworked the lyrics to honour her memory, creating "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose". This new version struck a chord with people around the world, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 33 million copies sold. The song's powerful message of loss and tribute to a life cut short resonated deeply with the public, and it became an iconic memorial for Princess Diana.
While the song's lyrics were adapted to reflect the life and passing of Princess Diana, the underlying theme of honouring a life taken too soon remained consistent. Taupin's original inspiration, drawn from the concept of a "candle in the wind", allowed the song to transcend its original dedication to Marilyn Monroe and take on a new life as a tribute to Princess Diana. The evolution of "Candle in the Wind" showcases the power of music to connect with people across different contexts and generations, becoming a timeless expression of grief and remembrance.
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The 1997 version
"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose", is a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. It was written and recorded following her death in a car crash on 31 August 1997. The song is a new recording of the original "Candle in the Wind", with new lyrics adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death.
The original version of the song, written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John, was released 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 (or Norma Jean) Mortenson. Taupin has said that the song was not necessarily inspired by Monroe herself, but rather the idea of "fame or youth or somebody being cut short in the prime of their life". He has also stated that the song could have been about other icons who died young, such as James Dean, Jim Morrison, or Kurt Cobain.
In 1997, following the death of Princess Diana, Taupin rewrote the lyrics to "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to her. The opening lines of the new version were changed to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts". The song was produced by George Martin and released on 13 September 1997. It peaked at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and has sold over 33 million copies worldwide.
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The song's legacy
"Candle in the Wind" is a song by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, 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 stated that the song is not necessarily about Monroe herself, but rather the idea of someone who dies young and becomes an iconic symbol of youth and beauty. He has mentioned James Dean, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, and Virginia Woolf as possible subjects for the song. Taupin has also said that the concept of "candle in the wind" came from industry producer Clive Davis, who used the phrase to describe Janis Joplin.
In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. The new version, "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", peaked at No. 1 in several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. It sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is one of the best-selling singles of all time. John performed the song at Diana's funeral but has not performed it live since.
"Candle in the Wind" has had a lasting impact on popular culture. It has been covered by various artists and has been referenced and sampled in other songs. The song has also been included in lists of the greatest songs of all time by publications such as Rolling Stone. The song's lyrics have been analysed and interpreted by fans and critics, with some seeing it as a reflection of the fragile and fleeting nature of life.
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Frequently asked questions
The original song was written about Marilyn Monroe.
"Candle in the Wind" was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Taupin was inspired to write the song after hearing the phrase "candle in the wind" used by Clive Davis in tribute to Janis Joplin.
A candle in the wind represents something fragile, susceptible to the forces around it, and easily snuffed out.
Yes, in 1997, Elton John and Bernie Taupin adapted the song for Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died that year.
