Chloe Adams
Candle in the Wind is a song 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 in 1974 as a single and appeared on John's album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, Candle in the Wind 1997, as a tribute to Princess Diana, who had died in an automobile crash. This version was released on September 13, 1997, and became the fastest-selling single in the UK, selling 658,000 copies on its first day of release and over 1.5 million in its first week.
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What You'll Learn
Candle in the Wind was first released in 1974
"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 (also spelled "Jean") Mortenson.
The ballad first appeared on John's 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and was released as a single in 1974. In the UK, "Candle in the Wind" was released on February 4, 1974, and raced to No.11. It was kept out of the Top 10 by hits such as David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" and Paul McCartney and Wings' "Jet".
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 that year. The opening lines of the original version were adapted from "Goodbye Norma Jean, though I never knew you at all" to "Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts". This version was produced by Sir George Martin and co-written by Bernie Taupin. It was released on September 13, 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death, and became the fastest-selling single in the UK, selling 658,000 copies on its first day of release and over 1.5 million in its first week.
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It was rewritten in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" was released by Elton John in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The song was written by Bernie Taupin, who also wrote the lyrics for the 1997 version. The 1973 release was well-received and became a popular and critical success, appearing on John's album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." This version is a melancholy reflection on the life and untimely death of Monroe, who was a famous actress and cultural icon. With a slower tempo and a more somber tone, the original "Candle in the Wind" is a poignant ballad.
However, the song took on new life when it was rewritten and re-released in 1997 as a tribute to another iconic woman, Princess Diana, following her tragic death in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. The new version, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997," was performed by John at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997, just five days after her passing. This performance was broadcast live to a global audience, estimated to be around 2.5 billion people, emphasizing the impact and reach of both the song and Princess Diana herself.
The 1997 version of the song features modified lyrics, specifically tailored to honor the life and humanitarian work of Princess Diana. Bernie Taupin adapted the original lyrics, capturing the essence of Diana's compassion and charitable endeavors. The song references her kindness, beauty, and the profound impact she had on people's lives, with lines like "Your footsteps will always fall here, alongside of our own" and "You walked the path of kindness, but they took you all too soon."
The rewritten "Candle in the Wind 1997" became an enormous commercial success, selling over 33 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling physical singles of all time. All proceeds from the single were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, which supported various charities that reflected Princess Diana's interests and humanitarian efforts. The song's impact extended beyond sales, as it became a touching reminder of the beloved princess and a way for people around the world to grieve and pay their respects.
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The 1997 version was produced by George Martin
"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 released as a single in 1974 and appeared on John's album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash that year. The new version was written by John and Taupin and produced by Sir George Martin. It was released on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death.
The 1997 version featured a string quartet (Peter Manning, Keith Pascoe, Levine Andrade, and Andrew Shulman) and woodwind (Pippa Davies on flute and oboe) to help balance the recording. It was recorded at Townhouse Studios in West London, immediately following the funeral.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became the fastest-selling single in the UK, selling 658,000 copies on its first day of release and over 1.5 million in its first week. It also peaked at No. 1 in several other countries, including Germany, Australia, and France. The song has sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s.
John has not performed this 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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It sold 3.5 million copies in the US in its first week
"Candle in the Wind" is a song 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 released as a single in 1974 and appeared on John's album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
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 that year. This version was produced by George Martin and featured new lyrics by Taupin. It was released on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became an instant hit and sold 3.5 million copies in the US in its first week. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed at the top for 14 consecutive weeks. The song's success was not limited to the US; in the UK, it sold 658,000 copies on its first day of release and over 1.5 million in its first week. It also peaked at number one in several other countries, including Germany, France, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The song's popularity can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it was a well-written and well-produced song by a highly acclaimed musician. Secondly, it tapped into the prevailing somberness following Princess Diana's death, with many people wanting to relive that moment and support the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, which received all royalties and profits from the sale of the single. The song's success solidified its place in history as one of the best-selling singles of all time.
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Elton John hasn't performed the 1997 version since Diana's funeral
"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 released as a single in 1974 and reached No.11 in the UK charts.
In 1997, Elton 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. The new version of the song was released in September 1997, just two weeks after Diana's death, and it became the fastest-selling single in the UK, selling 658,000 copies on its first day of release and over 1.5 million in its first week. It also peaked at No. 1 in several other countries, including the US and Canada.
Elton John has not performed the 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" since Diana's funeral in 1997, despite receiving numerous requests. There are several speculated reasons for this. Firstly, John and Diana were good friends, and he may have refrained from performing the song out of respect for her. Additionally, it has been suggested that John's performance at the funeral was one of the worst of his career, and he may not want to repeat it. Another reason could be that Diana's family used the song for a "charity" with dubious record-keeping, and John felt they were being opportunistic. He has vowed never to perform the song again unless asked by Diana's sons.
The original version of "Candle in the Wind" continues to be included in John's concert setlists and has appeared on his subsequent compilation albums.
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Frequently asked questions
"Candle in the Wind" was originally written in 1973 and appeared on Elton John's album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" in 1973. It was released as a single in 1974.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" was released on 13 September 1997, just two weeks after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Yes, the single had 150,000 pre-orders in the Netherlands, 2 million in Germany, 250,000 in France, and 400,000 in Australia.
Yes, "Candle in the Wind 1997" sold 650,000 copies in the UK on its first day of release, becoming the fastest-selling record of all time in the UK charts.
No, Elton John has not performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" since Diana's funeral service, including at the all-star Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in 2007.
