Ben Carter
Elton John's Candle in the Wind is a ballad written by John and Bernie Taupin, originally released in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote the song as a tribute to Princess Diana, who had died that year. The new version, Candle in the Wind 1997 or Goodbye England's Rose, became one of the best-selling singles of all time. John performed the song at Diana's funeral and dedicated the proceeds from its sales to charities supported by the Princess.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first release | 1973 |
| Original writer | Elton John |
| Original lyricist | Bernie Taupin |
| Original inspiration | Marilyn Monroe |
| Original opening line | Goodbye, Norma Jean |
| Original album | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road |
| Year of tribute to Princess Diana | 1997 |
| New lyricist for tribute | Bernie Taupin |
| Tribute album | Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra |
| Tribute producer | George Martin |
| Tribute string quartet | Peter Manning, Keith Pascoe, Levine Andrade, and Andrew Shulman |
| Tribute woodwind | Pippa Davies |
| Tribute release date | 13 September 1997 |
| Tribute chart position | Number one on the UK singles chart |
| Tribute global proceeds | Diana's charities |
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What You'll Learn
- Elton John's 1973 version of 'Candle in the Wind' was written about Marilyn Monroe
- Elton John re-recorded 'Candle in the Wind' in tribute to Princess Diana in 1997
- The 1997 version of 'Candle in the Wind' became a best-selling single
- The lyrics of the 1997 version were adapted to reflect Princess Diana's life
- Elton John performed 'Candle in the Wind' at Princess Diana's funeral
Elton John's 1973 version of 'Candle in the Wind' was written about Marilyn Monroe
Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" is a threnody-style ballad written by John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. The opening lines of the 1973 version, "Goodbye Norma Jean / Though I never knew you at all", refer to Monroe's birth name, Norma Jeane Mortenson.
The song's lyrics portray a sympathetic image of Monroe's life and the pressures of stardom. Taupin has stated that Monroe served as a metaphor for "fame and dying young" and the "indulgence" that can lead to the untimely death of celebrities. He has also emphasised that the song's themes of vulnerability and the fleeting nature of fame allowed it to resonate with audiences, regardless of the specific individual it was written for.
In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote and re-recorded the song as "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. The lyrics were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death, drawing parallels between her life and Monroe's.
The 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" became an immensely successful single, selling millions of copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling singles in history. John has expressed uneasiness about the song's chart run, feeling that it reflected a morbid fascination with Princess Diana's death.
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Elton John re-recorded 'Candle in the Wind' in tribute to Princess Diana in 1997
"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 opening line "Goodbye, Norma Jean" refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (also spelled Jean) Mortenson.
In 1997, John re-recorded a version of the song, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash on 31 August of that year. The new version was released on 13 September 1997, with the global proceeds from the song going towards Diana's charities.
John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. The performance was particularly poignant given the close friendship between John and Diana. Pictures of Diana consoling a distraught John at the funeral of his friend, fashion designer Gianni Versace, featured prominently in news coverage around the world.
The 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" became the best-selling single in UK chart history, and John's ninth US number-one single. It also won him the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998.
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The 1997 version of 'Candle in the Wind' became a best-selling single
"Candle in the Wind" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. In 1997, John and Taupin re-recorded and re-released the song as "Candle in the Wind 1997", this time as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" became an instant hit and entered at number one on the UK singles chart after just one day of sales. It became John's fourth number-one single in the UK and 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 is the best-selling single in Billboard history.
In the US, "Candle in the Wind 1997" sold 3.5 million copies in its first week and 1.5 million copies in the UK. It remained at number one in Britain for five weeks and in Canada for 45 weeks. The song has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, with all artist and composer royalties and record company profits donated to Diana's charities via the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
Despite its massive commercial success, Elton John has never performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" in public again, preferring to stick with the original version of the song.
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The lyrics of the 1997 version were adapted to reflect Princess Diana's life
"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.
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, France, earlier that year. The lyrics of the 1997 version were adapted to reflect Princess Diana's life and death. The opening lines of the 1973 version, "Goodbye Norma Jean / Though I never knew you at all", were changed to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts".
Most of the lyrics were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life. For example, the line "You lived your life like a candle in the wind" was seen as fitting for Diana, who had faced many challenges in her life. The new lyrics also reflected the impact of Diana's death on the nation, with lines such as "You called out to our country / And you whispered".
John believed that he had been asked to rewrite the lyrics by the Spencer family, through Richard Branson, who said that many people writing in the book of condolence at St James's Palace were quoting the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind". John's performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997 was the only time he has publicly performed the song.
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Elton John performed 'Candle in the Wind' at Princess 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's opening line, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jeane (also 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 died in a car crash in Paris, France, on 31 August 1997. The news of her death shocked John, as he and the Princess were very good friends. John performed the song at Princess Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. This version of the song, also known as "Goodbye England's Rose", featured new lyrics adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death. For example, the opening lines of the original version, "Goodbye Norma Jean / Though I never knew you at all", were changed to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts".
The performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Princess Diana's funeral was almost not meant to be. Buckingham Palace did not want Elton John to sing the updated version of the song, as they believed the new lyrics were too sentimental. The then-Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr Wesley Carr, had to appeal to the royals, arguing that allowing John to perform would be an "imaginative and generous" gesture to the grieving public. Carr also suggested that a classical or choral piece would be inappropriate for the service, as Princess Diana represented "something of the modern world". He further noted that Elton John was known to millions and his music was enjoyed by the Princess.
The song was well-received by the public, and John's performance was one of the most memorable parts of the service. "Candle in the Wind 1997" became the best-selling single in UK chart history, with global proceeds from the song going towards Diana's charities. John has not performed this version of the song in public since Diana's funeral and has vowed never to do so again unless asked by Diana's sons.
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Frequently asked questions
Elton John wrote "Candle in the Wind" for Marilyn Monroe.
Yes, he re-recorded the song as a tribute to Princess Diana after her death in 1997. The new version was called "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose".
The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, Elton John's songwriting partner.
Yes, he performed the song at her funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997.
