Tyler Brooks
Candle in the Wind is a song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, written in honour of Marilyn Monroe, whose birth name was Norma Jeane Mortenson. The song's opening line, Goodbye, Norma Jean, refers to Monroe's name. The song was later re-recorded in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales, who died in a car accident that year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Norma Jeane Mortenson |
| Alternate Spelling | Norma Jean |
| Alternate Name | Marilyn Monroe |
| Profession | Actress, Model, Singer |
| Nickname | Blonde Bombshell |
| Date of Birth | 1 June 1926 |
| Date of Death | 1962 |
| Age at Death | 36 |
| Resting Place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California |
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What You'll Learn
The song's opening line
"Goodbye, Norma Jean" are the famous opening words of the song "Candle in the Wind", written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. The song was originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, whose real name was Norma Jeane (more commonly spelled Jean) Mortenson.
The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a sympathetic portrayal of Monroe's life and rise to fame. The name "Norma Jean" serves as a reminder of her humble beginnings and the person she was before becoming a Hollywood star.
The line "Goodbye, Norma Jean" is a poignant farewell to the actress, acknowledging that she had to give up her name and privacy to attain celebrity status. It also hints at the tragic nature of her life and the struggles she faced, despite her fame and success.
The use of "Norma Jean" in the opening line is significant because it humanizes Monroe and presents a more intimate perspective on her life. By using her birth name, the song evokes a sense of closeness and familiarity, as if the narrator is addressing a friend or loved one.
Furthermore, the opening line establishes the theme of the fleeting nature of fame and the vulnerability that comes with it. "Candle in the Wind" explores the idea that even those who achieve great fame and success, like Monroe, can still experience loneliness, uncertainty, and an early demise.
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Norma Jean's real name
"Candle in the Wind" is a song 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 passed away 11 years earlier. The opening line of the song, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, Norma Jeane Mortenson. The name Norma Jean is also spelled Norma Jeane, which was her legal name.
Norma Jeane Mortenson was born on June 1, 1926, and became one of the most famous Hollywood starlets of the 1950s. She was often referred to as the "blonde bombshell" and is still considered an icon today. In addition to her acting career, Monroe was also a model and singer. She died in 1962 at the young age of 36.
The song "Candle in the Wind" chronicles Monroe's rise to fame and tragic death. The lyrics of the song are a sympathetic portrayal of her life and the challenges she faced, including the intrusion of the press and paparazzi. The line "they made you change your name" refers to how Monroe gave up her birth name and privacy to achieve celebrity status.
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, titled "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 of the song also peaked at No. 1 in several countries and became the second-best-selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold.
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The tribute to Marilyn Monroe
"Candle in the Wind", written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, was originally a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson. The song was written in 1973, 11 years after Monroe's untimely death at the age of 36 in 1962.
The opening line of the song, "Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name. Taupin, the lyricist, has stated that the song is more about the pitfalls of fame and celebrity than a direct tribute to Monroe herself. He has said that the song could have been about any number of famous figures who died young and became immortalised as a result.
The song's lyrics allude to the pressures of Hollywood and the public's influence over Monroe's life. Lines such as "they set you on the treadmill" and "they made you change your name" suggest that Monroe's identity and life trajectory were largely dictated by external forces. The treadmill is also symbolic of the relentless nature of the entertainment industry, where one must constantly strive for success.
The song also references the intense press coverage surrounding Monroe's death, with lyrics like "even when you died, oh the press still hounded you". The media's obsession with her is further emphasised in the line "all the papers had to say was that Marilyn was found in the nude".
"Candle in the Wind" serves as a reminder of the dark side of fame and the vulnerability that comes with it. The image of a "candle in the wind" conveys a sense of fragility and impermanence, highlighting the fleeting nature of Monroe's life and fame.
In conclusion, "Candle in the Wind" is a poignant tribute to Marilyn Monroe, reflecting on her rise to stardom, the challenges she faced, and the tragic circumstances of her death. The song has endured as a powerful reminder of the human cost of intense public scrutiny and the fragile nature of fame.
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The rewritten version
"Candle in the Wind" is a song 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 opening line of the song, ""Goodbye, Norma Jean", refers to Monroe's birth name, Norma Jeane (also spelled "Jean") Mortenson. The song's lyrics chronicle Monroe's rise to fame and tragic death, portraying her life as fragile and vulnerable, much like a "candle in the wind".
In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, titled "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a car crash that year. This version of the song became a massive cultural phenomenon, peaking at No. 1 in the United Kingdom and several other countries. It became the second-best-selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold.
While the 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind" specifically honoured Princess Diana, the song's underlying message remained universal, speaking to the tragic consequences of intense public scrutiny and the fragile nature of life in the spotlight. The rewritten version thus built upon the original song's legacy, using Monroe's story as a metaphor for the broader experience of those who struggle and succumb to the pressures of fame.
Both versions of "Candle in the Wind" highlight the tragic irony of a life cut short by the very forces that fuelled its flame, serving as a cautionary tale of the dark side of celebrity culture.
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The song's peak in the charts
"Candle in the Wind", written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, was originally released in 1974 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The song reached number 11 in the UK charts in 1974 and went to the Top 5 with a live version in 1988. In 1997, John and Taupin rewrote the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had recently died. This version, "Candle in the Wind 1997", debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and became the best-selling single in UK chart history. It also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 14 consecutive weeks, a record for a male solo artist. It was the fastest-selling single in the UK, selling 658,000 copies on its first day and 1.5 million in its first week. It has sold 33 million copies worldwide and is the second-best-selling single in the world.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" also performed well in other countries. In Canada, it spent 45 non-consecutive weeks in the top spot of the Canadian Singles Chart. In Germany, it is the eighth best-selling pop hymn. In Australia, it is one of the all-time best-selling singles, spending six weeks at number one on the ARIA Charts. It is also the best-selling single of all time in Finland.
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Frequently asked questions
Norma Jean is the birth name of Marilyn Monroe, whose life is the focus of the song.
Norma Jeane (more commonly spelt Jean) Mortenson.
The song is a sympathetic portrayal of the life of Marilyn Monroe, including her rise to fame and tragic death.
The song was written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin.
The original version of the song was released in 1974. A rewritten version of the song, 'Candle in the Wind 1997', was released in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales.
