Candle in the Wind

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

 

CANDLE IN THE WIND  –  FACTS ABOUT THE SONG

“Candle in the Wind” is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.

In 1997, Elton John performed a remake of the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. This version of the song was released as a single, and reached number one in many countries, proving a much greater success than the original.

Elton John sang “Candle in the Wind 1997” in public, for the first and only time, at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997. Though he continues to perform the original 1973 version of the song at his concerts, John has repeatedly turned down requests to perform the 1997 version. He refused even when asked to do so for the memorial Concert for Diana in July 2007, having vowed never to perform it again unless asked by Diana’s sons. The song has never been re-released on any of his other albums or compilations.

The original version was on Elton John’s 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in the key of E major. The lyrics of the song are a sympathetic portrayal of the life of Marilyn Monroe (the song’s opening line “Goodbye Norma Jean” refers to Monroe’s real name). The single release of the original song reached number eleven in the UK charts in 1974. It was not released as a single in the United States at the time, as “Bennie and the Jets” was chosen as the single there instead. Taupin was inspired to write the song after hearing the phrase “candle in the wind” used in tribute to Janis Joplin.

This version is ranked  number 347 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

On April 7, 1990, at Farm Aid 4, John dedicated the song to Ryan White, his friend who was suffering from AIDS. White died the day after, due to AIDS complications.

“Candle in the Wind 1997” or “Goodbye England’s Rose” is a remake of “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John that was released as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. Released in 1997, the song peaked at number one in the United Kingdom becoming John’s fourth number one single. It also peaked at number one in most other countries. The Guinness Book of Records 2007 states that “Candle In the Wind 1997” is the biggest selling single “since records began”, but that Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” has sold the most copies.

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  1. Elton John is a very good musician and has been my idol ever since.`:,

  2. elton john is already a living legend with his great musics:”:

  3. elton john can be only be the best singer and composer that i know. i like the song Candle In The Wind `-‘

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