Candle in the Wind - wikipedia Candle in the Wind This article is about the original version dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. For the re-written and re-recorded version as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, see Candle in the Wind 1997. For other uses, see Candle in the Wind ( disambiguation ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2012 ) `` Candle in the Wind '' Cover of the 1986 -- 87 live version Single by Elton John from the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road B - side `` Bennie and the Jets '' Released 4 February 1974 ( 1974 - 02 - 04 ) Format 7 - inch single Recorded May 1973 Studio Château d'Hérouville, France Length 3 : 50 Label MCA DJM Composer ( s ) Elton John Lyricist ( s ) Bernie Taupin Producer ( s ) Gus Dudgeon Elton John singles chronology `` Step into Christmas '' ( 1973 ) `` Candle in the Wind '' ( 1974 ) `` Bennie and the Jets '' ( 1974 ) `` Candle in the Wind '' is a threnody with music and lyrics by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. This version of the song was released as a single and reached No. 1 in many countries, proving a much greater success than the original, officially being listed as the second best - selling single of all time, behind Bing Crosby 's `` White Christmas ''. Contents 1 Original version 1.1 Personnel 2 1986 live version 2.1 Personnel 2.2 Accolades 3 1997 version 4 2003 acoustic remix 5 Cover versions 6 Popular culture 7 References 8 External links Original version The original version in the key of E major appeared on John 's 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and was released as a single in 1974. 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, Norma Jeane ( more commonly spelled Jean ) Baker. ) In the Eagle Vision documentary on the making of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Taupin said the song is about `` the idea of fame or youth or somebody being cut short in the prime of their life. The song could have been about James Dean, it could have been about Montgomery Clift, it could have been about Jim Morrison... how we glamorise death, how we immortalise people. '' The single release of the original song reached No. 11 in the UK charts in 1974. At the time, it was not released as a single in the United States ( `` Bennie and the Jets '' was chosen 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 # 347 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On the other hand, composer Gruff Rhys called it the worst song he had ever heard. During a concert on 7 April 1990 at Farm Aid IV, John dedicated the song to Ryan White, who had been suffering from AIDS. White died from AIDS complications the next day. Personnel Elton John -- piano, vocals Davey Johnstone -- electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals Dee Murray -- bass, backing vocals Nigel Olsson -- drums, backing vocals 1986 live version On 14 December 1986, a live version of the song was recorded in Sydney, Australia. It was released in 1987 on the album Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and as a single. In 1988, it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. Personnel Elton John : Lead vocals, Piano Fred Mandel : Keyboards Accolades Grammy Awards Year Nominee / work Award Result `` Candle in the Wind ( live 1986 ) '' Best Pop Vocal Performance -- Male Nominated 1997 version Main article : Candle in the Wind 1997 `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' or `` Goodbye England 's Rose '' is a re-recording of `` Candle in the Wind '' as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. Released in 1997, the song peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom, becoming John 's fourth No. 1 single. It also peaked at No. 1 in several other countries. The Guinness Book of Records in 2007 stated 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. The record of this version was produced by George Martin. 2003 acoustic remix Using the same vocal take as the original 1973 recording, engineer Greg Penny stripped away all instrumentation except Davey Johnstone 's acoustic guitar. Even the double - tracking of the lead vocal was removed, leaving Elton and the original backing vocal arrangement of Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone. The remix first appeared as a bonus track on the 30th Anniversary edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and subsequently on the 2003 EP Remixed. Cover versions English folk singer Sandy Denny recorded a cover version for her 1977 Rendezvous album. In 1989, The Shadows did an instrumental of the song on their album Steppin ' to the Shadows. English punk band Leatherface recorded a cover version for their second album Fill Your Boots in 1990 In 1991 David Tyler covered the song on CKBE - FM. English alternative singer Kate Bush recorded a cover version for her 1991 `` Rocket Man '' single. Billy Joel performed a cover version during the Elton John and Billy Joel Face to Face 1994 concert. New Zealand singer Wing covered the song on her 2009 album Beat It. In 2014, English singer - songwriter Ed Sheeran recorded a cover version for the 40th Anniversary `` Super Deluxe '' Edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. In 2014, Israeli French singer Amir Haddad recorded a version with an additional music video of the song launched in June 2014. Earlier the same year, he had used the song for his blind audition in season 3 of the French television series The Voice : la plus belle voix broadcast on TF1 with all four coaches, Garou, Mika, Jenifer and Florent Pagny turning their chairs during his audition. Haddad chose to be part of Team Jenifer and finished third overall for the season. Ed Sheeran covered the song for the 2018 tribute album Revamp : Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Popular culture This section indiscriminately collects miscellaneous information. Please compress this material to remove any irrelevant or unimportant information. ( August 2018 ) In 1997, English satirist Chris Morris ' radio comedy sketch show Blue Jam featured a sketch in which a man discovers a secret message if the 1997 version is played backwards, which says `` Jesus and your bush. That 's no titchy marrow. '' In 2011, a song called `` 5,000 Candles In The Wind '' was featured in the season 3 finale of the show Parks and Recreation, titled `` Li'l Sebastian ''. It was played by Chris Pratt 's character Andy Dwyer in a tribute concert for Li'l Sebastian, a recently deceased miniature horse beloved by the people of Pawnee. The song was written by Dwyer after Leslie Knope ( Amy Poehler ) asked him to write a song that would be `` Something like ' Candle In The Wind '... But 5,000 times better ''. The song was also played at the unity concert in the season 6 finale of the show. `` Candle in the Wind '' is mentioned in the BoJack Horseman episode `` Still Broken '' by one of the show 's main characters, Princess Carolyn ( voiced by Amy Sedaris ), who states `` You know when someone dies, everyone wants to buy their shit ?... You do n't think Elton John was raking it in when Diana died ? More like `` Candle in the Windfall. '' Cha -- ching ! '' In 2017 this song was used in Polygon 's Car Boys series featuring Nick Robinson and Griffin McElroy. In an episode of South Park 's 15th season, the Canadian band Rush sing a parody of the song, titled `` Like a Flower Breaking Wind '' References Jump up ^ Ben Brantley ( 11 October 2004 ). `` Some Like It Hot, Some Like It Painted in Words ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 29 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Music & Me : Gruff Rhys ''. The Independent. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Grammy Awards : Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male ''. rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 13 July 2015. Jump up ^ `` This Day in History : Dec 25, 1941 : Bing Crosby introduces ' White Christmas ' to the world ''. History.com. Archived from the original on 2012 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ Wass, Mike ( 31 March 2014 ). `` Ed Sheeran Covers Elton John 's `` Candle In The Wind '' : Listen To His Faithful Version ``. Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved 23 August 2014. Jump up ^ Tribune Juive : Amir Haddad : chercher sa voix ( in French ) Jump up ^ Ynet : הישראלי עמיר חדד ב - `` The Voice '' צרפת ( in Hebrew ) External links Elton John wrote the song `` Candle in the Wind '' about what actress ? Lyrics of the original version at MetroLyrics Lyrics of the 1997 version at MetroLyrics Elton John songs 1960s and 1970s `` Skyline Pigeon '' ( 1968 ) `` I 've Been Loving You '' ( 1968 ) `` Lady Samantha '' ( 1969 ) `` It 's Me That You Need '' ( 1969 ) `` Border Song '' ( 1970 ) `` Rock and Roll Madonna '' ( 1970 ) `` From Denver to L.A. '' ( 1970 ) `` Take Me to the Pilot '' ( 1970 ) `` Your Song '' ( 1970 ) `` Friends '' ( 1971 ) `` Levon '' ( 1971 ) `` Tiny Dancer '' ( 1972 ) `` Rocket Man '' ( 1972 ) `` Honky Cat '' ( 1972 ) `` I Think I 'm Going to Kill Myself '' ( 1972 ) `` Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters '' ( 1972 ) `` Crocodile Rock '' ( 1972 ) `` Elderberry Wine '' ( 1972 ) `` Daniel '' ( 1972 ) `` Teacher I Need You '' ( 1973 ) `` Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding '' ( 1973 ) `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' ( 1973 ) `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' ( 1973 ) `` Step into Christmas '' ( 1973 ) `` Candle in the Wind '' ( 1974 ) `` Bennie and the Jets '' ( 1974 ) `` Harmony '' ( 1974 ) `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( 1974 ) `` The Bitch Is Back '' ( 1974 ) `` Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds '' ( 1974 ) `` Philadelphia Freedom '' ( 1975 ) `` I Saw Her Standing There '' ( 1975 ) `` Someone Saved My Life Tonight '' ( 1975 ) `` Island Girl '' ( 1975 ) `` Grow Some Funk of Your Own '' ( 1976 ) `` I Feel Like a Bullet ( In the Gun of Robert Ford ) '' ( 1976 ) `` Pinball Wizard '' ( 1976 ) `` Do n't Go Breaking My Heart '' ( 1976 ) `` Cage the Songbird '' ( 1976 ) `` Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word '' ( 1976 ) `` Bite Your Lip ( Get Up and Dance ! ) '' ( 1977 ) `` Crazy Water '' ( 1977 ) `` The Goaldiggers Song '' ( 1977 ) `` Ego '' ( 1978 ) `` Part - Time Love '' ( 1978 ) `` Song for Guy '' ( 1978 ) `` Are You Ready for Love '' ( 1979 ) `` Mama Ca n't Buy You Love '' ( 1979 ) `` Johnny B. Goode '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` Little Jeannie '' ( 1980 ) `` Sartorial Eloquence ( Do n't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More ? ) '' ( 1980 ) `` Dear God '' ( 1980 ) `` Whatever Gets You thru the Night '' ( 1981 ) `` Nobody Wins '' ( 1981 ) `` Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever '' ( with Kiki Dee, 1981 ) `` Blue Eyes '' ( 1982 ) `` Empty Garden ( Hey Hey Johnny ) '' ( 1982 ) `` Ball and Chain '' ( 1982 ) `` All Quiet on the Western Front '' ( 1982 ) `` I Guess That 's Why They Call It the Blues '' ( 1983 ) `` I 'm Still Standing '' ( 1983 ) `` Sad Songs ( Say So Much ) '' ( 1984 ) `` Passengers '' ( 1984 ) `` Nikita '' ( 1985 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' ( 1985 ) `` Wrap Her Up '' ( 1985 ) `` Take Me to the Pilot '' ( 1988 ) `` I Do n't Wanna Go on with You Like That '' ( 1988 ) `` Town of Plenty '' ( 1988 ) `` Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters ( Part Two ) '' ( 1988 ) `` Healing Hands '' ( 1989 ) `` Sacrifice '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` Club at the End of the Street '' ( 1990 ) `` You Gotta Love Someone '' ( 1990 ) `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( 1991 ) `` The One '' ( 1992 ) `` Runaway Train '' ( 1992 ) `` The Last Song '' ( 1992 ) `` Simple Life '' ( 1993 ) `` True Love '' ( 1993 ) `` Shakey Ground '' ( 1994 ) `` Ai n't Nothing Like the Real Thing '' ( 1994 ) `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' ( 1994 ) `` Circle of Life '' ( 1994 ) `` Believe '' ( 1995 ) `` Made in England '' ( 1995 ) `` When the Money 's Gone '' ( 1995 ) `` You Can Make History ( Young Again ) '' ( 1996 ) `` The Madness of King Scar '' ( 1997 ) `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' ( 1997 ) `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' ( 1997 ) `` Written in the Stars '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` I Want Love '' ( 2001 ) `` This Train Do n't Stop There Anymore '' ( 2002 ) `` Original Sin '' ( 2002 ) `` Are You Ready for Love '' ( 2003 ) `` Ghetto Gospel '' ( 2005 ) `` Electricity '' ( 2005 ) `` The Bridge '' ( 2006 ) `` Joseph, Better You than Me '' ( 2008 ) `` Tiny Dancer ( Hold Me Closer ) '' ( 2009 ) Related articles Albums discography Videography Book : Elton John Category : Elton John Marilyn Monroe Performances and awards Death Songs `` Candle in the Wind '' `` Diamonds Are a Girl 's Best Friend '' `` Happy Birthday, Mr. President '' `` Heat Wave '' `` My Heart Belongs to Daddy '' `` That Old Black Magic '' `` You 'd Be Surprised '' `` Photograph '' Clothes Pink dress White dress Popular culture Marilyn ( 1963 ) Marilyn : The Untold Story ( 1980 ) Norma Jean & Marilyn ( 1996 ) My Week with Marilyn ( 2011 ) Related John F. Kennedy document hoax Forever Marilyn Marilyn Diptych The Last Sitting 12305 Fifth Helena Drive Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candle_in_the_Wind&oldid=856306057 '' Categories : 1974 singles 1987 singles Elton John songs Songs in memory of deceased persons Songs with music by Elton John Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin Songs about Marilyn Monroe 1970s ballads Songs inspired by deaths Song recordings produced by Gus Dudgeon 1973 songs DJM Records singles MCA Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with French - language external links Articles with Hebrew - language external links Articles needing additional references from August 2012 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from June 2013 Use British English from October 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2018 Articles with trivia sections from August 2018 All articles with trivia sections Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français Italiano עברית മലയാളം Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Suomi Svenska ไทย Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 14 more Edit links This page was last edited on 24 August 2018, at 08 : 56 ( UTC ). 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Question: who is candle in the wind song about
Answer: Marilyn Monroe