It was September 6, 1997. The world was at a standstill. I remember the footage: a sea of flowers outside Kensington Palace and that lone piano echoing through the cavernous interior of Westminster Abbey. When Elton John sat down to play, he wasn't just performing a hit; he was channeling a collective grief so heavy it felt like the air might break. But here’s the thing—most people think they know the story of the elton john candle in the wind tribute. They think it’s just a song he tweaked for a funeral.
In reality? It’s a messy, fascinating, and record-breaking piece of history that almost didn't happen.
The Marilyn Myth and the 1973 Origins
The song didn't start with a princess. It started with a movie star who had been dead for eleven years. Bernie Taupin, Elton’s long-time lyrical architect, wrote the original words for the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
"Goodbye Norma Jean," the lyrics famously began.
Taupin has been pretty blunt about this over the years. He wasn’t actually a huge Marilyn Monroe fan. To him, she was just a convenient metaphor. He could’ve written it about James Dean or Montgomery Clift. He was obsessed with the idea of "fame, youth, and somebody being cut short in the prime of their life." He heard the phrase "candle in the wind" used to describe Janis Joplin and thought, Yeah, that’s it. That’s the hook.
The 1973 version is a rock ballad. It’s got these bluesy, gospel-inflected piano licks and a full band backing. It’s sympathetic, sure, but it’s also a bit of a critique on the Hollywood machine that "set her on the treadmill" and "made her change her name."
Why the 1997 Version Was a Total Panic Job
Fast forward to August 1997. Princess Diana dies in a car crash in Paris. The world goes into a tailspin. Elton, who was close friends with Diana (they’d recently reconciled after a falling out at Gianni Versace’s funeral), was devastated.
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The call came from Richard Branson.
People were already writing "Candle in the Wind" lyrics in the books of condolence at St. James’s Palace. The public had already claimed the song for Diana. But singing about "Norma Jean" and "Marilyn Monroe" at a Royal funeral? That would have been a disaster.
Elton called Bernie. Bernie had about two hours to rewrite one of the most famous songs in the world.
He shifted the perspective from a fan in the "22nd row" to a whole nation's voice. "Goodbye England’s Rose" replaced the Hollywood starlet. It was a rush job, honestly. But it worked because it captured a very specific, raw moment in time.
The Performance That Never Happened Again
If you’ve seen Elton John live in the last twenty years, you’ve heard the elton john candle in the wind original. You haven't heard the Diana version.
He’s been incredibly strict about this. He performed "Goodbye England's Rose" exactly once: at the funeral. He even used a teleprompter because he was terrified he’d accidentally slip into the "Norma Jean" lyrics out of habit.
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After that performance, he went straight to the studio with producer George Martin—yes, the Beatles' George Martin—and recorded the version we all heard on the radio. They added a string quartet. They made it more "stately."
Then? He basically buried it.
He doesn't play it. It’s not on his greatest hits albums. He told the press he’d only ever sing it again if Prince William or Prince Harry asked him to. It’s a time capsule.
The Numbers Are Honestly Ridiculous
We talk about "viral" hits today, but "Candle in the Wind 1997" was a different animal.
- It sold 658,000 copies in the UK on its first day.
- It spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
- It eventually sold over 33 million copies.
To this day, it is the second highest-selling physical single of all time. Only Bing Crosby’s "White Christmas" has sold more, and that had a fifty-year head start.
The Technical Shift You Probably Missed
Musically, the two versions are cousins, but not twins.
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In the 1973 original, Elton’s piano is syncopated. It’s got that signature Elton "bounce." In the 1997 version, the rhythm is way more regular. It’s more of an arpeggiated, flowing bed of sound. It’s designed to be elegant and mournful rather than a rock-and-roll lament.
Also, the key is different. The original is in E major. The 1997 version is in F major. It’s subtle, but it gives the vocals a slightly different "lift" that fits the solemnity of the Abbey.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think this was Elton's biggest "artistic" achievement.
Honestly? If you ask the hardcore fans, they usually prefer the 1973 version. The 1997 version is often seen as a cultural artifact rather than a musical masterpiece. It was a gesture of friendship and a way to raise money—over $47 million for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
It was philanthropy disguised as pop music.
How to Experience the Legacy Today
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the history of the elton john candle in the wind phenomenon, don't just stick to the radio edits.
- Listen to the 1986 Live in Australia version: This is often cited by musicians as the "bridge" between the two styles. It’s Elton solo on the piano, and you can hear him starting to develop the arrangement that eventually became the foundation for the 1997 tribute.
- Watch the Eagle Vision documentary: Specifically the one on the making of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It gives the best insight into how Bernie Taupin actually feels about the lyrics.
- Check the Chart History: Look at the 1997 Billboard charts. It’s wild to see a piano ballad holding off the peak of the 90s R&B and hip-hop era for months on end.
The song remains a reminder of how music can anchor a moment in history. It’s not just a melody; it’s a shared memory of a week when the whole world felt a little bit smaller.
To really understand the impact, you have to look at the transition from a song about a lonely movie star to a song about a beloved princess. It’s a study in how context changes everything. You can find the original 1973 studio recording on almost any streaming platform, but for the 1997 version, you'll likely have to track down the physical single or the specific funeral footage, as Elton has kept it largely separate from his commercial catalog out of respect.