This song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, a famous actress and sex symbol who died of a drug overdose in 1962. The "candle in the wind" represents her short, but eventful life. The song makes various references to the press coverage of Monroe. The famous opening line, "Goodbye Norma Jeane," refers to her birth name: Norma Jeane Mortenson, and how she gave up both her name and her privacy for the sake of celebrity. The lyrics were written by Elton's writing partner, Bernie Taupin, who got the idea for the title from a quote he read about Janis Joplin. According to Taupin, the song is more of a take on fame and celebrity than an ode to Marilyn Monroe. Said Taupin: "I think the biggest misconception about 'Candle In The Wind' is that I was this rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic, which really couldn't be further from the truth. It's not that I didn't have a respect for her. It's just that the song could just as easily have been about James Dean or Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain. I mean, it could have been about Sylvia Plath or Virginia Woolf. I mean, basically, anybody, any writer, actor, actress, or musician who died young" Source: Songfacts
I never knew her surname was Mortenson. I always thought she was Norma-Jean Baker. Wikipedia just explained to me that Baker was her mother's surname that she took later on. Apparently her mother was in an asylum and she grew up in various foster homes. My sister (who was born 13 years after her death) was obsessed with her when she was a kid. Her bedroom was full of her posters and she had loads of reference books and videos of her movies. So I kind of grew up seeing her face and hearing all about her all the time. The song is nice. The imagery and metaphor are really strong. It's inspired some of my own writing.
The original recording is about Marilyn Monroe and he later did a dedicated alternative for Princess Di at her funeral. Legendary tune with a haunting and chilling feeling❤
Ooooh, I remember seeing that live when Diana’s funeral was aired. The pain in his face mirrored that of the world. Diana had just comforted a devastated Elton when one of his close friends, Gianni Versace was murdered. She was there for Elton at Gianni’s funeral. And tragically only weeks later Diana was killed in that horrific accident.
@@Boodieman72 Elton was asked to sing it at the funeral but felt it hit a bit close to home so he was asked about changing the lyrics but replied I don't write lyrics Bernie wrote those wonderful lyrics so lets ask him to rewrite it and the result was England's Rose.
This is such a beautiful song that was written for Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean) and edited for Princess Diana but actually can apply to anyone who is vulnerable and caught up in stardom and the indifferent, often cruel, fast paced life of chasing fame or being born into it. Masterful lyrics. Thanks so much guys for reacting to this one. 🧡
Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984. He was one of the first children to come down with AIDS due to a blood transfusion. The whole world was in prayer as we watched this young kid fight for his life. Elton was at his bedside 2 days before he succumbed to his illness. He made a surprise walk-on appearance at the live Farm Aid concert the day before Ryan's death. He sang this song and melted the crowd and announcers. Left everyone in tears. He dedicated this to Ryan. Ten years later he sang it again for Diana. But for me I will remember my tears for Ryan.
BJ, you are right. The song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe who lived a very tragic life, looking for love in all the wrong places. Fame created an image of her that didn’t recognize her other than as a sex symbol. Elton John resurrected this song after the death of Princess Diana who was a personal friend of his.
Asia, BJ, if you already haven't, you have to check out "Goodbye England's Rose." It was "Candle In The Wind" that was reworded and retitled in honor of Princess/Lady Diana.
He said he would have liked to have known her ,but he was just a kid. She was gone long before he had an opportunity to. Her real name was Norma Jean and they made her change it . Her legacy will go on forever. RIP Marilyn 💞
To this day, Marilyn is still a legend, since the time when Hollywood was still referred to as glamorous "Tinsel Town". (now Hollywood is a mess). Anyhow, she was a LEGEND. So Elton did a tribute to her life. You didn't need to know her personally. She was adored by so many around the world. 💜
Hollywood has always been a MESS. We just didn't have cell phones & the internet! I live in Hollywood and it's not for the faint of heart. Too much Evil.
Elton John is my #5 all time favorite, and I'm a hard rocker. Lol. Just love that dude, got to see him in concert from row 14. He was even on my favorite pinball machine growing up-Captain Fantastic...
Yes this was performed by sir Elton at princess dianas concert at wembley stadium . Sir Elton .. wow one of the greats . Thanks for your heartfelt reaction . Love you guys . Peace and blessings
Great reaction you two! Bernie Taupin, Elton’s lyricist, hands his lyrics to Elton who puts them to music. Bernie admired American culture and wrote songs reflecting it. Hence, Marilyn Monroe, Roy Rogers (an old tv cowboy), Yellow Brick Road, among others.
This song always makes me cry cause he sang it at princess diana's funneral, elton's song are legendary from this to nakita, to the lion king songs, hes just amazing and beautiful
There was songs you hear as you grow up in life you say , hey i remember that!!! Then there are songs that are the footprint of your life. Thank you Mr Elton John..
Elton John has such emotional range in his songs - they range from incredibly inspirational to deeply sad, with the one consistency being that he gives an amazing performance in each and every one. Elton co-wrote this with his songwriting partner - Bernie Taupin, who had been a fan of Marilyn's. I'm not sure if it's related, but Elton started his musical career playing piano in local pubs in England in 1962 - the year Marilyn died. Cheers
Mz Norma Jean Baker. RIP. The writing duo. Taupin and John, my heroes from the 70s. ❤️❤️ Words come out of writers unexpectedly and wonderfully. Bernie rewrote this for Princess Di. "England's Rose."
I'm just going to say the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" LP is peak Taupin and John. As far as the reverence for Marylin, she WAS A *STAR* ...A STAR I tell yah! And you have to remember, he was 16 when she died, at the height of her popularity really. But the song isn't really "about" her.
Song has had an odd history. Back in the 70s it made #11 on the UK chart, but in the USA, it wasn't even released as a single - it was decided that the B-side to this single, "Bennie and the Jets", had a better chance to succeed. And indeed, I don't recall hearing "Candle" when I was a kid. But then MTV came along. The song became a huge hit in the USA (#6), 15 or so years later, thanks to a 1987 video featuring clips of Monroe. And THEN, Princess Diana of England died in 1997. Elton wanted to use this melody for a tribute song (after all, it had already been a tribute song). The words were entirely rewritten - mainly because Diana was hardly anyone's idea of a trembling "candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to". The song became "Goodbye England's Rose" or something similar. Kind of tacky, I always thought, but hey it's Elton's music, he can do what he wants with it. Oddly, the original lyricist, Bernie Taupin, has - rather repeatedly - hollered up and down that he didn't care about Marilyn Monroe, which makes me wonder why he had bothered writing the song in the first place. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The story I’ve heard is that Elton was asked to sing a tribute song for the funeral. He called Bernie and said he needed some lyrics, something like “Candle in the Wind.” Bernie misunderstood and thought he just wanted new lyrics to the song about Marilyn. By the time they got together and realized what had happened it was too late to come up with something new. (I always thought it sounded odd, too. I still wonder what they would have come up with if not for the misunderstanding.)
Marilyn's real name was Norma Jean Baker, and Elton wrote the music but his partner Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics. He was basically done as a metaphor for celebrities who died young. He just chose Marilyn Monroe, but said the song could have just as easily been about other celebrities who died young like James Dean, Janis Joplin or Jim Morrison.
Something about Elton John that is so often overlooked (not by Elton though) is the Awesome Talent of the Elton John band. In this song you can hear it in virtually every aspect - especially those awesome backing vocals of Davey, Dee, and Nigel... unbelievably great!
Elton didn't write the lyrics to this song, his friend and long time lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote the words and Elton set it to music. Which is pretty much how they always worked.
Elton (and Bernie) were just feeling the effects of superstardom when he did tis song, so he was feeling a bit like he understood what she was going through. This is off his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road LP, which also deals with the issues of stardom.
Marilyn loved Ella Fitzgerald. Ella couldn't sing at a club because she was black. Marilyn told the manager that if he would book Ella for the week, she would reserve a table front and center. This meant instant press coverage and a packed house for the week. Marilyn kept her promise and sat at her table every night for a week. Ella said that after this she never had another issue about getting a place to play regardless of color.
Her name was Norma Jean Baker. Elton John was 17 years old when Marilyn died, him and Bernie wrote the song because he understood what she went through, he saw the person not just the sex symbol.
I feel SOOOOO old lol. Not knowing the reference to this songs subject clearly is a sign of my age. But Im glad you listened to it... it's all about how the "business" of being famous uses you up and creates a product, not a person. So so sad.....even to this day it is still this way. Good reaction.
Yes, Elton is talking about Marilyn Monroe (Born, Norma Jeane). But no, they were not friends. It is just a beautiful tribute song to her. "Originally, "Candle in the Wind" was meant to celebrate another star. It's 1973 release, introduced by the words "Goodbye, Norma Jean," Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin paid tribute to Marilyn Monroe - describing not so much the film star as the turbulent life of a sensitive person destroyed by her stardom". Very beautiful song x
She was a very good actress and a wonderful comedienne also. Niagara and Bus Stop show her dramatic ability and Some Like It Hot, a comedy, is often rated the greatest comedy ever filmed.
The word rain is actually spelled reign like a reign of a queen of cinema in Marilyn's case.and yes she was involved with John F Kennedy and his Brother Robert as well.
When he sang this for Princess Diana's funeral, he changed up some of the lyrics to personalize it. Both versions are beautiful. This version is referring to Marilyn & a guy named Mark Metal posted great background info on this song & on Norma Jean AKA Marilyn. Us old folks remember it well. The song can describe the loss of many folks, gone too soon. The version for Princess Di AKA England's Rose is also on UA-cam if ya wanna check it out..
He wrote it because like Elvis, she was a star when he was growing up. Remember this was back in the day before the internet and what we saw in UK of America was totally different. He is saying he watched her in her iconic films as a kid going to the cinema and he saw her as a person, not how she was portrayed as a sex symbol in the media. He saw her life was full of trauma (which it was) and yes her name was Norma Jean but look at why it was changed!
Love this song when it came out, fell in love with it even more when he redid it for Princess Diana's funeral. Please watch that video! Bring tissues 😢 🤧 😭
Good-bye Norma Jean, a absolutely great song , although a different person Good-bye England’s Rose, was the most touching tribute to Lady Diana, you could ever offer up. Bernie Taupin, Elton John , thanks for all your lyrics, music.
There are two lines in the song that always made me wonder if the writer saw her on stage when he was a boy and was star struck by her "Goodbye Norma Jean From the young man in the 22nd row" and in the chorus "I would have liked to have known you but I was just a kid". One of my favorite Elton songs, without a doubt.
In the 1980's, Elton performed this song live in Australia as a part of his televised concert there. It was released as a single and became a #1 hit in the USA!
A complete EJ classic....one of my all time favs!!! Yes it's a tribute to actress Marilyn Monroe( Norma Jean)...she died the year I was born in 62 ...and 60 years later her "legend" still lives on...No he didn't know her but wished he had due to her lasting iconic fame but at the time he was "just a kid"... also the song was adapted when Princess Diana passed away...both died differently but tragically and are still legendary from their time and perspective...
He later became "very good friends" with Princess Diana. Elton John played the piano and sang this at Diana's funeral..Never forget that day! Thank you for the reaction!
Having grown up in the day, I had always assumed Elton John felt an affinity for Marilyn as he was rising to the same celebrity status she had, with people pulling on him from all directions. He wrote this song in a dual mode, not only an ode to her, but saying that he felt the same way with his own life, that stardom doesn't speak to the pains and tribulations he felt in his personal life.
Actress "Natalie Wood," said this of Marilyn: “I had known her and seen her days before her death. Her beauty, charming wit, and joy of life seemed paradoxical to the tense loneliness which she faced in her life, and was to me, clearly apparent. I realized that her tragedy reminds us all how vulnerable we are, and I chose to try to be stronger.”
The Song was about how Marilyn was so alone. She had to question every friendship and relationship... Were they "friends of Norma Jean" or "Part of Marilyn's entourage"? The people she counted on the most were the people watching her spiral out of control but didn't do anything to stop her, and some even Anonymously fed the media about her "Scandalous Behavior". Elton re-worked the Lyrics as a heartfelt Tribute to Princess Diana, and sang it at her Memorial. It was Called "Goodbye England's Rose".
I always tear up whenever I hear this song. IIRC when the lyrics were rewritten for Princess Di, Elton vowed he would never perform the song again. Not sure if he held to that, but I remember hearing it at the time.
I remember when he re-wrote the lyrics to "Goodbye,Englands Rose" as he dedicated it to Princess Diana after that horrible car accident. I went on to buy the cd single with pocket money. I even think proceeds of that sale went to charity. "Your candle went out so long before your legend ever did",aint that a deep line. Candle meaning her life and she died very young (Marilyn Monroe),but the legend after her will continue to keep on burning,according to Elton. And i felt like it suited both Marilyn and Princess Diana perfectly. Elton was only a child when Marilyn died,but as he stated himself: "He could see the pain through her glamour". He attached himself alot to her,call it a form of idolizing from childhood into his teens and so on. Wich lead to him writing a song to/about her. He also followed Princess Diana closely,and saw alot of the same struggles and pain in her life,and how loved she was by the people. Alot of similarities between theese 2 women. Elton first met Princess Diana at prince Andrews 21st birthday,and it was quite the meeting for him: "When I arrived there was no one there but the dance band and Princess Diana. We danced the Charleston alone on the floor for twenty minutes." So unlike Marilyn Monroe,Elton and Princess Diana established a good friendship right away.
I was kid too I was in awe of Marilyn Monroe she was a phenomenon like a goddess . so when she died her fame ,her ledgend lived on, the world was not ready to let go of Marilyn almost like when princes Diana died no one wanted to believe it was true and did not want to let go.
I absolutely love your reactions guys! This song is a tough song for me to get through without tears falling down my face. I know written for Marilyn Monroe, but it brings back the feeling I had when Princess Diana died. 😢❤
Marilyn also grew up in an orphanage and her mother was a schizophrenic, her dad left when she was a baby or before she was born, so she had a lot of insecurities and emotional battles. So the song refers to her or anyone who's had a hard road to travel, like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in.
I had forgotten about the line in this about the press hounding her. It gives another layer to the version he did for Diana after she died. I just saw a list the other day of top songs for each of the 90s and this was the top song of 1997, although I imagine it was the Diana version.
The great majority of lyrics to Elton’s song were written by Bernie Taupin. Bernie would write the lyrics and Elton would compose the music. Legendary song writing team.
My Dad played the drums from the age of 16, he was a blues man, but all music through the 60s, 70s, and beyond was a part of life. He collected vinyl albums, had a HUGE collection, which unfortunately was sold in later years. When those albums were sold, I still had Elton John's Yellow Brick Road, I had borrowed it and he forgot, so it didn't get sold with the rest. This song is on that album, it's the only one I have left, so it means so very much to me. Thank you for this one, you two, so much love for this.
Elton John Re recorded this song with New Lyrics and a New Release written for Princess Diana in 1997. It was a single CD with only One Song. The Cd is Called Candle In The Wind 1997...( Goodbye England's Rose ) It was a tribute song to her at her funeral. I will always cherish my copy.
To answer Asia's comment on whether or not she sang JFK Happy Birthday. Not only DID she "do it that way", she did it in front of an entire auditorium of people INCLUDING Jackie Kennedy! And she did it in a very flimsy dress that was so tight she had to be sewn into it!!
I am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe. Bernie Taupin is a genius, its mind boggling that he was able to write such a tribute to her in just under 300 words. They never met her which he told us in his lyrics: "And I would've liked to know you. But I was just a kid."
Marilyn's mother was committed to an insane asylum when Norma was just two years old. Norma spent years in various foster care. She never knew her father. A photographer noticed her at sixteen where she worked building parachutes for the army. She was a natural and soon became a model. She starting getting bits in movies. She became the star. She was so lonely. I love you Marilyn
I remember when he performed this song with changed lyrics for Princess Diana's funeral. He said it was taking everything he had to not cry. I love the original version too. I love Marilyn Monroe. Her story is heartbreaking. All she wanted was to be loved and all she had around her were people who would use and abuse her. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are an incredible pair. Perhaps the movie about them, "Rocketman", could be a movie reaction for you both. 😎👍
Yes, This song is about Marilyn Monroe. He also sang this song at Princess Diana’s funeral and slightly changed some of the lyrics. I actually prefer that version. It’s worth a listen as well
Bernie 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." Taupin has noted that the theory about him being a "rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic" has been a common misconception: "It's not that I didn't have respect for her. It's just that the song could just as easily have been about James Dean or Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf. I mean, basically, anybody, any writer, actor, actress, or musician who died young and sort of became this iconic picture of Dorian Gray, that thing where they simply stopped aging. It's a beauty frozen in time".
I still remember, when I was very young, my mom's friend asked mom "Did you hear that Marilyn Monroe died?" I didn't know who they were speaking of. Her real name was Norma Jean.
It’s Marylin. Norma Jean is her birth name. The song is a tribute. There’s actually a great video that they put with the song in the ‘80’s. I think Elton re-recorded it with just his piano accompaniment. The video shows early film footage when she was just Norma Jean with red hair, before her fame image blond. The lyric lays it all out, not only that it’s her, but in the hook Elton sings, ‘I would’ve LIKED to know you but I was just a kid’, which is factual. So he did not know her. The ‘candle’ is metaphoric, symbolizing her life, which I think ya’ll got. What’s probably slightly inaccurate in reaction, is that she ‘did what everybody else was doin,’. Maybe that’s not exactly what you meant, but there had been absolutely no one like Marylin to that time, in terms of the effect she had on people, on screen & real life persona. On top of that it’s believe she had affairs with both JFK & his brother RFK. So when she sang happy birthday to him live on national television, in her sultry breathy voice & the dress to match, the scandalous connotations to that was huge. Now if you meant that she went along with what her handlers did, like agents & producers, or studios like MGM, then you’re more likely on point. It’s definitely sad cause she died after being on the phone in a drug induced state, talking out of her head to actor Peter Lawford, & supposedly she was found naked, partially covered by sheets. So the press had a field day with that. What’s worse, her death was reported as suicide, but many believed she was ‘put to sleep’ by federal order, possibly to cover up her involvement with the president. Nothing has been proven though. Another somber note is that in the late ‘90’s, Elton was at the funeral of Gianni Versace, sitting next to Lady Dianna. They were actually good friends, & she was seen consoling Elton as he grieved. A few weeks later, she was gone, & Elton was asked to sing at Dianna’s funeral. He sang Candle I’m the Wind, but changed lyrics to start out: "Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts." Elton said, in another kind of way, Lady Dianna also had an incredible effect on men.
HER FILMS, HER TALENT, THIS WAS A COMPLETE TRIBUTE SONG FOR HER! 😊 ELTON'S JUST ( 15 ) WHEN SHE PASSES, HE WAS BORN IN 47 ASIA SO HE KNOWS OF HER WORK AT LEAST 😊
Elton's long time lyricist, Bernie Taupin, wrote the lyrics for Candle In The Wind. Elton does not write his own lyrics, but he can write music for anyone elses lyrics. For proof, check out the video by Elton called The Oven Song.
#AsiaAndBjReact Yall would love Elton John's songs "Madman across the water" (a heavy powerhouse song) & "Indian sunset" (ballad about American Indian legends) and as usual with Elton, these two songs have excellent, meaningful lyrics. Yall will love these two, I garuntee. 🙏 God Bless you and yours 💘
It was originally written for Marilyn Monroe, but Elton re-wrote it for Princess Di when she passed on. ❤ Norma Jean was Marilyn's birth name. Thanks y'all, I love this one
Elton was asked to sing it because it was Diana's favourite song but he felt it was to close to home so he told them ask Bernie Taupin to rewrite the lyrics
This song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, a famous actress and sex symbol who died of a drug overdose in 1962. The "candle in the wind" represents her short, but eventful life.
The song makes various references to the press coverage of Monroe. The famous opening line, "Goodbye Norma Jeane," refers to her birth name: Norma Jeane Mortenson, and how she gave up both her name and her privacy for the sake of celebrity.
The lyrics were written by Elton's writing partner, Bernie Taupin, who got the idea for the title from a quote he read about Janis Joplin. According to Taupin, the song is more of a take on fame and celebrity than an ode to Marilyn Monroe. Said Taupin: "I think the biggest misconception about 'Candle In The Wind' is that I was this rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic, which really couldn't be further from the truth. It's not that I didn't have a respect for her. It's just that the song could just as easily have been about James Dean or Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain. I mean, it could have been about Sylvia Plath or Virginia Woolf. I mean, basically, anybody, any writer, actor, actress, or musician who died young"
Source: Songfacts
Well done Metal Mark, thank you!
Thank you for the info!
she was JFK's mistress at the time. the CIA killed her.
I never knew her surname was Mortenson. I always thought she was Norma-Jean Baker. Wikipedia just explained to me that Baker was her mother's surname that she took later on. Apparently her mother was in an asylum and she grew up in various foster homes. My sister (who was born 13 years after her death) was obsessed with her when she was a kid. Her bedroom was full of her posters and she had loads of reference books and videos of her movies. So I kind of grew up seeing her face and hearing all about her all the time. The song is nice. The imagery and metaphor are really strong. It's inspired some of my own writing.
Not self induced OD !
The original recording is about Marilyn Monroe and he later did a dedicated alternative for Princess Di at her funeral. Legendary tune with a haunting and chilling feeling❤
Goodbye England's Rose I think he titled it.
@@Boodieman72 Goodbye England's Rose went on to be the second highest selling single of all time.
Ooooh, I remember seeing that live when Diana’s funeral was aired.
The pain in his face mirrored that of the world.
Diana had just comforted a devastated Elton when one of his close friends, Gianni Versace was murdered. She was there for Elton at Gianni’s funeral.
And tragically only weeks later Diana was killed in that horrific accident.
@@Boodieman72 Elton was asked to sing it at the funeral but felt it hit a bit close to home so he was asked about changing the lyrics but replied I don't write lyrics Bernie wrote those wonderful lyrics so lets ask him to rewrite it and the result was England's Rose.
Can't watch the Princess Di one without crying 😢 x
Bernie Taupin is a master of writing lyrics that hit me in the feels.
And Elton john makes those songs his own as well. What a partnership.
If you read about Marilyn‘s life, you’ll understand this song even better. Yes her real name was Norma Jean, and her stage name was Marilyn Monroe.
This is such a beautiful song that was written for Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean) and edited for Princess Diana but actually can apply to anyone who is vulnerable and caught up in stardom and the indifferent, often cruel, fast paced life of chasing fame or being born into it. Masterful lyrics. Thanks so much guys for reacting to this one. 🧡
The song was wrote about Marilyn Monroe and rewote for Princess Diana
@@earlfox6030 Hi Earl, I should have been more specific in comments so clarified, thanks🦋
@Earl Fox The song was written about Marilyn Monroe and Elton adapted the lyrics for his good friend Diana the Queen of Hearts 💕 💞
@@BLew657 right ? Known that for about 20 yrs
@Earl Fox Right? I've known it for 26 years
Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984. He was one of the first children to come down with AIDS due to a blood transfusion. The whole world was in prayer as we watched this young kid fight for his life. Elton was at his bedside 2 days before he succumbed to his illness. He made a surprise walk-on appearance at the live Farm Aid concert the day before Ryan's death. He sang this song and melted the crowd and announcers. Left everyone in tears. He dedicated this to Ryan. Ten years later he sang it again for Diana. But for me I will remember my tears for Ryan.
The Marilyn Monroe biography, tells a lot of who she really was..not what the press put out about her.. She's still a legend!!❤
BJ, you are right. The song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe who lived a very tragic life, looking for love in all the wrong places. Fame created an image of her that didn’t recognize her other than as a sex symbol. Elton John resurrected this song after the death of Princess Diana who was a personal friend of his.
and then said he'd never sing that version ever again.
@@stevecarrington4887 well he did say he would play it for her kids if they requested it
Asia, BJ, if you already haven't, you have to check out "Goodbye England's Rose." It was "Candle In The Wind" that was reworded and retitled in honor of Princess/Lady Diana.
He said he would have liked to have known her ,but he was just a kid. She was gone long before he had an opportunity to. Her real name was Norma Jean and they made her change it . Her legacy will go on forever. RIP Marilyn 💞
To this day, Marilyn is still a legend, since the time when Hollywood was still referred to as glamorous "Tinsel Town". (now Hollywood is a mess). Anyhow, she was a LEGEND. So Elton did a tribute to her life. You didn't need to know her personally. She was adored by so many around the world. 💜
Hollywood has always been a MESS. We just didn't have cell phones & the internet! I live in Hollywood and it's not for the faint of heart. Too much Evil.
Yes is about Marylin... he also sang it at Princess Di funeral
Elton John is my #5 all time favorite, and I'm a hard rocker. Lol. Just love that dude, got to see him in concert from row 14. He was even on my favorite pinball machine growing up-Captain Fantastic...
Yes this was performed by sir Elton at princess dianas concert at wembley stadium . Sir Elton .. wow one of the greats . Thanks for your heartfelt reaction . Love you guys . Peace and blessings
Great reaction you two! Bernie Taupin, Elton’s lyricist, hands his lyrics to Elton who puts them to music. Bernie admired American culture and wrote songs reflecting it. Hence, Marilyn Monroe, Roy Rogers (an old tv cowboy), Yellow Brick Road, among others.
This song always makes me cry cause he sang it at princess diana's funneral, elton's song are legendary from this to nakita, to the lion king songs, hes just amazing and beautiful
The harmonizing of his band is amazing! I was privileged to attend one of his concerts in Dallas in 2014 and he DID NOT disappoint!!!
There was songs you hear as you grow up in life you say , hey i remember that!!! Then there are songs that are the footprint of your life. Thank you Mr Elton John..
Elton John has such emotional range in his songs - they range from incredibly inspirational to deeply sad, with the one consistency being that he gives an amazing performance in each and every one. Elton co-wrote this with his songwriting partner - Bernie Taupin, who had been a fan of Marilyn's. I'm not sure if it's related, but Elton started his musical career playing piano in local pubs in England in 1962 - the year Marilyn died. Cheers
Mz Norma Jean Baker. RIP.
The writing duo. Taupin and John, my heroes from the 70s. ❤️❤️
Words come out of writers unexpectedly and wonderfully.
Bernie rewrote this for Princess Di.
"England's Rose."
I'm just going to say the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" LP is peak Taupin and John.
As far as the reverence for Marylin, she WAS A *STAR* ...A STAR I tell yah! And you have to remember, he was 16 when she died, at the height of her popularity really. But the song isn't really "about" her.
I think Elton, with an inside view of the music machine, could appreciate the movie machine that Marilyn was caught up in.
ASIA LIKES THIS YOU CAN TELL, WHEN THOSE BACKGROUND VOCALS KICKED IN, BIGGGGG SMILE! 😊 YESSSS, IT'S ABOUT ( MARILYN MONROE ) NORMA JEAN 😊
Madonna did Material Girl, as a take off on Monroe's 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend". Monroe was famous like Elvis, bigger than life.
I saw him in concert in November and when he played this song he had the most beautiful pictures of her across the screen. ❤
One of my favorites Elton and Bernie, so beautiful and bittersweet. Yes, that is her real name Norma Jean. Thanks Asia and BJ, always a pleasure.
Glad you enjoyed it
Song has had an odd history. Back in the 70s it made #11 on the UK chart, but in the USA, it wasn't even released as a single - it was decided that the B-side to this single, "Bennie and the Jets", had a better chance to succeed. And indeed, I don't recall hearing "Candle" when I was a kid. But then MTV came along. The song became a huge hit in the USA (#6), 15 or so years later, thanks to a 1987 video featuring clips of Monroe. And THEN, Princess Diana of England died in 1997. Elton wanted to use this melody for a tribute song (after all, it had already been a tribute song). The words were entirely rewritten - mainly because Diana was hardly anyone's idea of a trembling "candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to". The song became "Goodbye England's Rose" or something similar. Kind of tacky, I always thought, but hey it's Elton's music, he can do what he wants with it. Oddly, the original lyricist, Bernie Taupin, has - rather repeatedly - hollered up and down that he didn't care about Marilyn Monroe, which makes me wonder why he had bothered writing the song in the first place. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The story I’ve heard is that Elton was asked to sing a tribute song for the funeral. He called Bernie and said he needed some lyrics, something like “Candle in the Wind.” Bernie misunderstood and thought he just wanted new lyrics to the song about Marilyn. By the time they got together and realized what had happened it was too late to come up with something new. (I always thought it sounded odd, too. I still wonder what they would have come up with if not for the misunderstanding.)
Marilyn's real name was Norma Jean Baker, and Elton wrote the music but his partner Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics. He was basically done as a metaphor for celebrities who died young. He just chose Marilyn Monroe, but said the song could have just as easily been about other celebrities who died young like James Dean, Janis Joplin or Jim Morrison.
I love Elton John💯❤️ and this is one of my favourites!!!🔥😍🔥
Something about Elton John that is so often overlooked (not by Elton though) is the Awesome Talent of the Elton John band.
In this song you can hear it in virtually every aspect - especially those awesome backing vocals of Davey, Dee, and Nigel... unbelievably great!
Elton didn't write the lyrics to this song, his friend and long time lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote the words and Elton set it to music. Which is pretty much how they always worked.
You can't go wrong with Elton, he is legendary and has great music. He can lower your blood pressure.
Elton (and Bernie) were just feeling the effects of superstardom when he did tis song, so he was feeling a bit like he understood what she was going through. This is off his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road LP, which also deals with the issues of stardom.
Marilyn loved Ella Fitzgerald. Ella couldn't sing at a club because she was black. Marilyn told the manager that if he would book Ella for the week, she would reserve a table front and center. This meant instant press coverage and a packed house for the week. Marilyn kept her promise and sat at her table every night for a week. Ella said that after this she never had another issue about getting a place to play regardless of color.
Touching tribute, phenomenal backing vocals, beautiful lyrics, great electric guitar
Her name was Norma Jean Baker. Elton John was 17 years old when Marilyn died, him and Bernie wrote the song because he understood what she went through, he saw the person not just the sex symbol.
Seeing this performed LIVE in 1975 MSG everyone lighting lighters in a darkened arena and Elton was in his early teens when she died 1962
I feel SOOOOO old lol. Not knowing the reference to this songs subject clearly is a sign of my age. But Im glad you listened to it... it's all about how the "business" of being famous uses you up and creates a product, not a person. So so sad.....even to this day it is still this way. Good reaction.
Yes, Elton is talking about Marilyn Monroe (Born, Norma Jeane). But no, they were not friends. It is just a beautiful tribute song to her. "Originally, "Candle in the Wind" was meant to celebrate another star. It's 1973 release, introduced by the words "Goodbye, Norma Jean," Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin paid tribute to Marilyn Monroe - describing not so much the film star as the turbulent life of a sensitive person destroyed by her stardom". Very beautiful song x
I do love this version of the song...in particular, the vocals from the band. Their harmonies were angelic.
She was a very good actress and a wonderful comedienne also. Niagara and Bus Stop show her dramatic ability and Some Like It Hot, a comedy, is often rated the greatest comedy ever filmed.
FROM ELTON'S EPICCCCC ( 73 ) DOUBLE ALBUM ( GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD ) 😊
The word rain is actually spelled reign like a reign of a queen of cinema in Marilyn's case.and yes she was involved with John F Kennedy and his Brother Robert as well.
When he sang this for Princess Diana's funeral, he changed up some of the lyrics to personalize it. Both versions are beautiful. This version is referring to Marilyn & a guy named Mark Metal posted great background info on this song & on Norma Jean AKA Marilyn. Us old folks remember it well. The song can describe the loss of many folks, gone too soon. The version for Princess Di AKA England's Rose is also on UA-cam if ya wanna check it out..
He wrote it because like Elvis, she was a star when he was growing up. Remember this was back in the day before the internet and what we saw in UK of America was totally different. He is saying he watched her in her iconic films as a kid going to the cinema and he saw her as a person, not how she was portrayed as a sex symbol in the media. He saw her life was full of trauma (which it was) and yes her name was Norma Jean but look at why it was changed!
Love this song when it came out, fell in love with it even more when he redid it for Princess Diana's funeral. Please watch that video! Bring tissues 😢 🤧 😭
My favorite song from the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album. Many wonderful memories.
BJ, I dig your lid.
Good-bye Norma Jean, a absolutely great song , although a different person Good-bye England’s Rose, was the most touching tribute to Lady Diana, you could ever offer up. Bernie Taupin, Elton John , thanks for all your lyrics, music.
There are two lines in the song that always made me wonder if the writer saw her on stage when he was a boy and was star struck by her "Goodbye Norma Jean From the young man in the 22nd row" and in the chorus "I would have liked to have known you but I was just a kid". One of my favorite Elton songs, without a doubt.
At the cinema.
In the 1980's, Elton performed this song live in Australia as a part of his televised concert there. It was released as a single and became a #1 hit in the USA!
Another Bernie Taupin lyrical masterwork set to music by Sir Elton.
A complete EJ classic....one of my all time favs!!! Yes it's a tribute to actress Marilyn Monroe( Norma Jean)...she died the year I was born in 62 ...and 60 years later her "legend" still lives on...No he didn't know her but wished he had due to her lasting iconic fame but at the time he was "just a kid"... also the song was adapted when Princess Diana passed away...both died differently but tragically and are still legendary from their time and perspective...
He later became "very good friends" with Princess Diana. Elton John played the piano and sang this at Diana's funeral..Never forget that day! Thank you for the reaction!
Elton's songwriting partner wrote the lyrics, Elton writes the music. They wrote this song as a tribute to Norma Jean/Marilyn.
Having grown up in the day, I had always assumed Elton John felt an affinity for Marilyn as he was rising to the same celebrity status she had, with people pulling on him from all directions. He wrote this song in a dual mode, not only an ode to her, but saying that he felt the same way with his own life, that stardom doesn't speak to the pains and tribulations he felt in his personal life.
Actress "Natalie Wood," said this of Marilyn: “I had known her and seen her days before her death. Her beauty, charming wit, and joy of life seemed paradoxical to the tense loneliness which she faced in her life, and was to me, clearly apparent. I realized that her tragedy reminds us all how vulnerable we are, and I chose to try to be stronger.”
The Song was about how Marilyn was so alone. She had to question every friendship and relationship... Were they "friends of Norma Jean" or "Part of Marilyn's entourage"? The people she counted on the most were the people watching her spiral out of control but didn't do anything to stop her, and some even Anonymously fed the media about her "Scandalous Behavior".
Elton re-worked the Lyrics as a heartfelt Tribute to Princess Diana, and sang it at her Memorial. It was Called "Goodbye England's Rose".
I always tear up whenever I hear this song.
IIRC when the lyrics were rewritten for Princess Di, Elton vowed he would never perform the song again. Not sure if he held to that, but I remember hearing it at the time.
Yep, it is about Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean), whom Elton did not know personally. He is singing about the tragedy of being a lonely superstar.
I remember when he re-wrote the lyrics to "Goodbye,Englands Rose" as he dedicated it to Princess Diana after that horrible car accident. I went on to buy the cd single with pocket money. I even think proceeds of that sale went to charity. "Your candle went out so long before your legend ever did",aint that a deep line. Candle meaning her life and she died very young (Marilyn Monroe),but the legend after her will continue to keep on burning,according to Elton. And i felt like it suited both Marilyn and Princess Diana perfectly.
Elton was only a child when Marilyn died,but as he stated himself: "He could see the pain through her glamour". He attached himself alot to her,call it a form of idolizing from childhood into his teens and so on. Wich lead to him writing a song to/about her. He also followed Princess Diana closely,and saw alot of the same struggles and pain in her life,and how loved she was by the people. Alot of similarities between theese 2 women. Elton first met Princess Diana at prince Andrews 21st birthday,and it was quite the meeting for him: "When I arrived there was no one there but the dance band and Princess Diana. We danced the Charleston alone on the floor for twenty minutes." So unlike Marilyn Monroe,Elton and Princess Diana established a good friendship right away.
Bernie wrote the lyrics he had a thing for American culture and gave them to Elton who wrote the music.
Strong emotions whenever I hear it. The alternative he did for Princess Di is well worth a listen as well.
I was kid too I was in awe of Marilyn Monroe she was a phenomenon like a goddess . so when she died her fame ,her ledgend lived on, the world was not ready to let go of Marilyn almost like when princes Diana died no one wanted to believe it was true and did not want to let go.
I absolutely love your reactions guys! This song is a tough song for me to get through without tears falling down my face. I know written for Marilyn Monroe, but it brings back the feeling I had when Princess Diana died. 😢❤
Yes about her
Marilyn also grew up in an orphanage and her mother was a schizophrenic, her dad left when she was a baby or before she was born, so she had a lot of insecurities and emotional battles. So the song refers to her or anyone who's had a hard road to travel, like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in.
Though not historically accurate, Indian Sunset gets me in the feels everytime
I had forgotten about the line in this about the press hounding her. It gives another layer to the version he did for Diana after she died.
I just saw a list the other day of top songs for each of the 90s and this was the top song of 1997, although I imagine it was the Diana version.
I love this song❤. I love the tribute he did for princess Diana when he remade this song for her. Elton is just to good.
The great majority of lyrics to Elton’s song were written by Bernie Taupin. Bernie would write the lyrics and Elton would compose the music. Legendary song writing team.
My Dad played the drums from the age of 16, he was a blues man, but all music through the 60s, 70s, and beyond was a part of life. He collected vinyl albums, had a HUGE collection, which unfortunately was sold in later years. When those albums were sold, I still had Elton John's Yellow Brick Road, I had borrowed it and he forgot, so it didn't get sold with the rest. This song is on that album, it's the only one I have left, so it means so very much to me. Thank you for this one, you two, so much love for this.
He was a kid... Yes its about Marilyn Monroe!!! Love love this song!!!!
Elton John Re recorded this song with New Lyrics and a New Release written for Princess Diana in 1997. It was a single CD with only One Song. The Cd is Called Candle In The Wind 1997...( Goodbye England's Rose ) It was a tribute song to her at her funeral. I will always cherish my copy.
To answer Asia's comment on whether or not she sang JFK Happy Birthday. Not only DID she "do it that way", she did it in front of an entire auditorium of people INCLUDING Jackie Kennedy! And she did it in a very flimsy dress that was so tight she had to be sewn into it!!
I am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe. Bernie Taupin is a genius, its mind boggling that he was able to write such a tribute to her in just under 300 words. They never met her which he told us in his lyrics: "And I would've liked to know you. But I was just a kid."
His band had some of the best harmonies!
A masterpiece.
melancholic, tragic, sad but beautiful song 🎵.
- C '23
This song makes me cry…doing it now. A woman who was exploited/victimized from childhood to her death.
About maryln monroe. ( Norma Jean) was her real name. Norma Jean Baker
Marilyn's mother was committed to an insane asylum when Norma was just two years old. Norma spent years in various foster care. She never knew her father. A photographer noticed her at sixteen where she worked building parachutes for the army. She was a natural and soon became a model. She starting getting bits in movies. She became the star. She was so lonely. I love you Marilyn
All the answers to your questions about this song are in the lyrics, please pay attention. Love your channel and reactions!
I remember when he performed this song with changed lyrics for Princess Diana's funeral. He said it was taking everything he had to not cry. I love the original version too. I love Marilyn Monroe. Her story is heartbreaking. All she wanted was to be loved and all she had around her were people who would use and abuse her. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are an incredible pair. Perhaps the movie about them, "Rocketman", could be a movie reaction for you both. 😎👍
He sang a new version at Princess Diana’s funeral called Goodbye English Rose at Diana’s funeral. He was friends with Princess Diana
Yes, This song is about Marilyn Monroe. He also sang this song at Princess Diana’s funeral and slightly changed some of the lyrics. I actually prefer that version. It’s worth a listen as well
Good bye England’s rose or something
I by far prefer the original version in this video, but to each his own.
I prefer the live version on the concert from Sydney CD.
This song was re adapted by Elton for Princess Diane’s Funeral and he performed it at her Funeral!😢
Dig a little into this song and you realise how incredible it is.
It's fitting that a picture of Kobe is in between you two with this song playing. RIP Kobe and a great song.
Bernie 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." Taupin has noted that the theory about him being a "rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic" has been a common misconception: "It's not that I didn't have respect for her. It's just that the song could just as easily have been about James Dean or Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf. I mean, basically, anybody, any writer, actor, actress, or musician who died young and sort of became this iconic picture of Dorian Gray, that thing where they simply stopped aging. It's a beauty frozen in time".
And if Elton hadn’t turned his life around (drug and alcohol addiction) would have been about him too. Thank GOD he survived all that!!!
Singing an ode to the short, but bright shooting star life of Norma Jean. Better known to the world as Marilyn Monroe.
I still remember, when I was very young, my mom's friend asked mom "Did you hear that Marilyn Monroe died?" I didn't know who they were speaking of. Her real name was Norma Jean.
My favourite Elton John song, and he's had some classics
It’s Marylin. Norma Jean is her birth name. The song is a tribute. There’s actually a great video that they put with the song in the ‘80’s. I think Elton re-recorded it with just his piano accompaniment. The video shows early film footage when she was just Norma Jean with red hair, before her fame image blond. The lyric lays it all out, not only that it’s her, but in the hook Elton sings, ‘I would’ve LIKED to know you but I was just a kid’, which is factual. So he did not know her. The ‘candle’ is metaphoric, symbolizing her life, which I think ya’ll got. What’s probably slightly inaccurate in reaction, is that she ‘did what everybody else was doin,’. Maybe that’s not exactly what you meant, but there had been absolutely no one like Marylin to that time, in terms of the effect she had on people, on screen & real life persona. On top of that it’s believe she had affairs with both JFK & his brother RFK. So when she sang happy birthday to him live on national television, in her sultry breathy voice & the dress to match, the scandalous connotations to that was huge. Now if you meant that she went along with what her handlers did, like agents & producers, or studios like MGM, then you’re more likely on point. It’s definitely sad cause she died after being on the phone in a drug induced state, talking out of her head to actor Peter Lawford, & supposedly she was found naked, partially covered by sheets. So the press had a field day with that. What’s worse, her death was reported as suicide, but many believed she was ‘put to sleep’ by federal order, possibly to cover up her involvement with the president. Nothing has been proven though. Another somber note is that in the late ‘90’s, Elton was at the funeral of Gianni Versace, sitting next to Lady Dianna. They were actually good friends, & she was seen consoling Elton as he grieved. A few weeks later, she was gone, & Elton was asked to sing at Dianna’s funeral. He sang Candle I’m the Wind, but changed lyrics to start out: "Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts." Elton said, in another kind of way, Lady Dianna also had an incredible effect on men.
HER FILMS, HER TALENT, THIS WAS A COMPLETE TRIBUTE SONG FOR HER! 😊 ELTON'S JUST ( 15 ) WHEN SHE PASSES, HE WAS BORN IN 47 ASIA SO HE KNOWS OF HER WORK AT LEAST 😊
Yes it was about Marilyn Monroe. You should listen to the one in Princess Diana's funeral. That one said; "Goodbye England's rose", in the beginning.
Candle In The Wind is a tribute song. Bernie Taupin was a fan of Merilyn Monroe.
Remember guys Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics NOT Elton.
Elton's long time lyricist, Bernie Taupin, wrote the lyrics for Candle In The Wind. Elton does not write his own lyrics, but he can write music for anyone elses lyrics. For proof, check out the video by Elton called The Oven Song.
She said a quote that become very profound. She said I don't mind it being a mans world as long as I can be a woman in it..
#AsiaAndBjReact Yall would love Elton John's songs "Madman across the water" (a heavy powerhouse song) & "Indian sunset" (ballad about American Indian legends) and as usual with Elton, these two songs have excellent, meaningful lyrics. Yall will love these two, I garuntee.
🙏 God Bless you and yours 💘
It was originally written for Marilyn Monroe, but Elton re-wrote it for Princess Di when she passed on. ❤ Norma Jean was Marilyn's birth name. Thanks y'all, I love this one
Elton was asked to sing it because it was Diana's favourite song but he felt it was to close to home so he told them ask Bernie Taupin to rewrite the lyrics
He changed a few words and dedicated it to princess Diana when she died too. Both profound ladies.