Writers: Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics)
Producer: Gus Dudgeon
Recorded: May 1973, Strawberry Studios, France
Released: October 1973 (album); live single released September 1987
| Players: | Elton John–vocals, piano Davey Johnstone–guitar, backing vocals Dee Murray–bass, backing vocals Nigel Olsson–drums, backing vocals |
| Album: | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (MCA, 1973) |
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, Elton John took his new name from Elton Dean and Long John Baldry, members of his '60s band Bluesology.
Lyricist Bernie Taupin has said “Candle In The Wind” is really about the way the media treats stars, and that with a few changes the song could be about James Dean instead of Marilyn Monroe.
The video for the single features footage of Monroe as well as John performing the song.
Released as a live single in the U.S. in September 1987, it peaked at Number Six.
John dueted with Olivia Newton-John on this song on her 1980 TV special.
The song provided a title–and a soundtrack–for a TV movie bio of Monroe.
A 1994 book of the same title mixed the song's lyrics with photos of Monroe.
John’s 1997 remake of the song, written for and performed at Princess Diana's funeral, has become the biggest selling single of all time, with more than eight million copies in print.
