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.
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.
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. 🧡
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.
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.
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.
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
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...
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.
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.
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
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."
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.
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.
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.)
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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..
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 TH-cam if ya wanna check it out..
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.
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.
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.
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 😢 🤧 😭
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.
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.
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.”
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...
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.
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.
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!
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. 😢❤
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
Not only were the characters she portrayed in films fictional but "Marilyn Monroe" was a fictional character she portrayed as well. The movie star was confident, comfortable with her sexuality, and happy. The real person was terrified of disappointing others. As a child she had been tossed about from one foster home to another and spent two years in an orphanage. At some point in her childhood she was a victim of sexual abuse and to make matters worse the adults around her who found out about it condemned her for it. She struggled for many years with psychiatric disturbances. There's an anecdote about Marilyn that succinctly shows that the movie star (Marilyn Monroe) and the real person (Norma Jean) were nothing alike. Supposedly Marilyn was visiting a producer at his home. The housekeeper walked into the kitchen and there was Marilyn by herself. The two chatted a bit and the maid said: "I can't believe you're Marilyn Monroe!" and Marilyn replied: "I can't believe it either." www.vanityfair.com/culture/2010/11/marilyn-monroe-201011?fbclid=IwAR0BnWcR9t58HihdXHpynfT-AhpEIB9cvZpPQnaGKQLWWOsHjfjn8yP1GmE
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".
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!!
#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 💘
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
Elton didnt write his songs words, his partner Bernie Taupin did. he wrote it because as a kid he was crushing on her, and when she died , all the press talked about was she was naked in bed. he thought that was messed up, and these lyrics are that tribute.
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. 😎👍
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".
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.
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.
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
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
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 💞
Yes is about Marylin... he also sang it at Princess Di funeral
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!!❤
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.
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.
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!!!
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...
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.
Touching tribute, phenomenal backing vocals, beautiful lyrics, great electric guitar
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.
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.
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
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 😊
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."
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.
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.
I love Elton John💯❤️ and this is one of my favourites!!!🔥😍🔥
Yes 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.)
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!
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.
FROM ELTON'S EPICCCCC ( 73 ) DOUBLE ALBUM ( GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD ) 😊
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.
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
Another Bernie Taupin lyrical masterwork set to music by Sir Elton.
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.
I saw him in concert in November and when he played this song he had the most beautiful pictures of her across the screen. ❤
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..
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
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
You can't go wrong with Elton, he is legendary and has great music. He can lower your blood pressure.
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 TH-cam if ya wanna check it out..
My favorite song from the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album. Many wonderful memories.
BJ, I dig your lid.
Though not historically accurate, Indian Sunset gets me in the feels everytime
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.
About maryln monroe. ( Norma Jean) was her real name. Norma Jean Baker
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.
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.
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 😢 🤧 😭
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.
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.
This is a great song. 💯❤
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.”
Strong emotions whenever I hear it. The alternative he did for Princess Di is well worth a listen as well.
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...
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.
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.
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!
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. 😢❤
It a good memory song
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.
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.
A masterpiece.
melancholic, tragic, sad but beautiful song 🎵.
- C '23
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!
This song makes me cry…doing it now. A woman who was exploited/victimized from childhood to her death.
I just love watching you two explore and learn.
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.
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.
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
Hello from Cody Wyoming! You guys are awesome...please never stop...you helped me get through my day😊
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!
My favourite Elton John song, and he's had some classics
Elton's songwriting partner wrote the lyrics, Elton writes the music. They wrote this song as a tribute to Norma Jean/Marilyn.
Candle In The Wind is a tribute song. Bernie Taupin was a fan of Merilyn Monroe.
Not only were the characters she portrayed in films fictional but "Marilyn Monroe" was a fictional character she portrayed as well. The movie star was confident, comfortable with her sexuality, and happy. The real person was terrified of disappointing others. As a child she had been tossed about from one foster home to another and spent two years in an orphanage. At some point in her childhood she was a victim of sexual abuse and to make matters worse the adults around her who found out about it condemned her for it. She struggled for many years with psychiatric disturbances. There's an anecdote about Marilyn that succinctly shows that the movie star (Marilyn Monroe) and the real person (Norma Jean) were nothing alike. Supposedly Marilyn was visiting a producer at his home. The housekeeper walked into the kitchen and there was Marilyn by herself. The two chatted a bit and the maid said: "I can't believe you're Marilyn Monroe!" and Marilyn replied: "I can't believe it either."
www.vanityfair.com/culture/2010/11/marilyn-monroe-201011?fbclid=IwAR0BnWcR9t58HihdXHpynfT-AhpEIB9cvZpPQnaGKQLWWOsHjfjn8yP1GmE
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".
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.
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.
His band had some of the best harmonies!
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 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.
Singing an ode to the short, but bright shooting star life of Norma Jean. Better known to the world as Marilyn Monroe.
He was a kid... Yes its about Marilyn Monroe!!! Love love this song!!!!
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.
All the answers to your questions about this song are in the lyrics, please pay attention. Love your channel and reactions!
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!!
#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 💘
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.
Elton didnt write his songs words, his partner Bernie Taupin did. he wrote it because as a kid he was crushing on her, and when she died , all the press talked about was she was naked in bed. he thought that was messed up, and these lyrics are that tribute.
He sang a new version at Princess Diana’s funeral called Goodbye English Rose at Diana’s funeral. He was friends with Princess Diana
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. 😎👍
This song was re adapted by Elton for Princess Diane’s Funeral and he performed it at her Funeral!😢
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..
It's fitting that a picture of Kobe is in between you two with this song playing. RIP Kobe and a great song.
This song can make a man cry.....
Absolutely absolutely one of best that ever did it
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!!!
He sang this at Diana’s funeral too. Not a dry eye in the house.