Candle in the Wind

Last updated

"Candle in the Wind"
Single by Elton John
from the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
B-side "Bennie and the Jets"
Released22 February 1974 (1974-02-22)
RecordedMay 1973
Studio
Genre
Length3:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Bennie and the Jets"
(1974)		"Candle in the Wind"
(1974)		"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1974)
Audio
"Candle in the Wind" on YouTube
YearNominee / workAwardResult
1988"Candle in the Wind (live 1986)" Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male [13] Nominated

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987–1988)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [15] 92
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [16] 5
Germany (GfK) [17] 55
Ireland (IRMA) [8] 4
UK Singles (OCC) [18] 5
US Billboard Hot 100 [19] 6
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [20] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] [22] 71

1997 version

"Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose" was a new recording of "Candle in the Wind", with new lyrics, written and recorded as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales who had died in an auto crash on 31 August 1997. Released in September 1997, the song peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom, becoming John's fourth No. 1 single. It also peaked at No. 1 in several other countries. This version was produced by George Martin. Guinness World Records lists this version as the second-best selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold [23] and as the highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s.

2003 acoustic remix

Using the same vocal take as the original 1973 recording, engineer Greg Penny stripped away all instrumentation except Davey Johnstone's acoustic guitar. Even the double-tracking of the lead vocal was removed, leaving Elton and the original backing vocal arrangement of Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone. The remix first appeared as a bonus track on the 30th Anniversary edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and subsequently on the 2003 EP Remixed .

Live performances

From its release until in 1984, John heavily performed this song with his band. [24] From 1985 onwards, John played it solo mostly at the encore of his concerts and he rarely played this song with the band since then. [24]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tumbleweed Connection</i> 1970 studio album by Elton John

Tumbleweed Connection is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London, in March 1970, and released in October 1970 in the UK and January 1971 in the US. It is a concept album based on country and western and Americana themes. All songs are written by John and Bernie Taupin, with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan.

<i>Honky Château</i> 1972 studio album by Elton John

Honky Château is the fifth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 19 May 1972, and was titled after the 18th century French chateau where it was recorded, Château d'Hérouville. The album reached number one on the US Billboard 200, the first of John's seven consecutive US number one albums.

<i>Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</i> 1973 album by Elton John

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by English singer, pianist, and composer Elton John. A double album, it was released on 5 October 1973, by DJM Records. Recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in France, the album became a double LP once John and his band became inspired by the locale. Among the 17 tracks, the album contains the hits "Candle in the Wind", US number-one single "Bennie and the Jets", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", along with the live favourite "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding".

<i>Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy</i> 1975 studio album by Elton John

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 23 May 1975 by DJM Records in the UK and MCA Records in the US. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin. An instant commercial success, the album was certified gold before its release, and reached No. 1 in its first week of release on the US Billboard 200, the first album to achieve both honours. It sold 1.4 million copies within four days of release, and stayed in the top position in the chart for seven weeks.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Elton John album) 1974 greatest hits album by Elton John

Greatest Hits is the eleventh official album release for English musician Elton John, and the first compilation. Released on 8 November 1974, it spans the years 1970 to 1974, compiling ten of John's singles, with one track variation for releases in North America and for Europe and Australia. It topped the album chart in both the United States and the United Kingdom, staying at number one for ten consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and eleven weeks on the UK Albums Chart. In Canada, it was number one for 13 weeks between 14 December 1974, and 22 March 1975, missing only 28 December 1974, at number two to Jim Croce's Photographs & Memories.

Tiny Dancer 1972 single by Elton John

"Tiny Dancer" is a song written by English musician and composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water as its opening track, and was later produced and released as a single in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candle in the Wind 1997</span> 1997 single by Elton John

"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a threnody by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, a re-written and re-recorded version of their 1973 song "Candle in the Wind". It was released on 13 September 1997 as a tribute single to Diana, Princess of Wales, with the global proceeds from the song going towards Diana's charities. In many countries, it was pressed as a double A-side with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight". It was produced by Sir George Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something About the Way You Look Tonight</span> 1997 single by Elton John

"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" is a song by English musician Elton John, taken from his 25th studio album, The Big Picture. It was written by John and Bernie Taupin, and produced by Chris Thomas. It was released as the album's first single on 8 September 1997 by Mercury Records and the Rocket Record Company.

<i>Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits</i> 2000 live album by Elton John

Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits is a live album released by English musician Elton John in 2000. The album was recorded on 20 and 21 October 2000 at Madison Square Garden during his Medusa Tour. An extended version was also released as a DVD, entitled One Night Only: The Greatest Hits Live at Madison Square Garden. While the album is called One Night Only, it was in fact recorded over two nights. Due to technical issues on the first night, most of the recordings were drawn from the second show. In the US, it was certified gold in July 2001 by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (song)</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the title track on John's album of the same name. The titular road is a reference to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz film and book series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (sometimes written "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)") is a song originally recorded by English musician Elton John. John composed it with his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. It was released on John's best-selling album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and as the first single. It has been covered by many artists and featured on motion picture, video game, and television soundtracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennie and the Jets</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Bennie and the Jets" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song first appeared on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973. "Bennie and the Jets" has been one of John's most popular songs and was performed during his appearance at Live Aid.

<i>Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin</i> 1991 compilation album by various artists

Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin is a 1991 tribute album consisting of interpretations of sixteen songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The title refers to a song on John's album 21 at 33, "Two Rooms at the End of the World", and to the duo's unusual collaborative style; it is also the title of a 1991 film documenting their collaboration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club at the End of the Street</span> 1990 single by Elton John

"Club at the End of the Street" is an upbeat pop rock song composed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was included on John's album Sleeping with the Past in 1989 and released as its third single in 1990. The song describes a night on the town between two lovers at an undisclosed nightclub. In 2013, John stated on Rolling Stone that this song was one of his favourites. The song featured an animated music video. He performed it three times live during the One Night Only concerts in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrap Her Up</span> 1985 single by Elton John

"Wrap Her Up" is a song by English musician Elton John, released as the second single from his 1985 album, Ice on Fire. George Michael provides backing vocals on the song. The single had limited success worldwide.

The Too Low for Zero Tour was a concert tour by English musician and composer Elton John, in support of his 17th studio album Too Low for Zero. The tour consisted in 24 shows across Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road Tour was a concert tour by English musician Elton John taking place in North America and Europe in promotion of the 40th anniversary re-release of 1973's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harmony (Elton John song)</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Harmony" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the final song on the 1973 double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The song was recorded in May 1973, at Château d'Hérouville, France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket Man (song)</span> 1972 single, music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin

"Rocket Man(I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin and performed by John. It was originally released on 17 April 1972 in the US, as the lead single to John's album Honky Château. The song first charted in the UK on 22 April, rising to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a major hit single for John.

<i>Revamp & Restoration</i> 2018 dual tribute album to Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin and Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin are two tribute albums to English musician Elton John and his frequent songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, both released on 6 April 2018. Revamp was described as John's project and features covers of the duo's back catalogue by pop, rock and R&B artists, whereas Restoration was seen as Taupin's project and features covers by country music artists. Revamp was released via Island Records and Restoration by Universal Music Group Nashville. The release of the albums coincided with John's 2018–2023 Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

References

  1. ↑ Ben Brantley (11 October 2004). "Some Like It Hot, Some Like It Painted in Words". The New York Times . Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Behind the Song: Elton John, "Candle in the Wind"". September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Elton John- the Making of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Part 4". YouTube . 15 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "Elton John & Bernie Taupin on 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'". Rolling Stone . 14 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "Candle in the Wind ranked 356th greatest song". Rolling Stone . 11 December 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. pp. 158–159. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Candle in the Wind". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "flavour of new zealand – search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Elton John – Candle in the Wind". Radioscope. Retrieved 24 December 2024.Type Candle in the Wind in the "Search:" field.
  12. ↑ "British single certifications – Elton John – Candle in the Wind". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male". rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "About". Fred Mandel Music. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  15. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. pp. 158–159. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0932." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Elton John – Candle in the Wind" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988" . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Best-selling single". Guinness World Records . Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Candle in the Wind by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.