Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the ... - John, Elton (CD 1997)

Note: I chose this recording as the subject of my 97th epinion because Princess Diana left us in 1997. Princess Diana left us on August 31, 1997 when she perished in a terrible car crash. A week later, for an opinion writing class I recall writing an essay called "Who Killed Princess Diana? We did." Our curiosity fueled the Paparazzi's relentless pursuit of her.

Well, on to the song. The original "Candle in the Wind" was written in 1973, as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who, like Princess Diana, also died at age 36. "Candle" was a cut on Elton's album, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." However, I was unaware of this song until the fall of 1987, when a live version of the song reached the top 10.

Because there were only a few days before the princess's funeral, Elton John and Bernie Taupin had to come up with new lyrics in a hurry. However, they succeeded in spades, as this was one of the most poignant songs I have ever heard:

Goodbye England's Rose,
May you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart.
You called out to our country,
And you whispered to those in pain.
Now you belong to Heaven,
And the stars spell out your name.

It is hard not to shed a tear when you hear these heart-piercing words. These words comforted many millions of grieving people worldwide at that time. I recall that week well because Mother Teresa died that same week, as did a personal friend of mine named Kevin.


And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here,
Along England's greenest hills;
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend ever will.

Like Marilyn Monroe, the princess's life was extinguished long before her time. The princess was a down-to-earth figure who had a populist appeal--an antithesis to that stereotypical, dreary staid reputation that often accompanied royal figures.

The song on the B-side, "Something About the Way You Look Tonight," was a well-written song in its own right. It had been released as an A-side only a week or two before. It is a heartfelt, well-written song that struck a chord with adult-contemporary audiences, making it a major hit on that chart. This B-side actually received a lot more airplay than "Candle." I actually heard "Candle" only a few times on the radio--the song didn't fit in with the likes of Robyn, Aqua, or Third Eye Blind, so it was relegated to AC.

Still, because of huge sales, eclipsing even "We Are the World," Elton John's tribute logged three months at #1 on the Billboard pop charts, from Oct. 11, 1997 to Jan. 10, 1998.

"Candle in the Wind 1997" was a fitting tribute to Princess Diana, a sincere woman who had an untimely death. I identified with Diana because she was the same age I was--at the crossroads between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. Elton John's vocal delivery was just what people needed to hear--a soothing, empathic voice that connected with millions, if not billions of listeners.