Hollywood nights: Bonus track "Candle in the Wind" Elton John (1973)

Tweet

There is no movie star name in the title but it is common knowledge that the original version of “Candle in the Wind” was inspired by Marilyn Monroe. “Goodbye Norma Jean” Bernie Taupin explained the sing is not specifically about Marilyn Monroe and that it could have referred to James Dean and others. The theme concerns how society glamorizes and immortalizes the famous who die young. From arguably Elton John’s greatest album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Candle in the Wind” reached UK #11 but uncharted in the US. The song was not released as a single in the US and the record label went with "Bennie and the Jets" instead. In 1997, John revamped “Candle in the Wind” in tribute to Princess Diana and that version enjoyed popular success.