Global InformationCandle in the Wind 1997 information
| "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" | ||||
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| Single by Elton John | ||||
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| B-side | "You Can Make History (Young Again)" | |||
| Released | 13 September 1997 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
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| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| Elton John singles chronology | ||||
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"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a song 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.
After being released, "Candle in the Wind 1997" entered at number one in the UK Singles Chart, John's fourth UK number-one single, and became the best-selling single in UK chart history.[1][2] In October it became John's ninth (and final) US number-one single, where it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks (and John's final top 40 hit as a solo artist), and is the best-selling single in Billboard history; it was the first single certified Diamond in the US.[3] The song also topped the German Singles Chart for seven weeks, the Australian Singles Chart for six weeks, and many other music charts around the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the second highest-selling physical single of all time (behind Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" from 1942),[4][5] and is the highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s.[6][7]
The 1997 version won John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1998.[8] At the 1998 Brit Awards the song was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single. The lyrics of the earlier version of "Candle in the Wind", also written by Taupin, were a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The opening lines of the 1973 version, "Goodbye Norma Jean / though I never knew you at all", were adapted to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts". Most of the lyrics were adapted to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death.
- ^ Copsey, Rob (19 September 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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- ^ Guinness Book of Records, 2007 Edition, page 187 Archived 15 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Records, Guinness World (2008). Guinness Book of Records 2009 states that "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the "best-selling single since charts began"; however, not of all time. Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is still recognized as the best selling single of all time, but since it was released prior to the start of many charts, its sales prior to the 1950s are estimated. John's 1997 song has sold the most copies when looking at copies sold since charts began, as verified in Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records. ISBN 978-1-904994-37-4. See also: Guinness Book of Records, 2009 Edition, pages 14, 15 & 169 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
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