Posted on Sep 7, 2018
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“The people’s princess” was the label Great Britain’s newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair chose to use in describing the late Princess Diana in his first public statement following her death. It was a sensitive and understated way to refer to Diana’s tremendous popularity among the British public despite her estrangement from England’s royal family. Pop legend Elton John chose a more dramatic form of tribute: On September 6, 1997, at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, Elton John—a man not given to understatement—gave a tear-jerking performance of “Candle in the Wind,” his 1973 Marilyn Monroe tribute rewritten in honor of the deceased princess.
It is safe to say that Westminster Abbey had never seen a performance quite like the one Elton John gave on this day in 1997. But then Westminster Abbey had never seen a royal funeral quite like Diana’s, what with her brother, Earl Spencer, openly criticizing the royal family for mistreating her while television cameras beamed a live feed to the hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered directly outside and the millions more watching on television around the world. But it was Elton John’s performance, seated alone at a grand piano, which stole the show.
The version of “Candle in the Wind” that John performed that day included entirely new lyrics–he replaced the opening “Goodbye, Norma Jean…” with “Goodbye, England’s Rose“–hastily rewritten by Elton’s longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin. Recorded that same afternoon in a London studio with the legendary Beatles producer George Martin, the reworked song was released as a single under the name “Candle In The Wind 1997″ and went on to become a #1 pop hit on both sides of the Atlantic. While the song also managed to take the #4 spot on the “100 Worst Pop Records” list compiled by Britain’s Channel 4 in 2004, “Candle In The Wind 1997″ is one of the biggest-selling singles in the world since formal records have been kept, eclipsed on the all-time list only by Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
It is safe to say that Westminster Abbey had never seen a performance quite like the one Elton John gave on this day in 1997. But then Westminster Abbey had never seen a royal funeral quite like Diana’s, what with her brother, Earl Spencer, openly criticizing the royal family for mistreating her while television cameras beamed a live feed to the hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered directly outside and the millions more watching on television around the world. But it was Elton John’s performance, seated alone at a grand piano, which stole the show.
The version of “Candle in the Wind” that John performed that day included entirely new lyrics–he replaced the opening “Goodbye, Norma Jean…” with “Goodbye, England’s Rose“–hastily rewritten by Elton’s longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin. Recorded that same afternoon in a London studio with the legendary Beatles producer George Martin, the reworked song was released as a single under the name “Candle In The Wind 1997″ and went on to become a #1 pop hit on both sides of the Atlantic. While the song also managed to take the #4 spot on the “100 Worst Pop Records” list compiled by Britain’s Channel 4 in 2004, “Candle In The Wind 1997″ is one of the biggest-selling singles in the world since formal records have been kept, eclipsed on the all-time list only by Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
Elton John performs a re-written “Candle in the Wind” at Princess Diana’s funeral - Sep 06, 1997...
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Elton John - Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding
"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" is the opening song on the double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John. The first part, "Funeral for a Fri...
Thank you my friend TSgt Joe C. for reminding us as well as sharing the music video of Elton John performing Candle in the Wind/Goodbye England's Rose at former Princess Diana 's funeral in 1997.
I did not mourn for Diana. I do not begrudge those who did mourn for her - especially her sons. They merit prayers for their grief IMHO.
She lived a broken life and was broken in death in a high speed-car accident.
FYI I saw Elton John perform at Eisenhower Hall at West Point on October 27, 1979.
Candle in the Wind/Goodbye England's Rose
Lyrics
"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
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 never will
Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years
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 never will
Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
Goodbye England's rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you'll ever know
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 you footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will"
To be honest I prefer
Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding performed by Elton John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z314pQhLb2Q
FYI Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 John M. MSG Andrew White SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SCPO Morris Ramsey SGT Michael Thorin SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SSgt Brian Brakke Sgt Arthur Caesar SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
I did not mourn for Diana. I do not begrudge those who did mourn for her - especially her sons. They merit prayers for their grief IMHO.
She lived a broken life and was broken in death in a high speed-car accident.
FYI I saw Elton John perform at Eisenhower Hall at West Point on October 27, 1979.
Candle in the Wind/Goodbye England's Rose
Lyrics
"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
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 never will
Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years
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 never will
Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
Goodbye England's rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you'll ever know
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 you footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will"
To be honest I prefer
Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding performed by Elton John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z314pQhLb2Q
FYI Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 John M. MSG Andrew White SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SCPO Morris Ramsey SGT Michael Thorin SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SSgt Brian Brakke Sgt Arthur Caesar SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
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