Thanks to Lorraine for sending along this great version of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind". Luckily, Rebecca Ferguson (finalist on the British TV show X Factor) went with the original Marilyn Monroe version.
Elton John said that he would never again sing the Diana version of Candle In The Wind after he played it at her funeral. He never gave a reason, but out of respect I guess.. so I knew that Rebecca would be singing the Marilyn version.
Out of interest.. what's your opinion on the Diana version? does it bother you that most people think of Diana when they hear that song now? or do you see it as a fitting tribute because people always compare Marilyn and Diana? both being the same age when they died and being seen as a tragic, insecure figure, hounded by the media? I wasn't a Marilyn fan in 1997 when I heard Elton John sing the revised version at Diana's funeral (incidently, I was fine watching the whole funeral, it was Candle In The Wind that made me cry!) And even then I thought "Hang on a minute, I don't think it's right to take a song intended for another and change the lyrics", I felt he could have written something new considering they were close friends. I'm wittering on a bit now!...
I think it was a poor song choice. Obviously, he didn't have the time or inspiration to create a completely new song. So it was rushed to just take a pre-existing song and change the lyrics a bit. I was a Marilyn fan and I thought it was disrespectful to both of them. A better choice would have been for him to perform "This is your Song" as is.
Elton John said that he would never again sing the Diana version of Candle In The Wind after he played it at her funeral. He never gave a reason, but out of respect I guess.. so I knew that Rebecca would be singing the Marilyn version.
ReplyDeleteOut of interest.. what's your opinion on the Diana version? does it bother you that most people think of Diana when they hear that song now? or do you see it as a fitting tribute because people always compare Marilyn and Diana? both being the same age when they died and being seen as a tragic, insecure figure, hounded by the media?
I wasn't a Marilyn fan in 1997 when I heard Elton John sing the revised version at Diana's funeral (incidently, I was fine watching the whole funeral, it was Candle In The Wind that made me cry!) And even then I thought "Hang on a minute, I don't think it's right to take a song intended for another and change the lyrics", I felt he could have written something new considering they were close friends.
I'm wittering on a bit now!...
I think it was a poor song choice. Obviously, he didn't have the time or inspiration to create a completely new song. So it was rushed to just take a pre-existing song and change the lyrics a bit. I was a Marilyn fan and I thought it was disrespectful to both of them. A better choice would have been for him to perform "This is your Song" as is.
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