A song for two 20th century icons tragically lost
Elton John first released this song in 1973 and dedicated it to the late Marilyn Monroe, who had passed away in 1962. He cowrote the classic tune with Bernie Taupin as a tribute to her and her memory though he never knew her, since he would have been only 15 years old when she died.
The song examines Monroe as a human being, and not simply the iconic image that popular culture makes her out to be. It also looks at how society objectifies its stars and turns them into money and fame machines at the price of their souls. Monroe’s time in Hollywood and the world was brief but she has made one of the most lasting impressions.
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson and rose to fame in films and musicals such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and The Seven Year Itch. She is also famous for her well-known rendition of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Monroe’s onscreen presence is complete with a breathy voice, bleach blonde hair, and an hourglass figure.
The former Mortenson married and divorced several men, and was even rumoured to have had an affair with President John F. Kennedy. Her death reeks of conspiracy theories to this day because it was never fully investigated. Monroe died of a drug overdose, but the possibilities of suicide and murder have been suspected.
Fifty years later she is still idolized throughout popular culture and remains an elusive symbol of sexuality and promise in the world. An animated spirit that everyone still attempts to duplicate, Monroe still appears on numerous posters and various pop culture memorabilia. She enjoyed posing for the camera and “hamming it up,” always winking and pouting her lips.
Actresses in Hollywood continue to mimic her look and remake her image; Michelle Williams most recently portrayed her in the 2011 film My Week with Marilyn.
“Candle in the Wind” was echoed more than once, becoming a tribute to others who had suffered in the spotlight and in life.
At a concert in 1990, Elton John sang the song for a young man who was dying of AIDS named Ryan White. White passed away the next day. He contracted AIDS from a faulty blood transfusion a few years earlier, but because of the negative connotations surrounding AIDS at the time, not everyone supported him through his ordeal.
The song resonated again in 1997 for another late icon: Princess Diana. The lyrics were greatly changed to cater to the Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash presumed to be caused by paparazzi. There are also many conspiracy theories related to her death. Princess Diana was mother to Prince William and Prince Harry, and was married to Prince Charles but divorced him a year before her death. Elton John performed the reworked song at Princess Diana’s funeral.
What makes this song so memorable is that although it has been written twice for two icons of the twentieth century who died both prematurely and in the spotlight, it can be applied to anyone who has suffered and is searching for something to “cling to when the rain set in.”
