10 Rock Songs Written About Real People
8. Candle In The Wind - Elton John
By the time the mid 70's rolled around, Elton John was on a winning streak for the ages. He had one of the best bands in Britain at the time and was in the midst of a fantastic career partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin. As the band settled down in the English countryside to write the double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Taupin came up with a brilliant pastiche of the Hollywood lifestyle.
"Candle In the Wind" is a heartwrenching tale of Marilyn Monroe's life, from actress to sex symbol to eventual sad demise. Set to Elton's passionate melody, the song is filled with quiet admiration for Monroe, as she was able to hold herself together when her personal life seemed the most grim. While the lyric is centered around Monroe herself, it has the beauty of being able to be applied to many different superstars cut down in the prime of their lives.
The song even took on a new life in the 90's when John rewrote the words for Princess Diana as Britain paid her farewell after her tragic death. A truly touching tribute to those flickering lights of Hollywood that burn out before the world was ready for them to end.