John was raised in the Pinner suburb of London and learned to play piano at an early age, forming the blues band Bluesology in 1962. After leaving Bluesology in 1967 to embark on a solo career, John met Taupin after they both answered an advert for songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for other artists, and John worked as a session musician for artists. John released his debut album Empty Sky in 1969, and a year later formed the Elton John Band and released his first hit single, "Your Song".
John's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s when he released a streak of chart-topping albums in the US and UK, which began with Honky Château (1972) and culminated with Rock of the Westies (1975). John continued his success in the 1980s and 1990s, having several hit singles and albums in both decades, and has continued to record new music since then. He has also had success in musical films and theatre, composing music for The Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliot the Musical. In 2018, John began his ongoing farewell tour Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which is scheduled to conclude in 2023. The 2019 biopic Rocketman dramatized his life and career.
Outside of music, John is an HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser and has been involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s. He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, which has raised over £300 million since its inception, and a year later he began hosting his annual Foundation Academy Awards Party, which has since become one of the biggest high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. John was the chairman and director of Watford F.C, from 1976 to 1987, and again from 1997 to 2002, and is an honorary life president of the club. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s, John developed a severe addiction problem to drugs and alcohol but has been sober since 1990. He entered into a civil partnership with Canadian filmmaker David Furnish in 2005; they married after same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2014.
John has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including nine number-ones in the UK and US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", a rewritten version of his 1974 single in dedication to Princess Diana, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling chart single of all time. In 2021, John became the first solo artist with UK Top 10 singles across six decades.
John has received numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards; including for Outstanding Contribution to Music; two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, a Disney Legend Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and is a fellow of The Ivors Academy. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and charitable services in 1998 and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) in 2020.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John
Solo studio albums
Empty Sky (1969)
Elton John (1970)
Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
Madman Across the Water (1971)
Honky Château (1972)
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
Caribou (1974)
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
Rock of the Westies (1975)
Blue Moves (1976)
A Single Man (1978)
Victim of Love (1979)
21 at 33 (1980)
The Fox (1981)
Jump Up! (1982)
Too Low for Zero (1983)
Breaking Hearts (1984)
Ice on Fire (1985)
Leather Jackets (1986)
Reg Strikes Back (1988)
Sleeping with the Past (1989)
The One (1992)
Made in England (1995)
The Big Picture (1997)
Songs from the West Coast (2001)
Peachtree Road (2004)
The Captain & the Kid (2006)
The Diving Board (2013)
Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)
Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021)
Candle In The Wind 1
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the twenty second row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, one of Hollywood's most famous actresses of all time. The song reflects on Monroe's life and the struggles she faced to maintain her fame and fortune while navigating the pressures of the industry. From the beginning, the lyrics tell us that the singer never knew Monroe personally but acknowledges her grace and poise despite the corrupting influence of those around her. "You had the grace to hold yourself while those around you crawled" speaks to the challenges she faced while trying to achieve success.
The song also touches on Monroe's loneliness, describing it as her toughest role to play. Hollywood turned her into a superstar, but fame came at a high price that she ultimately paid with her life. "Loneliness was tough, the toughest role you ever played. Hollywood created a superstar, and pain was the price you paid." Fittingly, the song concludes with Elton John lamenting that he never had a chance to know Monroe and acknowledging that although her candle burned out long before her legend ever did.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye Norma Jean
Elton is saying farewell to Marilyn Monroe, using her real name
Though I never knew you at all
Elton never had the chance to meet Marilyn Monroe
You had the grace to hold yourself
Elton admires Marilyn's poise and elegance
While those around you crawled
Despite the negativity around her, Marilyn stood strong
They crawled out of the woodwork
Opportunists came out of nowhere to take advantage of Marilyn
And they whispered into your brain
People attempted to manipulate and control Marilyn
They set you on the treadmill
Marilyn was placed in a cycle of work and endless expectations
And they made you change your name
Marilyn was forced to change her identity for the sake of Hollywood
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Marilyn's life was fragile and unpredictable
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
Marilyn lacked a stable support system to turn to during tough times
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Elton regrets not being able to meet Marilyn in person
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Marilyn's legacy lives on, even though her life was cut short
Loneliness was tough
Marilyn struggled with feelings of isolation
The toughest role you ever played
Marilyn's personal life was more difficult than any character she portrayed on screen
Hollywood created a superstar
Marilyn's career success was largely due to the Hollywood system
And pain was the price you paid
Marilyn suffered emotionally in order to achieve fame
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
Even after her death, Marilyn was constantly scrutinized by the media
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
The media reduced Marilyn's legacy to sensationalized headlines
From the young man in the twenty second row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
Elton sees Marilyn as more than just a sex symbol or Hollywood icon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Harthen
on Sacrifice
not like todays crap
Peter Harthen
on Sacrifice
Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....