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On 1st September 1997, as Britain was still reeling from Diana Princess of Wales\u2019 untimely death, Elton John\u2019s Candle in the Wind 1997 turned up on a shortlist of potential music to be performed at her funeral.\nThe song, which had been reworked and rerecorded in just a few days, had originally been written about Marilyn Monroe. The original had been a moderate success, charting at Number 5 in the UK charts and 6 in the US. The 1997 update, meanwhile, which was released the day after the princess\u2019s funeral stormed straight to the top of the UK and US singles charts \u2013 and did the same in countless countries around the world.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly ask why people\u2019s feelings about the song soured so swiftly; discuss which other song was being considered for funeral; and explain which lyrics from the original were thought to be too spicy to be included in the 1997 version\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\n\u2018Slow Burn: How Elton John's "Candle in the Wind '97"\u2014the Best-Selling Single in Music History\u2014Became a Royal Relic\u2019 (Mental Floss, 2022): https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/elton-john-candle-in-the-wind-97-princess-diana-tribute-song-history\xa0\n\n\u2018Princess Diana: Palace did not want Sir Elton John to sing at her funeral, newly released papers show\u2019 (Sky News, 2021): https://news.sky.com/story/princess-diana-palace-did-not-want-sir-elton-john-to-sing-at-her-funeral-newly-released-papers-show-12506086\n\n\n\u2018How Elton John\u2019s Candle in the Wind became the soundtrack of a nation\u2019s grief\u2019 (The Times, 2022) https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/princess-diana-funeral-music-25-year-anniversary-fkf7380ph\xa0\n\n\u2018Elton John - Candle in the Wind/Goodbye England's Rose (Live at Princess Diana's Funeral - 1997)\u2019 (BBC; 1997): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o9rLDCfO6o\xa0\n\n\n#UK #1990s #Royals #Arts #Music\nWe'll be back on Monday - unless you join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\U0001f334, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!\nPlus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\xa0Thanks!\n\xa0\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices