Elton John's England's Rose turns 20

Two famous women. Both died in August, each with a tragic ending and for both of them a celebrated British singer-songwriter dedicated the same song to him with slight variants. But this is not the only coincidence between Marilyn Monroe and Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales. By the time of her death, the American diva and who could have been queen of England were 36 years old. To make matters worse, there are "conspiracy theories" that underlie these stories, where hypotheses arise that hold dark interests to send such relevant characters to the "beyond."

The protagonist of tapes like All About Eve (1950) and Some Like it Hot (1959) dies the dawn of 5 of August of 1962. In the death certificate it is indicated like cause "probable suicide", and the matter is left of that Size after being determined an overdose of barbiturates in the body of the Hollywood sex symbol.

Eleven years after this event shocked show business, Elton John composed and included the song "Candle in the Wind" on his 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and reached # 11 on the British Billboard. The beginning of the subject alludes to the true name of the star, Norma Jean, and enters into a poetic radiograph of the human being tormented by fame. The typical situation where the girl is single origin is overwhelmed by a world for which she was not emotionally prepared ...

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 are you?

More than just our Marilyn Monroe.

Almost a quarter of a century later, on August 31, 1997 the world attended the last chapter of a fairy tale turned into drama. One of the planet's most beloved, respected and admired women died in a traffic accident in what appeared to be a real escape from the harassing paparazzi to learn details of her controversial relationship with Emad El-Din magnate Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed Known as Dodi Al-Fayed

Lady Diana Spencer, the "Queen of Hearts," gave her last breath in an underground tunnel of the French capital, seeking to make a new life away from the failure that meant her passing by British royalty.

Once again the figure of Elton John appears, but this time the afflicted is not an admirer more of the exesposa of Carlos, the heir to the throne, but an intimate friend of Diana. And again "Candle in the Wind" emerges as a formula to honor another luminary that leaves very early and also in the middle of a personal horror.

Elton John performed the song live at Westminster Abbey in London during Lady Di's funeral and became a true anthem on all five continents, and billions of people met, in direct satellite transmission, the new version ...

Goodbye england's rose

May you ever grow in our hearts

You were the grace that placed itself

Where lives were torn apart

You called out to our country

And you whispered to those in pain

Now you belong to heaven

And the stars spell out your name

The theme, now praising the "rose of England", was arranged by the famous producer of The Beatles, George Martin, and soon became an international event. Estimates then point out that the single sold at a rate of six copies per second on all five continents.

Elton John has never again sung in public and was not included in later albums. The Princess of Wales Memorial Fund has received the "Candle in the Wind" benefits of 1997.

Two decades after the death of Diana reaffirms the friendship that united her to one of the most famous and successful songwriters of pop music. These days, the children of the princess, William and Harry, have given away some people objects from their mother for an exhibition on the occasion of the anniversary and where you can watch cassette tapes of Elton John albums.

Who knows if the singer gives a surprise and for this anniversary "breaks the silence" and re-interprets "Candle in the Wind", but the truth is that as it approaches August 31, and that same day, it will be a A recurring melody in radio (a media that Lady Di also loved) and as a documentary filling the audiovisual spaces.

By: Juan Ernesto Páez-Pumar