Bernie Taupin has revealed he rewrote Elton John’s Candle In The Wind in just 30 minutes for Princess Diana’s funeral.
The legendary songwriter, 73, has given rare insight into his career, including the hidden meaning behind the iconic song, in his new memoir.
During Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show, Bernie revealed that Marilyn Monroe was not the original inspiration for Elton’s song when they were writing it together.
He said: ‘I liked the title of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s book, a metaphor for a life that ended too soon.
‘At the same time I saw The Misfits and was fascinated by Montgomery Clift, who died young.
Insight: Bernie Taupin has revealed he rewrote Elton John’s Candle In The Wind in just 30 minutes for Princess Diana’s funeral
‘But then I wondered how many people would know who he was.
“Even though I didn’t care for Marilyn Monroe, people would find her a much more vulnerable character and more indicative of the ”candle in the wind”, so I’m glad I went with her. Otherwise history would have been very different.’
Bernie then revealed that he and Elton had rewritten the song in less than an hour when he planned to perform it at Diana’s funeral.
It remains the only time Elton performed that version of the song, and it rose to number one on the charts.
He told Graham: ‘I rewrote it in half an hour, it wasn’t difficult. I only heard it a few times – once at the funeral and once in the studio, so I don’t remember a word of it!’
Discussing his memoir, Bernie said, “It’s fantastic. It’s great fun.
“I was living the same (rock ‘n’ roll) lifestyle as all my contemporaries, with all the good stuff, but I was living it in the background.”
Explaining his and Elton John’s writing process, he says, “Elton always takes what he’s given and never questions what the lyrics are actually about until it’s all recorded later in the day.”
Pals: During Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show, Bernie revealed that Marilyn Monroe was not the original inspiration for Elton’s song (pictured with the singer in 1971)
Famous: Elton and Bernie rewrote the song in honor of Princess Diana and performed it at her funeral
Reflective: The legendary songwriter has given rare insight into his career, including the hidden meaning behind the iconic song, in his new memoir
Interview: Catherine tATE discussed her role in the West End play The Enfield Haunting
A blast from the past: Ashley Walters, who recently starred in the latest series of Top Boy, reflected on the start of the show
Of the success of their songs, he says: “They definitely seem to have legs and keep coming back, which to me is the beauty of it. They seem timeless, which I really appreciate.’
Actress Catherine Tate, Ashley Walters and Bill Bailey will also join Graham on the couch, while Christine and the Queens will perform live in the studio.
Catherine discussed her role in the West End play The Enfield Haunting, with Graham asking whether she believes the 1970s news story about a child possessed by a poltergeist was real.
She said, ‘How do any of us know anything? It is more interesting to have an open mind.
“We haven’t started rehearsing yet, but I think there will be some really scary moments.”
Ashley, who recently starred in the latest series of Top Boy, reflected on the show’s beginnings and said: ‘Channel 4 were brave enough to put it on terrestrial TV when no-one else would.
Performer: Bill Bailey was a guest on the show to discuss his upcoming tour Thoughtifier
Back soon: The Graham Norton Show airs on Friday 6 October at 10.40pm on BBC One and iPlayer
“When it ended, I couldn’t forget it, so behind the scenes I kept fighting to bring it back.
“We ended up being so lucky that Drake saw the YouTube clips, and about a year later Netflix wanted it.
“I have enormous respect for what the show has done to open doors around the world.”
Bill was a guest on the show to discuss his upcoming tour Thoughtifier, telling Graham: “It’s a bit about AI and how the arts are under threat, so it’s kind of a loud cry for humanity, the human experience, the arbitrary nature of us. as humans, and the eccentric nature of creativity, which AI cannot do.”
The Graham Norton Show airs on Friday October 6 at 10.40pm on BBC One and iPlayer.