Candle in the Wind 1997

"Candle in the Wind 1997", also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" and "Candle in the Wind '97", is a song by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, performed by John. A new version of John's 1973 song "Candle in the Wind", it was produced by George Martin and released on 13 September 1997 as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash two weeks prior. Global proceeds went towards Diana's charities. In many countries, it was pressed as a double A-side with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight".

The original "Candle in the Wind", also written by Taupin, was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. John and Taupin adapted the lyrics to suit the circumstances of Diana's life and death at 36 like Monroe. The opening lines, "Goodbye Norma Jean / though I never knew you at all", were adapted to "Goodbye England's rose / May you ever grow in our hearts".

"Candle in the Wind 1997" entered at number one on the UK singles chart after only one day of sales, giving John his fourth UK number-one single, and became the best-selling single in UK chart history. In October it became John's ninth US number-one single; it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and is the best-selling single in Billboard history. It was the first single certified Diamond in the US. The song also topped the German Singles Chart for seven weeks, the Australian Singles Chart for six weeks, and many other music charts around the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the second highest-selling physical single of all time (behind Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" from 1942), and the highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s.

John won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1998. At the 1998 Brit Awards the song was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single.