CANDLE IN THE WIND

[shyamwestwind]

Guys and Gals, I hope I wont strart any controversy on this but I have always wanted to discuss this and know your personal feelings on this.
Princess Diana has always been our family's favourite Princess, pretty and like a fairy tale princess.When she died in those tragic circumstances, we were really saddened and our hearts were broken. I still remember watching Elton John singing "Candle in the Wind" at the Funeral Service and I taped the song on my walkman, rewound and fast forwared the tape many times to get the lyrics and would have been presumably the first ever to sing it at the Hotel, with my band, after Sir Elton sang it. All of us cried that day and my voice choked as I sang that song
I get frequent requests for this song at the venues I sing and though the song held a meaning to me earlier, I know now that it has lost the special meaning it held.
To me the Princess was the personification of virtue and I believed that Prince Charles neglected her.
Today, we all know the truth and the truth doesnt flatter Princess Di. She was a mere mortal with mortal desires and weaknesses and I cannot accuse Prince Charles - he was maligned .
I do not feel comfortable singing "Candle in the Wind" anymore - I feel uneasy because I cant relate with the emotions expressed., and the guests who request this song (they insist on the Pincess D's version )are offended because I dont sing it.
Do any of you still sing this song and if so do you feel this bigotry - this conflict in your minds ?

[gibbo]

I'm sure you mean "hypocrisy" rather than "bigotry"... but maybe not.
In any event, my viewpoint is; Who are we to judge the actions of others?
All human beings have foibles and faults and Diana and Charles were certainly no exception.
The whole sorry business just became fodder for the incessant and mindless media feeding-frenzy. Who could possibly imagine that they really know the whole truth?
Elton's re-rendering of his classic "Candle In The Wind" into "Goodbye, English Rose" seemed like a heartfelt expression of the loss and grief at the time. I remember being amazed that he managed to pull it off at all, it must have been one of the most demanding performances of his career.
I don't sing the song myself but I think you should reconsider, Shyam. You do a great Elton and if the punters want to hear the song, I'd give it everything I've got as a tribute to Diana; a flawed human being who probably did the best she could with the hand she was dealt.
That's my response to you question.
Cheers, Dave.

[Steptoe]

Why don't you sing both?
Start with "Candle in the Wind" as per the original then change to the English Rose version half way in...

Cheers
John

[gibbo]

Good call, John.
I don't think that solves Shyam's personal conflict about singing the requested song but I definitely prefer the original version as to lyric and rendition.
Cheers, Dave.

[shyamwestwind]

"Diana, a flawed human being who probably did the best she could with the hand she was dealt " You truly summed it all up with that brilliant observation, Dave - i couldnt have said better.
Diana still has that soft spot in my heart and is still the pretty Princess to me and I applaud her for the good work she did amongst the victims of disease and want.
Coming back to the subject of singing songs of your choice, I love to sing songs that I can "feel" and relate to. Is this wrong ? I wonder if I'm unprofessional. Cant I sing like a parrot without getting emotionally involved ?
I want your honest opinion on this. I truly feel concerned about my bias in choosing songs and I wonder if you guys face this internal "conflict"

[gibbo]

Thanks, Shyam.
No, I don't think you're wrong to want to perform songs that you feel emotionally.
To me, that's the whole point of singing; expressing and communicating emotion and bringing about an emotional response in the listener.
Emotional detachment or lack of true emotion is the curse of the modern singer, listen to some of the dramatic singers of yesteryear, emotional impact was the key for all the great singers.
I love good technique but believe it should always be secondary to emotional impact and the quality of communication.
BTW, you have it, Shyam, your singing always creates an emotional impact!
Cheers, Dave.

[Emerald Midi]

There is certainly a difference between merely singing a song and as apposed to performing it. One is simply going through the motion, the other is done with emotion.

A big difference.

[JohnG]

Dave, Pat,

Hear, hear. If you can't sing the emotional songs, love songs etc. with emotion then IMHO give up. It's the passion and fire that a singer brings to a performance that makes it what it is. This counts for all types of song. Why was e.g. Elvis as popular as he was? Sure good looks a crackin' voice and so on (hip gyrations) all played their part, but watch him and listen to him, especially in his early days, and he had real charisma in his performance. Take any of the greats, early Crosby and Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella, Piaf, to name but a few and the magic was in the way they sang. We seem to be going through a phase, with some notable exceptions, where it's just the beat that counts. But hey, kids grow up and start to acquire taste.
Just my 2d.
JohnG

[weegeo]

Hmmmmm once again Shyam has opened a cracking thread how does he do it.Well here`s my take on Princess Diana as i understand history Charles was under pressure to marry and have an heir to his throne it couldn`t be Camilla he was seeing her before he married]as she was already married and the constituion then forbid the Royals marrying divorcee`s there was also a religious conflict so Charles chose to marry Diana Spencer this was a good move politically as the spencer name is one of the oldest in english history so this was a `marriage made in heaven`as we all know to well tragically the marriage failed and the rest as they say is history. Elton Johns tribute wa to re-work `candle`which was superb and summed up what the nation felt at the time and i think still does .
Shyam`s next point on singing songs is for me anyway fairly easy to explain I think that we as musicians are very emotional people anyway and they way we best show our art is in the `performance`of an emotional song for us these are the best types of song to do but alas we would find work in short supply if we didn`t do the material that is required to get us work sure we all do songs that we wouldn`t dream of doing because there rubbish but if your audience want it then i think you must do it.My aim at every gig is to have them going home humming a song that i`ve `nailed because of the emotion`and its nice to hear them say didn`t he do that song from the heart i love to sing but for me anyway i love to perform and this i do with the songs i have a special feeling for I hope you can follow my thinking on this one

weegeo

[Tubbs]

Elton John says he will never sing the diana version again and i agree 100%, it was for her funeral day only and in my opinion shoud'nt be sang by anyone else....it was his personal tribute to her, i sing the original myself, but never have or will sing this version, requested or not.

[shyamwestwind]

I totally agree with you tubbs and I realize I shouldn't have ever done that song as it really was Elton's own personal tribute to the Princess on her funeral and we should respect that.

[mark]

I myself have only ever and still do sing the original version. I never understood with Elton John's writing talents that he didn't compose an original song as a tribute to Princess Diana.
I actually went to London to see the ceremony when she married Charles and the atmosphere through the London streets was amazing.It is such a shame that whenever a Royal or well known celebrity dies that the gutter press come out to ruin their reputations when they are not any longer around to defend themselves.

Regards

Mark

[shyamwestwind]

Mark, you're so right - Elton could have definitely composed an orginal song for Princess Di, but well, lets leave that alone now, lest we add more stench to the gutter press reports !

[knimmo]

I've got to agree with tubs on this it was for that one special day
so keep singing the original if you feel you can.if it causes to much emotion for you dont.your audiance should understand.(but then do they when most are under the influence).