Elton John's Struggles During the Writing of 'Candle in the Wind'

British musician Elton John reflects on his turbulent relationship with former manager John Reid in the recent documentary "Elton John: Never Too Late." Released on Disney+ on December 13, 2024, it reveals how his personal turmoil influenced his hit songs, PEOPLE reported.

In 1973, Elton John experienced a peak in his career. He released his legendary album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." This album debuted noteworthy tracks, including "Candle in the Wind," which hauntingly resonates with themes of loss and longing. Despite this success, John's emotional state was far from joyous. He was navigating a challenging five-year relationship with Reid.

In the documentary, John shares, "It was the same time John Reid broke my heart." His relationship with Reid deeply impacted his songwriting and emotional well-being. "When I wrote those songs I was miserably unhappy. That kind of came through in the songwriting."

Reid was key in the '70s rock scene, also managing Queen during that time. He has been characterized by a dual presence in John’s life, part lover and part manager. The documentary portrays Reid as unfaithful and emotionally volatile. John describes a painful episode: "I had a party at the house, and we had a fight, and he smacked me in the face."

This turbulent relationship left deep emotional scars for John. "I loved John a lot, but I said, ‘I can’t go through this anymore.’ And when that fell apart, I kind of fell apart."

The end of the relationship left John feeling empty and questioning his worth. "I thought being alone was a sense of failure. Why isn’t someone with me? I’m not good enough." His desire for love led him to seek relationships recklessly.

His struggles worsened while recording his 1974 album "Caribou," as he turned to cocaine. John lamented, "I was desperately wanting happiness and going the wrong way about it." He likened his trajectory to the tragic tales of icons like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.

Despite the shadows of his past, John found stability in his life with filmmaker David Furnish. The couple married in 2014 after over two decades together. They welcome two sons, Zachary and Elijah. Furnish notes, "He’s genuinely so happy," reflecting on their fulfilling partnership.

Through highs and lows, "Elton John: Never Too Late" provides valuable insights into his life. It explores how love, loss, and music intertwined throughout his journey without sharing a definitive conclusion.

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