The hitmaker has just released his official autobiography and has bared all about the sadness and pressure he felt on that day. Famously Elton John performed a special tribute version of Candle in the Wind at the service. One of his biggest hits, he changed the lyrics for the day to honour his friendship with Diana and do her memory appropriately in one of the most widely viewed services ever.

Writing in his auto biography the Circle of Life singer, said his biggest fear was very specific, claiming: “It wasn’t suffering from stage fright.

“What if I went into autopilot and sang the wrong version?”

Famously against over scripting and teleprompter the pressure was so much that he insisted on using a teleprompter for the iconic performance.

Writing in his new memoir lamented the special circumstances and why he broke his rule: “Up until then, I’d been against their use.

“Partly because it seemed antithetical to rock and roll’s spontaneous spirit — I’m pretty sure Little Richard wasn’t reading off an Autocue when he recorded Long Tall Sally — and partly because I just thought: Come on, do your job properly.”

But even with the added insurance of the teleprompter, the fear still plagued Elton: “I’d performed Candle In The Wind hundreds of times.

“It wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility that I might lose myself in the performance, forget about the teleprompter and start singing the original lyrics.”

If the worst has happened and he had sung the original lyrics, Elton would have had to face the embarrassment of singing lyrics about Marilyn Monroe and would have doubtless ruined the whole performance.

JUST IN: How Elton John claimed he’d never speak again about Princess Diana

“How bad would it be if I did that? Appalling. Huge chunks of the lyrics were completely inappropriate for the occasion.”

The pressure to perform also came for the distress he felt towards the two royal princes, 15 and 12 at the time.

Elton has been one of the most vocal about the way they were treated that day in line with royal protocols.

He said: “I thought the way they were treated that day was absolutely inhuman. They were forced to walk through the streets of London behind their mother’s coffin, told to show no emotion and look straight ahead.

DON’T MISS
How Princess Michael of Kent admitted to ‘terrorising’ her husband
Royal tour LIVE: Prince William rushes to check passengers safety
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s emotional moment remembering Diana

“It was a horrendous way to treat two kids who’d just lost their mum.”

But despite the pressure as we know Elton delivered on the day and went on to give a performance that received near unanimous approval.

Something Elton credits to his pedigree as a performer: “one lesson I’ve learned is that sometimes, you just have to step up to the plate, even if the plate is miles outside your comfort zone. You forget about whatever emotions you may have, and think: No, I’m a performer. This is what I do. Get on with it.”

Since the initial release of the Diana version for charity Elton has chosen never to re-release the single or include it on any of his greatest hits compilations.

Further the topic has always been avoided with journalists in order to not sensationalise or wallow in his friend Diana’s death.

Me: Elton John Official Autobiography by Elton John was published by Macmillan on October 15 and is in book shops now.

Source: Read Full Article