Diana Song Fetches $400,000
The handwritten lyrics to the ballad Elton John sang at Princess Diana's funeral sold for $400,000 to a children's foundation created by Walt Disney's daughter.
Three pages of handwritten lyrics of Candle in the Wind 1997 and a printed final version autographed by songwriters Bernie Taupin and John were sold at auction Wednesday night to the Lund Foundation.
"It's beyond our wildest dreams," Taupin said of the bid. The money will go to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
The Lund Foundation, a nonprofit group that funds programs for disadvantaged children, was created by Sharon Disney Lund, who died in 1993. Her son, Bradford, was treated at Childrens Hospital until he was six months old.
"They changed my life. It's a way to pay them back," said Bradford Lund, 27.
John's recording of the song has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide with proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. She was killed August 31 in a car accident in Paris, along with boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and the driver.
John first sang the song at Diana's funeral in London's Westminster Abbey on September 6 and recorded it later, backed by a string quartet instead of piano. John has said he will never again sing the song in live performances.
The Diana ballad actually is a reworked version of a song written by John and Taupin in 1973. The earlier version was dedicated to Marilyn Monroe.
Also on Wednesday, the long-delayed effort to complete the Walt Disney Concert Hall got a US$15 million boost.
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