For today’s post, I have decided to do a countdown of my favorite songs that are about Marilyn Monroe! Now, it is unsurprising that Marilyn is featured in many songs over the years, given her iconic status. However, the five songs I have chosen are some of the most iconic examples of songs about Marilyn and I truly love these songs!
Number 5: Photograph by Def Leppard
~The music video for this song shows just how much it really is about Marilyn, as there is an actress who is obviously supposed to be Marilyn in the video. The singer of the song is speaking about wishing to be able to be with Marilyn, having fallen for her photograph. It speaks to the remaining endurance of her iconic status as a sex symbol, given the song was released over two decades after her death!
Number 4: Vogue by Madonna
~This is another example of a music video that references Marilyn. Other than referencing Marilyn in the lyrics, Madonna wears a replica of the iconic pink gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in the music video! It is truly an iconic song and music video.
Number 3: National Anthem by Lana Del Rey
~Of the modern singers, Lana Del Rey has been one of the few that I truly enjoy listening to. She has this great vintage-inspired feel to her music as well as her style, which makes it unsurprising that she is also a big fan of Marilyn Monroe. It is likely why Marilyn is referenced in this song on her Born to Die album!
Number 2: Celluloid Heroes by The Kinks
~The Kinks made this song as a tribute to Golden Age Hollywood. Celluloid is a reference in itself to the material used to make films (it is what film is made of). The Kinks refer to many iconic Old Hollywood figures, so it is no surprise that Marilyn is referenced here!
Number 1: Candle in the Wind by Elton John
~No other song about Marilyn Monroe can compare to Elton John’s iconic original version of Candle in the Wind. In 1997 he would re-record this as a tribute to Princess Diana, replacing the lyrics to fit Diana. For instance “Goodbye English Rose” instead of “Goodbye Norma Jean.” I personally always preferred the original and felt that he should have just written Princess Diana her own song instead of re-writing Marilyn’s tribute! After all, Marilyn was much more of a “Candle in the Wind” than Diana, at least in my humble opinion!
~I hope that you have enjoyed this countdown. How did your favorite song about Marilyn rank? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
White Rose of Avalon 