Folks seemed to respond pretty overwhelmingly when Elton John (or more accurately, lyricist Bernie Taupin) re-wrote "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to the late Princess Diana. Well, now we'll get the chance to find out if the masses feel the same way about Di love interest Dodi Al-Fayed, who was also killed in that tragic auto accident a year ago.
With Elton perhaps too busy making Citibank commercials, Dodi's tribute has fallen to smooth-jazz guitarist George Benson. Benson recorded the song, titled "My Father, My Son," on Wednesday, August 19 with a forty-five piece orchestra. The track was mixed two days later, but according to a spokesperson at Benson's label, GRP, there have as-yet been no discussions about a release date or a possible beneficiary from the song's proceeds.
Benson was commissioned to write the song by the late millionaire's father, Mohammed Al-Fayed, who has frequently communicated his displeasure at what he feels is public disregard of his son's death.
Besides being a fan of Benson's work, Al-Fayed reportedly chose Benson for the project because he felt the "Breezin'" auteur would have an affinity for the topic. Benson has lost three of his seven children to untimely deaths in recent years, including son Keith to a gunshot wound in 1991, and namesake George Jr., who died last year of kidney failure.
DAVID SPRAGUE