"Written in the Stars"
Single by Elton John featuring LeAnn Rimes
from the album Aida and I Need You
Released22 February 1999 (1999-02-22)
Length4:17
LabelRocket, Mercury
Composer(s)Elton John
Lyricist(s)Tim Rice
Producer(s)Peter Collins, Wilbur Rimes[1]
Elton John singles chronology
"If the River Can Bend"
(1998) 		"Written in the Stars"
(1999) 		"A Step Too Far"
(1999)
LeAnn Rimes singles chronology
"These Arms of Mine"
(1998) 		"Written in the Stars"
(1999) 		"Big Deal"
(1999)
"Written in the Stars"
Song by Heather Headley and Adam Pascal
from the album Aida
Released13 June 2000
Length3:18
LabelEMI
Composer(s)Elton John
Lyricist(s)Tim Rice
Producer(s)Guy Babylon, Frank Filipetti, Chris Montan, Paul Bogaev

"Written in the Stars" is a song by English musician Elton John and American singer LeAnn Rimes. The song came from the musical Aida, written by Elton John and Tim Rice. There are two different recordings of the song, one with Rimes performing the first verse, the other with John. The song was later featured on Rimes' 2002 album I Need You and the concept album for the musical. The song was performed live at VH1 Divas Live '99.

Background

In this scene in the musical, Radames informs Aida that he's calling off the wedding. Aida knows that this would ruin her father's escape and tells him he must go through with it. Radames agrees, on condition that she escapes to freedom on a boat he will provide. The two lovers lament the complication of the circumstances of their love together before parting.

Chart performance

For John, "Written in the Stars" was his 57th top-40 single on the US Billboard charts as a performer. It would be his last US top-40 for over two decades, until he reached the region again with "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)", featuring Dua Lipa. John achieved at least one top-40 single on the US charts every year from 1970 to 1999, with this song being the last in the run. "Written in the Stars" was certified gold in the US for shipments exceeding 500,000.

In Canada, "Written in the Stars" topped the RPM Adult Contemporary chart and reached number 22 on the RPM Top Singles chart. Due to Rimes' previous country music success, it also peaked at number 74 on the RPM Country Tracks chart due to unsolicited airplay as an album cut. Elsewhere, the single reached number 10 in the United Kingdom and the top 40 in Austria, Iceland, Italy, and Switzerland.

Music video

According to an episode of VH1's Pop-Up Video, the music video for this song was meant to evoke forbidden loves, as well as the separation between the two singers.[citation needed] Rimes was shown in colder, more heavenly backdrops; John was given warmer backgrounds, as in a milder depiction of hell.

Track listing

CD single[2]

  1. "Written in the Stars" – 4:17
  2. "Written in the Stars" (Alternate Version) – 4:24
  3. "Various Snippets" (My Strongest Suit/Not Me/A Step Too Far) – 2:27

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States December 1998 Adult contemporary radio
[24]
United Kingdom 22 February 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
[25]
Canada 23 February 1999 CD
  • Rocket
  • Island
  • Curb
 [26]
Japan 17 March 1999
  • Rocket
  • Mercury
 [27]

References

  1. ^ Written in the Stars (CD single). Elton John, LeAnn Rimes. The Rocket Record Company, Curb Records. 1999. 314-566 918-8.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Written in the Stars: Elton John, Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  3. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 146.
  4. ^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 68, no. 18. 22 February 1999. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7493." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7451." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 19 April 1999. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 11. 13 March 1999. p. 14. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Íslenski Listinn (5.3–12.3. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 March 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 12. 20 March 1999. p. 56. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  22. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. YE-99. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  23. ^ "American single certifications – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  24. ^ Taylor, Chuck (20 February 1999). "Rocket's Elton Riding High with 'Aida' Set". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 8. p. 76. First out was 'Written In The Stars,' John's duet with Rimes, which was released in mid-December.
  25. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 February, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. 20 February 1999. p. 31. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Album Releases: February 1999". Jam!. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  27. ^ "リトゥン・イン・ザ・スターズ | エルトン・ジョン" [Written in the Stars | Elton John] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 5 September 2023.

External links

Elton John songs
LeAnn Rimes singles
Giuseppe Verdi's Aida
Authority control databases
Categories