Written in the Stars (Elton John and LeAnn Rimes song)

"Written in the Stars" is a 1999 single sung by Elton John and LeAnn Rimes. The song came from the musical Aida, written by Elton John and Tim Rice. 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. There are two different recordings of the song, one with Rimes performing the first verse, the other with John.

"Written in the Stars"
Single by Elton John featuring LeAnn Rimes
from the album Aida and I Need You
Released23 February 1999
Recorded1999
GenreCountry, pop
Length4:17
LabelRocket, Curb, Walt Disney Records in Aida
Songwriter(s)Elton John, 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
"Feels Like Home"
(1999)		 "Written in the Stars"
(1999)		 "Big Deal"
(1999)
"Written in the Stars"
Song by Heather Headley and Adam Pascal
from the album Aida
ReleasedJune 13, 2000
Recorded10 April–11 April 2000
GenreRock musical
Length3:18
LabelEMI
Composer(s)Elton John
Lyricist(s)Tim Rice
Producer(s)Guy Babylon, Frank Filipetti, Chris Montan, Paul Bogaev

For John, "Written in the Stars" was his 57th—and to date final—top-forty single on the US Billboard charts as a performer. John achieved at least one top-forty single on the US charts every year from 1970 to 1999, with this song being the last in the run. 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. In is certified Gold in the US for shipments exceeding 500,000.

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.

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. 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

Weekly charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 85
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 28
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[5] 5
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 22
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] 1
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] 74
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 37
France (SNEP)[10] 91
Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 79
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12] 20
Italy (Musica e dischi)[13] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 95
Scotland (OCC)[15] 14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 34
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 29
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 36

Year-end charts
Chart (1999) Position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[21] 2

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Written in the Stars (CD single). Elton John, LeAnn Rimes. The Rocket Record Company, Curb Records. 1999. 314-566 918-8.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Written in the Stars: Elton John, Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  3. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  4. "Austriancharts.at – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks – February 22, 1999" (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. "Lescharts.com – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars". 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. "Dutchcharts.nl – 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. "Swisscharts.com – 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. "American single certifications – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

Written in the Stars Music Video on YouTube

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