This song just kind of popped into my head yesterday, and I had to listen to it about 5 times while I got some work done. I remember hearing this for the first time on an Elton John Greatest Hits CD I had as a teen. I apologize for the length of this post. I got a little carried away.

This is “Written in the Stars,” a song from the 2nd act of the musical Aida, with words by Tim Rice and music by Elton John. Aida is a musical based on a tragic opera by Giuseppe Verdi, premiering in Egypt in 1871.

Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aida tells the tragic love story of Aida, an Ethiopian princess, and Radamès, an Egyptian military commander. As Egypt is at war with Ethiopia, Radamès, secretly in love with Aida, is torn between his loyalty to Egypt and his feelings for her. After winning a battle, he is rewarded with Princess Amneris’s hand, but ultimately, Radamès betrays his country and chooses love over freedom, leading to their tragic fate.

Quick Verdi Fact: The Khedive of Egypt approached Verdi to write an opera to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. Verdi was not thrilled about the idea, and even though he initially declined, he accepted the offer after hearing of some of the interesting plot ideas they had.

One More Verdi Fact: Because of the Franco-Prussian War and the Siege of Paris in 1870, scenery and costumes were stuck in Paris and unable to be used for the planned premiere of Aida. They delayed the opening, and Verdi’s Rigoletto was instead performed. Aida was rescheduled and finally premiered on Christmas Eve of 1871.

Tired Fact: Before completely crashing on the back porch couch, I may have watched almost all of the San Francisco Opera’s production of Aida in 1981 with Margaret Price as Aida and Luciano Pavarotti as Radamès. WOW. Best thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Stage Musical Fact: One of the greatest opera sopranos of all time is Leontyne Price. She performed many roles from the 1950’s to the 1990’s, but one she is often remembered for is Aida. She loved that role so much that in 1990 she wrote a children’s storybook of a simplified version of the opera. In 1994, Disney had a smash hit with the animated film The Lion King. They wanted to keep the momentum going, so they talked to the writers of The Lion King, Tim Rice and Elton John, about an animated adaptation of Leontyne Price’s children’s book of Aida. They agreed, but Elton said it needed to go straight to a stage show musical instead of an animated film. They agreed, and the show was a huge success.

The song “Written in the Stars” is between Radamès and Aida. The song is them lamenting their situation and its complications. Elton and LeAnn duet this song on the album, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. This was an album that Elton and Tim did to prove that the songs in the musical would do well. Almost a “prove a concept” album. He had other stars sing the songs from the show and had it released before the actual Original Broadway Cast album got to store shelves.

My Listening Tips/Thoughts: This track is pretty fantastic in my opinion. You can definitely hear the faint Lion King homages. I love the chords they use in the opening and ending. It goes b5 b6 b7 and finishes on 1. I can’t remember hearing that any other time. I hear b6 b7 1 all the time, but this is unique. Also, LeAnn Rimes is KILLING IT! The ending is so powerful.

Hope you enjoy!

Is it written in the stars
Are we paying for some crime
Is that all that we are good for
Just a stretch of mortal time

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Is this God’s experiment
In which we have no say
In which we’re given paradise
But only for a day

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My name is Michael Sanchez and I’m an avid record collector and obscure song searcher. My goal is to post one song a day that’s been on my stereo/turntable frequently. If you don’t like the song… too bad 🙂 You can just wait for the next one.

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