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

Quick facts for kids "Written in the Stars"
Single by Elton John featuring LeAnn Rimes
from the album Aida and I Need You
Released	23 February 1999
Recorded	1999
Genre	Country, pop
Length	4:17
Label	Rocket, Curb, Walt Disney Records in Aida
Songwriter(s)	Elton John, Tim Rice
Producer(s)	Peter Collins, Wilbur Rimes
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" 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.

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

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

Year-end charts

Certifications