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

1999 single by Elton John and LeAnn Rimes

and I Need You Released22 February 1999 (1999-02-22)Length4:17LabelRocket, MercuryComposer(s)Elton JohnLyricist(s)Tim RiceProducer(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
Released	13 June 2000
Length	3:18
Label	EMI
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]

"Written in the Stars" – 4:17
"Written in the Stars" (Alternate Version) – 4:24
"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 Bubbling Under 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
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[22]	15

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	Rocket Island Curb	^[24]
United Kingdom	22 February 1999	CD cassette	Rocket Mercury Curb	^[25]
Canada	23 February 1999	CD	Rocket Island Curb	^[26]
Japan	17 March 1999	CD	Rocket Mercury	^[27]

References

^ 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)
^ "Written in the Stars: Elton John, Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 146.
^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 68, no. 18. 22 February 1999. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7493." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7451." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 19 April 1999. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 11. 13 March 1999. p. 14. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Íslenski Listinn (5.3–12.3. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 March 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 12. 20 March 1999. p. 56. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "Elton John Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. YE-99. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^ "American single certifications – Elton John & LeAnn Rimes – Written in the Stars". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
^ 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.
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 February, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. 20 February 1999. p. 31. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
^ "Album Releases: February 1999". Jam!. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
^ "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

Written in the Stars Music Video on YouTube

Elton John songs

Discography

1960s

1970s

"Border Song" (1970)
"Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970)
"From Denver to L.A." (1970)
"Take Me to the Pilot" (1970)
"Your Song" (1970)
"Come Down in Time" (1970)
"Friends" (1971)
"Levon" (1971)
"Indian Sunset" (1971)
"Tiny Dancer" (1972)
"Rocket Man" (1972)
"Honky Cat" (1972)
"I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972)
"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972)
"Crocodile Rock" (1972)
"Elderberry Wine" (1972)
"Daniel" (1972)
"Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972)
"Teacher I Need You" (1973)
"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973)
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973)
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)
"Step into Christmas" (1973)
"Candle in the Wind" (1974)
"Bennie and the Jets" (1974)
"Harmony" (1974)
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974)
"The Bitch Is Back" (1974)
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974)
"Philadelphia Freedom" (1975)
"I Saw Her Standing There" (1975)
"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975)
"We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975)
"Island Girl" (1975)
"Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976)
"I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976)
"Pinball Wizard" (1976)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976)
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976)
"Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977)
"Crazy Water" (1977)
"The Goaldiggers Song" (1977)
"Ego" (1978)
"Part-Time Love" (1978)
"Song for Guy" (1978)
"Are You Ready for Love" (1979)
"Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979)
"Johnny B. Goode" (1979)

1980s

"Little Jeannie" (1980)
"Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980)
"Dear God" (1980)
"Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981)
"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981)
"Blue Eyes" (1982)
"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982)
"Ball and Chain" (1982)
"All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982)
"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983)
"I'm Still Standing" (1983)
"Kiss the Bride" (1983)
"Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984)
"Passengers" (1984)
"Nikita" (1985)
"That's What Friends Are For" (1985)
"Wrap Her Up" (1985)
"Heartache All Over the World" (1986)
"Slow Rivers" (1986)
"Take Me to the Pilot" (1988)
"I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988)
"Town of Plenty" (1988)
"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988)
"Healing Hands" (1989)
"Sacrifice" (1989)

1990s

"Club at the End of the Street" (1990)
"You Gotta Love Someone" (1990)
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991)
"The One" (1992)
"Runaway Train" (1992)
"The Last Song" (1992)
"Simple Life" (1993)
"True Love" (1993)
"Shakey Ground" (1994)
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994)
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994)
"Circle of Life" (1994)
"Believe" (1995)
"Made in England" (1995)
"When the Money's Gone" (1995)
"You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996)
"Live Like Horses" (1996)
"The Madness of King Scar" (1997)
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997)
"Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997)
"Written in the Stars" (1999)

2000s

"Someday Out of the Blue" (2000)
"I Want Love" (2001)
"This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002)
"Original Sin" (2002)
"Are You Ready for Love" (2003)
"Ghetto Gospel" (2005)
"Electricity" (2005)
"The Bridge" (2006)
"Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008)
"Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)

2010s

"All of the Lights" (2010)
"Good Morning to the Night" (2012)
"Sad" (2012)
"Looking Up" (2015)
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)

2020s

"Ordinary Man" (2020)
"Sine from Above" (2020)
"The Pink Phantom" (2020)
"It's a Sin" (2021)
"Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021)
"Merry Christmas" (2021)
"Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021)
"Hold Me Closer" (2022)

Category:Elton John

v t e LeAnn Rimes singles
Discography
Blue	"Blue" "Hurt Me" "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)" "Unchained Melody" "The Light in Your Eyes"
You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs	"You Light Up My Life" "On the Side of Angels"
Sittin' on Top of the World	"Commitment" "Nothin' New Under the Moon" "Feels Like Home" "These Arms of Mine"
LeAnn Rimes	"Big Deal" "Crazy"
God Bless America	"God Bless America"
Twisted Angel	"Life Goes On" "Suddenly"
Greatest Hits	"This Love"
This Woman	"Nothin' 'bout Love Makes Sense" "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" "Something's Gotta Give" "Some People"
Whatever We Wanna	"And It Feels Like" "Everybody's Someone" (with Brian McFadden)
Family	"Nothin' Better to Do" "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine" "What I Cannot Change"
Lady & Gentlemen	"Swingin'" "Crazy Women" "Give"
Remnants	"The Story" "How to Kiss a Boy" "Long Live Love" "Love Is Love Is Love"
God's Work	"Throw My Arms Around the World" "How Much a Heart Can Hold" "Spaceship" "Innocent"
Non-album singles	"How Do I Live"
Singles from soundtracks	"Looking Through Your Eyes" "I Need You" "Can't Fight the Moonlight" "But I Do Love You" "We Can"
Featured singles	"Written in the Stars" (with Elton John) "Cattle Call" (with Eddy Arnold) "Last Thing on My Mind" (with Ronan Keating) "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (with Bon Jovi) "In Front of the Alamo" (with Hal Ketchum) "Just Stand Up!" (as Artists Stand Up to Cancer) "When It’s Good" (with Marc Broussard) "The Choice" (as Souls4Souls) "Snow In Vegas" (with David Gray) "I Do" (with Aloe Blacc) "Uninvited" (with Dave Audé) "Jealous of Myself" (with Tenille Arts)
Christmas singles	"Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart" "O Holy Night" "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" "A Different Kind of Christmas" "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" "Santa Baby" "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" "Celebrate Me Home" (with Gavin DeGraw) "Today is Christmas"

v t e Giuseppe Verdi's Aida
Films	Aida (1953) Aida (1987) Aida of the Trees (2001)
Music	"Celeste Aida"
Stage	Aida (musical) Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida "Written in the Stars"
Related	Aida discography