In early 2016, Elton John released what happens to be his last album of original compositions so far, co-written with Bernie Taupin. I am not counting the 2021 The Lockdown Sessions album in the list of the traditional Elton John studio albums, insofar as that disc’s concept, the context of its recording and its musical result, both in terms of compositions and of the variety of their performers, set this opus apart in Elton John’s catalogue.

With its cheerful and optimistic title, colourful cover sleeve and dynamic music, the Wonderful Crazy Night album was released on February 5th, 2016. Almost at the same time (a small month difference) as Blackstar was : David Bowie's testament record was released on January 8 of 2016, two days before its author's death. The synchronicity of the two events challenged me strongly at the time. I was deeply shaken by the tragic symbolism of the contrast between this so bright, kicking and alive Elton John's disc, and the funeral and glacial resonance of David Bowie's album. The contrast between this loud and vigorous "wonderful crazy night", and the farewell night of darkness that the Thin White Duke's death imposed to us. This cynical and bitter contrast abruptly underlined the cruelty and the absurdity of existence (which of course I had been long aware of, that being one of my obsessions). But also the fragility of these moments and memories that we all tend to believe to be eternal, but that nothingness swallows up overnight, and without a warning. It sounded the death knell of an era that gave birth to two giants and major artists from the Seventies' British Pop-Rock scene, each a contemporary of the other (even if their human and artistic differences were radical, and their lack of mutual empathy notorious). Finally, it cast a shadow on my own story with Elton John (however insignificant it may have been experienced on his side). No matter what, my story seemed to delete before my eyes suddenly, a process that undermined my memories of the few extraordinary moments that I had had the joy to live thanks to the British artist.