The musical collaboration of the century? Madonna and Elton John announce joint project after years of feuding
In the beginning...
The relationship between Madonna and Elton John became complicated in 2002, when Elton criticised Madonna's song "Die Another Day" as "the worst Bond tune ever". Two years later, during the Q Awards, Elton questioned Madonna's live performances, stating, "Madonna and the best live performance? No way. Since when is playback live?" This and other unkind comments led to further tension between the two artists and, of course, media attention.
The height of controversy and a turn for the better
Tensions between the two escalated in 2012 when Madonna won a Golden Globe for her song "Masterpiece", beating Elton's "Hello, Hello". Elton's husband, David Furnish, wrote on Facebook at the time: "Madonna's win shows that these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her thank-you speech was embarrassing in its self-centeredness." These events deepened their disagreements with each other and reconciliation seemed imminent. However, further years of mutual animosity culminated in 2023, when Elton publicly praised Madonna's work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The move hinted at a possible improvement in their relationship, but no face-to-face meetings have yet taken place. The public would have to wait another two years for those.
The Saturday Night Live Miracle
A crucial turning point occurred on April 5 this year, when Madonna attended Elton's appearance on the comedy show "Saturday Night Live". After the show, they met backstage, where Elton immediately asked for forgiveness. Madonna described the moment on Instagram, saying, "When I met him, the first thing he said was, 'Forgive me,' and the wall came down between us." This encounter led to a renewal of their friendship and opened the door for future collaborations.
A new chapter in music history
During their reconciliation, Elton John revealed to Madonna that he had written a song for her and expressed his desire to bring her into the world. Madonna shared this information with fans and hinted that their collaboration was quite likely. There was hardly anyone who didn't wish for it. So it was confirmed once again that music really does connect. And the result of this union is sure to be phenomenal.
