Musical legend Sir Elton John is poised to launch a new album, which he has hailed as “one of the greatest musical experiences” of his life, despite recently enduring a “miserable” health ordeal that resulted in blindness in one eye. The musician disclosed his deteriorating eyesight following a serious infection last year, leaving him blind in his right eye and with limited vision in his left.
In a candid interview with The Guardian, he remarked: “I’m an optimist permanently, I’ve got bad eyesight at the moment.” He admitted: “There have been days I’ve been miserable.”
Due to his visual impairment, the 77 year old icon has missed several notable events lately, including the gala performance of The Devil Wears Prada the musical. He acknowledged the significant effect this condition has had on his everyday activities.
Nonetheless, he remains resilient, stating: “I’ve beaten addiction, health issues and can pick myself up, dust myself off.” Sir Elton has also developed a deeper understanding for those with sight challenges, expressing: “I think about how lucky I am, I’ve got a new respect for sight-impaired people, but I’ve got a great life and hopefully my sight will improve.”
His forthcoming studio album, “Who Believes In Angels? ” is set to release on April 4. As reported by the MailOnline, Sir Elton shared: “This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life.
“It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future.
“I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing. But this is the new start for me. As far as I’m concerned, this is the start of my career, Mark 2.”
The album is a collaborative effort, created with close friends including US singer-songwriter Brandi, producer and songwriter Andrew Watt, and long-time professional partner Bernie Taupin, who contributed lyrics. However, the recording process was not without its challenges, with Sir Elton admitting to BBC Radio 2: “I had more doubt on this record than I had ever had in my life.”
He credited his collaborators, saying: “If I’d have been on my own without Brandi and Bernie and Andrew, this record would never have got made.”