Madmen Across the Water

Well, this Elton John thing is turning out to be a right saga! To bring you up to date, first we were told that a concert was going to be in November 2007, then it was off. Then it was to be in 2008. And, the latest is that Sir Elton's own people don't know anything at all about any concert in Tenerife.

The mayor's "First Lieutenant" and councillor for Economy and Tax, Ángel Llanos, announced on Monday to the whole council session and public in Santa Cruz that Sir Elton John was going to come, but in 2008, without specifying a date (on which were based the press releases that day.)

So, Canarias24horas did what any citizen or fan would do: they rang Elton John's office in London to check and, as a result of which, say "We have spoken to Elton John's office and they don't know nothing of Tenerife."

There's really no need for me to translate much more of what's in their news article, where they explain, carefully, how they spent 40 minutes being passed from person to person, until they got the right department, because the recording of the conversation - in English - is available at this page.

What seems key to me is that, shortly after the girl at Elton's office had been away to check, she says, "It's not true". Whilst the language used in the conversation is not that clear and precise, this appears to me to be that she is saying that the news of the concerts just ain't so: i.e. it's untruths.

Whilst "simple total incompetence" on the part of those involved at this end is not far from the imagination, the thing that enters my head is, is it possible that someone has negotiated with the town hall in Santa Cruz and, that someone has indeed been here, claiming to be the star's technicians, but that they are fakes and absolutely nothing to do with the real Elton John?

In truth, one does not know what to think, but his office says they can't say very much about it, but do say "we don't think he is" [playing in Tenerife].

Hemos hablado con el despacho de Elton John, y no saben nada de Tenerife

NB: Madman Across the Water is the name of a surrealistic song and album released in 1971 by Elton John. Being an island full of people who don't have a clue what's going on, I thought that the title seemed to fit!