Thibault Christophe, a Toulouse teacher, received a handwritten letter from the French artist. A few weeks earlier, he had sent her his first novel dedicated to him.
Thibault Christophe, a young father from Toulouse, received a note from Jean-Jacques Goldman on September 18. The 72-year-old singer, who retired from the stage years ago, sent him a handwritten message to thank him for sending him his novel.
As reported The Dispatchwhich reveals the information, Thibault Christophe is the author of a first novel entitled Journal d’un fan (editions du Caillou). Under the pseudonym LT, he recounts the determination of an admirer of Jean-Jacques Goldman to meet his idol.
“I went to draw on my personal memories,” he tells the regional daily. “As it was literature, I allowed myself to go further and fantasize something that never happened: namely a meeting, a collaboration and much more.”
First attempt with Cabrel
Teacher of communications at the university, and also a musician, he took advantage of a choice contact to try to send the work to his idol: Francis Cabrel, whom he meets at the Rencontres d’Astaffort organized each year by the artist. “I asked Cabrel if he could pass it on to Goldman, thinking they were in contact. At the time, he hadn’t promised me anything.”
With this first attempt, more than a year ago, Thibault Christophe failed. He tried his luck again last summer, through the Jean-Jacques Goldman fan club.
He sent them his novel as well as a letter and, a few days ago, a response from the artist himself arrived in his mailbox. He writes to her in particular that her letter “touched him a lot”, and wishes her to receive one “as kind, moving, to inspire (his) turn.”
“It was such a surprise,” Thibault Christophe told La Dépêche. He says he opened the envelope in the elevator with his sons: “I instantly put it back in the envelope (and) I had to open it slowly to appreciate this beautiful moment.”
The absent present
Each appearance or sign of Jean-Jacques Goldman is an event; because after twenty years of a solo career of undeniable success, the singer with 30 million albums sold left the stage after his final opus, Songs for the feetreleased in 2001.
The artist has since regained almost total anonymity, only breaking his silence on rare occasions. To get involved with causes that are close to his heart, such as that of caregivers during the Covid-19 pandemicor to address admirers. Like when he responded to requests from a teacher and wrote a song for his students. More recently, an Airbnb hostess in Brittany was surprised to discover that she had hosted him for a few days at her home.
The singer’s discretion in no way affects his popularity. Last year, he landed first place in the ranking of the French’s favorite personalities for the seventh consecutive year.
