Elton John has long celebrated Stevie Wonder as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, even admitting he could never quite pinpoint what made him so exceptional. John, whose classical piano training and songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin produced some of pop's most enduring records, drew inspiration from earlier rock and roll pioneers such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Ray Charles, but regarded Wonder as operating on an entirely different level of musicianship.

John praised Wonder's voice, his prolific talent as a keyboard player and collaborator, and the emotional sincerity behind his songwriting, saying he never ceased to be amazed by what Wonder produced. He pointed to albums such as Songs in the Key of Life and tracks like 'Isn't She Lovely' as evidence of Wonder's ability to combine complex musicianship with broad popular appeal, concluding that it was the heart and passion in his performances, as much as his technical skill, that set him apart.