Elton John Farewell Tour – BB&T – March 16, 2019

It was a pretty special night. Sir Elton John, piano master, music legend, full arena.
Opening with one of his legendary hits; “Bennie & The Jets”, the 71 year-old instantly brought fans to their feet. For a “farewell tour” Elton did not look or sound as if he was ready to retire from touring any time soon. His stage presence, energy and connection with fans instantly provoke an intimate feeling of inclusion and excitement; an experience not expected from a music legend looking to slow down.

There is a boyish and graciousness about Elton that touches you. He got up from his piano chair at the end of each song, gesturing to the fans as if saying “I still love the stage and I really appreciate you being here with me tonight”. His love of performing is undeniable. By witnessing his unmatched piano-playing mastery, one could argue he may have looked like an artist just starting out on his way to an incredible and enjoyable journey.

At mid show, John paused to tell the audience why he decided to call it quits from touring; “I have the most beautiful family and I really need to spend more time with them”. Its worth highlighting, this tour is scheduled to go on until 2021, given fans plenty of opportunity to attend.

The set list was almost entirely from the mid 1970’s. Sharing the stage with longtime musicians including guitarist Davey Johnstone, Percussionist Ray Cooper and drummer Nigel Olsson, Elton and company executed stretched versions of “Levon”, “Burn Down the Mission” and “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” to nearly 15 minutes each, for which fans didn’t seem to mind. The performance of “Rocket Man” was complemented by bluish psychedelic videos while visions of cartoons filled the screen for “Someone Saved my Life Tonight”, both emotional performances.

Towards the end of the show, the large HD screen displayed images portraying various phases of his career in a chronological order, giving the audience a sense of nostalgia and immense gratitude for being there and part of his farewell tour. If you have the opportunity to see Elton John perform, it’s a must and an opportunity to wish farewell to one of the most beloved singer-songwriter of all times.

Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road Set List
1. “Bennie and the Jets”
2. “All the Girls Love Alice”
3. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”
4. “Border Song”
5. “Tiny Dancer”
6. “Philadelphia Freedom”
7. “Indian Sunset”
8. “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”
9. “Take Me to the Pilot”
10. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
11. “Levon”
12. “Candle in the Wind”
13. “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”
14. “Burn Down the Mission”
15. “Believe”
16. “Daniel”
17. “Sad Songs (Say So Much)”
18. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”
19. “The Bitch Is Back”
20. “I’m Still Standing”
21. “Crocodile Rock”
22. “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”
23. “Your Song”
24. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”