Elton John didn’t need to prove his status as a legend but his extensive Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, billed as his last, is doing that repeatedly.
As he took to the stage for the first of 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena, John thanked the crowd for their patience following years of delays caused by Covid and a hip operation. “The only way we can repay you is by giving you a really good show and here we are,” he said, confident as always.
For the next 150-minutes, John refused to wallow in the past. From the opening piano blast of Bennie and the Jets to the smirking grand finale that saw him disappear into the heavens via a sparkling chairlift, John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road gig was deliberately and positively joyful.
Timeless anthems of defiance like Border Song and I’m Still Standing were fiercely pertinent as the star performed them to a multi-generational audience that featured everyone from long-term fans to newcomers who were watching their very first gig.
Further proving he’s still got it, 2021’s poptastic No 1 single Cold Heart received one of the biggest reactions of the night, even if Dua Lipa didn’t make a surprise appearance, before his first hit, Your Song, showcased a perfect declaration of love.
Despite being 286 shows into a tour that originally began in 2018, things never felt rigid or tired. John and his “kick ass” band comfortably switched between freewheeling rock and roll (Levon) and unruly karaoke (Crocodile Rock) with a mischievous flair.
After almost every song, the showman triumphantly stood up from behind the piano with a beaming smile and his arms outstretched like he couldn’t believe he was still getting away with it. Later this summer, John will play his final UK show ever as a first time Glastonbury headliner, breaking new ground to the last.
Sure, there were moments of heart-wrenching reflection throughout the night as John paid tribute to friends who had passed away over the years while Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me and Rocket Man took on another jagged meaning against the backdrop of a farewell tour.
“I won’t ever forget you but I want to spend the rest of my life with my family,” John told the crowd, direct as ever. It was hard for things to get too melancholy though, especially when a chunk of the audience wore garish light-up glasses and John was hellbent on getting everyone dancing.
The show was sprinkled with countless nods to John’s impressive career highlights while clips from The Simpsons, Rocketman and a John Lewis Christmas ad drove home his wider cultural impact. Archive footage may have played out alongside the flawless greatest hits set but the audience were never left longing for the glory days. They were too busy watching them unfold.
