4/5
Goodbye Yellow Brick Home Plate.
Marvel at a man so monumental, his music still makes movies so cinematic and epic. You only have to leap into the 'Quantumania' of the latest trailer out the M.C.U. dynasty for the 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' sequel starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bill Murray and Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror to see for yourself. We're not in Kansas any more, Dorothy. All as we follow the Bowie Ziggy like space oddities of the great, Sir Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' down into the Oz like quantum realm. Now, there's no place like Hollywood. The home where Pinner's finest found his music appreciated first and foremost in his American dream. From Troubador beginnings where he floated above the piano of his 'Crocodile Rock' like the movie. To this 'Rocketman' hitting Los Angeles baseball's Dodger Stadium in 1975 and knocking it out the park. High-heels taking their platform on the piano as fireworks rained like fastballs cracking off the bat.
Heading for home, what better place to return to almost 50 years later for his half-century? The 75 year old taking it back to '75 after rounding the North American bases on his world encompassing 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour and bringing the likes of Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and a lovely 'Don't Go Breakin' My Heart' reunion delivery service with KiKi Dee along for the ride. Even though everyone from Miley Cyrus to Dolly Parton, Quincy Jones to Lionel Richie and Prince William and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex to President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in heartwarming video tribute don't believe this is it. Even though this 50,000 for his 55 years, sold out to the nosebleed bleachers arena, history making show that was also streamed worldwide on Disney + (a first like the Netflix Chris Rock stand-up show to come, performed from the same Oscars theatre where you know what happened. Eep) clicks its heels together in fabulous frocks and more standing ovation victory laps like the bitch who we hope one day will be back was getting walked plate to plate.
This just shy of three hours epic that you can still stream on Mickey's service is your 'Get Back' like Peter Jackson's lord of The Beatles movies, hot off the heels of new South Korean pop power BTS and their own 'Permission To Dance' in LA for the concert films now we can finally get back into previously locked down stadiums (we've been lucky to see Lady Gaga, Norah Jones and Bruno Mars showstop in Tokyo this year). A real 'Bohemian Rhapsody' like Dexter Fletcher's own brilliant biopic on him, 'Rocketman'. Dun, dun, dun. The epic piano intro of 'Benny and the Jets' that came into play on the trailer as 'Eddie the Eagle' actor Taron Egerton donned the famous sequins of that diamond encrusted Los Angeles Dodger uniform (how about an Elton John City Edition this year, boys?) and bat in hand looked into the smoggy distance of where he just hit (somewhere near the Hollywood sign, we bet), unmistakably opens this show of a lifetime. One capped off by Sir Elton coming out to his encore in a Dodgers diamond encrusted robe and blue nightcap to put this all to bed. All with the same young actor who voiced John's prologue and epilogue bookending 'Me' memoir in audiobook form, Taron Egerton watching on from the crowd. This is truly amazing like dear John playing himself in Egerton's 'Kingsman' sequel and breaking the fourth wall and looking at the screen with a knowing wink as he broke his foot off in someone's ass. Saturday night's alright for fighting indeed.
Tiny dancer's get your Sunday best on for this religious experience for a man who broke down barriers before we put the letters LGBTQ together...forever. Because he appreciates the costume department in a Narnia like wardrobe of tribute. A man whose done more for AIDS charities than he has the music industry...and this guy has as many hits as Springsteen, Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson...on any of their best days. And you could hear them all in the air (or is that love? ), tonight. Even if some of our favourites (I want a 'I Want Love' duet with a lip-syncing Robert Downey Jr. Hey, he can sing. Remember 'Ally McBeal' and his album?) were missing ('Circle Of Life' and all that). But, what more could you want with a moving tribute that 'Blonde' should have reached to Norma Jeane, and of course now Princess Diana ('Candle In The Wind'), along with tributes to Aretha Franklin (his first single 'Border Song') and George Michael (their 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' duet) in song, the pop perfect remake of 'Cold Heart' with princess Dua Lipa and of course the last "ahh, ahh, ahh" bricks of the 'Yellow Brick Road' he walks whilst saying farewell. Hand-in-hand with the family he introduces us to on stage. The reason he's doing this. Sure, we'll miss him. But he can't miss out on those moments with his family as his extended one extends a hand to salute. And don't worry, paying tribute to Bernie Taupin on stage too, the pair aren't done making their songs your song. Elton, we thank you, we love you. Happy live show retirement, Sir. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Setlist Picks: 'Crocodile Rock', 'Cold Heart (Feat Dua Lipa)', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'.
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