“Oh wow, I by no means thought I’d play Glastonbury, however right here I’m,” coyly shrugs Elton John. “I’d higher entertain you as you as you’ve been standing there so lengthy.”
Some on the entrance row had reportedly been tenting on the market since midnight the evening earlier than, however we’ve all been lengthy overdue Elton’s Glasto second. Up there with Madonna and the late Prince, an Elton John headline set was a type of everlasting rumours. Tonight would have been seismic and historic underneath regular circumstances, however this – a peak in Sir Elton’s mammoth Farewell Yellow Brick Highway world tour – is something however a typical ‘present up and play the hits’ gig. It marks the final time you’ll ever see him carry out within the UK (allegedly). On Worthy Farm’s hallowed floor, he promised a model new dwell manufacturing to his different current dates, and 4, depend ’em FOUR, very particular company.
Rumours of potential visitor stars had been rife all week: everybody from UK rock upstarts Nova Twins to a holidaying Britney Spears and final 12 months’s headliner Paul McCartney (who’s been having fun with the Pilton bash all weekend). Hell, Dave Grohl has been popping up in all places else this week, so why the hell not him too, eh?
Unusually, all of the rumours had been incorrect – even for Dua Lipa not being current for ‘Chilly Coronary heart’, to some bemusement from the group. As an alternative, bar one, Elton tells us that he opted for “newer” particular company. Jacob Lusk from Gabriels lends some candy soul to ‘Are You Prepared For Love’, Rina Sawayama completely slays Kiki Dee’s half on ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Coronary heart’ and he even has Glastonbury singing alongside to Steven Sanchez viral hit ‘Till I Discovered You’, quite than have him duet on considered one of his. Simply as with Rocket Hour radio present and 2021 collaborative album ‘The Lockdown Periods’, Elton is as a lot involved sooner or later as he’s the previous.
The closest factor to an ‘old fashioned’ flip comes from The Killers‘ frontman Brandon Flowers, who provides a little bit little bit of that fabulous Vegas glamour to ‘Tiny Dancer’, however it’s merely the icing on a fully superior cake. The gang current are all ages, with the youngest singing even louder for one easy purpose: Elton’s music is timeless and travels. Banger after banger comes, with by no means a lull.
Take a look at that setlist – it could’t be improved. As beforehand promised, the ending section of the present noticed “all hell break free”. ‘Crocodile Rock’, large. ‘Saturday Night time’s Alright for Combating’, feral. ‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’, the summit. ‘Don’t Let the Solar Go Down on Me’, devoted to George Michael on what would have been his sixtieth birthday. We had been spoiled tonight. Flares mild the sky, associates maintain each other and an epic firework finale sees us right into a monumental nearer of ‘Rocket Man’. His one stage transfer (rising from the piano, arms outstretched, and smiling) is all he wants. The songs and his coronary heart do the remainder. Everybody right here is on his aspect. Go on Reg.
“I’m so completely happy to be right here,” he says, profoundly touched. “I’m by no means gonna neglect this.”
None of us will. Sir Elton left every part on the sphere. It was a Glasto set for the ages from a real all-time nice. We’ll by no means see his sort once more. So lengthy, Rocketman – and thanks.
Elton John’s setlist was:
‘Pinball Wizard’
‘The Bitch Is Again’
‘Bennie and the Jets’
‘Daniel’
‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway’
‘I Guess That’s Why They Name It the Blues’
‘Philadelphia Freedom’
‘Are You Prepared for Love’ (with Jacob Lusk from Gabriels and London Group Gospel Choir)
‘Unhappy Songs (Say So A lot)’ (with London Group Gospel Choir)
‘Somebody Saved My Life Tonight’
‘Till I Discovered You’ (with Stephen Sanchez)
‘Your Track’
Candle within the Wind’
‘Tiny Dancer’ (with Brandon Flowers)
‘Don’t Go Breaking My Coronary heart’ (with Rina Sawayama)
‘Crocodile Rock’
‘Saturday Night time’s Alright for Combating’
‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’
‘Chilly Coronary heart’
‘Don’t Let the Solar Go Down on Me’
‘Rocket Man’
Try all the most recent from Glastonbury 2023 on the NME liveblog right here, and see extra information, critiques, images, interviews and extra right here.
The put up Elton John dwell at Glastonbury: one of many competition’s best-ever headline units appeared first on NME.
