How rare is it that when an artist or band announces their retirement or farewell, they stay retired? In hip-hop, rappers almost always make a return (see Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and most recently, Westside Gunn). KISS broke up in 2001, quickly reunited, and are currently finishing up their second, final tour.
Elton John has been on a grand farewell tour, cementing his nearly 33-year-long legacy with a huge spectacle, titled Farewell Yellow Brick Road. Over 31 albums, Elton has influenced fashion, showmanship, and pop culture, spawning and befriending incredible artists from the likes of Ben Folds to Lil Nas X.
Most recently on his tour, he made a pit stop in Lexington, Kentucky, and it was a night to remember.
My first real Rock and Roll hero was Elton John. I was always the little cousin, and the older cousins had great record collections. I remember my cousin Bobby and myself riding in his car playing Honky Chateau on his 8 track when I was 9. Other cousins let me borrow their copy of Madman Across the Water, and I was hooked.
This past Saturday night, my wife Kathy and I were lucky enough to see Sir Elton John in his last performance at Rupp Arena in Lexington. His fourth (his first was in 1980) trip to the Arena was (sort of) a scaled down show. He stuck with the hits, and kept mainly to his 70’s catalog. His band was the core of his classic sound with guitarist Davey Johnstone, drummer Nigel Olsson and percussionist Ray Cooper (his longtime bassist Dee Murray passed away many years ago), and also another percussionist, keyboard player and bassist. From the opener “Benny and the Jets” into “Burn Down The Mission,” “Border Song” (with a great Aretha Franklin shared memory), to a deep dive into “Have Mercy on the Criminal,” Elton and his band mates were flawless. A huge video screen behind the band was distracting at times, but it worked well with the graphics for “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.” Other times the screen was showing home movies or clips from the “Rocket Man” biopic.
Three hits from the 80’s were played, and that was fine with me. In my opinion, a very watered down period for him. The mash-up “Cold Heart” with Dua Lipa was played, but she was pre-recorded on the video screen. Sir Elton ended with his first single “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” lifted up, said “Goodbye “ and walked into the video screen via a hidden door.
Goodbye, Sir Elton, and thank you for a wonderful night and career.
And thank you, Mr. Ritter, for the wonderful write-up. We'll be back tomorrow with another edition of Friday Roundup.
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What era of Sir Elton John is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
- Ritter
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