Review: Elton John at Meadowbank Stadium

SIR Elton John has been touring for a staggering 47 years, producing more than 30 albums and leaving an endless trail of smash-hit singles in his wake.
Elton John at MeadowbankElton John at Meadowbank
Elton John at Meadowbank

Now, at the age of 69, there are those who have the cheek to say the Rocket Man is running out of fuel. This weekend at Meadowbank, such nonsense was booted right out the park.

He started as he meant to go on. Opening with fan favourite Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – the first track on his eight-times platinum-selling album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – the veteran showman unleashed an avalanche of classics one after the other.

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The Bitch Is Back was followed by Bennie and the Jets and I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues – the latter after a brief pause to congratulate Scotland on its doomed vote to remain in the EU.

He roared: “You’re the only f****** sensible people in the country – bravo!”

As the sun sank behind the trees, pop’s elder statesman cracked into Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – obvious, perhaps, but no less powerful for it. That the weather had held after some brief showers marred the start of the evening only added to it.

An encore of Candle in the Wind and Crocodile Rock finished off the night after a more-than-respectable two and a half hours. Not bad for a man shortly entering his seventh decade.

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The old pomp might have been dialled down with age – and let’s be honest, Sir Elton’s voice ain’t what it used to be. But it’s difficult to think of any performer more deserving of the legend tag, and this weekend was just another reminder of his staggering contribution to music.

His retirement has long been hinted at. At one point during the gig, he promised he’d be back one more time before packing it in to spend more time with his family.

This isn’t the end quite yet. Make no mistake – the Rocket Man’s still firing on all cylinders.

ALISTAIR GRANT

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