Artist: Sir Elton John
Date: December 18th 2019
Venue: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Reviewer: Hayley Treadwell
Photographer: Hang Me On Your Wall Photography

There was excitement and anticipation in the air last night as people arrived at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the first Brisbane show of the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Tour for one of the world’s best-selling, multi-award winning artists, the incomparable, Sir Elton John.

Elton John is easily the most successful and entertaining artists of the last 50 years. With hits spanning his career it is easy to see why he still sells out arenas and stadiums around the world. Fans young and old took their seats ready for what was sure to be one hell of a night, and as the lights went down a deep rumble filled the arena and you could feel it in every bone in your body.

Elton appeared on stage and quickly took position at his piano and straight into one of my all time favourite songs ‘Bennie And The Jets’!  What a way to start.  The crowd was on their feet dancing and singing and embracing this incredible moment – the moment Elton John opened the last show of his that some of us would ever see.

I personally have been a long-time fan of Elton John, from listening to him in the car with my parents when I was a child (I can still hear my Dad singing Daniel), to listening with my children now.  So being at this show, his last tour, was something incredibly special.

We danced and sang the night away, for almost 3 hours.  People could be heard laughing, cheering and seen crying as we all became immersed in the moment that was.  It almost felt as if nothing else existed.  You could see people reliving memories through song, having their own journey with the music. With fan favourites such as ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Sad Songs’ and ‘Levon’ (in which we were treated to the most incredible band jam session), every notes was flawless. 

I was humbled by Elton’s love for the crowd, getting up from the piano after EVERY single song, and thanking the fans, bowing to every corner of the arena, you could see this final tour was just as special to him as it was to the crowd. With the countdown to a rocket launching, we were into ‘Rocket Man’ and it was overwhelming.  The crowd sang so loud, and Elton just roared above everyone. The power in his voice is just something to behold. He is simply amazing.

‘Candle in the Wind’, with images of Marilyn Monroe playing on the screen above, and Elton and his piano traversed from one side of the stage to the other was an incredibly moving moment.  And when it was done Elton took a quick break and the stage filled with smoke with sounds of a thunder storm playing through the arena. As Sir Elton appeared back on stage, he was in a new attire and new glasses and ready to kick into it all over again with big sound music intro into ‘Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding’.

Through the night, I loved listening to Elton talk to the crowd, like we were all friends, everyone hanging on every word as he told us stories of life, love, overcoming addiction, the amazing work of the Elton John Aids Foundation and of how he is looking forward to retiring and spending time with his boys.  I think these are the moments that make any concert truly special.

In the last 10 songs we were treated to hit after hit with ‘Daniel’, ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, ‘The Bitch Is Back’, ‘I’m Still Standing’ a dedication to the crowd with ‘Crocodile Rock’ and confetti falling from the sky for the last song ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’. 

Wow!  What an incredible night we have had!!!! 

And as the crowd claps loud enough to shake the chairs, and cheers and screams for Elton ring out to give us just a little bit more, he takes the stage again, in a new outfit, and leaves us with ‘Your Song’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’.

I am even crying writing this.  It was simply magical.

There is no way to describe the feeling of being at a show of this last tour.  Elton John’s Goodbye Tour.  All I can say is if you are a fan and you have a chance to go, just do it.  Music has the power to heal and to teach, to embrace and to love and no one does that better than Sir Elton John.

From my soul to yours, Sir Elton John, Thank you.

Set List:

Bennie and the Jets
All the Girls Love Alice
I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Border Song
Tiny Dancer
Philadelphia Freedom
Indian Sunset
Rocket Man
Take Me to the Pilot
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Levon
Candle In The Wind
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Burn Down the Mission
Daniel
I Want Love
Sad Songs
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
The Bitch Is Back
I’m Still Standing
Crocodile Rock
Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Encore:
Your Song
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road