Review: Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour hits the stage in Aberdeen
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Brightly-coloured feather boas, colourful jackets and trousers and star-shaped glasses flashed throughout the crowd as a standing ovation welcomed 'Rocket Man' Elton John to the Aberdeen stage, writes Daniel Forsyth.
The veteran music man made his fourth appearance in the Granite City and first at the city's P&J Live Arena on Tuesday, June 14.
The opening standing ovation stayed for Elton, who was joined on stage throughout the evening by his six-piece band as he got the concert underway with his 1974 hit 'Bennie and the Jets.
It didn't take long for Elton to get into the groove with his usual high-standard vocals and piano playing ringing throughout the Aberdeen arena – much to the watching crowd's delight.
Throughout the evening the music and vocals were matched by impressive lighting, visuals and graphics displayed on a large screen behind Elton – ranging from photographs from Martin Parr, close up shots of Elton's fingers floating around his piano and an out-of-this-world experience during Rocket Man.
The Rocket Man himself even had time to give someone in the crowd a thumbs up half-way through his rendition of the song.
As Elton embarks on his final set of concerts – with Aberdeen being his 318th and 319th shows during a 333-gig run on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour – nostalgia was high.
On a few occasions throughout the evening, photographs and video clips from his career would run on the large display alongside songs.
Moments ranging from Live Aid, eye-catching outfits and visits to his beloved Watford Football Club were mixed with clips from TV appearances from shows such as The Simpsons and The Muppet Show.
The set list included most of Elton’s greatest hits, including a poignant rendition of ‘Candle in the Wind’ accompanied by a backdrop of images of Marilyn Monroe, ‘I’m Still Standing’, ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’ which Elton dedicated to all of his adoring fans.
There were a couple of less known numbers, such as Take Me to the Pilot, Burn Down the Mission and Levon which allowed the audience to catch their breath and John’s excellent band to show off their musical talent.
But the best was saved until last with the encore, as Elton came back out on stage, clad in a pink dressing gown (of course) to run through the Dua Lipa version of Cold Heart, which he reminded the crowd earned him a number one single all over the world at the age of 74.
He finished with Your Song and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road before waving the rapturous Aberdeen crowd goodbye as he disappeared into the stage, to round off an impressive 2 and a quarter hour set.
Set list
Bennie and the Jets
Philadelphia Freedom
I Guess That's Why They Called It The Blue
Border Song
Tiny Dancer
Have Mercy on the Criminal
Rocket Man
Take Me to the Pilot
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Levon
Candle in the Wind
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Burn Down the Mission
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
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
Cold Heart
Your Song
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
