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24 September 2014

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Reviews

Elton John (Malcolm Bassett-Smith)

Review: Elton John

Malcolm Bassett-Smith
He's a Rocket Man, he's a Pinball Wizard and above all, he's one of the world's greatest singing superstars. So Reading's Madejski Stadium was honoured to host Elton John's concert that kicked off his nation-wide tour. Read the review!

INFO

Elton John

Madejski Stadium

Thursday 24/05/05

SET LIST:

1. Pinball Wizard
2. Bennie And The Jets
3. Daniel
4. Turn The Lights Out When You Leave
5. Pilot
6. Rocket Man
7. Blues
8. Sacrifice
9. Electricity
10. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
11. Funeral/Love Lies
12. Are You Ready For Love
13. Philadelphia Freedom
14. All That I'm Allowed (I'm Thankful)
15. Porch Swing In Tupelo
16. They Call Her The Cat
17. Sad Songs
18. Levon
19. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
20. I'm Still Standing
21. The Bitch Is Back
22. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Encore:
23. Candle In The Wind
24. Your Song

The Bitch may be Back, but if you didn’t know already, so is Elton John. Kicking off his nationwide tour at the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading FC and London Irish, the pitch that is normally reserved for sports was transformed into something far more theatrical. Though saying that, in comparison to Elton John’s previous outlandish costumes on tour, the worldclass star chooses to stay in the same outfit throughout – a smart dark blue suit and a white high-collared shirt. Clearly the music takes centre stage this time rather than his flair for a good pair of crazy glasses or cartoon wig.

Elton John (Malcolm Bassett-Smith)

Opening the show with Pinball Wizard, Elton sets the scene for an explosive and vibrant concert. He goes on to mix the old classics with new favourites: the slow and disco sultry Bennie And The Jets is followed by the delicate and sentimental Daniel, and then we’re treated to a new song off his Peachtree Road album Turn The Lights Out When You Leave. Then it’s Pilot, Rocket Man, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Sacrifice – the show goes on and on.

Twenty four songs later and Elton finally leaves the stage, an exhausted yet buzzing tiger, with the applause of 24,000 fans battering his eardrums. Two and a half hours of non-stop performance is heavy going even for a young man, but Elton takes this gruelling task in his stride.

Warming up the crowd is that wee gritty Glaswegian - Lulu. I have seen people turn their nose up at the mention of her name, but those same people are all joining in with the ballads and raunchy numbers that made her a teenage icon of the mid 60s.

Marvellously merging her black costume into an even blacker stage means you don’t get to see that much of Lulu, but many still wake in the morning to To Sir With Love fresh in their minds.

Lulu (Malcolm Bassett-Smith)

What an amazing night – Elton John sent everyone sky high with his impassioned and enlivened performance, pummelling that piano like no tomorrow, singing a mixture of greats and greats-to-be.

Naturally we all chant and cheer for an encore, which of course happens. Lighters and mobile phone screens alike pepper the stadium like a starry sky for the heart-wrenching songs Candle In The Wind and Your Song.

"How wonderful life is while you’re in the world" – that line in the last song is something the whole crowd would certainly apply to our Reginald Dwight, the singing superstar who touched the lives of everyone present tonight.

last updated: 21/12/05

Have Your Say

gary wall
thanks for these exciting reviews, going to the britannia stadium this saturday,can't wait!!!

Angela Brown
Fantastic concert, more please. How about Phil Collins or Eric Clapton. Shame about the bus service, utter chaos trying to get back to the station and why do people pay a lot of money to see a fantastic guy only to spend most of the time wandering about to get drinks and food whilst he is on.

Kath
Elton was superb. What a joy to have such a great concert so close to home. Just a shame about the organisation.I missed the whole of Lulu's set queueing to buy a drink.I felt sorry for the staff as it was not their fault, just inadequate facilities. This really needs to be resolved if the Mad Stad is to hold more evenings like this one.

Sarah, Reading
So glad I didn't have to pay to see him - I just sat at home and listened to him drowning out my television. Thanks!

Gutted in NZ!
I am so very very sad that I missed it. I'm a Berkshire girl currently working in New Zealand. Can't believe I missed possibly one of the biggest and best events ever at the Mad.Stad. Sounds as though everyone I know who went had the most fab time!

Janet Williams
Fanastic concert - Elton superb. The sound for Lulu did not do her justice.

Matthew Allen
2 and half hours of pure class!

Simon Schafer
What a great night of entertainment. Lulu warmed the crowd and Elton was pure class. My wife and I were singing all the way home. It is just a shame that the catering team let the side down. Some people had to queue for 50 minutes just to get a drink! When will they learn? Many people would have been making their first visit to the Mad Stad and will go away with a bad impression of the facilities on offer.

Kaye
Fantastic concert. More,please, at The Mad Stad.

Enid Thomas
It was a fantastic show this was said by my son who went to see it also my tutor of the I,T course I am trying to master

elaine
Elton was amazing - a fantastic show. Hopefully we can have more live shows at the Mad Stad.

John Morris
A great concert - credit must also be paid to Elton's band (particularly guitarist Davey Johnstone). The encore of 'Candle in the Wind' sent shivers down the spine, since he'd vowed never to play the song in public again. Lulu was excellent as support - again with a fine band.

David
What a great night it was, sadly the sound system didn't do Elton any favours, even less for Lulu. I have to ask though, why do so many people talk, use thier phones and wander about during such great performances? It is very distracting and frankly discourteous to the performers. Lets hope John M made lots of dosh and we get more great concerts soon!

Richard Bell
A fantastic show at a fantastic venue - more of the same please Thank you Mr Madejski

Darren
Awesome. The guy's a legend and to hav Lulu supporting, a fantastic suprise when I got there. Thank you Sir Elton.