On his bittersweet “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, Elton John excels in Foxborough, MA.
by Eleanor Schifino | 08/12/22 02:00
I’m a sucker for a gig. If someone notable is playing within three hours of me, I can’t help but go. I’m drawn to energy, lights, live music, food – and my wallet hates me for it. So when my friend texted me at the last minute to see Elton John in Foxborough, Mass. on July 27, all of a sudden, the interview I had the next day, my upcoming midterm, and my scheduled chat post in two hours all fell by the wayside. Nosebleed tickets were bought and an outfit was thrown together. Getting into my beloved Subaru with four other Dartmouth students, we began the three-hour drive to Gillette Stadium. Along the way, we couldn’t hold back our excitement as we listened to John’s greatest hits and made a brief Chick-fil-A stop along the way.
Despite our excitement, we ended up being late for the concert. Traffic was abysmal, Apple Maps barely got us to the concert venue, and parking was a nightmare. After finding a random spot in a gym tucked away behind a forest, we trekked through the woods to get to the stadium, only to miss the first song, “Bennie and the Jets.” Running towards the stadium entrance, I heard the “BBB-Bennie!” which made me run faster.
Seated just in time for “Philadelphia Freedom”, I let the sweet sound of Elton John carry me away. In his glittering suit and signature sunglasses, John put on a stunning show that was an ode to his iconic status and a heartwarming goodbye to his fans.
After “Philadelphia Freedom” and “Bennie and the Jets”, John completed the show’s intro with “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”, “Border Song” (dedicated to Aretha Franklin) and an obvious favorite fans, “Little dancer.” While every song was great – John knows how to work a piano – “Tiny Dancer” thrilled the whole stadium. Swinging through time and crushing our hearts, we felt on top of the world within minutes. Performed in a lower register (probably to suit John’s aging vocal chords), the song sounded phenomenal – even better in person than on the recording. John then performed “Have Mercy on the Criminal” before launching into “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”.
John’s performance of “Rocket Man” was magical. His concert rendition was slightly different from the recorded version – small changes in timing, pauses and notes with some added embellishments – which made the listening experience even more special. As John sat at his piano in his glittering suit, he cried his heart out in front of a breathtaking audience of listeners. Long-time fans and new fans, young and old, all listened to and sang along to “Rocket Man”, drawn in by the power of the music. It was an unforgettable experience.
After “Rocket Man”, the concert went into a little lull, probably my fault, since my knowledge of John’s discography turned out to be less complete than I thought. In the middle of the concert, I only knew “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”, one of my favorite songs. Although I may not know the lyrics to his other songs, it was always easy to sit back and bask in John’s powerful voice and phenomenal band. However, I’m still upset that John cut my favorite song, “Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters”, which he had included on previous setlists for the tour.
To end the gig, John kicked it into high gear. With a costume change and renewed energy, he brought remarkable energy to his performance. With a powerful rendition of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, John perfectly covered the George Michael parts of the Live Aid version I know. “The Bitch Is Back” followed, pushing the crowd out of their seats with “I’m Still Standing,” which immediately followed. From there he was hit after the fact. “Crocodile Rock” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” had me jumping all over the place and screaming my heart out, even though it was a Wednesday night. Although satisfied with what I had heard, I knew that the concert would not end without an encore. Ending the concert with an encore of “Cold Heart”, “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, the fans went home happy. Ending his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” wasn’t a shock – it would have been insane to end with anything else – but it was a touching moment when John said goodbye to his fans, and we said goodbye to him too.
Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour was undoubtedly bittersweet, and his fans aren’t ready to say goodbye to his live performances just yet. The concert was incredible, and I consider myself lucky to have seen it live. Throughout the concert, John was energetic, engaged and seemed refreshed. He interacted with the crowd, never missed a note and owned that scene. The set list showcased his skills and was a walk down memory lane, acting as a tribute to his long and iconic career. The concert demonstrated the breadth of John’s talent and was a fine addition to his long list of stellar performances.
Evaluation: ★★★★☆
