Rocket Man’s Last Tour

The Knighted Legend, Elton John, Dazzles the Twin Cities

By: Sanjali Roy

A man with sparkly pink glasses and black jacket climbed onto stage. The crowd screamed their welcome at Sir Elton John as he began playing the uplifting, staccato tune of “Benny and the Jets.” It quickly became apparent that his voice and piano skills have only grown stronger with age. Although the show was glamorous, the main focus always remained on the wonderful music. 

His guitarist, Davey Johnstone, deserves a shoutout for shredding his guitar during “Have Mercy on the Criminal.” Elton captivated with his piano runs during the famous “Rocket Man,” which made many wave their flashlights amidst the soft, blue lighting. His piano moved slowly across the stage for “Candle in the Wind,” a song about fame and how it alienates those it affects. The crowd provided the chorus by yelling “yeah, yeah, yeah” during “I’m Still Standing,” which can be interpreted as a testament of Elton’s perseverance in the face of whatever comes his way. He commanded us to dance to “Saturday Night’s Alright For the Fighting”, and just about everyone in the crowd busted out their best moves (me included). 

Finally, there was “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Although it was written in 1973, it’s poetically coming true now, as he is truly saying goodbye to his life of fame, wealth, and success. An absolute rollercoaster of a show that displays the true talent and prowess of Elton and his band, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is a fantastic final gift from Elton to the world.