Sábado 10 Nov 2012, 21h:45

Sat 10 Nov – Elton John Under the Stars

It was going to be George Michael who opened the "dramatic" looking Perth Arena, but he had to cancel his shows around Australia due to ill health. Sir Elton John took over the Perth Arena opening, and people with George tickets had a choice whether to get a refund or attend Elton. My friend and I chose to attend, and found out later that our other friend was going along with her mum, so we all went in together for a fun night. It had been planned as an "under the stars" show because the brand new shiny weird-looking Perth Arena building has a retractable roof (apparently it takes 7 minutes to open). However, the clouds rolled in and we had drizzle most of the night, so unfortunately the roof stayed closed.

So, first up on stage we had some local people from radio opening the Arena, and there was a short movie about the construction of it. The lady next to me was telling me she knows someone who knows a bit of insider info - apparently they had wood originally that was "too light" and so they scrapped it and started over. $400k worth of wood just thrown out - not even recycled. So we thought that was just a bit un-environmentally friendly! Pft! Also, did I mention the Arena is…blue? I was saying to my friend, "There's a certain 'blue' theme going on in here, wouldn't you say?" and she said, "You RECKON?!!?" Later on I suggested that instead of Perth Arena it should be called Smurf Arena. Hey, just a thought! The arena is pretty huge and the place we were sitting was near the back of one "corner". We felt like we were perched on a cliff face. Seriously, it was that steep. And I can already imagine there being some horrible accidents in future where people get shoved down stairs and then topple over the "cliff side" to their grisly deaths far below. I've got photos of all this but haven't got them off my camera yet.

ANYWAY…onto the actual show! First up we had a video from Elton himself introducing the first act. They were Two Cellos, whose image we had seen on the projection screens to either side of the stage and had already decided "bow chicka wow wow", in other words we wouldn't say no if propositioned by either of these dudes. Though my friend had a preference for one of them, I would have taken either. haha. They played a few songs starting out with "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson, and following up (I think) with U2's "With Or Without You". They also played two AC/DC songs, fitting for this Australian audience - they played "Highway to Hell" (one of my definite faves) and "You Shook Me All Night Long", and the crowd ate it up. I can't remember what else they played right now, but I'm sure there was something. But they didn't play much before the people in Elton's band started to come out onto the stage, and then finally Elton himself came out.

He was wearing a lot of blue (to suit the arena?), and it was sparkly, perhaps with sequins. He looked good but I was a bit jealous 'cause wanted his outfit 'cause I LOVE sparkles. Now, onto Elton's show…

Obviously Elton John is a legend. He's got so many amazing songs, huge hits that just came rolling out one after the other last night. I always remember my mum saying that she preferred Elton's work with Bernie Taupin (in other words, songs that Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics for) to his other stuff, but still, he did other good stuff as well. Early on in this show, I realised (and everyone else probably already knew it, but not me!) that he was playing live for Telethon, so some of the concert at least (maybe only one song, I don't know) was televised live. First I will post the setlist, and then I will comment on some of the songs specifically:

Main set:
The Bitch Is Back (from Caribou, 1974)
Bennie and the Jets (from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973)
Grey Seal (from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973)
Levon (from Madman Across The Water, 1971)
Tiny Dancer (from Madman Across The Water, 1971)
Believe (from Made In England, 1995)
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (from Honky Chateau, 1972)
Philadelphia Freedom (single 1975)
Candle In The Wind (from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973)
Rocket Man (from Honky Chateau, 1972)
Ahab (from The Union, 2010)
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Honky Cat (from Honky Chateau, 1972)
Sad Songs (from Breaking Hearts, 1984)
Sacrifice (from Sleeping With The Past, 1989)
Daniel (from Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player, 1973)
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (from Caribou, 1974)
Are You Ready For Love (from The Thom Bell Sessions, 1979)
I'm Still Standing (from Too Low For Zero, 1983)
Crocodile Rock (from Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player, 1973)
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973)

Encore:
Your Song (from Elton John, 1969)
Circle Of Life (from The Lion King, 1994)

When he played Bennie and the Jets, which my friend and I were both singing the 27 Dresses version of ("she's got electric boobs…" etc.). Great, great song. My friend got chills during a few songs, namely "Rocket Man", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "Circle of Life". I got them during "Daniel" (because it reminded me of my childhood with my aunty playing the song a lot :D) and "Circle of Life" for sure (especially with the snippets from the movie they had playing on the screens at the time. Aww, it was so beautiful!). All in all it was a great night, and though I wouldn't say it was the concert that has left me feeling the most awestruck in its wake, I'm glad to now be able to say that I've seen Elton John live and heard the actual man himself (and his band, and the Two Cellos who helped out with a lot of his songs) play his songs live. Plus, despite my friend's fear of heights and not being thrilled with our seats on the cliff edge, I thought it was pretty cool being so high up and having such a freaky view. Almost reminded me of the Quidditch game at the arena in Harry Potter, but okay, nowhere near as extreme as that. ;)