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Each song felt so important. Each moment seemed so significant. And the crowd hung on every word, spoken or sung.
It wasn’t just a concert, but rather a chance for these fans to express their thanks to a performer whose music has played such a huge part in the soundtracks of their lives.
It was, without a doubt, an emotional night for the audience as well as for the subject of its attention and affection — Sir Elton John — who seemed a bit choked up at times on Friday, Jan. 18, at Oracle Arena as he played what might well have been his final concert in Oakland.
Sir @eltonofficial opens show with Bennie an @OracleArena in beautiful Oakland pic.twitter.com/HIx9DVN1wD
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 19, 2019
Yes, after more than 50 years in the business, Elton John says he is retiring from touring after this lengthy Farewell Yellow Brick Road trek, which also includes a date on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the SAP Center in San Jose.
“I’ve had enough applause in my life to last a million lives,” said the 71-year-old piano man, expressing deep gratitude to the fans for supporting him through the years.
Sir @eltonofficial singing his 7th best song pic.twitter.com/vWSgshl61u
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 19, 2019
He indeed performed like it would be his final show in Oakland, going to great lengths to leave fans with fond memories of what was likely the last time they’d see John in concert. The show stretched over 2½ hours and included two dozen numbers.
“I had a huge problem putting the set list together,” John said near the start of the show. “If I don’t play your favorite song tonight, I truly apologize.”
He probably didn’t end up owing too many apologies, given that the set list was geared toward the big hits and fan favorites. He’d throw in a few deeper cuts, just to keep us on our toes, but otherwise stuck mainly to songs that these fans have been hearing on the radio for decades.
Tiny Dancer @eltonofficial @OracleArena pic.twitter.com/lo75Ysm8a7
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 19, 2019
Backed by a rocking six-piece band, John opened the show with a double shot of “Bennie and the Jets” and “All the Girls Love Alice,” both off the tour’s namesake album, the double-LP “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” from 1973. Elton sang from the piano, looking cool in a pair of heart-shaped glasses and a ornate jacket with “Elton” emblazoned on the back.
He sounded fairly strong vocally as he continued through “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” and “Border Song,” the latter seeming to put John in a quite nostalgic mood.
“It came out in 1970, which, to me, doesn’t seem like that long ago,” he said of “Border Song,” adding wistfully. “Time flies.”
Levon @eltonofficial pic.twitter.com/tjnxS2QWGP
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 19, 2019
That song played a significant role in John’s career. You see, at the time of its release, he was still struggling to make it in the business. But his confidence, as well as his career, got a big boost when the song was covered by none other than the great Aretha Franklin.
“You’ll never see anyone that great again, I can tell you,” John said of Franklin.
Things shifted into a whole new gear with the triumphant sing-along “Tiny Dancer,” which seemed to create a wave of momentum that carried through the upbeat “Philadelphia Freedom” and the moving “Indian Sunset,” before cresting with his greatest song, “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time).”
Some of the best work of the night came mid-set, as the band jammed through a powerful, extended version of “Levon” and absolutely knocked “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” out of the ballpark, before John poured his heart into a lovely take on “Believe.”
“I really believe that love is the cure for what ails this sick world of ours,” John said in the introduction to “Believe.”
And @eltonofficial plays his greatest song pic.twitter.com/61rbeABbS4
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 19, 2019
John closed the main set with a flurry of uptempo numbers, including “Crocodile Rock” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” before returning for an encore that drew joyful applause from the audience.
“This building rocks,” he marveled. “No wonder the Warriors play so well here.”
Here’s the set list from the show:
- “Bennie and the Jets”
- “All the Girls Love Alice”
- “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”
- “Border Song”
- “Tiny Dancer”
- “Philadelphia Freedom”
- “Indian Sunset”
- “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”
- “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”
- “Believe”
- “Daniel”
- “Sad Songs (Say So Much)”
- “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”
- “Your Song”
- “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
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