Mark: Because I did not have much time when preparing my last post with a brief review of Elton's concert at Manchester Nynex Arena I have decided to submit the review which appeared in the Manchester Evening News the following night. Elton was front page news with his outburst that this is the last time we would see him in Manchester.
As national treasures go, Elton John has stood neglected and unloved for many a year.
Then, rather like the moment the QE2 was pressed into action for the Faulklands, the nation suddenly rediscovered its affection for a majestic old queen.
The song which brought about this transformation and will always define 1997 - the rewitten Candle In The Wind he performed at Princess Diana's funeral - went unsung. But its emotional resonances were there whenever this pudgy piano man tried to turn our throughts to melancholy. And Elton does the sad wistful song so well.
Unfortunately. Candle In The Wind was not the only omission from the set list. There was no Rocket Man, Circle Of Life, nor even the tumultuous new song he lent Pavarotti, Live Like Horses, in the two-hour set.
A red-suited Elton hit the stage rocking, with his two guitarists striking poses which suggested they may be auditioning for Aerosmith when this gig is over.
Within a few minutes, he was into the oldies with Grey Seal, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Honky Cat and I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. New song If The River Can Bend demonstrated Elt's enduring ability to pen the stirring rock ballad.
Then, matter-of-factly, the singer told us this would be his last British tour and, after many in the audience had waited the best part of two decades for him to come our way, this would be the last time we would see him in Manchester. Following this declaration with Don't Let The Sun Down seemed a little inappropriate.
Then came the evening's best moments as the band left Elton alone at the piano to give us Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, his HIV/Aids lament The Last Song and Daniel. It was almost a shame to see this mood broken by Philadelphia Freedom, Bennie And The Jets and a clattering Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting.
Elton took his bows and returned in a black jump suit which made him resemble a superannuated Teletubby. Then, daft clobber or not, he felled us again with the exquisite Your Song. An unlovely version of The Bitch Is Back and it was all over, just as many fans were on their feet expecting more. It is not difficult to understand how Britian has taken Elton to its heart. His petty vanities and self-deprecating character are appealingly human. Oblivious to fad and fashion, he has stood apart from his peers like the Reg Holdsworth of pop - a comic tragedian too loably ludicrous for banality which surrounds him.
PAUL TAYLOR
I don't agree with everything in the review but its a reasonable assessment.
I must say the the Manchester audience was one of the best that I have seen for a Elton concert and I have seen over 30 in several countries. The entire arena was up for almost the entire show. On the whole though it is true to say that British audiences are very reserved and the best received songs are the ballads with just Elton on the piano. It is just a shame that one of his best audiances in Britain had the show cut short. Lets hope that Elton can make amends when he hopefully plays with Billy Joel here next year.
The British Pop chart news for Christmas is that the Spice Girls are Number One, Teletubby's are at number two and Elton is at Number 11 with S.A.T.W.Y.L.T and Candle In The Wind.
Happy Christmas Mark
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