Hope Estate, Hunter Valley
Saturday 11 January 2020
Reviewer : Catherine Shelvey
Photographer : Kevin Bull
Midway through his enormous Farewell Yellow Brick Road Australian tour, Elton John came to the Hunter Valley in what proved to be a fitting coda to his illustrious 50 year career in the industry.
With 18 thousand Elton fans joining me at Hope Estate, it was always going to be a lovefest. Add to that a setlist that stretched to near 3 hours, we all sang and danced our backsides off.
From the opening piano stabs of ‘Benny and The Jets’, we rose to our feet in honour of this true music legend. It would be easy for me to rattle off the classics Elton performed tonight, but that would be only a small part as to why tonight was a success. To be in Elton’s presence, to hear him humbly thank everybody here for enabling him to be the musician that he is, it touched us all.
Highlights for myself were quite personal. I love the opening to the Goodbye Yellow Brick album, so when ‘Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding’ began midway through, it was bliss. Stunning chandelier and candle visuals just added to my joy.
Though the raucous ‘The Bitch Is Back’ and ‘I’m Still Standing’ brought a roar from the crowd, it is Elton’s ballads that touch me truly. ‘Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word’ and the encore’s ‘Your Song’ are simply beautiful, and I was in full voice for ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’. My apologies to everyone around me but…. this is Elton guys. They were all singing along with me anyway.
I actually feel quite privileged to have seen Elton three times live, and to catch him on this final Farewell tour will be something I will be telling my children and grandchildren about in years to come. Thanks you Elton for the songs, for the joy you have given us, and all the power to you as you move into your future life. We may not see you on stage again but we will always have your music.
