by Lucy Sokol ’21

Elton John, the award winning English musician known for his bold fashion and his incredible songs, has spent his time performing all around the world on his latest tour. As a 72 year-old multi millionaire with a husband and two sons, John plans to end his performing days with a bang. The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is John’s final tour that consists of more than 300 concerts worldwide, with Philadelphia being one of the stops.

On November 9, my family and I arrived at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. People of all ages sat down in this large arena as we waited for John to emerge. The sound of one piano key echoed through the arena as the crowd roared with excitement. Bright lights flashed as John stepped onto the stage. Without saying a word to the audience he played one of his more upbeat songs, “Bennie and the Jets.” The lights glimmered off of his iconic oversized glasses and rhinestone shoulder pads. 

During each song, every so often the jumbo screens would show the audience John’s brilliant piano-playing. The movement of his fingers were fast, complex, and impressive. His talent started when he taught himself how to play at the age of eleven. Being a musical prodigy, he received a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where his career took off. 

John played one of his most well-known songs, “I’m Still Standing.” The lyrics, written by John’s lyricist and old friend Bernie Taupin, talk about John’s recovery from his toxic relationship with his former partner. This tune could also be portrayed as an anthem for his sobriety. In the 1970s, John turned to drugs and alcohol that nearly got him killed. Now he’s almost 30 years sober and happier than ever. Not to mention, his fans that had AIDs and HIV encouraged him to end his bad habits and become a better man for them. During the concert, John briefly talked about how he still supports those fans as he created the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1993. 

After John and his band played “Crocodile Rock,” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” confetti fell onto the bowing musicians and they exited the stage. But the show was not over just yet. John returned wearing a sparkly purple robe as he sang “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” The beautiful yet sorrowful song perfectly summed up the night as the audience said goodbye to their king. 

Through John’s songs, people see all the different things he has been through that made him the strong man he is today.

I could not have asked for a better first concert. It set the bar pretty high for future concerts that I plan to attend. John and his band members played extraordinarily well as they easily held the attention of the entire arena. That night was truly unforgettable.

Grade: 10/10. From the 1970s to now, John really knows how to amuse a crowd.