Fan report by Peter Bucek. Photos by Mireille Mölbert.

Elton John played to a crowd of 20,000 skiers and boarders at 2,320 meters in a mountain top arena. It was Elton's second appearance in concert in Ischgl. He was the first big star to feature in Ischgl's Top Of The Mountain concerts in 1995. Other big names to have followed his lead since that first appearance have included Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, Sting, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, the Sugababes, Pink and The Pussycat Dolls.

I absolutely forgot about the 660 km of driving to ski center Ischgl, and I also forgot about three and half hours of waiting in front of the piano, when Elton finally came on stage. The beautiful place, good weather and the starting hour of 1.00 pm was a good reason to make great photos.

The concert was shorter, maybe because Elton said after the first song that "This show will be shorter because itīs little bit could here".

During "The Bitch Is Back" Elton was caughing a lot inbetween singing the lyrics. He also wiped his nose sometimes, but only during that song.

The show was fantastic, Elton looked happy till the moment when band returned to play encores. Elton was standing on the bench, Nigel began druming, but the other band members looked like they did not know if to return to the stage or not. From my point of view I saw Guy Babylon running back to the stage from backstage already. Elton was turning to the audience but by his hand's gestueres I recognized that he was little bit upset about this little stage mistake.

Then he turned to the crowd and started to play "Donīt Let The Sun Go Down On Me". After this song the band members again looked like thay didnīt know if to stay or not. But then they grudgingly went off the stage and Elton played "Your Song" solo. The band members would remain unintroduced during the show.

Nine out of song were up-tempo, which was great in regard of enjoying pure rockīnīroll this day in the snow. As up-tempo songs I also count "Levon" (with fantastic ending session) and "Bennie And The Jets".

I enjoyed my "first row profit" with often visual concatct with Elton, who was always making some funny grimaces.
The slope way from stage to my parking took me about 25 minutes of skiing. This was my first concert, during which I had cap on my head, I was in winter anorack, training suit and I also had apline-skiing boots on my feet.

Following is the complete set list of the Ischgl show on May 3, 2008:

• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Levon
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Daniel
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Pinball Wizard
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• Your Song

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