Fan report by Jacopo Rocchi.

Two days ago I was going to see my fifth Elton concert. After two band shows, one solo piano show and one Red Piano concert I couldn't think I was going to see my best Elton show ever. The Arena was simply beautiful, located outside were the scenes for the Aida opera that is touring the Arena in the summer, and almost three hours before the show the sun started to shine over Verona after three days of storm.

We entered and reached our seats on the right side of the Arena tiers, so we could see Elton in front of us. At 8.00 pm Anastacia starts her opening set, 30 minutes before the scheduled time. I don't know why they changed the starting time of Anastacia's show, and it was a pity because she played facing an almost empty Arena.

However, Anastacia amazed me with her powerful perfomance and her dances, she sang nine songs for a 45-minutes concert, more than a simply opening act. So we were delighted by this little concert, but we were worried about possible set list cuts by Elton.

At 9.00 pm the band entered and Guy played the unmistakable intro of "Funeral For A Friend": this is one of my favorite Elton songs, and live maybe it's my favourite song to hear. And then he entered: with the black and blue Crocodile Rock dress, Elton captured the Arena sight on him: 14.000 peoples were here for him, and the Arena gave him a standing ovation.

After a rock start with "Funeral For A Friend" and "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", Elton said "Buonasera Verona", and said he and the band were honoured to play in that beautiful anphitheater, then he remembered the last time he played in the Arena in 2002: "It rained, rained and rained! But tonight it's going to be dry!"

Elton was in great mood, he spoke more than he usually does in Italy, and he thanked us Italian after each song. The set list was the same as for the rest of the tour (so he didn't cut songs!), but there were some rarities: Elton played "I Want Love" brilliantly (excellent Bob Birch on bass), which comes from "Songs From The West Coast", one of my favourite albums.

Then he dedicated "Skyline Pigeon" to his close friend Gianni Versace who was murdered on July 15th 1997, almost twelve years ago. He tributed Gianni with this deep song about freedom, and it was certainly the highlight of the show, with "I Want Love" and "All The Girls Love Alice", a song Elton rarely plays in Italy that was a very rock song.

"It's time to dance" Elton said before "Are You Ready For Love", and people rushed the stage. Elton wanted people near to him to enjoy the end of the show, a very spicy finale, in wich Elton rocked the Arena playing Domenico Modugno's Volare as "Crocodile Rock" intro. The Arena was singing for him!

After "I'm Still Standing" Elton greeted the Arena, thanking us for coming always to his shows, and saying he was going to his house in Venice, because he loves Italy and that the Italian audience was great as always!

"Your Song" was perfect. This concert was perfect. And Sir Elton was, is and always will be perfect! Thanks Elton! See you in Milan in September 2009!

Following is the complete set list of the Verona show on July 7, 2009:

• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Saturday Night Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Burn Down The Mission
  
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  
• I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Daniel
  
• Honky Cat
  
• I Want Love
  
• Rocket Man
  
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• All The Young Girls Love Alice
  
• Candle In The Wind (solo)
  
• Skyline Pigeon
  
• Are You Ready For Love
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
• I’m Still Standing
  
• Your Song

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