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Elton John performed in Madrid on July 8, 2003
Wednesday, July 9 2003 |
Fan reports by Fernando Barral and Miquel Sala Devesa. Photos by Fernando Barral.
 The show started at 9.30 pm sharp with Elton in a fuchsia suit, black shirt and kind of brown sunglasses. It was an extremely hot summer night with around 35 celsius at that time, and I got the best-ever seat that I would never will have for a concert, I was in third row, right in front of Elton's seat.
Elton was in an excellent mood, looks like he's getting younger with the years, with good sense of humour, he said that he got eyes surgery early this year so he can see everything now so "he can see if somebody leaves the concert early" which got the laughs from the audience, estimated in around 12.000 people for tickets sold out since weeks before the concert in a gap of prices from 155 to 35 Euros.
Even though this concert is quite similar to the solo concert I have seen two years ago in Marbella some songs sounded more energic in this time. No sound problems as they got in the band tour last year, and above all Elton in a very legendary concert absolutely in tune with his piano and the audience clapping and celebrating the songs even within the very first chords.
 "Daniel", "Honky Cat", "Rocket Man", "I´m Still Standing", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Sacrifice", "Take Me To the Pilot" and "Crocodile Rock" were the most celebrated from the crowd.
But the highlight of the night came to me at the end of "Bennie and The Jets" and the start of "Crocodile Rock", because the people from the front seats got wild and went to the very edge of the stage, so, I did the same and I was there just two meters from Elton while people was singing the "lalalas" of "Crocodile Rock".
Elton ended and went back as usual, but he went to shake hands to the crowd, I took this moment to show him my booklet of my "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" CD that I bring with me... just in case. You won`t believe my surprise when Elton took it and signed an autograph! I am an Elton fan since I was 14, so this autograph is like a treasure to me from now on.
Fan report by Miquel Sala Devesa
Along with the "Aida" intro orchestration, Sir Elton John appeared at 9:30 pm in "Las Ventas". In front, 12,000 enthusiastic people whom help to sing the songs and whom hand everything that sir Elton said.
First of all, he said "how wonderful" was "to be back in Madrid" and promised, at the end of the show, to "come to see you more" because he will want to "see my friend (football player David Beckham) on the Real Madrid football team".
With tickets at Euro 36 to Euro 150, people went crazy on "Daniel", "Sacrifice" and "Candle in the Wind", the songs more known for the Spanish audiences. With powerful and strong voice, he played "I'm still Standing" solo at the piano (I used to think that this song couldn't work it out without Johnstone guitar's riffts, but man, how mistaken I was).
Really sympathetic, he made a funny comment when he explained us that "I had an operation in my eyes so I can see everyone". His excuses about he didn't appeared on the last "Songs from the West Coast" videos were on the show "Justin Timberlake is very flavouring".
His attentions to the public signing autographs, and his sarcastic comments about the Reagan administration on AIDS, on the criticism to the whole society "30 years later nothing seems to change in the society" explained on the introduction of "Ticking".
He dedicated long versions to "Honky cat" and "Rokcet man", including excerpts on "Bennie and the Jets" (Glenn Miller's "In the mood") and "Take me to the Pilot" (a little bit of "Song for Guy").
Very emotional and very loving his rendition to Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and the two "The Fox" instrumental pieces "Carla/Etude".
Thanking Madrid for being so loyal "you've been so loyal and I wish you my love", Sr Elton closed the more than 2 hours and 30 minutes with the "Lion King" rendition "Circle of Life" with the movie on the video screens.
Following is the complete set list of the Madrid show on July 8, 2003:
- Your Song
- Border Song
- The One
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Ballad Of The Boy In Red Shoes
- Daniel
- Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
- Honky Cat
- Rocket Man
- I'm Still Standing
- Ticking
- Tiny Dancer
- I Want Love
- Sacrifice
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Candle In The Wind
- Moon River
- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
- I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
- This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
- Carla/Etude
- Tonight
- Take Me To The Pilot
- Bennie And The Jets
- Crocodile Rock
- Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
- Circle Of Life
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