Fan report by Miquel Sala Devesa. Photos by Fernando Barral.

Barcelona had to wait ten years to see another Elton John concert. Originally, the show was cancelled on 27th November, due to illness, and postponed to 21th December. The time, 21:10; the place: the magnificent Palau St. Jordi. More than 15,000 people received Elton with applaus. The concert, intimate and memorable, showed Elton only with his black Yamaha piano, but without band, for contractual reasons, and its duration was near three hours.

First of all, the gentleman apologised for the cancellation "I apologise for being so late. Finally I'm here, me and my piano, to play some songs from the past and from the present". Inmediatily, everybody had forgiven him and the show started with "Your Song".

A minimalist stage, with simple lights and two video screens, was enough for the show. The audience was ready to hear the hits collection and understood that most important were the songs and his perfectly performance: his great and strong voice.

The first highlight of the show was the inclusion of "Nikita", a song that was very important in the 80s here in Spain. "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", recently recorded with Blue band, was another hit that brought people to encourage him with "Elton, Elton, Elton", for more than two minutes. He laughed, saludated and agreed every compliment. "Candle in the Wind" and "Sacrifice" were heard in silence and with candle lights.

He was not very comunicative, unless "this song's from the album...", until the last moments of the concert. He dedicated "Original Sin" to Andreu and Montse, two dear friends from Barcelona, and "Carla Etude" plus "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", to the "wonderful" crew he has, in his last show of the tour of this year.

For being in pre-Christmas period, he introducted "Jingle Bells" in the intro of "Take Me to the Pilot". He wishes everybody a best Christmas and holidays, and peace on earth. Then, he thanked Barcelona for being so loyalty and suportive.

One of the most impressive moment was during "Crocodile Rock", when spontaniously, people left his seat behind and moved on to near the stage because everybody was dancing and singing the song. On the "la la las" tune, the camera operate captured when someone of the audience were singing the tune with a crocodile rock hand marionette, and mixed with Elton leading the chorus.

Following is the complete set list of the Barcelona show on December 21, 2003:

• Your Song
  
• Border Song
  
• The Greatest Discovery
  
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  
• The Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes
  
• Daniel
  
• Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters
  
• Honky Cat
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• I Want Love
  
• Nikita
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Original Sin
  
• The One
  
• Carla Etude
  
• Tonight
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• Circle Of Life
  

Back to Headlines