Fan report by Filip Arijs.

It’s been three years since I saw Elton on stage. That time in Brussels my mom (80 years) was with me. She was so delighted to have experienced it that she said: "If Elton John comes back to Belgium and I’m still alive, I’ll go again" … so it happened once again that I was in front row with my mom … 83 by now and still standing. It’s a pleasure to get old like that. And that’s what I thought about Elton, too. 69 years, but what an energy, what a rhythm, what a voice, what a musician/piano player. 25 songs, one after another for more than two hours and a half! Hello young artists? Eat that!

I searched for the set list from his latest concert, so I knew it was going to be massive. And how it was! Such a lot of uptempo songs. After every single song, the audience in Belgium gave a standing ovations and Elton deserved that. He was great, but so was his band. They had obviously a good time, just like the audience.

Fans were immediate in the right mood with songs like "The Bitch is Back" and "Benny and The Jets". And then the "Blues … that’s why they call it, that’s why they call it, that’s why they call it, that’s why they call it, that’s why they call it the blues…" - heavenly.

One of my all time favourites is "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", so I was glad to hear that again, those powerful drums from Nigel. Elton played also my favourite "A Good Heart" from his new album. We’ve heard a lot of pearls, "Levon" was one of them. Davey had the chance to show what a genius he is on the guitar. It became a wonderful Rock song with an end I’ve never heard before, no one could stand still. This was the very highlight amongst the others.

After "Sad Songs", Elton reminded us of some important persons in his life that had passed away recently: Leonard Cohen, Leon Russel, Sharon Jones and also Daphne, the mother of Bernie Taupin.

"Crocodile Rock" was the last encore, everybody danced, rocked and sang with Elton. Everybody returned home with a happy feeling.

It was a memorable concert. After the show I was so glad I had a ticket for the concert in Amsterdam three days later.

Following is the complete set list of the Antwerp show on November 19, 2016:

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. The Bitch Is Back
   
4. Bennie And The Jets
   
5. I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
   
6. Daniel
   
7. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
   
8. Looking Up
   
9. A Good Heart
   
10. Philadelphia Freedom
    
11. Rocket Man
    
12. Tiny Dancer
    
13. Levon
    
14. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
15. Have Mercy On The Criminal
    
16. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
    
17. Your Song
    
18. Burn Down The Mission
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
21. All The Girls Love Alice
    
22. I’m Still Standing
    
23. Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock n’ Roll)
    
24. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
    
    
25. Candle In The Wind
    
26. Crocodile Rock

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