Elton John rocks. Even in the pouring rain. On Friday night, about 10 000 fans descended on the NMMU Sports Field to experience a musical legend firsthand.
Sir Elton performed for the first time in Port Elizabeth as part of his Under African Skies concert tour. The area has been in the grip of a drought, but the heavens opened on PE on Friday evening.
Elton John rocks. Even in the pouring rain. On Friday night, about 10 000 fans descended on the NMMU Sports Field to experience a musical legend firsthand.
Sir Elton performed for the first time in Port Elizabeth as part of his Under African Skies concert tour. The area has been in the grip of a drought, but the heavens opened on PE on Friday evening.
As we parked the car about a kilometre from the grounds and I looked at the raging thunderstorm, I thought, we can’t possibly be contemplating getting out of this car and going to stand in the rain for three hours?
To be honest, I was more alarmed at the prospect of getting struck by lightning than the thought of getting drenched.
But my party bravely donned their ponchos and we were swept along with the momentum of a crowd single-mindedly heading in the same direction.
Magnetic Storm had erected a massive covered stage with big screens and impressive lighting, so at least we knew the show would go on.
The picnic blanket stayed rolled up, but we managed to partake of our victuals while huddling under umbrellas.
Promptly at 7.30pm Sir Elton John appeared on stage and, as if on cue, the rain subsided and we were able to enjoy the first couple of songs in relative comfort aside from the capillary action that was drenching the bottom of our trousers.
He kicked off with one of his most recent songs, Baby, you’re the one and then went right back to The One that he wrote 40 years ago!
That’s how long this man has been around for and he never fails to get it right. One of my favourite songs on the night, You’re never too old to hold somebody, is one that will be on his new album coming out in October.
The energy was unbelievable; he never once took a break. Joined only by Ray Cooper, who played like a wizard on a startling array of percussion instruments, Elton John carried the show almost single-handedly with his amazing musical talent.
Playing a range of songs, from up-tempo jazzy ones to his famous ballads, there was a good mix of his well-known and lesser-known songs.
He didn’t talk much in between, but when he did, it was obvious that he invests much thought and a personal message in his work.
Of course the crowd responded best to old favorites such as Crocodile Rock, I’m still standing, Candle in the Wind and Sorry seems to be the hardest word. No one wanted to see him leave the stage.
As he came back after the last song, we held our breath to see if he would give us an encore. He didn’t disappoint.
Thanking the audience and telling us how much he enjoys coming to our country, he wished us well for the World Cup and said, “I can’t resist playing this one.”
And of course it was Circle of Life, the theme song from The Lion King. We had been entertained non-stop for close on three hours. Sir Elton certainly deserves his knighthood.
