Elton John (with Ray Cooper) - Granaries, Floriana 26/09/2010

{Published in The Times of Malta, 29/09/2010 p.22}

Sir Elton still going strong

Towards the end of Sir Elton John’s first concert in Malta, back in July of 2003, the music legend kind of fleetingly mentioned that maybe he would come do another concert here, maybe with his band. It took him a rather tardy seven years, but last Sunday, the man once known as Reginald Dwight, finally made good on his half-promise and returned for another stately performance. And while there was not exactly a band of musicians to back him up, he did bring along percussionist extraordinaire Ray Cooper.

Following two successive chilly nights that were prone to spouts of rain, the weather on Sunday night could not have been more perfect. The air was warm and the sky was all but clear, ensuring the assembled crowd in the open-air venue at the Granaries in Floriana could fully enjoy their forthcoming entertainment without having to heed any mischievous natural elements.

Slightly after 9pm, Elton John walked on stage to grand instrumental music and was greeted with an affectionate standing ovation from the entire audience. Sat behind a sleek black grand piano, he started the night with his 1992 single The One, which sounded elegantly revitalised stripped bare from its candy-coated ‘90s production. “It is beautiful to be back here,” the star announced after this opening number.

While a far cry from the wildly extravagant costumes he used to wear in his yesteryears – such as his now respectively iconic Donald Duck and Mozart outfits – John’s attire on the night still exuded that natural flamboyance his fans so love. The performer donned a long tailed blazer adorned in various multi-coloured motifs, over an electric-blue shirt. The back of the blazer brandished the title of his anthemic song I’m Still Standing, while the right sleeve sported the song’s response lyrics “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.”

The set continued with three songs from John’s eponymous second album released in 1970. Then fast-forwarding thirty-one years, he played two songs from his 2001 album Songs from the West Coast, including a dazzling version of The Emperor’s New Clothes. It was astonishing how full and complete the songs sounded with just the singer’s now gruff baritone, on top of his intricate piano playing. The big screen close-ups of John’s chunky fingers suddenly bursting into nimble flight up and down the black and white keys of his piano, delivering his trademark honky-tonk, blues and boogie-woogie infused solos, was mesmerizing to watch.

The first real showstopper was undoubtedly the goosebumpingly-gorgeous extended live version of Rocket Man. The bright silvery moon shining through the wispy clouds beautifully complemented John’s emotional performance, by the end of which the seated audience was back on its feet for another standing ovation.

Ray Cooper joined Sir John on stage mid-show during instrumental number Funeral For A Friend, banging on kettledrums and smashing cymbals together. Surrounded by a bastion of percussive instruments, the seasoned session percussionist was simply pure joy to behold, moving from instrument to instrument with a charismatic Cheshire-cat grin fixed on his face and animated movements that defied his sixty-eight years of age. Even the “simple” task of playing the tambourine was utterly captivating with Cooper at the helm.

The selection of songs for the night was made up of a well-balanced mix of lesser-know album tracks and big singles. A couple of songs from Sir Elton’s upcoming album The Union, a collaborative project with American singer-songwriter Leon Russell, were also showcased. It was a rather daring move for an entertainer who could have easily played it safe and churned out the hits only. While there were a few uninterested looking faces at times, the vast majority were really into every moment of the show, especially since Sir Elton performed each and every song in his two-hour set with an unparalleled passion.

Of course it was the hit singles that ultimately got the loudest cheers. There was an audible collective gasp of delight when John began the opening piano riff to Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me and yet another standing ovation when it finished. And moments into the glitzy glam rock of Bennie And The Jets, members of the seated audience began to get up out of their seats and flock down the aisles for a dance and a boogie right in front of the stage.

Sir Elton and Mr Cooper finished off the final songs in triumphant style to tumultuous cheers and applause. Pausing in between songs Sir Elton got up to thank the continually increasing crowd below him, pointing at individual audience members and mouthing a sincere thank you to each. After an encore of his Disney songs Circle of Life and Can You Feel the Love Tonight, John took his final bows and was gone.

Four decades into the music business and the evidence is clear that Sir Elton John is still going strong. One can only hope it will not be "a long long time" before the Rocket Man touches down in Malta again, and with any luck he’d fulfill his other previous fleeting promise and bring his band along too.