Elton John’s Farewell Tour takes over the Dome
Elton John said farewell to the dome last Saturday in what may be his last concert in Syracuse.
Story by Tessa Maddaloni
Photos by Brooke Kato, Shelby Rodger, and Tessa Maddaloni
Photo by Brooke Kato
There are few names in the music industry that everyone, regardless of age, knows and loves. People have dubbed them “the Greats,” “the Classics,” or even “the Kings.” Elton John certainly fits under this category, and with over 250 million albums sold worldwide, it is clear why. Along with his influential songs and stage presence, he has accumulated a list of accolades not just any musician could muster up, including being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and performing in over 3,500 concerts.
This past Saturday, Syracuse University’s very own JMA Wireless Dome had the honor of setting the stage for John as he travels the world on his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,” and I was lucky enough to be in the crowd. The energy in the Dome grew as 38,000 fans of all ages packed the seats, eager for the show to begin. Like the rest of his shows on the tour, John opened the night with the iconic “Bennie and the Jets.” The crowd exploded with excitement the second the opening chord struck. In the entire nearly five-and-a-half-minute song, the crowd cheered, danced, and sang every word. As the song ended, John stood up to greet his audience, waving and smiling at those in the pit.
John and his animated band continued the night with a set list full of his most iconic songs, including the legendary “Rocket Man,” “I’m Still Standing,” and the tear-jerker that is “Tiny Dancer.” John’s energy never dwindled as he proved that even at 75 years old, he is a performer through and through. He knows just how to get the crowd moving and dancing, and exactly what to say to segue into each new song.
The ages in the crowd were incredibly varied, from me and my 19-year-old roommates to the group of friends behind us in their mid-60s and beyond. These age gaps set no boundary for the connections being made through the crowd as the group behind us urged us to get up and dance with them and entire rows of the stands laced their arms around each other to sway to the beats John tirelessly performed.
When John left the stage, every fan joined together, chanting “Encore!” desperate to get at least one more song before the night ended. Our wishes were granted as he returned sans band, just him and his piano. He played three encore songs, including “Your Song,” bringing the crowd to tears before his final farewell, the iconic “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” As the song came to an end, John’s platform began to roll offstage as he waved goodbye to his audience.
A true musician and a performer at heart, any Elton John concert is nothing short of a work of art. His dedication to his fans shines through his work, and the love is returned right back to him from the millions of people worldwide who know his songs by heart. These songs have been and will continue to be the soundtracks of multiple generations' lives. I know I am not alone in dubbing Elton John “one of the Greats.”
