"The King of Pop came through" from Aftenposten.no. By Svein Andersen (translated by Martin Aamand).

Elton John at Oslo Spektrum on 8th June 2005
Audience: 8,500 (sold out)

SIR ELTON gave everything, the songs were fantastic, but bad sound interfered with an otherwise beautiful evening.

People get up filled with anticipation and clap enthusiastically as Sir Elton John enters the stage. Everybody knows this artist nowadays. Whether he’s performing solo with his piano or as now with full band and choir, he is irresistible.

He is the pop singer above all, and his popularity never seems to stop. With his charm and his fine artistry, he draws us in like a true magician. His magic wand is the many magical songs in his back catalogue – especially the ballads.

This concert, however, begins in true rock’n’roll style – in Elton’s personal style, of course. At once the house is rocking, and “Pinball Wizard” sets the mood in this big room filled with people.

People from any and every walk of life have grown up knowing these songs which have – once again – taken lead role in a kind of eternal soundtrack of more and more people’s archive of memories.

Timeless as they have become. A kind of musical place where families unite. The songs can then be pulled out of the old CD rack when needed, and then they can be enjoyed in the exact amount that is necessary.

Memory Lane

One set of notes on the piano and the crowd knows which song is next, “Bennie & The Jets”. Then “Daniel” and we are all on a journey down memory lane.

When you are lucky enough to experience Sir Elton John together with his eminent musicians (some of them have been with him forever): Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Guy Babylon, Bob Birch and John Mahon, performing these moving songs, it feels like birthday and Christmas Eve all at the same time.

After forty years in the business, he has got nothing left to prove. The once eccentric shows are now history. Now the melodies are his main purpose – and what great songs we are talking about.

Paying tribute to Ray Charles

However, the evening intensifies when Elton proudly present the song “Electricity” from “Billy Elliot” – a musical about a boy who wants to become a ballet dancer.

Then comes the song “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”, a touching tribute to the genius of Ray Charles. This was the last song Elton recorded with him before he died.

An emotional moment which was empowered by the next melodies, “Funeral For A Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding”. He touches our vulnerability and stimulates our longings. He wants to tell us a story about life through this concert. Sorrow and joy, love and responsibility.

He offers us some titbits from his latest album, but it is the classics that captivate the most. However, the bass was sometimes too loud and ruined the sound. “Levon”, “Sad Songs”, “I’m Still Standing” and “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”.

As the evening was drawing to an end, the newspaper deadline was imminent. Therefore I did not get to hear “Your Song” which has been the final encore on this tour.

Following is the complete setlist of the Oslo show on June 8, 2005:

• Pinball Wizard
  
• Bennie and the Jets
  
• Daniel
  
• Turn the Lights Out When You Leave
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Electricity
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Funeral For a Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Are You Ready For Love
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• All That I'm Allowed
  
• Porch Swing In Tupelo
  
• They Call Her The Cat
  
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
  
• Levon
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• The Bitch is Back
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
• Your Song

Back to Headlines