FEATURE:
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
IN THIS PHOTO: Elton John in 2019/PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Gibson/Rocket Entertainment
Elton John at Glastonbury: Will It Be the Most Emotional Set Ever?
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THINKING about that famous…
PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Dudelson via Getty Images
Elton John song, and I sort of hope that he performs a version of Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me. From Caribou of 1974, he performed the song live with George Michael in the 1990s. It would be amazing of George Michael were projected on a screen at Glastonbury, so that there could be the one last duet between them! On Sunday, 25th June, John will close Glastonbury. It is the last time he will perform live in England. There is no news about whether he will record more albums, but Elton John says goodbye to touring in this country on 25th June. It will be an emotional set. Will it be the most emotional Glastonbury set ever? NME published an article earlier this week, reacting to his appearance on BBC Radio 2 on 30th May. John discussed his upcoming Glastonbury headline set:
“Elton John has spoken about what fans can expect from his headline set at Glastonbury Festival 2023.
The legendary artist is due to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset on Sunday, June 25.
Upon announcing the performance last December, organisers said: “This will be the final UK show of Elton’s last ever tour, so we will be closing the Festival and marking this huge moment in both of our histories with the mother of all send-offs.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 2 this afternoon (May 30) – shortly after Glasto revealed its full line-up and stage times for this year – John gave Scott Mills some details about the forthcoming historic set.
“I have played festivals, and have really enjoyed them,” he explained. “But of course Glastonbury is the crème de la crème.
“To be honest with you, it’s the first time I’ve been asked to play it.”
John continued: “It’s just come at the right time. I’m a great believer in serendipity and fate – this is the most wonderful way to sign off in England.
“They’ve been wonderful. Emily [Eavis, festival co-organiser]’s been fantastic.”
John went on to say that his Glastonbury show will have a “different setlist” to the rest of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, which wraps up in the UK on June 18.
“It’s gonna be much different,” the musician told Mills. “I’ve got guests who I can’t tell you who they are. But it’s gonna be wonderful – I’m really looking forward to it.”
Possible guests could include Dua Lipa and Rina Sawayama – both of whom worked with John on his collaborative 2021 album, ‘The Lockdown Sessions’. The latter artist is scheduled to play at Glastonbury on Saturday, June 24.
In a separate interview with BBC London (via the Independent), John admitted that he was feeling “a little intimidated” by the prospect of topping the Pyramid Stage.
As for the future, the star explained to Radio 2 that his “piano won’t go away forever” but said he may still perform live on a “very sporadic” basis. “I really don’t want to tour again… I’m not going back to Vegas,” he told Mills”.
It is a perfect way for Elton John to say farewell to his fans! The last gig on home soil will take place at one of the world’s most important music festivals. It will be interesting to think that he will play for his final set. There is a decades-long career of albums to choose from. There are going to be the massive hits for sure, and there will also be a few lesser-known songs, I am sure. I am intrigued what guests he will bring out. With no female headliners booked for this year’s Glastonbury, it would be wonderful if artists like Dua Lipa made it onto the stage on 30th June, so that there can be that representation. It seems like she could well appear. To be honest, and this being Elton John, he could get just about anyone! There is not much use in speculating, because he will surprise you and possibly bring out Paul McCartney or someone like that! In terms of the night itself, I think it will be charged with emotion. I feel it will be the most emotional set ever. There have been some big Glastonbury headline slots through the years, though this one feels the most significant. In terms of an artist closing his live career. Everyone can associate with Elton John’s music in some form or the other. I grew up knowing so many of his classic songs. I was a fan from childhood, and he is someone who has such a wide and adoring fanbase. In terms of the set look and feel. It is going to be something special!
I can imagine there will be something like a mix of Vegas and his set design from the 1970s. Maybe something quite glitzy and glorious, with a touch of the most classical. Whatever he has planned, it is going to be the most emotional set anyone will see at Glastonbury. Of course, there will be a tonne of celebration and adulation. He is going to turn in one of the performances of his career! I am thrilled that he has finally been asked to headline Glastonbury! In terms of the electricity that will come from the crowd. You know that is going to mean so much to Elton John. I think there might be better headline sets in terms of the performance – though I cannot say that for certain -, but there is a significance to the Glastonbury sign-off. The joy of seeing the legend on the stage performing his wonderful back catalogue to fans young and older is going to be a moment for the history books. Some may argue that there would have been more emotional and significant headline slots at Glastonbury – but I would disagree with that. This is a man who has performed live for over fifty years now. He has been all around the world and rightly gone down as one of the most significant artists ever. One of the most popular and loved. On 25th June, we are going to witness a moment in music history that is not going to be equalled. The roar from the Glastonbury crowd will be deafening! Choosing that final/encore song is going to be quite a thing. Something that the crowd can sing along to. Maybe something quite epic. I know what setlist I would love too see, but everyone is going to have their own views! By the end of that set on the Sunday night, when the iconic Elton John waves goodbye to the adoring masses, it is going to hit us hard. The final time we are going to see him play in this country. When John plays that final song for his headline slot at Worthy Farm, those watching with tears in their eyes…
WON’T want him to leave!