Elton John Concert
Saturday Night was Alright at The JMA Dome with Elton John
By: Kayden Musengo / September 22, 2022
It was the party of the century with people tailgating before the concert even started. The Dome was filled to the brim with people of all ages and it looked like all the seats were filled. Then Elton John came onto the stage at approximately eight o’clock to perform in the newly renamed JMA Dome in Syracuse, New York.
He started off with a bang with an all time favorite “Bennie and the Jets” followed by “Philadelphia Freedom”. As Elton John’s final tour before his departure from live concerts, he definitely wanted to leave off on a good note with his fans. He of course had a large variety of merchandise selling very fast, such as his icon glasses and tour t-shirts.
Recently, I went to the Paul McCartney concert at the JMA Dome and it didn’t have the same energy as the crowd that was there for Elton John. The crowd at Elton John was definitely more diverse in the age range. It wasn’t until Elton played “The B*tch is Back” that he got the whole crowd singing and dancing and it was unlike any other concert I’ve been to in my life. It was like when that song went on everyone was having a blissful moment of happiness unlike anything before. Of course, Elton kept it going with other songs after it such as: “I’m Still Standing,” “Crocodile Rock,” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.” At one point confetti burst up into the air to make the most picturesque moment. It was almost like a movie scene happening right in front of me
His encore though was definitely a bittersweet moment when he came onto stage in a glamorous black and pink velvety robe covered full of rhinestones head to toe, and sang: “Cold Heart,” “Your Song,” and lastly “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” At the end of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” he actually went up into the stage through an elevator to look like he finally went through the yellow brick road, mimicking his album cover. No tears were left unshed after such a dramatic finale.
It was sadly his last ever performance in New York, but he shared some fun facts about him touring in the Empire State. Elton John stated that overall he has played 156 times in New York as a whole, but played six times in Syracuse, New York. The first time he played in Syracuse was in 1971 at The War Memorial where The Syracuse Crunch hockey team plays. It is sad to see a legend go, but thankfully he came to Syracuse for his last ever performance in New York. It felt like a full circle moment from when he came here from his first tour to now his last.
His setlist was:
Good Morning to the Night (video tape)
Bennie and the Jets
Philadelphia Freedom
I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Border Song
Tiny Dancer
Have Mercy on the Criminal
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
Take Me to the Pilot
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Levon
Candle in the Wind
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Burn Down the Mission
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
The B*tch Is Back
I’m Still Standing
Crocodile Rock
Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting
Cold Heart
Your Song
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Hold Me Closer (video tape)