TORONTO – Elton John paid tribute to the late Queen at his final show in Toronto on Thursday, calling her an “inspirational” presence in his life.
“He led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine warmth,” John said.
“I’m glad she’s quiet and I’m glad she’s at peace. He served and worked hard.”
Earlier in the day, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. She was the longest-serving British monarch and Canadian head of state.
“We’re celebrating her life tonight with music,” John said. He then performed his 1974 track ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’.
The 75-year-old British singer has many ties to the royal family.
In 1988 he was knighted by the Queen for his contributions to music and charity.
He has also performed at many events for the Royal Family, including the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, where he sang a revamped version of his 1973 song ‘Candle in the Wind’.
John’s concert was the second of two nights at Toronto’s Rogers Center and part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, billed as his final tour.
He appeared on stage wearing a shiny black suit and a pink pair of bejeweled glasses. Wasting little time, he slipped behind his piano to begin.
“This is my last concert in Toronto, so I have to make it special,” he said early in the show. “We’re going to have the best time”
He performed a number of his classics including ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Levon’. After each one, he rose from his bench to receive thunderous applause from the crowd with open arms and a toothy smile.
He will play two more Canadian dates on October 21st and 22nd in Vancouver before finally heading to Europe for shows in mid-2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 8, 2022.
