Elton John Explains Why Creating a Setlist is Like Having Sex
Elton John decided to get rather cheeky about describing putting together a setlist. In a new interview with the BBC, he said, “When you put a setlist together, I always…
Elton John decided to get rather cheeky about describing putting together a setlist.
In a new interview with the BBC, he said, "When you put a setlist together, I always say it's a bit like having sex. You start off really well, then you chill out a little bit, then towards the end of the show all hell breaks loose."
Sir Elton is closing out the famed Glastonbury festival in the U.K. this Sunday (June 25.) It'll be the final performance in his home country on the "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour.
Fans can expect John's setlist at Glastonbury to be a bit different than his setlist on tour. He said, "I'm starting with a song I haven't played for about 10 years, so we'll see how it goes ... It's a different show to what people have been seeing. On Farewell Yellow Brick Road, there's quite a lot of deep cuts, it's not all hits, and you've got to keep people interested."
Following Glastonbury, Sir Elton will head to other European countries to finally wrap up his long-running farewell tour. A full list of the remaining shows can be found at EltonJohn.com.
Elton John: His 40 Greatest Songs
Some of Elton John's songs are absolutely iconic hit singles, but one of the great pleasures of being a big Elton John fan is finding the lesser-known gems. We’re partial to his hit-free album Tumbleweed Connection from 1970 (as you’ll see), as well as his criminally underrated Songs From The West Coast from 2001, and a few of the diamonds in the rough from albums that you may have overlooked.
For this list, we’re going with the best version of each song, which sometimes means a live version. And in one case, an alternate studio version that you may not have heard before. Enjoy!
40. “Hey Ahab” from ‘The Union’ (with Leon Russell) (2010)
Decca39. “Have Mercy On The Criminal” from 'Live In Australia' (1987)
MCA38. “The One” from 'The One' (1992)
Island Records37. “Believe” from ‘Made In England’ (1995)
Island Def Jam36. “The King Must Die” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)
MCA35. “Elderberry Wine” from ‘Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player’ (1973)
MCA34. “Holiday Inn” from ‘Madman Across The Water’ (1971)
MCA33. “Home Again” from ‘The Diving Board’ (2013)
Capitol Records32. “Tonight” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)
MCA31. “Daniel” from ‘Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player’ (1973)
MCA30. “The Last Song” from ‘The One’ (1992)
Island Records29. “Sacrifice” from ‘Sleeping With The Past’ (1989)
MCA28. “I Need You To Turn To” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)
MCA27. “Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady Again)” B-side of “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” (1973)
MCA26. “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” from ‘Breaking Hearts’ (1984)
Geffen25. “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)” from ‘Honky Chateau’ (1972)
Uni/MCA24. “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” from ‘Blue Moves’ (1976)
MCA23. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” from ‘Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy’ (1975)
MCA22. “The Bitch Is Back” from ‘Caribou’ (1974)
MCA21. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” from ‘Too Low For Zero’ (1983)
Geffen20. “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” from ‘Caribou’ (1974)
MCA19. “Sixty Years On” from ‘17-11-70’ (1970)
MCA18. “I Want Love” from ‘Songs From The West Coast’ (2001)
Republic17. “Take Me To The Pilot” from ‘17-11-70’ (1970)
MCA16. “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” from ‘Jump Up!’ (1982)
Geffen15. “Bad Side Of The Moon” from ‘17-11-70’ (1970)
MCA14. “Madman Across The Water (featuring Mick Ronson)” outtake from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)
MCA13. “Burn Down The MIssion” from 'Tumbleweed Connection' (1970)
MCA12. “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore” from ‘Songs From The West Coast’ (2001)
Republic11. “Bennie And The Jets” from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
MCA10. “Amoreena” from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)
MCA9. “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
MCA8. “Come Down In Time” from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)
MCA7. “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” from ‘Honky Chateau’ (1972)
Uni/MCA6. “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
MCA5. “Border Song” from ‘Elton John’ (1970)
Mercury4. “Your Song” from ‘Elton John’ (1970)
Mercury3. “Candle In The Wind” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)
MCA2. “Tiny Dancer” from ‘Madman Across The Water’ (1971)
MCA1. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
MCA
