The Bitch is Back

Last night, I saw Elton John in concert.

This was not exactly my first choice in concert outings, but, when a friend I never get to see anymore offered me a ticket, I thought, "Why not?" It isn't every day that I can see someone perform songs I enjoyed in fourth grade.

Frankly, I was shocked by how many of his songs I could name off the top of my head. And, I was worried only about Candle in the Wind, which would make me want to light myself on fire by leaping onto the lighters held high into the air.

I then found out that the tickets were: a) free! and b) 10th row center! Crap, I've NEVER sat 10th row center for ANYTHING. The closest to the stage I could ever get was at the front of the mosh pit at a Reverend Horton Heat show. And, even then, there was always the sweaty guy without a shirt on to deal with.

So, off I went to my first big arena show in about 100 years. We were a few minutes late due to too much wine drinking beforehand, but, no matter, since the first four songs were unrecognizable to me. I know that he has continued to put out a bunch of music since I was 9, I just haven't kept up.

By the way, did you know how important a cell phone is at a concert? People who could take photos with their phones were clicking away constantly. I did wonder why they kept doing this since Sir Elton performed every song sitting at the piano, so Song #2 and Song #10 will look pretty much the same in a photograph.

Then there is the interesting phenomenon called, "Let's call someone we know and let them hear the music!". Never mind that I clearly remember when my sister called me from a Prince show and all I heard was a bunch of feedback. I got caught up in the moment and dialed my husband, my sister and my mom to let them hear the show. Hey, Mrs Q, when your phone rang at 9:15 last night and all you heard was a mess of noise? That was Benny and the Jets! Did I mention I drank a lot of wine beforehand?

Sir Elton didn't do much jumping around, and he was the most conservative-looking fellow in a band full of Muppets. But hearing Crocodile Rock, Rocket Man and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road live was fun and sounded great.

And thankfully, there was no Candle in the Wind. My vision of hundreds of teary-eyed, middle-aged concert goers waving BIC lighters in the air was not realized. It wouldn't have happened this way anyway since lighters are 'out' as the light of choice.

Instead, during slow songs, the audience merely held up their cell phones so that a little square of light shone above their heads as they swayed to the music. Not exactly "candle in the wind" material, eh?