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Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Piano Men

I would love to take you all with me to a concert! How about it? I have hired a limo, a pink per Grace's request, to take us....hop in! the Diet Coke is all iced up and ready!
Let's head down the road to Cincinnati. It will take less than an hour to reach the US Bank Arena.
Can you feel the crowd's excitement?
Two of the best pianists in the world is enough to keep all of the folks gathered buzzin'. Toss in the fact that they are also two of the world's best songwriters AND entertainers....then, just for good measure, add the fact that they are, well, Elton John and Billy Joel,
and you've got yourself a crackin' good time!
Yes, our seats are to the back of the stage but we are pretty close and can see
really well! Whoo Hoo! This is going to be great!
In front of a sold-out crowd Elton John and Billy Joel began the show together, baby grand to baby grand. The stage was just incredible, with everything set on elevators to bring the band in (and out) when they were needed, giving Elton and Billy the intimacy of only the two pianos on stage occasionally. Wow. To see them play Piano Man together was amazing. But to hear the crowd singing it A Capella was equally wonderful. They played for over three hours and 15 minutes with very little break between sets. Not bad for men their age huh? Elton is soon to be 62 and Billy turns 60 in a couple of weeks. This 52 year old lady loves that...heck, for just a little while I could have sworn I was back in 1974! Of course I weighed less and had longer hair...hmm...but that could describe Billy and Elton as well! And we can all still rock and roll right?
They started it all off with a duet of Elton's Your Song. Next up? The song we
had sung at our 1978 wedding, Billy Joel's Just The Way You Are.
Elton began his solo set with one of my favorites, Funeral for a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding, the very song he opened with the first time I saw him in concert. That was in 1974 if you are trying to keep track! Billy Joel opened his solo set with the rousing Angry Young Man and made lots of fun wise cracks with the audience.
From what I have heard, the tickets to this show sold out in less than 20 minutes back in December and this crowd got more than it's money's worth. 36 songs in all, each one a classic.
Here is a peek at the set list from the show....
Set list: Elton John/Billy Joel: "Your Song""Honesty""Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me""Ode To Joy" "My Life" Elton John: "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding""Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting""Burn Down the Mission""Madman Across the Water""Tiny Dancer""Goodbye Yellow Brick Road""Daniel""Rocket Man""Levon""I'm Still Standing""Crocodile Rock" Billy Joel: "Prelude/Angry Young Man""Movin' Out""Allentown""Zanzibar""She's Always A Woman""Scenes from an Italian Restaurant""I Go To Extremes""River of Dreams""We Didn't Start the Fire""Be Bop A Lula" "It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me""Only the Good Die Young"Elton John/Billy Joel:"The Bitch Is Back""You May Be Right""Bennie and the Jets""Birthday" "Back in the USSR""Candle in the Wind""Piano Man"
It was a wild ride from start to finish and I am thrilled that
we had the chance to experience it all.
Love and Hugs,
Susie Q

24 comments:

Allidink said...

WOW! That would have been so great! I saw Billy Joel in concert before and he is one of the best performers I have ever seen. Your pictures turned out great also.

All the best,
Allison

Lisa said...

Oh you Baby Boomer Babe! I tease my kids all the time about our generation having the best tunes! I know you had a great time! Rock on:)

Lisa Pogue said...

Wow, that's incredible. I didn't know they were touring together. I LOVE Elton, hubby likes Billy, it would be the perfect concert for both of us!!

Harbor Hon said...

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and We Didn't Start The Fire! The diet coke on ice was an excellent vintage and I adored the pink limo. Did we remember to tip the driver for the excellent ride? :) Thanks for taking us along. xxoo

Salmagundi said...

What a treat!!! Lucky you, and lucky us that you shared your incredible evening. Back to earth now, Sue. Sally

Anonymous said...

Geeeesh,you sure are lucky.Since you like old people,maybe some day you will see Sammy Hagar.----
Ted Nugent

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an amazing time was had. Doesn't it make you feel young again?
If you have any recipes for your machine that aren't in the book that are just wonderful maybe you can send one sometimes.
Thanks,Brenda

Jill said...

WOW.. I would love to see them together in concert. Lucky you!!!!!!!!

Fifi Flowers said...

I'm sure that would be a GREAT show... they are both FAB on the piano!
Good for you!

bj said...

AWESOME !! To see just ONE of these guys would be over the top...but TWO....and AT THE SAME TIME !!!???!!!
My daughter went to see EJ once and said it was the most wonderful concert she had ever seen...I am just green with envy that you saw these guys but really...I am glad you got the wonderful chance!!
Thanks for sharing with us, sweet Susie Q....

Valerie said...

what a great show! B & i saw them about 13 years ago *gaaaah!* in San Diego and ended our night with carne asada burritos from Albertacos.

good times.

Cheryl Wray said...

This sounds like it was a WONDERFUL concert. I've seen Elton John in concert and he is great; put him with Billy Joel and I can only imagine how good that was. How FUN!!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

What an exciting night! Such great music. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

SmilingSally said...

What a great time you had--lots of memories.

Melanie said...

What a great opportunity to see those guys! Your photos turned out great. Glad you could go. Have a great day.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Oh my I know that was a blast. I wish I could have been with you. Have a great weekend.....m..

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Oh wow! What a concert that must have been. Lucky you! Great pics. Thank you for sharing. I loved listening to them back in the
70's. That is so awesome. Glad you had fun!
Thank you for the pink limo ride as well. Never have seen a pink limo before, so that made the ride extra special. Thank you Grace!

imjacobsmom said...

I am jealous! I wanted to attend and I missed out! I've been to a Billy Joel concert and it was fun. The whole audience sang along to every song! It looks like you had wonderful seats. You got to see all the action! ~ Robyn

Justabeachkat said...

Lucky you!!!!!!!!! What an incredible experience. I'm so glad you were able to go. Wish I could have hopped in that pink limo with you.

Hugs!
Kat

Sheila said...

Oh it sounds like such a great concert! I'll have to look into how much tickets cost for us when they come to Wrigley Field. They're playing here on 7/16 and 7/21. If we could swing it money-wise, I'd LOVE to go! Glad you have a good time!

Pamela said...

That makes me green with envy (and you didn't have to roll me in sugar either. sigh)

Sheila said...

Great stuff!
Sounds like a super concert...and one where you got your money's worth!
love both those guys.
hugs
xx

Gretchen said...

P.r.a.y.i.n.g. we get tickets when they come in Nov. to Seattle.

Saw Billy last Nove with the fam.

Saw Elton and Billy in Sept and Nov respectively in 1986 in Denver.

I am so happy for you, Sue. What a experience! It's even worth the f-bombs and other assorted profanity in front of the kids. :)

Lurve the Angry Young Man and Levon.

Mockingbird Hill said...

Had the amazing chance to see Elton John on tour and it was one of the most magical nights of my life. As he sang the songs on his set list I realized he was singing the soundtrack to my life...each song took me to another place and time. Jsut magical.. :)

Cassie