Elton John sings emotional tribute to the Queen during farewell concert: ‘She worked bloody hard’
Elton John. (Getty)
Sir Elton John paid a touching tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following the announcement of her death.
The singer, who is currently on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, gave an emotional message to the crowd in Toronto about the late Queen, who died on Thursday (September 8) aged 96.
“She is an inspiring presence to be around,” he began.
“I’ve been around her and she’s fantastic. She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace decency and genuine caring warmth. I’m 75, she has been with me all my life.
“I feel very sad that she won’t be with me anymore but I’m glad she’s at peace and I’m glad she’s at rest, she deserves it, she’s worked bloody hard. I send my love to her family and her loved ones and she will be missed but her spirit lives on and we celebrate her life tonight with music, OK?”
The crowd burst into applause as the “Rocket Man” singer started playing his hit 1974 song “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”.
Elton John sings “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” after paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in Toronto pic.twitter.com/FT1oX6lP5E— Patrick Searle (@patsearle) September 9, 2022
#EltonJohn celebrates #TheQueen in Toronto last night “She worked bloody hard” ? pic.twitter.com/MzUNnIxyne— MAX (@ThisIsMax) September 9, 2022
The song was a fitting choice, with the lyrics: “I can’t light no more of your darkness / all my pictures seem to fade to black and white.
“I’m growing tired and time stands still before me / Frozen here on the ladder of my life.”
Elton John also posted a message on his Instagram following the announcement of the Queen death echoing similar sentiments, adding: “I will miss her dearly”.
He was knighted by th Queen in 1998 for his contributions to music and charitable services, a year after the death of Princess Diana, his close friend.
After Diana’s death, Elton famously performed a reworked version of his 1973 song, retitled “Candle in the Wind (Goodbye England’s Rose)”, at the princess’s funeral.
Last year he was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by the now-King Charles.
Elton was not the only touring musician to pay tribute to the Queen, with Harry Styles also pausing his Love On Tour show in New York to commemorate her.
“From my homeland, there was some very sad news today: the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Please join me in a round of applause for 70 years of service,” he told crowds as he led the clapping and cheering.
Other cultural figures have also paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth since the news broke, including Stephen Fry who tweeted: “Oh dear. Oh my. Oh heavens. Bless my soul. Oh lor. Heck. I don’t know why I’m sobbing. Silly really, Oh dear.”
