Coming as much as one week since Elton John carried out doubtlessly his last ever present at Glastonbury 2023, particular visitor Stephen Sanchez has revealed that the singer-songwriter modified his plans for the set on the final minute.
The 20-year-old musician joined the ‘Rocketman’ onstage throughout his headline slot on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday (June 25) and the 2 duetted on his personal TikTok hit ‘Till I Discovered You’.
He was certainly one of 4 particular visitors who joined the music icon on the evening, and the present marked Sir Elton’s final scheduled efficiency of his mammoth ‘Farewell’ tour — which has seen him play over 350 reveals throughout 5 years.
Now, coming as much as per week because the monumental set happened, Sanchez has revealed that he and Sir Elton have been initially set to carry out the latter’s hit 1983 track ‘I Guess That’s Why They Name It The Blues’, however the determination was overturned by the pianist on the final minute.
“We’d spent weeks [preparing for] that after which he got here to see me and the boys at The Troubadour,” Sanchez mentioned to Rolling Stone. “The week after, he simply rang me and mentioned, ‘Stephen, I’ve had a thought. I don’t need you to sing certainly one of my songs. I feel it might be much better in case you sang your track and we gave you this huge second for you and your profession.’
“I used to be simply blown away by that selflessness and his want to, you understand, expose new artists and new music.”
Alongside performing all of his most well-known tracks, together with ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway’, ‘Candle In The Wind’, ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Your Music’, Sir Elton was additionally joined by Gabriels’ Jacob Lusk on ‘Are You Prepared For Love’, The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers on ‘Tiny Dancer’ and Rina Sawayama for a duet of ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Coronary heart’.
Elsewhere within the interview, Sanchez mirrored on the musician’s dedication to highlighting new artists, and described the way it felt for him to carry out in entrance of so many individuals.
“He knew what that might do for our careers and he knew that it might sit within the glory of being his final present within the UK. He desires to champion different artists and cross the torch, so to talk. It’s simply superb. It’s been an enormous honour,” he mentioned.
“While you’re on the Pyramid Stage and also you hear all these voices screaming at you, it’s virtually like they’re wrapping you up and it feels non secular. It’s actually, actually wild, the visible reminiscence of a sea of heads and faces and other people with their very own lives and recollections. I’m nonetheless type of past the clouds a bit.”
Shortly after his set, it was reported that the efficiency on Sunday efficiently broke BBC viewing data, and was watched by 7.3million viewers.
In a five-star evaluate, NME described the set as “one of many pageant’s best-ever headline units”.
“The group current are all ages, with the youngest singing even louder for one easy cause: Elton’s music is timeless and travels. Banger after banger comes, with by no means a lull,” it learn.
“We have been spoiled tonight. Flares gentle the sky, buddies maintain each other and an epic firework finale sees us right into a monumental nearer of ‘Rocket Man’. His one stage transfer (rising from the piano, arms outstretched, and smiling) is all he wants. The songs and his coronary heart do the remainder. Everybody right here is on his facet. Go on Reg.”
