7:00 p.m.:
Seems as if the event is about to get started.
Hillary just stepped up to her seat in the balcony overlooking the side
of the stage. The crowd was delirious. She looks utterly resplendent in
her canary yellow pantsuit.

Hillary acknowledges the crowd and
sits down after an extended ovation. The house lights dim save for one
spotlight aimed at the center of the stage. Elton seems to be rising
from beneath the stage while seated at a grand piano, which probably
would have made Liberace blush.

Hey . . . he's wearing a canary
yellow suit as well with those over-sized glasses that he wears, which
also seem to have canary yellow rims. The crowd is on its feet.

Elton
seems to be starting the show with the song "I Guess That's Why They
Call it the Blues," although it's hard to tell from the piano alone.
Wait . . . yes--here are the opening lyrics: "Don't wish it away. Don't look at it like it's forever." The crowd is singing along in unison.

7:05 p.m.:

Elton
thanks Hillary and offers a few supportive bromides. However, he seems
intent to give everyone their money's worth and cranks up the next
song. He launches in to "I'm Still Standing." The irony of the lyrics
certainly doesn't seem lost on the spirited crowd. Elton seems
emotional while singing: "And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'm coming back again . . . I'm still standing better than I ever did. Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid . . . Once I never could hope to win. You starting down the road leaving me again."

The crowd really seems to be responding. I can't see Hillary up in the balcony.

7:10 p.m.:

Elton
launches into a piano solo that becomes "Sad Songs." This doesn't seem
to fit the night's narrative; especially these lyrics: "Turn them on, turn them on, Turn on those sad songs. When all hope is gone. Why don't you tune in and turn them on"
This seems to have taken the wind out of the audience's sails a bit. Is
Elton saying that all hope is gone and that they should all revel in
their sadness? I just overheard an elderly woman in a floral hat say "I
didn't pay $4600 to listen that there's no chance." There's a bit of a
murmur from the crowd as the song finishes.

7:15 p.m.:

I
think Elton needs a fast one here to pick the room up a notch. He seems
to recognize this and is saying something about what a fighter Hillary
is and how she will be the next president of the United States. The
crowd is responding favorably.

Yes . . . Elton heads into the
first piano chords of "Philadelphia Freedom." The place is rocking
again. The crowd roars when they hear the following lyrics: "I used to be a rolling stone. You know if the cause was right
I'd
leave to find the answer on the road. I used to be a heart beating for
someone. But the times have changed; the less I say the more my work
gets done."

I don't know. The lyrics seem vaguely insulting
and conjure up images of the people that want the centrist poll-driven
Hillary to give way to the Wellesley commencement speech Hillary.
However, the audience doesn't seem to mind; although many in the
audience seem to be wearing earplugs. Not sure what that is all about.

7:20 p.m.:

Elton
seems to be sticking with a play-list of greatest hits. Just hitting
the high points. The audience is again on their feet while he's playing
"Rocket Man." Again, perhaps it's just me, but I find the lyrics to be
oddly metaphorical, especially the way he faded out to the continued
chorus of "And I think it's gonna be a long long time...And I think it's gonna be a long long time..."

7:25 p.m.:

Concert
seems to be hitting a bit of a lull. Elton is currently playing another
slow on and the audience is seated. It's "Someone Saved My Life
Tonight." Again, I'm not sure what to make of the lyrics; especially
these: "And someone saved my life tonight sugar bear. You almost had
your hooks in me didn't you dear. You nearly had me roped and tied.
Altar-bound, hypnotized; sweet freedom whispered in my ear. You're a
butterfly. And butterflies are free to fly; fly away, high away, bye
bye."


7:30 p.m.:

Seems as if some in the audience
have fallen asleep. Elton is continuing with his easy listening
greatest hits. Oh boy . . . now he's doing a song that seems entirely
inappropriate for this event: "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word." The
people that are still awake seem mournful when they hear the opening
line: "What have I got to do to make you love me? What have I got to do to make you care?" I
see a few tears, although this seems like a 'you had me at hello'
crowd. I could be wrong. This is depressing to listen to; especially "What
do I do to make you want me? What have I got to do to be heard? What do
I say when it's all over? And sorry seems to be the hardest word."

Not sure if this was a good choice on Sir Elton's part. The audience seems depressed now.

7:35 p.m.:

Woo
. . . Elton is righting the ship with "Bennie & the Jets" and
"Saturday's Alright for Fighting," neither of which seem to carry a
depressing metaphorical Clinton campaign narrative. A few people have
awakened, although the man next to me seems to think it's tomorrow
morning. Not sure what that's about.

7:45 p.m.:

This
is a good moment. Kiki Dee came out and joined Elton for a duet on
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart." For my money, there simply isn't enough
Kiki Dee on the radio these days. This is a good moment for Hillary.
They put a house light on the balcony and Hillary and Bill are dancing.
The crowd is responding.

Looks like that was the last song. The
crowd is applauding and, with the median age of those involved in mind,
Elton reappears almost immediately for an encore. Probably better to
not keep these folks waiting too long.

7:55 p.m.:

Elton
acknowledges Hillary again and implores the crowd to donate to her
campaign. This is a bit strange, but the campaign has unfurled a banner
above Elton with Hillary's website: 'hillaryclinton.com' plastered
across it. Also, it seems as though the campaign has handed out
literature to the audience titled 'Internet Donating for Dummies.' Not
sure how helpful that will be.

Elton begins an extended,
imploring version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." The audience
seems to connect to the song. Next up is "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,"
to which the audience is singing along. strange to have 6000 people in
unison singing: "So goodbye yellow brick road.
Where the dogs of society howl. You can't plant me in your penthouse; I'm going back to my plough."

Elton
thanks Hillary one more time and says that he'd like to close the show
with a special song that has particular meaning to the Clinton
campaign. There's a house light on the balcony and Hillary is waving a
hankie as the crowd roars its approval. Elton launches into a dramatic
rendition of "Candle in the Wind." There is a full-throated audience
sing-along.

"And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did"

There's not a dry eye in the house.