Elton John Honors Queen Elizabeth II at Toronto Concert: ‘She Worked Bloody Hard’
variety.comJem Aswad Senior Music Editor Hours after Queen Elizabeth II’s death at the age of 96 was announced on Thursday, Elton John — who enjoyed the closest relationship with the Royal Family of any music artist — paid tribute at his concert in Toronto. “We have the saddest news about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,” he said. “She was an inspiring person to be around — I’ve been around her and she was fantastic.
She led the country though some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine care and warmth. “I’m almost 75 — she’s been with me all my life and 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, and she deserves it because she’s worked bloody hard,” he continued as the audience cheered. “I send my love to her family and her loved ones.
She will be missed, but her spirit lives on and we celebrate her life tonight with music — okay?” He then launched into his 1974 hit, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” a song laden with meaning in this context, not least due to its echoing of the Queen Victoria-era saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” The opening of his dialogue was similar to a statement he made on social media earlier in the day, but the closing was new..
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