Elton John is looking forward to the day he plays his classic hit Crocodile Rock for the final time
The music legend’s 1972 hit is a firm fan favourite and a staple in his live shows but, as Elton prepares to close out his live career with the final dates on his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Tour, he admits he’ll be glad to see the back of the tune.
Asked on Watford FC footballer Troy Deeney’s Deeney Talks podcast if there was a song he “can’t get away from”, Elton said: “The last time I have to sing Crocodile Rock I will probably throw a party. But people love to hear it.
“It was written as a kind of joke, as a pastiche, and it became a big hit and people love to sing along with it.
“So who am I to say, ‘I am not going to play it’, because I play to amuse people and to entertain people.”
Elton, who was previously an owner of the football club, added: “But I have to say when the last show is done at the end of the tour I will never ever sing that song again.”
The singer, who recently teamed up with Rina Sawayama on the single version of her song Chosen Family, has said in the past he “wants to kill [himself]” if he has to perform the song once his tour resumes. and hinted that he may focus on more obscure tracks when he retires from touring.
“I’m lucky to have so many great songs to play every night. But there is a point in time where you think, ‘I don’t really want to play this anymore.’
“There are things like Original Sin or (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket that I haven’t really played before – not enough anyway. But if I have to go back and play Crocodile Rock again, it’s like, ‘I’m gonna kill myself.’
“So, after I’ve finished this tour, I don’t want to play some of these songs any more.”
Elton is set to return to the stage in September 2021 for the rescheduled European leg of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Tour, which was postponed amid the pandemic.
The jaunt wraps in December, with a North American leg planned for 2022 and more shows in Oceania scheduled for 2023.
According to co-writer Bernie Taupin, he’s also working on new music, although a release date for the project has yet to be confirmed.
Elton will recommence his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Fall 2021, with dates expected to run through 2023 – more info and tickets here.
