Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Just For One Day is a celebratory jukebox musical tinged with nostalgia – review
Just For One Day, the new jukebox musical with book by John O’Farrell, tells the story of the huge Live Aid concerts held simultaneously in the UK and the US on 13th July 1985, and the surrounding events.
It’s told from both a 1980s and a present-day perspective; we meet Suzanne, who attended the Wembley concert, in both 2024 (played by Jackie Clune) and in 1985 (Hope Kenna) – she decides to take a trip down memory lane after meeting Jemma (Naomi Katiyo), who wants to understand what lessons can be learned today from those charitable endeavours.
Over the course of the show we meet plenty of the key players who made it all happen, including organiser and Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof (Craige Els) alongside co-writer of the Band Aid single Midge Ure (Jack Shalloo), as well as plenty of recognisable figures from the era including Margaret Thatcher (Julie Atherton, who is excellent).
We also have occasional insights into events on the ground in Ethiopia via aid worker Amara (Abiona Omonua). We’ll start with the positives: it all looks and sounds fantastic.
