Elton John kept a 30-year tradition with Brazilian fans alive during his headlining set at Rock in Rio on Monday, performing “Skyline Pigeon,” a rarity he has now played at 19 consecutive shows in the country.
“The only place where this song is popular is Brazil,” John told the crowd before performing the track near the end of his set, as local entertainment site gshow reports.
The tradition dates back to a 1995 concert at São Paulo’s Arena Anhembi. Before Monday, John had performed “Skyline Pigeon” at every show he played in Brazil since then, totaling 18 appearances, according to Rolling Stone Brasil.
The song’s unusual popularity in Brazil goes back even further. Originally released on John’s 1969 debut album, Empty Sky, it became a local hit after appearing in the Brazilian telenovela Carinhoso in the 1970s.
“Skyline Pigeon” has otherwise become a rarity in John’s live repertoire, with Monday marking its first performance since 2019. He played it just before “Your Song,” which closed his two-hour-and-15-minute Rock in Rio set.
The concert was John’s first in Brazil since 2017 and one of his few live appearances since wrapping his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2023.
