Elton John played near the top of his game on Saturday night at Blaisdell Arena, with a strong voice, triumphant manner and tight band behind him. The concert lasted just over two hours and included plenty of his biggest hits, from "Bennie and the Jets" and "Candle in the Wind" in the first hour to "Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting," "The Bitch is Back" and "Crocodile Rock" at the end of the show.

Wearing a long purple jacket laden with highly reflective, glittering rhinestones that flashed whenever he moved his hands across the piano’s keys, and red-tinted glasses, he was expressive and confident throughout, often breaking to speak to the audience. 

After the first song and throughout the show, he would propel himself off the piano bench and thrust his hands into the air or pump his elbows, acknowledging the fans’ applause, pivoting and pointing at the audience surrounding the stage throughout the virtually sold-out arena. 

He opened with "Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding" from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," which was released in 1973. John embarked on a global tour in 2013 dedicated to the album’s 40th anniversary, and this epic song has been a standard opening for him since the ’70s. He didn’t open with it on his last time through Honolulu, but for those who have been following his music for years, it was an intense and satisfying beginning.

The early part of the show put him over the top, recapping hits that won over America and reminding the audience just how overpowering and attractive John’s songs could be. 

His songs from "Madman Across the Water" (1971), "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer," were both full of heart and bordering on majestic. With "Levon," American roots-influenced layers of gospel and Crescent City piano stylings became apparent in John’s performance and continued to surface in songs throughout the show. 

"Tiny Dancer," performed movingly, inspired many in the audience to sing along.

In between songs, John thanked Hawaii fans for remaining loyal to his music. He made reference to the terrorist attacks this week in Paris when introducing 2007 song "Believe," with its line, "Love has no boundaries, no borders to cross." And he praised Hawaii, saying, "It’s a long way away, but we love it. We love to come here and play."

He invited fans to sing along to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and hundreds gamely tried.

More hits followed: "Rocket Man," "I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues," "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters."

And John took it way back, to his first hit, "Your Song" from 1970, crediting his musical partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin, with whom he’s collaborated for 47 years. "I wouldn’t have the career I have if not for this song," he said.

Coming back to the present day, he told the audience he was happier than ever and "comfortable in my own skin," referring to his partner David Furnish and their two children.

The band — synthesizer player Kim Bullard, drummer Nigel Olssen (who began playing with John in 1970), percussionist John Mahon, guitar player and longtime bandmate Davey Johnstone, and bass player Matt Bissonette — was workmanlike in the best sense, playing with precision and comradery. There was little grandstanding, though Johnstone did step to the front of the stage and ring out an enthusiastic solo during the extended jam that was "Crocodile Rock."

A few dozen superfans crowded the stage for the final songs, and John took plenty of time to sign autographs and shake hands. He even signed an acoustic guitar — don’t know how that got through security! 

During the encore, John pointed out promoter Tom Moffatt, standing by the side of the stage, and thanked him for helping put together four decades of Hawaii shows. As John prepared to wind up his performance, he said, "Let’s do some more, shall we?"

By the time the show was over, most in the audience were beaming, satiated with the cross section of John’s many hits — and open, no doubt, to a return by this consummate performer.

Elizabeth Kieszkowski is editor of TGIF, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s weekly arts and entertainment section. Reach her via email at ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com or follow her Twitter.