Jiingo-creator and one of my closest friends, Shan and I headed north for an overnight trip of Madge-tastic proportions. We were seeing the Lady for the second time together (our first was the Drowned World Tour when we were eighteen and fresh out of high school), but it was my fourth time witnessing her awesomeness in the flesh.
She was only an hour late this evening, a step-up from the extra hour-and-a-half I waited during the Confessions Tour. Her intro to the stage was a major letdown compared to how she debuted on the aforementioned tour. Emerging from a giant disco ball to merely spinning around on a thrown was kind of blase, but no matter how she comes out, you’re always going to be psyched, so let’s not pick at hairs, shall we?
The opening number, “Candy Shop,” was nice, but definitely not on the epic scale of Confessions’ “Future Lovers/I Feel Love” intro, or the ReInvention Tour’s “Vogue,” and was an interesting way to kick off a Madonna show.
“Beat Goes On” followed that, and again, it wasn’t anything major. Just sort of ho-hum. She did nicely rip off most of her clothes, though, and her body was rockin’ in that special Madonna way. Following this was “Human Nature.” Madge wisely just stood there with her guitar and let Britney Spears do all the visual work on the video screens, which Shan and I both admitted to watching the entire time, and only vaguely glancing to make sure she wasn’t doing anything spectacular to garner our attention. She wasn’t.
The end of the first set, however, was the highlight. The mash-up of “Vogue” with the music from “4 Minutes,” was spectacular. The choreography wasn’t amazing, but it did garner my attention, and I noticed that parts were a nice updating of the original 1990 routine. Very cool and a nice end to the first segment.
Next up was a new video interlude to “Die Another Day,” which has always been one Madonna single I’ve never had very warm feelings for. However, the new remixed version was nice, and it went well with the Madge Goes Boxer montage.
Ironically, the footage had nothing to do with the next segment.
The Lady next made the stage for a throwback to her 80’s days in New York City with “Into The Groove,” which had a sleek portion of “Jump” thrown in the middle for good measure. I loved the Keith Haring video screens. If you’ve watched Truth or Dare, you know that she and Haring were close friends, and his death affected her deeply. That touched me, and I thought it was a nice tribute to her friend.
“Heartbeat” followed, but didn’t really stand out, even being my favorite song from the Hard Candy album. “Borderline” was next, in an updated rocker version. Shan made references to her looking like Skeletor at this point, but I had my mind on other things, and really enjoyed this performance. Speaking of M’s Skeletal state, she actually looked really great tonight, until the final segment when she whipped out those hideous bangs! But I’m getting ahead of myself!
Next was “She’s Not Me,” the first real performance of the evening to really grab me. “Ladies, have you ever had a friend who wanted to do everything you did? Including fuck your boyfriend?!” she asked wildly. In the middle of the song, four dancers appeared dressed in various stages of Madge Drag. She messed with each, while they stood their like M-bots. It was a cheesy, but fantastic salute, and I loved every second of it! “Music” rounded out this set, and again, nothing too wonderful to report. You hear “Music” once, you’ve heard it a thousand times.
The next video interlude was beautiful, with an androgynous fairy caught in a rain storm under flowers, interacting with insects, while a mix of Eurythmics’ “Here Comes The Rain Again” interspersed with her own “Rain” played throughout. It was gorgeous, and I loved how the entire thing played out, with a bug merging with the fairy to become a butterfly. Very nice!
Set three was definitely my least favorite of the four presented. We opened with Madonna inside a cage, of sorts, singing “Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You” atop a piano, surrounded my gushing water. It was a nice scene, but we didn’t see her for most of it due to her strange outfit, which covered her entire body for the majority of the performance. This was followed by “Spanish Lesson,” another great Hard Candy track. Nothing really springs to mind about this performance besides being asked, “Are you ready for some extracurricular activities?” to which I screamed like a banshee that I indeed was!
“Miles Away” was nice, and it seemed we all knew the words. This was another Madge behind the mic, strumming her guitar performance, so not much to tell about that one. “La Isla Bonita” followed, and can I just say, as a fan, I’m totally burnt out on seeing this song performed live. Sure, she added more of the Latin flair, but she also used the same chorus structure from the Confessions Tour. It was so cheesy, all her dancers in various bright-colored shirts and black pants. I told Shan I felt like I was in a Mexican Restaurant.
Next was “Doli Doli” which consisted of Spanish singers taking over, while Madge and all of her fans watched. It wasn’t a high point. No disrespect to the performers or their culture, but I didn’t shell out $700 to see Madonna watch someone else perform.
The end to this set was the beautiful “You Must Love Me.” It’s especially poignant due to her impending divorce, and knowing that she dedicated the song to her daughter in a recent performance in New York. The song tore the arena apart, and she got cheers throughout. It was very moving, and a definite high point of the entire show.
Next was the fabulous “Get Stupid” video interlude, which you can watch on M’s official site. It’s a catchy ditty using various lyrics from several Hard Candy tracks, and a thoughtful message at the same time.
We were then treated to a lackluster “4 Minutes” performance, with Maddy interacting with moving video screen images of Justin Timberlake from the video. Her football gear was kind of ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as the wig she had on, featuring some disasterous bangs! Aye!
Following this, she ditched the shoulder pads and performed “Like A Prayer,” which was probably the highlight for me. It was a moving, pounding, thumping revamp. Dance remix or not, it had heart, and it almost brought me to tears. Maybe it was the sight of thousands of fans going nuts, her energy, or the general vibe, but it was definitely amazing!
“Ray of Light” was next. Snooze fest. If I’m not mistaken, it was the exact same version, video screens and all, from the Confessions Tour. Please retire this song immediately, Madonna. It’s tired. To the max. After this was the “request section.” For our show, she sang about two lines of “Beautiful Stranger,” which was a nice surprise! Definitely underrated by Madge!
She then said she’d be doing an “old song” she actually remembered the words to - “Hung Up.” Um. This song isn’t old. I digress. The rockin’ guitar addition to the pop cheese was a nice touch, as I’ve been beat to death with those Abba samples for far too long.
Last, but not least, was “Give It 2 Me.” A great finale, and more movement, lights, and over the top extravaganza than we’d had all night. A nice end to an otherwise lackluster evening. And coming from me, that’s a hard thing to admit in a public forum.
Looking back at it, the entire thing seemed quickly put together. The choreography, as a whole was bland, and the song selection was blase, to put it nicely. Madonna is still my favorite performer, I just hope next time she hits the road, she puts some more effort and thought into the entire production.
Mine and Shan’s evening didn’t end on that note, though. Following the show, we found ourselves at the bar Berlin for the MadonnaRama afterparty, and danced our hearts out for several hours to nothing but Madge’s music, which was amazing! So props to Berlin for saving my evening, and giving me a night to remember!
Tags: Madonna
I think we liked all the opposite parts. I’d like to point out that although she did look like a skeletor at some points she actually looked better than I expected from many of the photos I’ve been seeing lately.
Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You was probably my favorite of the evening even though it’s my favorite track from the album I enjoyed the effects they used on the screens she was inside of. I do agree I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Madonna though. The outfit covering her entirely was unnecessary.
And lastly I’m glad she hasn’t retired “Ray of Light” it still gets the crowd going even if you are over it :)
As far as the skeletal state - I mean, she’s always been tiny and sinewy, but at certain points she’d play the guitar and I was reminded of Whitney Houston’s appearance on the Michael Jackson special years ago when she was cracked out and her breastbone was showing. Madonna seems brittle, not of mind or spirit, but of body.
Having said that, she’d totally kick my ass though.
Agreed - the opening was less spectacular than the previous two outings. I did enjoy the candy and such, and I daresay we could have had more of that present.
The songs were good; I’m always liking Madonna’s twists on old classics and could have had a bit more of that put into the new songs. “Human Nature” was fun and I liked the more rocked out version. However, let me say that I am OVER Madonna thinking she’s a guitarist. Just because she can play doesn’t mean she should and that’s not what most of us are coming to see/hear.
Stick with your roots. Just keep dancing.
Loved “She’s Not Me” and the Rain/Here Comes the Rain again interlude. (I just play this all the time anyways - it’s just cool as hell).
Third section was underwhelming. But I mean when you give me gypsies playing violins, I’ll be dancing. That’s just who I am.
4 minutes - four minutes too long. This was the first time in the concert that Madonna really sounded bad and like she was screaming or out of tune. And her glittery football future-wear - I’ll pass. Bring me back some more unitards.
For our show some guy requested “Dress You Up” and we sang along for about 2 verses and 2 choruses. It was hawt!
Give it 2 me was amazing - again, I’m a sucker for laser lights, so once you get them out, you could be singing…Happy Birthday, and I’d be bouncing.
Having seen her 3x now, I’m not sure I’ll go again. Having seen the Reinvention, Confessions and this tour - this was the one I was least impressed with. I think that overall the album didn’t have a compelling theme and it semi-confused the tour.
I still give it up to her for just pulling it off and making probably one of the most entertaining shows of the year. She’s not the best singer, guitarist, dancer…whatever; but she’s the best showman I’ve ever seen. And for that I applaud her. With money. For my “Hard Candy” boy shorts.