Madonna Rides Into Town

... and she brought her riding whip!   

Madonna emerged from a giant disco ball (reportedly covered with $2 million worth of crystals) and literally kicked (and whipped) the show off with an equestrian-themed/S&M take of Future Lovers from Confessions on a Dance Floor.  A video-ized Madonna introduced the real-life Madonna proclaiming "I'm going to tell you about love"... and the roar from the crowd told her she was about to receive a whole lotta love right back for the next two hours.

So, I really don't know where to start. 

The show was amazing... the ticket prices made me question my sanity (and that's saying something!!)... but the production value of this show is so high... there were really no regrets... your dollars wree certainly on display during this visual feast... plus that you are in the presence of arguably one of the most famous women in the world.   

I came away from the evening with a total (increased) respect of Madonna's artistic vision.  You know she had total control over every aspect of the show... and she has certainly come a long way from her bubble-gum pop musical roots... sure there was an incredible amount of ego on display... but the night was a mix of fun (even kitsch), but also "message."

She turned political a few times ... in the "shock value" (and most press publicized) moment of the evening, during Live To Tell Madonna puts herself up on a mirrored crucifix (with a crown of thorns, no less!)... but against a video back-drop of the devasting toll of AIDS in Africa. 

And let's just say, it is pretty clear what Madonna thinks of Dubya and Tony Blair. In a video sequence for Sorry... the two world leaders make mulitiple appearances (beside images of more notorious "evil doers") as the words "Don't Speak" are flashed across the screen and the song's chorus "I don't wanna hear, I don't wanna know/Please don't say you're sorry/I've heard it all before" is repeated.  Dubya also gets a shellacking during I Love New York, "If you don't like my attitude / Then you can F off / Just go to Texas / Isn't that where they golf"... that last "golf" line was changed to something about sucking a lower appendange on the current President.  Yowza!

Yesterday I mentioned that Madonna, like many "divas," has a thing about air conditioning... and that surfaced last night.  Past the mid-point of the show, Madonna said something to the affect of "A word to the management, turn off the air conditioning.  Sure enough, it did heat up (literally) for the remainder of the show... and this turned into the primary focus of an article about the concert in this morning's newspaper.  Apparently, a half hour before showtime was 75 degrees inside... at showtime (40 minutes "late"... at 8:40p) it was up to 80... and by the end of the show, it was a very noticeably toasty and moist 87 degrees.

So that's a good segue to say to say... at times, she was a bitch.  There was minimal chit-chat with the audience beyond the prerequiste "Hello... [insert city name]"... I sensed every aspect of the show was planned out, orchestrated, choreographed...  right down to her swigs from the water the bottle. 

Ok, back to the bitchiness... me thinks, this was "part of the act" as well ... her diva 'tude and tantrums are legendary... so you expect (and want!) to be put in your place!  When she told you to jump you jumped, when she said dance you danced... when she told you to roll your arms during Hung Up... well, you better f&ckin' roll your arms... NOW!!   Ma'am, yes ma'am!!   Heck, even her dancers seemed to be trained animals (at times literally), catering to her every whim and asked to do some amazing physical feats... and they were truly incredible... for these folks (and yes, some hot male bodies) a spot on a Madonna tour is as prestigious a gig as you can get in the dancing world.

Finally, at age 47, Madonna looked amazing!  For some reason, I thought she was coming across ever so slightly chunky of late... but her body is incredible... if anywhere, her age is showing in her face.  But her legs were incredible... and she still exudes sex appeal.  Our seats were great... at times, I would say we were about 60 feet away from her (both at a side stage "arm" and a mini-stage that extended halfway out to the floor).  During Hung Up, we had a most excellent rear view of her humping the boom box... and well, even for a gay guy, I have to say she had a fine ass.

So I guess that's it... sorry for the ramble...  believe me, my mind is still processing everything...  I am sure I could go on and on. 

I know some folks consider it a SPOILER, so I have included the song/set list "after the jump" (if you are reading this via Bloglines or some other feeder... avert your eyes)...  I certainly didn't commit it to memory, just pulled it from the Web and "confirmed" it...

Oh, btw... no encores... which was fine with me! I have always found "planned" encores (you know when the artists leaves the stage having never sang their biggest or most current hit) to be annoying and manipulative... so it was quite refreshing that the show was over when it was over (the first time)!!

UPDATE:  From The AZ Republic... a much more focused (and pretty much on target) concert review/re-cap: Madonna dances through Glendale spectacle

Madonna Confessions Tour Set List
(Phoenix - June 8, 2006)

Future Lovers / I Feel Love (Medley)
Get Together
Like A Virgin
Jump
Live To Tell
Forbidden Love
Issac
Sorry
Like It Or Not
Sorry Remix (Video Interlude)
I Love New York
Let It Will Be
Ray Of Light
Drowned World/Substitute For Love
Paradise (Not For Me)
Music / Disco Inferno (Medley)
La Isla Bonita
Erotica/You Thrill Me
Lucky Star
Hung Up

Comments

[Scott-O-Rama]

Do I even have to tell you how jealous I am?