Only here to win: Sticky & Sweet, professionalism at its highest.
One week ago at this time I've already been standing in front of a stage that had two giant M's on each side, for like an hour. I've always been envious of people entering the venues earlier than, well yeah, myself - and the rest of a large crowd; this time I was among those staring back out at those poor fellows who've been being burnt by the sun for a day or so. Of course, once being inside, the waiting resumes, but hey: at least you have your fix spot and don't have to overworry yourself about that!
The huge M's were basically telling us that something great's about to happen: we had no idea how true that was! After a poke in the back for Mr Benassi, telling him that he should finish DJing, and some more mins of arranging the stage - the lights went out, and no surprise: Madonna appeared on her throne, surrounded by her dancers. No surprise I say, because for one, of course everyone was expecting her; and for two, diehard fans like me all saw the Hard Candy promo tour and the opening act of Candy Shop was not much different this time either. Good or bad? Well, I say good. The song itself might not be much, but the live performance boosts it up way much. ^.^ Btw, candy shops - the first things I felt like missing. What with the rainbow colors, and the album's concept and everything, I was sure that there'd be candy stands all around, but there were none. Too bad, I think, but oh well.
Beat Goes On is another of those "nothing special" songs, but with the white car, it was made somewhat special as well; on the other hand, the following Human Nature just didn't fit in there for me. What's the point, I mean? Especially with Britney in the backdrop video. ... Not that I have anything against her, but still. Not to mention I had a feeling I've seen and heard this before, and it's quite right: Human Nature + guitar = Drowned World Tour. That was like 7 years ago. Um, alright... then came another song that's sorta been played so many times it's almost boring: Vogue. But, this time it actually wasn't playback-cuz-of-the-dancing, but live singing. Everyone's allowed to decide whether it added any extra value to it.
Then came the first "gift" for me: despite not being live singing, the Die Another Day mix with the background video was just AWESOME! That's like, the third version of the song that can't be not-loved, after the album version and the Dirty Vegas Mix. ^.^ Tho I'm still not sure about how the candy factory (see the opening video) turned into a boxing ring... o.O and of course, M herself was only "boxing" in the video: it had a slight intimidating aura of "if i go out and really fight, noone will stand a chance". Quite nice. :P And following it came the second "gift" song for me. Two years ago I was almost furious at her, cuz I couldn't understand how on earth Into The Groove could be left out from an "I want to turn the world into a dance floor" tour!? Now she made up for it, with such a silly-cute concept to it as well that was really sticky and sweet. xD Basically, ITG was the opening song of the second act, oldschool / early days. Something idk how Heartbeat fit into, but that followed ITG anyway. And then the third "gift": Borderline! Yes, right from the first album from '83, and at that, a song that she hasn't performed live since the Virgin Tour. *_* Perfect fit for early days. Like, THE perfectest. :P
And if we thought the show was going GREAT so far, well we got a slap in the face. That's being She's Not Me, which is a really nifty song on its own already, but the way it was performed.............with a brilliant-to-the-point-of-being-freaky backdrop montage edited together from M's earlier videos, from the very first to the very latest, showing slideshow-like the most prominent faces of the Queen. AND, with her four most prominent costumes as well, being worn by "dolls" who were actual dancers and appeared somewhere mid-song at the end of the catwalk. Of course, "cheap knockoffs", they were all "disgraced" by the one and only Madonna. FANTASTIC!!!
If you're asked, as a fan, to name M's most minimalist hit, there's quite a chance that you'll say: Music. Yes, Music is very - nothing. And still, a live performance just fills it with so much meaning, noone can argue it's her absolute greatest (or is in the top 3 anyway) song! Something that's been done and shown again: it was her music that brought us all together once again. You can't get this feeling back from webcasts or concert DVD, go and experience it on the spot. Won't be able to compare it to anything.
Two years ago, and sorry for so many references but they're needed, one of the best songs/performances of the Confessions Tour was Paradise, for me anyway. And no, she didn't bring Isaac back, and if I wanna be honest, not even the sakuras. But, there was a faint resemblance in a few moments of the Here Comes The Rain Again video interlude, that made it awfully lovely for me. And not just that, if you remember the performance of Isaac back then, Devil Wouldn't Recognize You is strikingly similar to it: the large black cloak, the (this time cylinder-shaped screen serving as a) cage, and inside, this time, M herself, on the top of a piano... breathtaking, really. Not only the performance, but together with the lyrics too. The fourth "gift", and one of those that, as a whole, makes me call M not a singer, not an entertainer, but an Artist. She always manages to create something that's able to touch you somewhere deep within, not in a definable way, but you feel it...and it's The Experience. Really.
And just to contrast it again: Spanish Lesson followed the Devil, with the Spanish words written on the screens in a way that made them look Arabian; while on a more personal level, I wouldn't've included this song in the setlist at all. x.x Prolly it's just something with me, but I think it's the weakest of Hard Candy, and this time, not even the live performance made any difference. Then, after the anti-favorite, what else could have come than one of the faves: Miles Away? It's such a multi-layered song, really. One way to interpret it as it is; but with M singing it live on stage, singing it for us, in a way prolly ABOUT us, on the other hand we just turn the table. While waking up from a dream in the middle of a concert sounds obscure, "outsiders" really would never believe the things we experience at her concerts, the things after which really none of us will ever be the same. And she really always have the biggest heart, giving us 110%, and when she's gone, we really always realize that she's the best thing that's ever happened to us! ... Sounds too poetic, yeah right, maybe. Go experience it on your own - of course, you have to be a fan tho.
La Isla Bonita is another one of those ever-green songs that no matter how or when they come, they always make the dark and cloudy days sunny and nice. The Confessions Tour mix of it was a brilliant party/dance version, add some gypsy-sorta spice to it and you'll get the Sticky & Sweet alternative. So, on with the dancing shoes once again, and don't you dare stop partying! ^.^ Whoever says whatever about making music for one's own entertainment - bullshit. THIS THERE AND THEN was really about making music just for the sake of it: being together, having a great time, so let's have more fun! ...well, most certainly had. A mille grazie!
Just to relax after intense dancing for a few mins, here came some shivers. Oh, of the good kind of course. The stadium chanting "Evita! Evita!", and M starting a song that she never performed on a tour so far: You Must Love Me. *_* Well, thanks for the reminder, but we do love you, you know? What on earth would we be here for right now otherwise?! Still, another "gift", a real gem. ... Smash it? Of course! With the thing that generated the greatest controversy in S&S: the Get Stupid video interlude. Starting off as a parody of today's advertisements, it turns into a shock-therapy kinda slideshow of horrible images happening around the globe, and of the most notorious world-leaders of past and present. Last time, she managed to make us cry with Live To Tell; now she managed to make us feel just BAD, and right in the middle of a party again. You can start dissing the thing, but in that case I'll say you don't get the concept. Get Stupid is a most genial punch in the face of the media and politics flooding us with SHIT: if that's allowed (even encouraged in some cases?) to flow, then here's her mirror to it, to whatever's covered up with the empty, meaningless stuffs. And just as a sidenote, she appeared in the best outfits in that less-than-3-mins video. Congrats and bow.
To recover from the shock, she gave us 4 Minutes - that was accepted with a great ovation. Which, frankly, I don't really get: there were much stronger songs on Hard Candy as well as in the setlist, but oh well. At least Like A Prayer made up for it, and once again I was left unable to decide whether it's a song to just dance, or something deeper, more spiritual? Either way, one of her greatest once again, that's sure. And Ray Of Light, well, with a bit different concept than before, um just okay I think, but this one was seen one too many times too, mainly with this guitar-rock-ish performance. Re-invent, please!
Idk if there's gonna be another tour of which the concert dates will be Holidays once again, cuz we "only" got Hung Up this time too. As much as it's again an "aired-too-many-times" song, with the chess-video in the background, I really enjoyed it. Somehow peculiar, which gave it a fresh taste - something I wouldn't mind seeing done to a few other tracks as well. But then...I knew Give It 2 Me was a must, and when I heard it, my first thought was: omg, why did they remix THIS?! As it went on tho, the lights, the lasers, the rave-like mix: I was converted. Bloody brilliant, and impossible not to dance to, even if you've spent hours or the whole day or afternoon standing in queues.
All too soon tho (no matter how long a mix is, if it's good, it can't be long enough), the song came to an end and everyone disappeared from the stage and we were left staring at a GAME OVER text displayed on the screens. ... Er, 'scuse me, where's the confetti/balloon/goldenribbon rain? Where's the "thank you, good night"? ... Just, where's the ENDING?! :O
So yeah, maybe making a point of "there's no beginning and there's no ending", but I felt a baffled. It's like the show didn't end at all, but they were already taking the stage apart!!! WTH?...
In any case, the show was professional. To the max. And, there's no telling she's 50. Rather, 20-something with the same amount of - no, not years, just experience. I could have done with a bit more communication with the audience, and a (at least indirect) thanks to her crew, cuz as she said two years ago: she couldn't do it without them. But apart from these, I can't wait the next occasion: if there really is no ending, she shouldn't keep us waiting for long. ^.^
