7 posts tagged “madonna”
When I first saw the TV version of American Life (you know, the one with the flags only), I couldn't believe my eyes. I'd not seen such visual waste for a while. As for Celebration...couldn't like the song itself first, it felt too lukewarm: fast for a ballad, but not nearly enough energy for a real party-hard celebration thingy. Celebration tracklist? No-like either: some freakin' lame songs while some of the strongest ones are omitted. Celebration album art? The one with the photo montage, well at least it's SOMETHING, even tho I hate the cigarettes; the other...what does that have to do with anything celebration??? And the music video teasers, well, I was like, "not a final version, they just leak these and the real thing will be much better". The Benny Benassi mix, I haven't heard yet, but er, I shouldn't have, either. And the music video itself... *shrugs*
Like a bad-Erotica and Jump mashup, with SOME 2009 sound. 'cept, Erotica had some artistic value, here the only relation is that it's full of gyrating hip and wriggling body and touching those lower areas. And what for? The hell does that have to do with celebrating? I mean, sure, good sex is cause for celebration, and you can celebrate with good sex too, but this time it just shouldn't be about that at all, mainly not in such quantity. Dancers are jumping up and about, but we've all seen this in Jump already - 'cept, at least that one had some props and actual street scenes. Here? Big nothing in the background, and in the foreground there are some people doing - nothing. If at least there was some CGI in the background, it'd have some looks, but this way...bleh. Only nice thing is actually the stuffs M's wearing (apart from the wig), but that's no justice to anything else. Fuckin' big fat zero - and I doubt I should be surprised, considering the ~history~ of Celebration so far.
M's the one who should be celebrated, right? Her music, her career. We should be seeing thousands of fans, screaming, partying, applauding, at concerts, at festivals, with signs and flags with messages above their heads. (Okay, there's gonna be one with those too, but why just a 2nd version?) We should be seeing Madonna, highlights from her pasts, cutscenes from her older videos, her iconic alteregos, and the like. The lyrics is supposedly full of references to her older works, why don't we get to see anything from that? To the dancers, all my respect, really, mainly after I've seen 'em performing during the tours. But, gods forgive, I'm not interested in their acrobatics when I'm ought to celebrate the Queen. And Jesus...I understand he's her current lapdog, but that's none of OUR fuckin' business. It's for the tabloid; 'specially this way, I mean, has anyone ever heard ANY music that HE produced yet? Still he's playing the almighty DJ there.
So, Celebration, doesn't get kudos at all. And here's something to chew on: just HOW COME that Celebration has no Jesus Luz Remix version yet?... [/sarcasm]
I don't even know where to
Organization
I can't go by the issues here. First of course, the ticket sales, where the system just crashed totally because of the rush, and the office itself couldn't access their own network except for their HQ, while in the meantime the Gold tickets sold out at 3rd party vendors. All that after they supposedly prepared for such events, ie. to prevent them. Because I've had misfortune, I went for my ticket to the actual office...and as such, after waiting half day in the freezing cold and snow, I got home without any ticket. Not just me, but everyone, actually. At the same, a friend of mine who went to a bookstore (yep, inside location) got her ticket after like one hour. No comment. I got my ticket 2nd hand some days later, for almost double the price...only to find out like a month or two before the concert that LiveNation decided they'd print and sell some more Gold tickets. Yeah, talk about unfair. And then, there was the issue of the venue. About 3 weeks before the gig, they started messing with that too, changing it to an actual Stadium, of which the owners couldn't make an agreement with, because of some fuckin' soccer match and the grass. Even though the grass there is about 50yo and LiveNation would have agreed to actually REPLACE the entire thing with brand new, world class grass, they just said no...guess a CEO or some such wouldn't have gotten as much money as they'd've wanted. So finally it was taken back to Kincsem Park. But of course, that's not the end: the security basically didn't really seem like they knew what they were doing (and the fact that whoever appeared to be leader actually HAS voice, only turned out when he had to yell at the fans in the queue - when he was informing us about things, not even the second row could hear him); and the nice and slim police girls weren't really reassuring either. Thought, altogether there were so many policemen around there that I don't think I've ever seen at one place at one time. But, they could only act superior with that "Well, try it!" line, when we were to burst through the gates. Bunch o' morons. As for the fans: respect to those who were camping there since Thursday. No matter how fanatic I am, I can barely do with spending just one day there, so even two seems unbearable for me, not to mention three. And thanks for the idea of the little wristbands with numbers, to whoever came up with it: the first 200 ppl there had their numbers and could even go home mid-day and get back later on, it was arranged with the security that they'd only let that 200 in the foremost block of the barricades, everyone else was to wait further away. (But of course, that didn't go perfect either, after a while the latecomers started seeping through to our block, cuz there was only ONE guard between the two.) Still, even if we transformed into a simple group from the numbered queue, it was well worth it: around 3-4pm the oncoming mass of people, and the crowd/queue themselves just became rather scary, so it was a good thing we got there in the front. When we were finally let in, everyone started sprinting of course, slowed down only by the three further checkpoints we had to get through...and some, mid-way, when we actually realized we'll have to run about 7-800 meters (~765-875 yards), cuz they couldn't make a STRAIGHT way to the stage, it had to be a giant CURVE. From what I've gathered, I doubt anyone ever experienced such a distance in such a case. Next thing that turned the TOUR into a TRAGICOMEDY even more was the issue of drinking water. I mean, you know, it's summer and all, and we're first row right at the stage, being squeezed and pushed constantly for hours by the thousands of people behind us: no one in their right mind would think of fighting themselves through the crowd just to get to the food and drink stands which were totally on the side ends and at the entrance of the BRONZE (= farthest standing from the stage) sector, mainly after that sprint from the gates to there. And, apparently, people everywhere could consider that, and there were bottles of mineral water (actual packs too at most places) at the security guards between the fence and the stage, so that those there wouldn't dehydrate and faint. Not here tho, oh no. Guards and even the first aid station workers found the idea actually RIDICULOUS when we mentioned it to them, the ~lifesavers~ even complaining about how they're paid to save lives, not to distribute water (a: and preventing dehydration is not life saving, huh? b: wtf's with the attitude, they get their freakin' money whatever they do). But after a while, they apparently solved it, but the way they did...well, hilarious. We plastic glasses, and water itself arrived in plastic BUCKETs. And yeah, that's true, I didn't wanna believe it either and I saw it with my own two eyes. Talk about absurd? All in all, I'm not sure I ever wanna go to another concert in my own country...
The events
Arriving by the underground, you got a nice image of the place from the windows of the station: the huge stage from half-back-half-side, so much so that the otherwise giant trucks seemed like they were even less than matchbox cars, lined up behind the stage - certainly set the mood for what was coming. Finding the entrances was actually easy, but maybe that was only cuz of my instincts: I started off in the good direction and so just got there. When we were let in and started to run, at about mid-way I simply had to slow down, for two reasons. One was to catch my breath, and the other was to admire the stage. Last year in Rome I had a Hot Ticket, which meant that we could walk in from behind the stage, and thus the experience was just insignificant compared to this. But it's HUGE, and an utter MONSTER, and to see THIS monster IN MY OWN HOMETOWN...wow. I honestly had to take a moment to salute there. You really feel insignificant and absolutely minuscule when you get in the front row and look up above your head - and those enormous Ms only enhance that feeling, with whom (and what) they stand for. All in all, it gave me goosebumps, and not necessarily in the good way either, but somehow it still added up to a general good feeling. (Prolly the "hey, i'm here, it's here, it's all real and it's all happening" feeling.) I think about the first two rows were filled when suddenly everyone started screaming, and not without a reason either: M herself appeared on stage with a mic and dancers, in a baseball cap and some sort of tracksuit, with a scarf around her neck! I honestly never thought I'd see her like this up close and personal, just there to do some rehearsing! And it was an awesome appetizer, even then it was obvious that they all were in a good mood and really having fun. When it turned out that there was a guy there who came from New York (well, that's what they said anyway), M went "Oooh, high five, motherfucker!", and sat at the edge of the catwalk with two people holding her hips for support and reached out and gave the guy her guitar pick. Even just watching that was great.
Some "silence" and waiting followed that, until Paul Oakenfold appeared. I have to admit, "special guests" have always made me a bit nervous: bands are usually mostly unknown and thus we can't really go with their flows, not knowing their songs at all, and DJs occasionally put on a nice remix of some popular song but their own creations totally don't do anything to me. This time however, it was a pleasant disappointment. Paul played tracks I actually like and the remix versions were good too (Boom Boom Pow, just to name my favorite), then he put on even Celebration, which made the audience go real wild. In the meantime, the dancer guys appeared on stage too and danced and were goofin' off, visibly having a good time - idk how much of that was script, but I don't even want to, they created a real nice atmosphere for what everyone was grateful and cheered. And to end his set with I Gotta Feelin'... "I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night" - you bet!!!
When Paul said goodbye, we were waiting for M of course, but instead, crew staff appeared. Guess they were informed that rain was upcoming or probable, so they had to cover the stage with a felt-like material: that was quite odd with the tapes and all, and it took them about an hr, by the end of which we got quite frustrated. In fact, some ppl started booing and such, which I want to absolutely close myself off from. At that time, I didn't want to be a Hungarian, I mean, ffs ppl, would it have been better if someone had just slipped on the wet stage and broke their leg?! Wish some actually did some thinking before doing anything. By the way, one of the crew members had a hilarious text on his tee: "ALL ACCESS, ALL THE TIME, DON'T EVEN ASK". ... I want me one of those! lol In the meantime, another DJ was playing some music, which, according to the ppl around me was great, but personally I didn't at all like it...apart from the parts that really did hit the "RIDICULOUS BASS" level.
So to sum it up, the 5.30 gate opening turned into about 6.00; the 8pm beginning was right for Paul; the supposed-expected 9pm appearance of M became 10pm. I was a bit worried, I mean, if we out there got so frustrated, they must've been quite nervous too, back in there, waiting to get on stage already but not being able to, and that sort of spoiling the mood.
Well, it didn't.
Seeing the intro again already got me ecstatic, all of the backrdops are perfect and I couldn't mention one that I don't like at any tiny level. No matter the recordings all over the net, The Sweet Machine (Candy Factory would still suit better, says I) is just a different experience on those huge walls on stage. And of course its message: the sweets ARE here, the shop IS opening... And when M did appear, no effects of the delay were visible on them: still smiling like crazy, and the crowd too forgot about the delay. Whoever could watch the backdrop during Candy Shop, are sure to have gotten at least two cavities now in their mouths. I mean, I swear, it's just so freakin' explicit it's almost disgusting, and while my masochistic self totally likes it, my sober mind was voicing its objection quite violently. The tour sure could have got the "Stickier & Sweeter Edition" subtitle. And from then on was the first two "quarters" with their 11 songs that are just so together and so energetic, it makes you practically beg for a slow song to rest a bit already. And I'm 23 and she's 51, and I was just partying at one gig and she's doing everything at every show. Whoa...
They replaced Heartbeat with Holiday (with some Celebration in it), which I really welcomed: been to Confessions in 2006, been to S&S last year, and the song was omitted from both tours, while having been famous for always being in the setlist earlier. So it was awesome...not to mention the tribute to Michael Jackson: it's amazing how she can make it such an organic part of the show that it doesn't feel out of place and artificial. And that she DOES it, really, I mean, the whole remembrance act. It's one thing I really, really like about her. After that, Borderline was replaced with Dress You Up...I couldn't pick that one up as easily as Holiday, but I like that song nevertheless, and it wasn't a bad decision to include it, either. She's Not Me is still perfect, I absolutely adore how they edited the backdrop AND how they created the coreography too, with the costumes and all. (Plus, it was the silliest perk to see Madonna feelin' up her dancer's rear, just two arms' reach above my head...lol.)
My favorite parts, Devil Wouldn't Recognize You, Miles Away, La Isla Bonita: somehow they seemed much more intense than last time. Idk if it was the volume, or where I stood this time, or just the atmosphere and mood, but I was totally taken aback by those. In an absolutely good way. Then You Must Love Me...well, it was THE BEST! Hungarian fans planned a little surprise for our Queen, namely, there were texts like "HUNGARY LOVES YOU" and such printed on A4 papers, and distributed to many of the ppl there, with the instruction to hold it up during that song. And we did it. Guy came out to record the dozens of messages, and M had a smile plastered on her face all the way while singing. She actually let out a bit of chuckle when she got to the last word of the song, what with the papers and constant "WE LOVE YOU" yells around her. It was just so totally brilliant: we've been waiting for so long for her to come here with one of her shows, and now she did, and we were partying and applauding and yelling and singing each and every one of her songs from beginning to end, from the start of the show right til the Game Over. If all this love and enthusiasm couldn't convince her that she HAS to come back here, I don't know what would. Idk about others, but (mainly during Miles Away here) I can feel so much love radiating from her it's breathtaking - and it can't be described how good it feels that we managed to give at least some of that back to her.
Some of us were even singing Get Stupid, I was glad that they didn't remove that part, because it's really expressive and awesome. Just as much as Like A Prayer, but in a different way: the latter one is a spiritual experience, a journey, really. What with all the messages on the screens, in several different languages too, and the way she performs it, and the remix itself...I seriously get mad at whoever says that this version of the song is not at least as good as the original album one. It just makes one to want to get on their knees and say thanks to the higher power, no matter the names they call them, for simply EVERYTHING. ... I mean, if we weren't squeezed like sardines in a tin can, while pushed and stepped on by all the others around us, during a concert. About Frozen, well, I don't mind that one knocking Hung Up out, the latter has just been played so many times it got kinda boring...but didn't feel like there's much justice to Frozen itself. Don't get me wrong, of course Frozen is one of her bests and I love it too, but not this remix. It's somehow too strange, and by the time your brain processes what and how is actually being played and sung, it's already over, and you just spent a few minutes being short-circuited. Ray Of Light, on the other hand...I could never go with the jumping through the whole song act, simply don't have that much energy, mainly not in the middle of the crowd, where even balancing myself is different than otherwise. This time tho, I HAD to be jumping. Again, idk if it's the setting, or my mood, or her request, but somehow I couldn't stand still and just clap. Then of course, if you've been like that during Ray Of Light, you couldn't just stop before Give It 2 Me ended, either. It's still totally SICK (in a totally positive way of course), with the geek glasses and the arcade "game" and all...and a perfect closure to the candy-shop-turned-arcades. "Budapest, Hungary, thank you!" - well, dearest M, WE thank YOU!
Aftermath
Personally, I was praying for rain during the Rain / Here Comes The Rain Again video, because that would have been so beautiful and poetic. Well, just too good, I guess, those up in the skies could be thinking, because rain came a few tracks later, but it cames nonetheless, first just gently, then in the form of thousands of very tiny drops, and after a while downright pouring. (I'm not entirely sure when and how, but forgive me for that please, I wasn't really occupied with THAT, plus with the lights and all just barely above our head there, some of us were even a bit protected.) And the most fantastic thing was that it had absolutely zero effect on the mood: the whole crowd was going on with the singing and cheering and dancing as if it had just been a lukewarm summer night! By the time we got out of the Park, we were literally soaked to the skin, but no one seemed to care at all: I guess every drop of water was absolutely worth it.
At the tour merchandise shop, I left about half as much money as I originally anticipated. Sure the tees and caps were of the "normal" prices, but about everything else seemed almost underpriced, at least, I was expecting at least twice these pricetags, going by past experiences. So yeah, while no means budget in the common sense, when you look at what these stuffs are and how much they usually cost at these places, they weren't at all expensive.
And yes, the stage IS a MONSTER, they aren't using the latest and most modern stuffs there. It's spooky, almost really frightening to see what those MACHINES are capable of, but at least just as amazing as well. Sure, you can do an unplugged acoustic something, and the few hundred or maybe a thousand people will enjoy it, but it's entirely different, intimate, almost family-like experience, and definitely not about this kind of PROFESSIONALISM. Last year, if I had to sum the Sticky & Sweet Tour up in just a few words, I said: perfectly professional. This year, while I still stand by that opinion, I can't help but gape in awe at the Woman BEYOND the professionalism. The Woman who has some mind-boggling charisma, who can party harder than anyone else, and who has unbelievable emotional and spiritual depths. Whoever can tune their mind and listen to the songs during the partying, not only meaning the lyrics, but the musical instrumentation, the costumes, the dances, as well, to UNDERSTAND what they are about, can experience it. And it's not something that can be expressed in words either, you'll have to live it.
Dissatisfaction, further changes, edit versions, CONCERT EXCITEMENT - I've taken the time (and liberty) to put together a custom tracklist for Madonna's upcoming Celebration - greatest hits album. Well, it certainly is more difficult than I thought, but I'm quite content with the result...think it's actually great. Khm. So here we go.
First CD
Celebration - err, lead single, title song, we're celebrating, make it the very first song, ffs.
Music - because, after all, that's why we're celebrating, right?
Die Another Day - as in, a slight notion of the fact that the Girl's not gonna give up and lay back yet.
Into The Groove - because it's a sin not to include this one, and because, even just by the title, it has to be somewhere at the beginning of the party.
Vogue
4 Minutes (Radio Edit) - because, okay, it's needed, but the quality still sucks, soooo...
Fever - another "sin not to include" track.
Everybody - yep, her Madgesty's debut single, so a must.
Like A Prayer (Sticky & Sweet Tour Mix) - while many will try and excommunicate me for throwing in a remix version of one of Her absolute bests, I think this one suits the celebration-concept much better, and besides, face it: it's a remix that's totally awesome (hasn't She been on about reinventing, anyway? think this here is the encyclopedia entry example for that).
Ray Of Light
Get Together - better together than sorry.
Express Yourself
True Blue - rather than Open Your Heart.
Like A Virgin
You Must Love Me
Secret
Erotica
Justify My Love
Live To Tell (Confessions Tour Version) - as I've said, it's more intense with the organ.
Second CD
Revolver - the other new track, so it's best fired as the start of the other disc.
Material Girl
American Life - certainly more violent than Hollywood.
Human Nature - instead of Take A Bow.
Frozen
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
You'll See - sorta compensating for Take A Bow, its 'sequel'.
Rain - sin to omit, again.
Burning Up (Re-invention Tour Mix) - personally, I think it's more lively and energetic than the album version.
Holiday (Immaculate Collection Version) - might be just me, but the album version is so...grey, and unnecessarily elongated.
La Isla Bonita (Extended Remix) - no need to shorten this one tho, it's simply awesome!
American Pie
Give It 2 Me - to ditch this for Miles Away, geez...
Beautiful Stranger
Papa Don't Preach
What It Feels Like For A Girl (Above & Beyond 12" Club Mix) - the one used for the video, tho many will argue it's like castrated, methinks this remix actually suits the power in the song much better, not to mention the "changed the world" thingy.
Deeper And Deeper - c'mon, this one really has to be added here.
Hung Up (Radio Version) - sort of like a "that's all, folks!" ending, here you have it and now she's hung up...til next time, anyway.
So there. I think it's a much more complete selection, and adding some mixes, tour versions, here and there, would also add a bit of special value to it, instead of the "buying tracks for the second/third time" feeling. Not to mention, there are no banal songs now where the real strong ones should be.
First of all, a happy 51th to Madonna! Here's for many more records to be broken by you! ;) Cheers!
Second...madonnatribe.com posted what's supposedly the final tracklist for the upcoming greatest hits album, Celebration. Let's just say it's an odd selection of songs, and I can't see any logic at all in the track order either. And I've serious doubts about the "34 songs that changed the world" thingy, seeing all this. Let's go one by one.
First CD
Hung Up, Music, Vogue - okay, totally. Basic.
4 Minutes - while I can understand where this is coming from, I do not like it. Still do not like it. Nowhere near to the previous ones and the following ones in prestige. Just yuck. So, yeah, it might fit here in SOME way, but it's sickly and in bad need of a cough drop.
Holiday, Like A Virgin, Into The Groove, Everybody, Like A Prayer - again, totally. W00t!
Sorry - er...again, I can understand where it's coming from, but. There's Hung Up already, and somehow I don't see any difference between these two: both are for the dance floor, both have been played to death by radios. BORING! Please. Seriously, I almost outright hate this song, even though it's the one during which I could "grab" her hand at the Confessions Tour. Blargh.
Express Yourself - another basic must-have.
Open Your Heart - I'm not really sure about this one. Someone help plz?
Borderline - great, but once more...I'm uncertain. Does this have to be here?
Secret, Erotica, Justify My Love - why of course! Ultimate must-haves.
Celebration - okay, new song, lead single, needed. But needed on THIS CD? I mean, c'mon, hullooooo, there's already a Hung Up + Sorry parallel here which looks fugly, and then they make a Holiday - Celebration one too? Wtf? I know the two songs are totally different, considering music and beat, but whoever can't connect them with a direct line, is not a Madonna fan and need to dig into the Girl's past, fast and seriously.
Second CD
Dress You Up - a personal favorite, but I'm not sure it's a song that "changed the world".
Material Girl, La Isla Bonita, Papa Don't Preach - classics, no doubt.
Lucky Star - er, someone? What's with putting almost her entire first album on a greatest collection? Okay, I admit, Lucky Star is a personal anti-favorite, but still. There's Holiday, there's Everybody, there's Borderline (and that's already questionable)...what's Lucky Star so special in? No. A Confessions Tour Mix, maybe.
Burning Up - oh yeah, and here's this one too. Time travel much? At least, make it the Re-invention Tour version. That one kicks some serious ass!
Crazy For You - well okay, still to this day it's many times picked as "world's best romantic song" or some such rot, but I don't see this one as that exceptional. And then, there's the fact that it's REALLY just so sweet that you either absolutely love it, or you find it so repulsive it makes you sick - no middle route. Meh. At least it's options...unlike with 4 Minutes.
Who's That Girl - errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?!?!?!?! The hell's this one doing here? If someone knows, please inform me. Thank you.
Frozen - naturally, another classic.
Miles Away - oh dear. Personal favorite again, but when did this one even start to change anything at all in the world??? Love it, but nevertheless, it totally doesn't fit here.
Take A Bow - well, I'd rather opt for You'll See if a ballad's needed, or Human Nature if a Bedtime Story is needed, but okay, that's only my mind. Not bad.
Beautiful Stranger - again, personal favorite, again, with questionable presence. Where'd American Pie go?
Hollywood - with the video? Smashing, baby! Without that? So whatever... and just where's American Life?
Die Another Day - YES! Absolutely. Bond-experts were in an uproar because it was so unique, so unlike anything else before, that in the eyes of waaaay many, it was like a sacrilege. On the other hand tho? The track's lightyears better than the film, and yes I love the Bond-classics, but c'mon, of THIS quality, fresh blood is more than welcome.
Don't Tell Me - a song that many Madonna fans simply love, with the video or without it. Me? It's okay...but what's so special about it? The message, surely not, it doesn't say anything new. But the "it's like it's constantly wanting to start but fails" effect is nice anyway.
Live To Tell - well, yes, but not the album version. The one with the organ in it, is just more intense.
Cherish - heh...hehehehehe...joke, right? Personal favorite, but still...makes me smile (even laugh!) here.
Revolver - dunno this one, we'll see. But, it'd be better switched with Celebration, that's sure.
Well, there. First disc, jumping back and forth between long-past and quasi-present (minus Secret, Erotica and Justify My Love, which are neither here, nor there; Vogue is eternal, can't argue that one), which is totally chaotic, musically too. Let's hope it won't be a cacophony...I mean, such different eras, both sound-wise and considering the beat as well, it's just gonna create an odd atmosphere. Not to mention the Hung Up + Sorry and Holiday + Celebration parallels, which I think are major fuck-ups. Er. Yeah. And the second disc, just full of questionable decisions. Not to repeat myself, I rather ask: where's Rain? Where's Deeper And Deeper (or even Fever)? Where's HUMAN NATURE, for fuck's sake?! Or Don't Cry For Me Argentina, or You Must Love Me? Whoever picked the songs, please, someone shoot him in the head with a revolver. Don't even dare to ask where they left What It Feels Like For A Girl off, and that's one I particularly don't like the album version at all tho.
Yeah, I'm angry. It's full of errors like the developmental issues of the Nokia N97 (and the slow cpu, not enough ram, scratching camera lens cover, are quite the issues in a ~$6-700 flagship device). And I haven't even mentioned such minor issues, as the order of the tracks which seems totally random, and still, songs from the same album follow each other not once. So, as for me, I go pray. Maybe the gods'll listen and send them back to the blueprints once more. Or at least they'll make M toss something hard and heavy to the creators' heads when she sees this list.
PS: Give It 2 Me is missing 2???....
Madonna's coming to Hungary in August - no news. Ticket sales from today 10am - hooray. ... Hooray?
Well, after standing in the queue for like two and a half hrs, in the 1-2°C (frozen much?), at least my name was put on a list that might just be totally worthless. I mean, OF COURSE it happened (and no one believed me when I said it would): tickets went on sale, server crashed. Poor thing didn't have a chance against the roam of fans, apparently. The fun part? This was at the ticket office. Yep. And all them people there could say was "we have no idea", "we can't do anything", "we have no resources". Server crashed, and no one in the whole country (much less from outside, via the internet) could buy as much as one single ticket.
After a while, rumor started flying about the center having been able to sell some tickets - only problem was that the center was a bit farther away from the office I (and about two dozens of other ppl) had waited for about two hours, AND the queue THERE was said to have an end a few more streets away. So, take the time to go there and start from the back once again for a MAYBE, or stay on the spot and rather just wait that same time for the same MAYBE. I mean, if the official exclusive ticket office can't access the server, no one can, right? Supposedly.
However, by the time I got home, a friend of mine (who was all frantic about not even being able to get her ticket today, and it'll be prolly sold out by the time she'd get there) welcomed me with the message "I HAVE MY TICKET!". WTF? Yep, it turned out she was able to get her hand on a golden circle ticket (...No, she did not ask me if she could/should help. Thanks.) - in a goddamn BOOKSTORE. ... I was a wee lil bit annoyed. By the time I got there, only 4 ppl were in front of me, tho the woman doing it said they couldn't do shit for at least an hr. Nice. As I was standing and waiting (deja vu much?), a woman came in the store, asking casually - and that was when it hit my ears. Golden tickets are sold out. WTFH?!?!?! The ticket office can't access their own server and still tickets get sold out at 3rd party locations?! HOW. THE. FUCKIN. HELL. IS. THAT. EVEN. POSSIBLE?!
...So now, it's either true and idk what I'm gonna do (slit my wrists or some such? jk); or they had the brains to sort out who sells how many of each type, in which case my reservation is maybe still safe if that office really wasn't able to access their system all day - but frankly, after all this mess, I seriously doubt this.
*sighs* Why do the gods hate me so much?
Several weeks after the release of M's latest album, supported by numerous promo concerts, and the hype (hysteria, chaos, you name it) about the Sticky & Sweet Tour, I think it's time I revise my early review of Hard Candy.
While I do have to maintain my original views, ie, the album is ... somewhat less than what I expected, making it not hard at all, at least it's sweet. Sort of. What do I mean? Well, with that cover and title, I for one would surely have expected at least one "fuck" or "shit" or some such dropped in one of the lyrics somewhere, but there ain't no such a thing. I swear Alanis outdoes M-dolla there, with Flavors Of Entanglement, and I bet she never thought of competing in it. Oh well. Candy Shop, well, with that live performance she did at the promo concerts (and which I believe we'll see again at the Tour), it is a lot better, sort of filled with meaning, finally. Well, a certain amount, anyway. 4 Minutes is still second weakest for me - Spanish Lesson can't be overtaken there being as horrible as possible, I honestly don't know why these two songs made the final tracklist and Ring My Bell only the Japanese edition's. Give It 2 Me however is simply fantastic, by far the strongest song on the whole album, quickly followed by She's Not Me, tho I still don't really know if it's good to practically transfer samples from one track to another, within one album; the lyrics make up for it anyway.
Heartbeat, Miles Away, and Incredible are okay as they are, I guess ... nothing too special. Beat Goes On and Dance 2Night however still can't convince me enough...nor can Devil and Voices really. Devil just still reminds me too much of Kylie's Red Blooded Woman, while Voices... rephrase that first line: "Who is the garden, who is the snake?" - yikes. And still ~one bell short~, so to speak.
So, all in all, after a lot of repeated listening, I still don't think I should give HC an A. Maybe stepped up to a B from a C, but that's all. And I never actually went to buy the special edition of this one. Unlike American Life and Confessions, which I grabbed on release day, I just kept thinking and thinking and thinking about this one ... but you know what? Rather a Japanese import. At least that one has the extra song.
Well, after all the time spent with avoiding any and all possible spoilers, including deliberately NOT listening to or even watching 4 Minutes either, today was the day - I got to this piece of candy at long last. Of course I was damn excited, I loved every ounce of Confessions, together with the extra tracks and remixes and the tour, and I've expected nothing less. That is, until I learnt whom she'd be working together... and sadly, my fears were not too much unjustified.
On one hand, I've been sceptical about Justin. No offense, but I just can't stand him, a ~made~ star with an annoyingly high-pitched voice, pushing the relationships theme in such a sexist way that could compete any standard black rapper... yikes. On the other hand, Timbaland has been okay in my books, got the talent and all; true tho that even he turned a bit shallow lately. And basically that was all I knew about the album and nothing more.
Then there came the 411 on the Special Edition, containing TWO REMIXes. x_x Whyyyyyyyy??? I swear, it's a headache for me: get the Japanese import without the special wrapping but containing the extra track, or the special ed without the extra track? Hmph. Minus one point. '>_> Pondering that, I looked up the tracklist on Wiki... and the first thing was: wtf's with these titles??? Candy Shop, Give It 2 Me, Heartbeat, She's Not Me, Beat Goes On, Spanish Lesson, Voices - just the ones that made me think immediately, cuz it was just too much on one album that I've already seen, or at least made those ripples on the surface of my mind's quiet lake. Not to mention two other names: Kanye and Danja. ... Er, alright, no prejudices, that's just wrong, let's listen to it first. Well, I did... didn't intend to compare each of the tracks to other ones tho, but I can't help it, this album contains just too many vague, or not-so-vauge references for me, that it's starting to give me a buzz in the back of my mind.
Candy Shop - um, is that a cheap ($0.5...) knock-off? ... No, wait, it starts rather like Give It To Me ... er, the Timbs+Nelly+Justin one, I mean ... and that tick-tocking is just TOO Hung Up, almost painfully ... and that's it, basically, frankly, I still have no idea what to make of this track. o_O And this is just one such.
4 Minutes - Okay, track time is almost exactly 4 mins, yeah, nice pun ... aaaaand? What more? Nothing, really. Like an uptempo version of Hey You, but this one doesn't even really make a point, much less any coherent lyrics. Why on earth make a single and video of this one, I can't understand.
Give It 2 Me - Just good. ^_^ Third track on the album, first one that caught me for the very first time I heard it. Prolly the slight Music Inferno aftertaste has something to do with it (one of my favorite of the Confessions Tour *_*), but WHO CARES?! Tis great, go party! ^_^ Wondering about why this title again... x_x
Heartbeat - or is it Heartbeat Rock by Kylie? Couldn't tell easily, apart from the title, the two songs also partially shares some basic tunes/rhythm I think, so, er....?
Miles Away - no comment; another of those I've no idea what to do with. *shrugs*
She's Not Me - is it me, or does this really play some (unintentional?) pun on Robbie Williams's (idk-wtf-to-do-with-it-) She's Madonna track? ... Oh well, nvm, again a slight Music Inferno tinge in the background, making it somewhat okay. ^.^"
Incredible - see Miles Away.
Beat Goes On - Eugh. I fled from Kanye's Daft Punk mix as well, so not surprisingly ... just one thing: WHY?! x_x
Dance 2night - see Incredible.
Spanish Lesson - to be honest, I liked Spanish Eyes much better. A friend of mine said for Push of Confessions that it's too forced and thus just horrible: well, I think I now know what she felt when she said that... :/
Devil Wouldn't Recognize You - well, my first thought was rather Mariah Carey when I first heard this ... but then somehow it didn't sound all that bad compared to some of the other flavors of this candy. So, okay I guess.
Voices - idk if anyone remembers a song of the same title by a certain Ann Lee (don't think so), back from the nineties, but yeah, despite of the totally different tunes and rhythm, I did get the same feeling upon listening to it. Is it good? Still on my to-do list to decide.
Overall ... well, Her Highness said that she wanted her last release by Warner to be a big hit. And also that she thought about what music she listened to lately, what she fancied, and then came up with the idea of working together with the people she did eventually. With all due respect Madge, you yourself said that too that it was kinda strange, since you were used to working on your own - maybe just do so next time, please. Getting inspiration is one thing, but when the uniqueness, the individual is sacrificed on that altar, it just does no good. Too many "I've heard this before" impression in this ~56 minutes: way too repetitive; not to mention I can't find Madonna among Timbs and Justin and Kanye and Danja and co (like Britney and Nelly). If I'm allowed one more comparison: I felt a bit like with Mariah's latest release. Both E=MC2 and Hard Candy wants to be a continuation of their predecessors, but all in all, while I absolutely loved every minute of both Emancipation of Mimi and Confessions On A Dance Floor, I simply don't see the point of the "successors".
Maybe it'd be better for Madonna to leave the dancefloor AND the mainstream profit-oriented electronic music as well for the next studio release, and give us some more opinionated, more meaningful content. ... Or just an unplugged acoustic something, which is still a dream of mine; and some slower ballads that I've been missing since Ray Of Light.
