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Madonna needs no opening act. Let's put it that way. I'm not a horribly big fan
of hers. Okay for awhile there I didn't listen to any Madonna whatsoever from
the overplay from my fanatic brother. However, since Evita I started to
give her a listen again. Even if you think she might not be the best actress or
singer ever, she certainly knows how to entertain and put on a fantastic show.
The setup for both nights were pretty much the same since it's all well
rehearsed and choreographed and with the same set lists.
There were two elevated platforms to the sides of the stage. Large curved
screens that were illuminated with all sorts of interesting images, messages,
backdrops...you get the picture....throughout the show. There were a handful of songs from her new album on the tour.
I think the new album's great and one of her best. Well minus "How High."
Future Lovers - A big mirrorball hung
over the end of the runway where a platform was located. This lowered down like
some big New Years Eve countdown and opened up to reveal Madonna in equestrian
gear with a whip.
I Feel Love - Donna Summer action mixed in.
Get Together - I really like this one.
Like A Virgin - you may have seen the photos as this was when she rides on
the saddle flying through the air. First night we were all the way on the other
side. The second night we were closer to the action.
Jump - for this song a bar set dropped down to the runway area with her
dancers hopping all over the place.
[costume change] great dancers
Live To Tell - I didn't care much for this song. However this is the point
where all the controversy really began as Madonna has herself on a mirrorball
crucifix. There was some nice imagery there, but the song doesn't do it for me.
Forbidden Love - started off with two statuesque muscular men who moved only
their arms.
Isaac - A metal cage was also brought down with some sort of apache dancer
under a black cloth. After revealing herself the dance clan came in and took
over. Very cool dance mix vibe. Probably one of the more unusual songs off
Confessions, but I like it.
[costume change] more great dancers
Sorry - It was like stepping out of the music video. Thumbs up to this one.
Or...actually another finger. I had a bunch of blurry photos from the
previous song, but the first picture to come pretty clear was Madge
flipping off the bird.
Like It Or Not - This is some sort of bonus track or something. Madonna at
the end of the ramp again dancing with a chair.
[interlude "Sorry"] Maddy sure likes to put in some exclusive
remixes for her songs. This was one of them. Highly utilizing the screens.
[costume change]
I Love New York - Madonna playing guitar on this one.
with the Hives. Just kidding.
Ray Of Light - Madonna also played guitar on this one.
Let It Will Be - dancing at the end of the ramp again doing all sorts of
high kicks. Rolling around. That sort of thing.
Drowned World - things were toned down for this number as Madonna
"sat" with the crowd as best as she could slowing down the pace of the
show.
Paradise (Not For Me) - done as a duet with Yitzhak Sinwani whom
Madge joked meeting him at the tables in the casino. He also sang during
"Isaac." I get the impressions some people don't really like him, but
I thought he very well took a song I didn't really like so much and made me
certainly appreciate it. Madonna was playing the acoustic hummingbird guitar for
this one as well
.
[costume change]
Music [inferno] - features another exclusive remix. Great imagery. Dancing
with her backups up on the platforms, on the runway, just everywhere. I loved
this part of the show. Some boogie action.
[costume change] I hated this outfit. It was a white spandex leotard onesy
thing with bedazzles going diagonally. Sure it showed off the well maintained
figure of Madge, but it was horrible. It should only be for ice skating or
something.
Erotica - Interesting mix. Supposedly mashed up with another earlier version
of the same song. I think I like it. Makes me feel less dirty than the
original.
La Isla Bonita - I think this is probably my favorite Madonna song. I've
really enjoyed the stripped down flamenco version from her Drowned World tour.
Had a nice flair. This time around it was sped up. The dancers joined her down
the runway and inching their way back.
[costume change] well, sorta. Her backup singers handed her a white came
that illuminated and on the outside said "Dancing Queen" a nod to ABBA
of course.
Lucky Star - who would've thought she would sing this one? She did quite a
bit of this song on one of the side platforms. Clearly one side is favored over
the other.
[costume change]
Hung Up - The entrance was like one of those award shows...Brit? She
basically used all of the same choreography, but thank goodness she changed.
This was an extended version which also asked for audience participation. Purple
and Pink latex balloons descended from the rafters. Other places seemed to have
gotten gold mylars. I'd rather have those...you know...less of a "pop"
accident.
Although Madonna played for about 2 hours ("Please extinguish your
cigarettes. For the next two hours, I am the only thing on fire!" -
Madonna) the show felt like it had such an abrupt end. This was the first time
she did not do "Holiday" on any of her tours. Overall I did like this
show better than the Drowned World Tour (which is of Ray Of Light era) since it
incorporated some more of the old favorites. I think the best part of that one
was the little Latin bit. However, I still enjoyed the Re-Invention Tour shows
the best. It had a nice flow, and it seemed more whole and connected not only as
a production, but with the audience as well. I loved a lot of the "re-invented"
sounds that appeared during this tour.
I didn't take my camera the first night. So all of the photos and videos here
are from night 2. Video
1: Paradise
Video 2: Music
Inferno
Video 3: Miscellaneous
Long Views
Video 4: La
Isla Bonita
Video 5: Hung Up
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