I love post-Evita Madonna. From Ray Of Light and onward, she's been on a wonderfully intriguing musical path. Loving the Confessions album and its fabulous sleeve, I was excited to watch this live (but heavily visually-edited) recording of a London performance of the Confessions Tour. It was a tour that Madonna herself was openly intent on making the world into one big dance floor. But if this show was any indication, the dance stuff kind of takes a backseat for awhile.
The first half of the show, and in particular how it opens, is very bizarre, almost off-putting. It begins with these clips of horses, and Madonna dressed like a very fancy jockey. This segues into the first performance, that of "Future Lovers", which has a theme of love taming people like those horses. Then it segues into very religious and/or humanitarian stuff (the infamous crucified Madonna), and it's quite off-putting. I know Madonna cares about meaning and such, but at times, the first half of the show is unbearably preachy (not counting the rather awesome dancers' confessions and the remix to "Sorry").
Stick with the show, however, because halfway through is when things get really good. The preachy stuff is gone as Madonna emerges in full rock get-up and delivers a stunning rendition of "I Love New York", ending in a crazy guitar solo. Next comes a rocking version of "Ray of Light", and then she cuts loose. With "Let It Will Be", she goes totally crazy, with energy amazing for a then-48-year-old.
The last quarter of the show is when the dance atmosphere is put into high gear, beginning with "Music Inferno", mixing Disco Inferno with Madonna's own hit "Music". Half of it is her dancers doing amazing rollerskating feats before emerging herself in full-on Saturday Night Fever get-up and truly taking her place as Queen of the Dance Floor. It segues then into a hauntingly beautiful new version of "Erotica", before striding on towards the thunderous finale.
This is an excellent show, Madonna's reputation as a perfectionist shows and the second half is utterly brilliant. But it very much feels like two different shows, even visually. The first half of the show is very bizarre and off-puttingly religious and/or preachy, but the second half is bombastic, full of energy and passion. I wish the entire show had been like the second half.
The first half of the show, and in particular how it opens, is very bizarre, almost off-putting. It begins with these clips of horses, and Madonna dressed like a very fancy jockey. This segues into the first performance, that of "Future Lovers", which has a theme of love taming people like those horses. Then it segues into very religious and/or humanitarian stuff (the infamous crucified Madonna), and it's quite off-putting. I know Madonna cares about meaning and such, but at times, the first half of the show is unbearably preachy (not counting the rather awesome dancers' confessions and the remix to "Sorry").
Stick with the show, however, because halfway through is when things get really good. The preachy stuff is gone as Madonna emerges in full rock get-up and delivers a stunning rendition of "I Love New York", ending in a crazy guitar solo. Next comes a rocking version of "Ray of Light", and then she cuts loose. With "Let It Will Be", she goes totally crazy, with energy amazing for a then-48-year-old.
The last quarter of the show is when the dance atmosphere is put into high gear, beginning with "Music Inferno", mixing Disco Inferno with Madonna's own hit "Music". Half of it is her dancers doing amazing rollerskating feats before emerging herself in full-on Saturday Night Fever get-up and truly taking her place as Queen of the Dance Floor. It segues then into a hauntingly beautiful new version of "Erotica", before striding on towards the thunderous finale.
This is an excellent show, Madonna's reputation as a perfectionist shows and the second half is utterly brilliant. But it very much feels like two different shows, even visually. The first half of the show is very bizarre and off-puttingly religious and/or preachy, but the second half is bombastic, full of energy and passion. I wish the entire show had been like the second half.