Two days later, my head is still spinning from the dazzling, electrifying, circus-like night of theatrics displayed by Madonna and her performance crew in Vancouver.
In my 40-plus years of concert-going, Ms. Ciccone put on the kind of show I hadn鈥檛 yet experienced, until Wednesday (Feb. 21).
Rogers Arena was a sex-positive, female-empowerment party for two solid hours of , a 鈥淐elebration鈥� of her four decades of trailblazing, headline-making pop music, dating back to her New York grooves of the late-鈥�70s/early-鈥�80s.
Some people bitch about Madonna鈥檚 鈥渓ate鈥� concert start times, but she really is worth the wait. People who do their homework know that her sets always start around 9:45 p.m., and by 10 p.m. she hit the stage in Vancouver after an intro from Bob the Drag Queen (Caldwell Tidicue). We strolled in at 9:15 p.m. while DJ Mary Mac set the mood. What鈥檚 the problem?
Madonna鈥檚 huge stage took up most of the arena floor with long runways, forming 鈥減its鈥� full of fans. From stage-side seats in section 118, the view was amaaaaaazing.
.'s intro at in on Wednesday night, with Bob the Drag Queen.
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
My concert review:
The entire night was a well-choreographed party with multiple screens rolling up and down, a revolving circular stage, dozens of dancers, costumes to kill for, a flying cubed stage for the star, lasers, lightning, fire, crosses, giant disco ball, boxing rings and booming sound (those subwoofers could empty bowels).
Shout-out to Madonna鈥檚 talented dance crew, which included camera-toting cops, football players, guitar-strumming cowboys and assorted androgynous characters, some topless.
Was Madonna singing every note? I鈥檓 not sure. Where was the band? Again, not sure.
But it鈥檚 a party, who cares?
"Get Into the Groove" with at in on Wednesday.
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
My review:
Quick clip of Pamela Anderson with at in on Wednesday night, after judging "Vogue" performers. .
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
My review:
separated into seven acts, some of them reworked and showcased in new light.
Still the queen of creativity, Madonna strolled the stage with ease, impressive for a 65-year-old woman with some recent health concerns.
Pam Anderson was there as a fellow judge of some sort of fashion/dance show during 鈥淰ogue,鈥� and the show paid tribute to dead pop-music icons including Prince, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson.
By the end, in song, Madonna acknowledged that her 鈥淟ike A Virgin鈥� ripped the bass line from MJ鈥檚 鈥淏illie Jean,鈥� and sent everyone home with 鈥淏itch I鈥檓 Madonna鈥� and, finally, 鈥淐elebration.鈥�
A ticket isn鈥檛 cheap, so if you have the money and time, party with Madonna at concerts coming up in Las Vegas (March 1-2), Los Angeles (March 4-11), Palm Desert (March 13) and other cities.
