The One and Only Madge

Just got back from the Madonna concert at the United Center...
Hmm.
Let me digest everything for a bit, then perhaps I'll be able to give a review. The food was excellent though (Time Inc. Suite), and the dessert was good too.

Date posted: 6.14.2006
**************************************************
Ok, I think this concert review cannot be done or read without the underlying understanding that Madonna = controversy. Without it, she wouldn't be Madonna. So with that in mind, let me break down the elements:

• Set Design: It was fairly elaborate--rotating floors, video screens that showed random images, jungle-gym like contraptions, DISCO BALLS, a saddle descending from the ceiling on a pole,...and the infamous disco cross on which she "hung" herself while wearing a crown of thorns. Yeeeaah... She had dancers running around doing acrobatics who at one point came out on roller skates. The overall mood was kinda like dominatrix equestrian morphed into retro disco roller girl.
• Costumes: Lots of tights. Man, she looked pretty DARN good, even for someone who's 48 and had given birth to 2 children. I mean, I don't know many sixteen year-olds who can pull off white leotards nicely...and she did.
• Song/Music Selection: Everything was kind techno-y...even the old stuff was done w/ a hint of techno/disco feel. I wish she did more of the old stuff, which was what I really wanted to see. "Material Girl" did not make the set list, in case you were wondering.
• Room Temperature: I'm making this a category because I forgot to mention that Madonna has it in her contract that the air conditioner cannot be turned on during her performance (because it "dries out the vocal chords - Celine, Mariah, Jessica & Ashlee etc. all have similar clauses in their contracts), so it was hotter than HECK in there. I don't know what the capacity of the United Center is...but just imagine a basketball stadium full of body heat, continuous generating throughout the night.

So, here I must mention one of my pet peeves. Why is it that every celebrity feels the need to infiltrate their "art" with heavy political message? As if, just because you're a celebrity your opinion should be my opinion? Whatever. I can think for myself, thanks. Can't concerts just be concerts, with like, songs and singing and without a not-so-hidden political agenda? Is that too much to ask?

Anyway.

Bottom line: there is no doubt that Madonna puts on quite a show, and she definitely did not hold anything back, especially not her tongue. Did I expect anything less from her? Nope, not really. Do I have the need to ever see her in concert again? Probably not. I'll stick to listening to the "The Immaculate Collections" CD.

Date posted: 6.15.2006