Last week I was on to see Madonna live again. Yes, I know, some may say- Oh no! She can't sing, dance and act and so on... All those negative believing.
Well, it's true she was never the best singer, but she never claimed to be one.
But one thing was always sure. She can do a Show. Can she still?
For starters, she can and how she can!
She still has a lot of power as the show starts without doubt with showing exactly this. BASS ON MAX AND DANCE AND SHOW ON MAX.
One picture and symbol after the other and it all fits perfectly in style, to the theme and the songs are well chosen. To say it right away, she did chose always the right songs for the part she was doing and she has several different, from asian, to religious, to artistic, to let's get on the countryside and back to let's celebrate the 20'tis and so on. Kind of a immaculate collection.
The stage is absolutely up to date and bringing out all you can do these days with technic. She also added new artistic numbers which have been very much a fun to watch.
Yes, she still does the D-train and mixed it with the Girly Show concept. That means the numbers come and go and the time flies and two hours are over like in five minutes.
It also means she is more the old Madonna as the older fans known her that way and she is mixing the themes like she always does and caring less about what is approbate and political correct. After all it's a Rebel Heart Tour and the Girly Show was also much of a Rebel Show. Thought back then more then today as we are used to it more and know that symbols and the question of what is strong language has changed. Also we have started to expect this from Madonna and she is not failing to show all the scandalous symbols. She is not exactly doing it without reason but in some numbers there become like an ad just because we might do expect those. So not really dirty anymore, not really a bitch, but a rebel- yes she still is.
Of course this became one of the things the press took to critics.
Others claimed that she is old and can't dance.
Well, it's true she is older, over 55 years to be exact and no, she still can dance and that in a very good way, but yes she danced less then before and took more focus to singing and keeping up a go0d show. She is a hard working women and don't be surprised that she expect this from her dancers too, which you can see more then clear. Her dancers are in fact one of the best you can find. It looks easy what they do, but they have a very clean and hard dance routine to do, thought it holds up all expectation. They also make it that you never felt bored while Madonna changed her cloths.
Another critic I read was that she took to contact to the people and that this is wrong as she is a star and will lose her star being with doing so. She should stay untouchable. First I think she is still in the way of being a star, then for the fans it was exactly what they wanted. She showed that she can speak freely and has humor about herself (also she showed it within two numbers she made). Another complain was about her -La vi en rose- interpretation, but this is coming from misunderstanding.
Yes, she turned the song in her own version, but otherwise it would not have function. Yes, she is doing it the american way and so the song has not really to do with the original, but here she was able to show what her soul, her voice was also capable to do. She has in fact more to give then she does. Her interpretation was a warm timbre and once again, not a big voice but if she wants she can sing very nice.
But she had it not easy to catch the fire from the German people. It needed the -Like a prayer- nearly a capella- and all went to be a big party, dance, sing together and having real fun.
You maybe will have this in other countries too.
Why so, if she starts with a firework and still needs more time to get the people up and dancing? Is it the turn from fast to slow and back again? No, this is not the reason. I believe it is more the fact that people have lost their whole trust in her with the last CD and MDNA Show.
To unsure if this show will really rock and so it takes a while to let lose. Also I saw another problem, which most stars and acts have to deal with nowadays. Mobiles. People focus on getting pictures and a little film from the show instead of watching the show and diving in. To play over the mobiles is very hard work to do. It actually cost the people a part of her own fun. Thought I by myself took pictures, but not on many occasions.
Another thing why it took time to bring up the fire inside us was the D-train she is doing. No time to breath, no time to let the symbols and songs sink into you. We have been glad when she spoke and actually stayed on stage to just hold her instrument or drink water or when she waited until the stair was down for the next number.
Then she gave us the chance to celebrate. Thought she wants to be professional and have it all perfect, she is pressing a bit too much, thought at the end I enjoyed, with a completely sold out crowed, the show.
But keep in mind, this is after all a CD promotion tour, so you won't have a collection of all songs, thought she did put some of her old one into the show and actual they came from each Album she did.
Of course in new interpretations which maybe not all liked that much. Some fans also have been sad that she did not use the songs - Ghost town and Joan di arc- as those are some of her stronger songs from the actual CD.
Fashion, Stage, technics, dancers, choose of songs is absolutely worth a 5 star. Her singing, as always not stable but better as years before is a 3-4 stars. The show went by like a wind blows into your face- 4 stars, as I wished to have a bit more breath in the beginning.
So, the result? 4 of 5 stars I will say as this is sure not her best Show she ever did, but could come as near as possible to the high level she had put up herself. The Confession Show is the mark she will never reach again I believe and is unable to do for most of us actually as the level is damn high. Hopefully Madonna finds a way to make it different with the next shows and find some new ways to make a show. She is a smart women and has once's changed how we make a show with the -Blond ambition Tour-.
She will for sure go on again on tour and you know what: I believe if the album is good as the last one, the shows will be sold out again and as she has obviously fun this time, we will believe she will have it once again. Yes, you read right, this is what also reminds us old fans from the Girly Show, she has fun doing her thing. You may like it or not. If not, simple stay away from it. If you do- go on to see the show!
Love&Light
