Posted on 05/22/2006 6:13:07 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
LOS ANGELES - Madonna launched her first world tour in two years on Sunday, delighting an enthusiastic Los Angeles crowd by hanging herself from a cross, insulting President George W. Bush, and dusting off some of the sexy moves that have sustained her career for more than 20 years.
The "Confessions" tour will keep her on the road for two months in North America, and then resume on July 30 in Wales for a five-week stadium swing through eight European cities. Shows in Japan are also on tap for mid-September.
The 47-year-old dance diva spent two hours churning out most of the tunes from her new album, "Confessions on a Dancefloor," as well as a few old hits such as "Like a Virgin," "Ray of Light" and "Lucky Star."
The audience at the Los Angeles Forum included Madonna's Kabbalah guru Rabbi Yehuda Berg, socialite Nicole Richie, and gay icon Rosie O'Donnell, who upgraded herself to a premium seat on the floor and left her spouse alone in the stands.
The meticulously choreographed Vegas-style routine began 50 minutes late when a giant mirror ball was lowered from the ceiling to the end of a catwalk stretching deep into the floor. Out popped Madonna, in S&M-styled riding gear and whip, singing the new tune "Future Lovers" as four bare-breasted male dancers writhed around with ball gags in their mouths.
MADONNA, HITLER & BUSH
Later on, she donned a crown of thorns and suspended herself from a giant mirrored cross to deliver the ballad "Live to Tell." Video screens showed images of third-world poverty and reeled off grim statistics.
During one of her half-dozen costume changes, another video montage juxtaposed images of Bush, members of his administration and British Prime Minister Tony Blair with footage of Adolf Hitler, Osama bin Laden, and Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Midway through the new song "I Love New York," she deviated from the script and made a crude reference to Bush and oral sex.
Beyond that, she barely spoke to the audience, largely focusing on keeping control of a busy nightclub-style stage that boasted 15 dancers, four musicians and three backing vocalists. For the most part, she joined in the tricky choreography, her voice evidently not affected by the aerobic workout. She did pause for a few songs during which she appeared to play a shiny Gibson Les Paul guitar.
A disco segment near the end, where she dressed in a "Saturday Night Fever"-style white suit to perform "Music" thrilled the crowd, as did the "Like a Virgin" routine, when she climbed aboard a carousel-style black leather saddle.
There was no encore, and the lights came up as soon as she had completed a medley of "Lucky Star" and latest hit single "Hung Up" while sporting an illuminated white cape with "Dancing Queen" embroidered on the back.
Billboard magazine has forecast ticket sales could reach the $200 million range, making it the most successful tour by a female artist. Cher holds the record with $192.5 million from 273 shows on a "farewell" world tour that began in June 2002 and lasted almost three years, according to Billboard.
Madonna, on the other hand, is scheduled to play fewer than 60 dates on this tour. Similarly, her $125 million-grossing Re-Invention tour in 2004 and the $75 million Drowned trek in 2001 were also relatively brief.
What catapults her to the top of the leagues is her ticket price, topping out at $380 (including Ticketmaster fees) in most U.S. venues. However, it did not stop her from adding dates to accommodate demand.
Seems this should have very strict 18 and only restriction since it involves sexual imagry and bondage devices. IOW the same as any other adult show.
No one under 18 should be allowed.
Seems hollyweird now finds mocking christianity is their new get rich tool.
Yeah, I'd have to say. Just can't seem to live out of the limelight.
She hates Bush too. Perhaps her and Cindy Me-ham should get together for a tour of some sort.
ping
A perverted little slut that will do anything for money including having sex with animals.
Hope her children all become Christians.
for me, it's not as much showing restraint as it is my brain actually locked up... there were two many good lines hitting me all at one time... : )
Maybe she'll perform at the Democrat national convention since they've decided to incorporate "spirituality" into their agenda.
Hey, stop readin' my mind! ;-)
And then hold the convention in New Orleans. How apropos.
lol
Are you saying she actually had talent at one time? Amazing !
I wouldn't support them with easily gotten money, either. But that's because I like MUSIC.
Next. Crucifixion?
Ah, no. Freedom.
Hmm?
What?
Eh, freedom for me. They said I hadn't done anything, so I could go free and live on an island somewhere.
Oh. Oh, well, that's jolly good. Well, off you go, then.
Naa, I'm only pulling your leg. It's crucifixion, really.
Oh, ho ho.
Heh heh heh hehh.
I see. Uh, very good. Very good. Well, out of the door. One--
Yeah. I know the way. Out of the door.
Billboard magazine has forecast ticket sales could reach the $200 million range
her ticket price, topping out at $380 (including Ticketmaster fees) in most U.S. venues
To Madonna and her fans, Third world poverty did not exist until George Bush was elected President.
The audience at the Los Angeles Forum included Madonna's Kabbalah guru Rabbi Yehuda Berg, socialite Nicole Richie, and gay icon Rosie O'Donnell, who upgraded herself to a premium seat on the floor and left her spouse alone in the stands.
It is such a burden to be wealthy. < /sarcasm >
God is watching. As are her children.
Madonna will answer for this.
LOL! It's that "great minds" thing, Quilla...
Just kidding....crucifixion!
Can't she think of anything new? This stuff is all old hat. David Bowie came out of a suspended mirrored ball over 30 years ago in the Diamond Dogs show.
I saw her being interviewed on MTV about 12 years ago.
She was sitting there during the entire interview, speaking with a British accent.
I was thinking: "Umm, you are from Michigan!
Such a pathetic person.
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