I heart MLVC...

I've been a bit preocc'd this past week, hence the late review of what was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. Ready?

The girls and I showed up at 7:30 p.m. (the tix indicated show start of 8:00 p.m.), so that gave us enough time for souvenirs, and time to get to our seats. Madonna didn't come on stage until 9:30. She had no opnening act, per se, but there was a DJ there entertaining us for about 45 minutes. When the show finally started, the intro was this crazy digital short displaying a pinball-candy type video game...kinda cool. The she came out. Emerged from a enormous cube-like structure, and started singing "Candy Shop." I was completely overcome with emotion...I was a screaming mad-woman who sounded like she had just won the lottery. In my mind, at that time, I kinda had. She was impressive as ever, executing her dance moves flawlessly whilst wearing her Louboutin stiletto boots; unbelievable! She followed that up with "The Beat Goes On" which included on-screen cameos of both Mr. West and Pharrell. The big shocker was "Human Nature." Madge was singing, and dancing, but Britney (my "other" Madonna) was on-screen the entire time singing and in a kind of pseudo-vid. I was ecstatic...really! I think Britney is to Madonna what Coldplay is to U2...all good. The rest of the set was in this order:

Vogue, Video Interlude - Die Another Day, Into The Groove, Heartbeat, Borderline (great hard-rock version), She’s Not Me, Music, Video Interlude - Rain/Here Comes The Rain Again, Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You, Spanish Lesson, Miles Away (for the emotionally retarded), La Isla Bonita/Lela Pala Tute, Doli Doli (Live interlude - Romanian folk song), You Must Love Me, Video Interlude - Get Stupid (About saving the planet, and she compares McCain to Hitler, and Obama to Mandela), 4 Minutes, Like A Prayer, Ray Of Light, Hung Up, and Give It To Me (Finale). 

The high point of the night was definitely, "Like a Prayer." It's my favourite Madonna song, and she completely killed it. I had tears streaming down my face as she was belting out the lyrics. What can I say? I felt something. It was truly a spiritual moment for me. All those years of pure fandom, and now she was performing that song live...Her voice certainly brought me there. Just thinking of it makes me want to drink a Pepsi. I guess old campaigns die hard, right?!

My only 'less than' comment for the evening was that she was, without a doubt, delivering a business product. Consumers had paid a lot of money to see her perform, and perform she did. Flawlessly. With perfection. Seamless. She even double-dutched without making a mistake for Christ's sake! She made good on her promise of an unforgettable, AMAZING show. However, she didn't look like she was having fun. Nary a smile crossed her face (save for those of the ersatz variety). I don't buy that it was because she and Mr. Madonna are splitting up. It may be news to us, but at this stage for her, probably a relief. I think once you've reached a certain level, you can disassociate yourself from the audience, and perfect what you're paid for: a performance. 

Regardless, I still had one of the best times of my life. So did the bikini-clad dude who was sitting in my section, but got upgraded to front row for dressing in costume. Oh, to be young, male, homosexual, and in drag at a Madonna show...

My sugar is raw...

"Ladies and gentlemen...please welcome back to Toronto....the Material Girl herself....MADONNA!!!" Pandemonium. Screaming. Crying. I've waited my entire life for this moment. 

Let me start from the beginning. It's 1984-ish, and I'm at that musical crossover point of my childhood where Raffi and the Smurfs are no longer cutting it for me. I want more. I start listening to the radio (when my Mom's not playing Hall & Oates or the Alan Parsons Project), which is when I discover Madonna. It's love at first listen. Then much to my entire family's dismay, it's love at first sight. I wanted to be her. I started dressing like her (as much as I could...I mean I was 8), and singing her songs, and dying to see her movies ("Desperately Seeking Susan" was my favourite movie I'd never seen until 1990). I dreamed of seeing her in concert. But alas...it was never to be part of the plan of my childhood. She was never interested in visiting Ottawa early in her career (or ever, for that matter). 

My Dad started taking me to concerts when I was 9...Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, Glass Tiger, The Beach Boys. I guess those early days really set the stage for me loving live music. I've been to almost three dozen concerts in my three decades of life, and there are still so many artists to see. A sampling of artists I have seen: Prince, Janet Jackson, Everclear, Lauren Hill, The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, U2 (x6), Backstreet Boys (x7), New Kids on the Block (in 1990), Powderfinger, Jet, Nickelback, Aerosmith, The White Stripes, Justin Timberlake, The Guess Who, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones...so you have an idea. My tastes are varied. I have a wish list of artists I would love to see: Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, U2 (can't ever get enough of them...their concerts are totally different with each tour), Kanye West, Britney Spears, Michel Bubble, Frank Sinatra Jr....and Madge herself.

Right...kind of went off there. So, pretty much for 25 years, I've been waiting to see Madonna in concert. The stars have aligned, and I'm heading to the ACC this weekend to see her Sticky & Sweet Tour. I'm going with some girlfriends, and this is like fucking Christmas!! Seeing her live is on my life's to-do list. 

Before this post becomes any more redundant, let's summarize: This weekend, Toronto, girlfriends, Madonna concert. The only thing that could possibly make this weekend better is if I floor seats to see the Raps (although, reg. season is still weeks away). Maybe dinner out with Clooney, Craig and Di Caprio, too. I'm packed and ready to go. Have the song order for the concert memorized, I've learned most of the new songs, and I have an appropriate condolence for her failed marriage (you know...just in case she decides to open  up to me).

HOLY SHIT...I'M GOING TO SEE MADONNA THIS WEEKEND!!!!

I'll give a concert review once I'm down from cloud 9.