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The opening is everything and is incredible. I haven’t been this obsessed watching an M performance in quite some time. The amount of time and $$ put into the lighting alone is show stopping. The fact that she can command that stage on her own without anyone else up there speaks volumes. Very few artists are capable of that.

The staging of NRM is exceptional. The backdrop, the lighting and that ring of light above her is breathtaking. While her performance is minimal and it is just her on stage there is something truly epic about it production wise. And she is presented like some kind of ethereal goddess. But as you say, without tacky gimmicks. It’s one of her best concert openers ever.

I will forever 'believe' that I was responsible for Rain being included on the setlist:

Great picture

Took this image at tonight's show Had an amazing experience!!

Alternative album art for, Tension?

Gosh, does this mean we're gonna have the 96th version of La vie en rose in Paris?? I need SECRET, REBEL HEART and CRAVE

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Cheap and weird? Seeing her on those giant screens looking fucking SENSATIONAL is everything! Cheap is the last thing it looks. It adds so much to the performance. It’s just MADONNA.

I saw the show in Lisbon last night. She was absolutely incredible. None of the video footage or clips I've seen before did the show justice at all, not even close. Her vocals sounded on-point throughout, choreography was fantastic, her energy levels were through the roof and she was in really great form. She seemed very emotional to be back in Lisbon and mentioned meeting her favourite artists before the show. She arrived on stage at 22:00, finished at 00:15. I really couldn't fault the show up until the last segment which I felt was really not well thought out. Everybody I was with thought the MJ-LAV interlude was awkward and ruined the flow and the BIM and Celebration finale was way too scrappy for a show that had been so meticulous thus far. It's almost like she didn't want to sing at that point and just half-arse lip synched. Kind of weird tbh. I felt she crammed a lot in, I was never bored or lost interest in what was going on. So many highlights, but most memorable performances for me were Open Your Heart, Holiday. Live To Tell, Bad Girl, The Beast Within, Die Another Day (!!!), Mother & Father and Ray of Light. I had been looking forward to Rain but it felt a bit undercooked without the middle 8 which was a shame. So good to see her again and beaming throughout. Also, I didn't miss the band like I feared I might, so much going on. 9.5/10 (that ending is limp).

OK a little present for you! A new multiangle edit I'm doing of the 1st Barcelona show... quality is just HD (720p) but hope you enjoy it. First 7 videos uploaded, the rest in the coming days... (weeks? xd).

Tonight’s my Lisbon show. 🔥❤️

I’m sorry you feel that way, but I felt that way about the horrible Iconic opening on Rebel Heart when most loved it, so I know how you feel.

Anyway, back on topic... This SMILE... gets me! So stunning!! What do you say @Voguerista, @Blue Skies, @True Blue 84@Prayer@Burning Up 4 Madonna@stefo?

I see there's a discussion going on here about the opening and the stage entrance, so i feel like sharing my view on the matter cause i have a very precise one actually ; When you are Madonna, with her unique charisma and stage presence, the most brilliant and efficient stage entrance you can make is the simpliest one. The DWT stage entrance has been my favorite one for year. Just a little smoke, and Madonna, just HER, walking slowly and appearing through the smoke, her voice. Nothing more, nothing more needed. Now my fav tour opener is the Celebration tour one. First the intro by BOB is absolutely genius, it's catchy, tongue in cheek, funny, modern and timeless. Then SHE appears, in that stunning circle of light, singing a timeless classic deep cut of her discography. This is brilliant. I hate those tacky entrance a la Rebel Heart tour or MDNA tour, ewwww, leave that to girls who have zero charisma to fill the lack of stage presence. Any tacky oversize accessories for her stage entrance is an insult to her stage presence.

Taking away the band and backup singers really puts Madonna in the spotlight. Bob's presence provides support and allows her to catch her breath. I watched it again a couple of days ago and was blown away by the dancers—so young and crazy talented. The idea that these dancers aren't as good as the previous ones is just plain absurd The choreography is so well thought out; it gives Madonna room to shine without overshadowing her. You can see this, especially in the first part, where the moving platforms and dancers create an amazing vibe without pushing Madonna too hard physically. Also is a show that makes a difference when you experience in person. The lighting, the banners and the platforms keeps you busy looking around.

I find it crazy how some fans are finding reason to complain. You just can’t please some people.

Not use a video background doesn't mean the show isn't polished. There are other stuff that makes a show polished. The intro in this tour is simply brillant, bringing the focus on the human presence on stage not on the technology. This is Aldo part of her heritage, in the early days there were no video background, it was all about the humans on stage.

Ahh, I'm getting excited again! My ticket for my December show in London has come through

Sure, this show isn't random. Probably, if a few weeks before the start of the tour she thought of replacing Frozen with Rain, there must be some reasons. I think Madonna wanted a song with a more positive message. It would be nice if we talked more about the meaning of the concert's narrative. I see this show as a musical about her life. It's a celebration of life and love. Even Don't Cry For Me Argentina, which may seem randomly placed (personally, I don't like this version), is a continuation of the previous two songs. In Mother and Father, she finds from her mother and her roots the strength to move forward and survive (I Will Survive). She thinks about escaping her life. In fact, La Isla Bonita is actually based on a fantasy. San Pedro is not a real island. That's just a fantasy. Don't Cry for Me Argentina talks to us and shows the aftermath of the preceding song, "The truth is I never left you, all through my wild days, my mad existence, I kept my promise, don't keep your distance." Rain follows ROL, which follows BS. BS is an ode to surrendering to the unconscious, a peaceful relaxation in the depths of ourselves that we rarely explore. After this surrender, there is the psychedelic journey of ROL, which is about rebirth from a former self. And Rain is a catharsis of love. I must say that I don't particularly like this version of Rain. The arrangement is flat, and it lacks the bridge that gives a harmonic sense to the whole song. I would have preferred Frozen, as it's one of my favorite songs. But would Frozen have fit into Madonna's narrative? Probably yes, but it would have been a more cryptic interpretation and a little less positive. Madonna said few times that she comes up with somewhat cryptic lyrics, but she doesn't like to be too cryptic, and she tries to be as clear as possible for everyone. I think she did the same here. Many see Frozen as a simple love song in a difficult relationship where the loved one has emotional struggles. But it's not exactly that; I've never seen it that way. It's a more mystical song, more about all of us. The sense would have been more like an invitation to transcend the duality of things and to trust our minds too much, to surrender to love and to open our minds and hearts to enlightenment. But it's Madonna's persuasive work; it's more like "if I could melt your heart," almost a magical ritual where she would give us "the key that we already hold." But Rain delivers a more direct and clear message. That's why I think she chose it. A catharsis of love Tonight, I'm going to see it for the second time. On the opening night, I already knew the entire setlist (including Oh Father, Sorry, and Frozen), and I was also disappointed by the narrative. Upon reflection and rewatching the videos, I have learned to understand and appreciate the show's narrative. Tonight, I'm feeling more prepared, and I'll try to form a more complete opinion of the show. I might even consider a third visit; I'm thinking about it.

She's giving us literally everything else with this show, so while I don't like the fact that there's no tour book, I can accept it. And yes, it's her first tour without a live band and backup singers.

I do love everything about this tour. hope it comes to brazil

FFS now people don't like the epic opening This forum literally does my head in.

Yes it’s totally weird… no band no proper backdrops… no tourbook… her dancers except 2 or 3 are not so pro as the previous tours… even the intro which suppose to be a MASSIVE opening to her 40 years celebration is nothing compared to her previous tours. As I said previously it feels like unfinished work!

I’ve already heard Rain at my shows. I’m ready for changes

She's literally singing "get into the groove let me show you some moves best to take it from me" every night, I don't think she's that interested in the gp's response.

She’s performed Frozen enough. Rain needs to stay put. The people that paid the big bucks want to hear Rain lol

Still it’s my opinion and it’s called a discussion… if you watch clips from her performances during Bad Girl, Vogue, Crazy For You, Hung Up… Erotica and many more up to the ending BIM you can see how she’s not in the mood. Maybe tired which is totally fine… go watch CT or MDNA Tour and then you’ll get what I mean. You think the intro is doing justice to her 40 years career??? Beside singing NRM and the beautiful outfit it feels weak.

*cough*

Why are people starting to get too critical on the setlist? What did I miss? o.o

Lisbon:

Full first Lisbon show:

I love this dress better than the sparklier one, I understand the other one is a more obvious nod to the original cone bustier and works better with the jacket. But this one is beautiful

Nah. Those lyrics sound like they were written by somebody about to read the Zohar before feeding the chickens .

I wonder if Nothing lasts forever is about to see the daylight just like Back that up to the beat did when it went viral on tik tok haha

Yes but it sucks

I’m still lost with the opening… it’s far from being incredible… yes NRM is pure perfection and she looks like god but the entrance is weak… not to mention the annoying BOB… he's the biggest mistake in this tour…

Glad she did Sodade tonight!

The Vogue ball room judge was that handsome Spanish model Kortajarena

I just watched the Sodade performance and she was great, I love the way she is ironic about her difficulties with guitar playing and always deliver nice performances. Her voice is melodious and expressive This is true, at the same time two minutes more for a short acoustic performance like tonight is not gonna really change too much. It seems she was reherasing Joan of Arc in Barcellona. Or we got prooves that info was incorrect. There's this guy who is editing the whole show song by song (I just noticed the man in the Erotica bakcdrop video is the boxer she was seeing before going on tour). https://www.youtube.com/@superaleeff9123/videos

Some may recognize the Ball room judge. He's the model Jon Kortajarena from her GGW video:

Wow! Thank you. She sounds so beautiful. I'm guessing this was just something extra she threw into the show. Lovely seeing David playing guitar along with her.

Saying Madonna, a 65 years old woman still doing what people half her age (and younger) gave up doing already, is not focused or interested is almost sacrilege. Has she ever been either of those two things? Sometimes it's just a case of "I don't like it" or "I don't get it". There's nothing wrong with that. There's no need to blame Madonna. Just saying...

Why would it be her goodbye? Seems more like a return to form to me

You can’t polish a turd.

"We are working on the line-up day and night at the moment, but it's still changing every day. The story about our confirmed headliners is untrue." https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1831706/glastonbury-festival-shuts-down-rumours-madonna-dua-lipa

More Lisbon: