DanceWithMe

Does she no longer punch and twist the Kimono when Nothing Really Matters kicks in, or did she forget last night because of the sound issues at the beginning (her vocals were too early and it looked like she noticed)?

.

.

I love Madonna but let's be honest, its not like she isn't known for using people then casting them off aside when they no longer suit her needs. Personally I don't mind that Niki and Donna sing her songs. I don't listen to them to be honest, but this is a "Good For Her!" situation to me. Also, I firmly believe their voices added to Madonna's songs from a vocal perspective. They really meshed well together, and Madonna knew that (which is why she kept them for a LONG time after WTG Tour). I was listening to "Queen's English" (bad example, I know) and hearing Madonna harmonize with herself in the backing vocals didn't hit like it does when Niki and Donna are accompanying her. I know Donna's split with Madonna was supposedly amicable (she left because she wanted to raise her kid), and I know the Niki situation was perhaps a bit sour, so I can't really say I don't blame Madonna for not inviting them? Then again she does soften up to people again, so who knows. I'm overjoyed she is back with Stuart Price, as his live sound mixing is very cinematic- The Confessions Tour and I'm Going to Tell You a Secret sound amazing and encompassing compared to the flat Sticky & Sweet and even worse MDNA Tour (and album) and every tour after. Madame X Live was a step up, but yeah Stuart needs to be the one responsible for the CD/Digital Album and Blu-ray/Tour Video sound mixes. I hope he does the mixing for The Celebration Tour (I mean he surely will, considering he's so involved with it). He's also a great producer, so I hope they work together on an album as well. But I am surprised she welcomed him back, there was a rumor that she was mad/annoyed her assistant and him got married and kind of distanced themselves from Madonna after.

I will be visiting Chicago for the week that she is playing there. I'm looking to get two tickets for the Thursday show, but am open to Friday. I would prefer to not pay something outrageous for the 200s or 100s sections or better. Is it true that ticket prices go lower the day of?

Pretty sure I mentioned this already, but apparently the standard version of Celebration might get a vinyl release, likely in time for the U.S. dates (so Q1). So it will likely be a 2 LP thing. I also heard a repress of Hard Candy on black vinyl is coming as well, or at least its being heavily considered to be released soon instead of down the road. I think there's also talk about a digital re-release of Celebration with updated singles, kind of like the True Blue and Like a Prayer anniversary releases. So at least if anything, we'll have a 24-Bit digital release of Celebration.

To be clear, the recalled misprint is the solid blue and pink discs and the full Hard Candy album (this is the rare and valuable one). The fuck up is the same colors, but with wrong music on disc one lol. That one isn't valuable.

I just think a standard Celebration makes the most sense. The idea of it, being her most recent greatest hits compilation, is that it could appeal to casual pop listeners or possible new fans. It has a good mix of modern and classic hits (without much of the interscope stuff, which wasn't super prominent). And the price point would likely be around $30USD instead of $60 or $70. Celebration I think was around $40 when it came out, but that was a while ago. As for Hard Candy, are you sure you don't have the misprint? Can you upload pictures? If it turns out you have the misprint, then you're lucky (assuming its not the fuck up version with the rap songs). https://www.discogs.com/release/13558314-Madonna-Hard-Candy/image/SW1hZ2U6OTgyNTM1NzM=

So its this version, right? The one with white and blue and white and pink, then the bonus disc in black? Because if yours is a mix of pink and blue on one disc, then thats a bootleg (especially since you mentioned a tint on the bonus disc and CD. The CD is the same standard version that was released and shouldn't look any different). https://www.discogs.com/release/1358986-Madonna-Hard-Candy/image/SW1hZ2U6NzU4MDMwMDA= I agree. I already have the original, but I think it would be cool to have the standard on vinyl since we never got that on vinyl. And it acts as a good introductory album on Madonna without the less popular tracks like "Cherish" and "Revolver". And price-wise, it would be more accesible to non fans as well. Finally Enough Love is remixes, and The Immaculate Collection is missing a lot of her later work, so a standard Celebration, maybe with an extra track or two from the Deluxe Version, would be a good idea. I wish she released GHV2 on vinyl as well to accompany The Immaculate Collection and Celebration, since the only 3 vinyl versions of GHV2 are bootlegs.

Honestly I would be fine with the standard being issued since that never got a vinyl release and it acts as a more concise edition of the Celebration album so non-fans could enjoy it as well.

So the white ones with splatter (one blue one pink splatter)? I mean I guess if thats the only reference, then yes it does sound great. But when compared to the solid blue / solid pink version that was recalled, it comes second. Also, the bonus vinyl is black (the one with the two 4 Minutes remixes). So if you got one that isn't black, you might have bought a bootleg. Just an FYI.

I heard WB is reissuing Celebration, but in the standard edition for the first time on vinyl. So not the Deluxe Version.

Which one is that? The solid recalled version or the white with splatter? I just listened to both in succession (side by side) and the solid blue/pink one doesn't have any pops or sibilance, and its sounds a bit more dynamic with a bit more bass. The white splatter one is a bit more flat in comparison and you can sometimes notice the color changes inbetween silences. This makes sense since other people mentioned that white as a base vinyl color is the worst sounding, and I've heard of mixed color pressings having noticeable changes when the needle plays over different colored parts of a disc. It's not super noticeable, but if you really pay attention, you can notice it in the white splatter version. So in my opinion, the recalled solid blue and pink version is the best way to go. Of course it was also pressed at a different factory than the white splatter version, so that probably adds to the difference in audio quality. Also, I heard that mixed color vinyl sometimes has issues since the different vinyl colors have different degrees they melt and solidify at than standard single color or black vinyl.

I'm sure some do. I think someone mentioned a Madonnalicious forum thread back in the day where someone in the UK did a groupbuy for the misprints, and the ones he/she opened that were splatter got sold off to the people who wanted both editions or just wanted the white splatter ones (so no purchase went "wasted). Otherwise the difference in prices between the solid color versions (with the right music) and the white ones with splatter wouldn't be so wide. Personally I think the candy splatter ones "look" a little cooler, but I just did a listen to both those and the correct solid pink/blue one, and I do think the solid ones have slightly better sound like a lot of people say. Then again, I do think the solid blue and pink ones look very beautiful on their own, and I think they're probably my favorite out of the two when all things considered.

I want her to remaster her tours because its part of her legacy. But finding the original negatives or digital sources (in the case of the tape filmed concerts) is costly. Then you have to rescan them. If film, a proper 4K film scan can be costly when you factor in the color timing and new sound mix. For the tapes, if she goes the Inland Empire route, she would have to hire that same company to upscale to HD or 4K, do a color fixing pass and final master, then downscale to 1080 HD, along with new sound mixes/remasters. All of that takes time and money. But in this day and age its silly not to release physical versions of something she will stream/sell to Netflix/Paramount/ or HBO Max. It's just extra money at that point, but she probably doesn't see it that way. She should totally hire a team to find and restore/remaster her old concerts though. Maybe even Truth or Dare and I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (although IGTTYAS was mostly sourced from video/digital of the time, with the exception of the tour footage which I think is film-shot).