The Celebration Tour (Spoilers)

[clkelley39 991]

7 hours ago, EgoRod said:

Technology is a curious thing. Back when I was just 13 years old, I had a VHS tape that played with scratches, pops, and all sorts of imperfections. It contained a recording of Madonna's Blond Ambition tour, and I watched it until it practically wore out. Alongside that, I had my collection of cutout photos from various magazines, and that was the extent of my connection to Madonna.

Fast forward to today, and it's a whole new world. We can stream shows online from anywhere on the globe. We have access to thousands upon thousands of images, videos, and information, all available at our fingertips. We know what was planned, what was discussed, and even what got discarded. Behind-the-scenes snapshots are readily accessible. It's all laid out for us.

Yet, here we are, discussing the most trivial details like Madonna's butt or a mole above her lip. It makes you wonder if we truly deserve all this.

The transformation brought by technology is astounding, but it also raises questions about how we choose to use it and what we focus on

I often question if the people in this forum are actually Madonna fans. Then I remember the reason they criticize her so much is because they don't like themselves. Then I get sad because a lot of us gay men are like that. Then I usually will get a snack. (That last part's pretty unrelated, I guess.)

[Debord 426]

2 minutes ago, clkelley39 said:

I often question if the people in this forum are actually Madonna fans. Then I remember the reason they criticize her so much is because they don't like themselves. Then I get sad because a lot of us gay men are like that. Then I usually will get a snack. (That last part's pretty unrelated, I guess.)

Haha this just reminds me of some of the Blond Ambition bootlegs I've heard where her vocals are truly *appalling*. I never paid it a second thought but these days that would have some of her "fans" having meltdowns for months and endlessly posting clips.

[clkelley39 991]

1 minute ago, Debord said:

Haha this just reminds me of some of the Blond Ambition bootlegs I've heard where her vocals are truly *appalling*. I never paid it a second thought but these days that would have some of her "fans" having meltdowns for months and endlessly posting clips.

And you know, to be fair, these are criticisms that any of us may have voiced privately to our friends in person back then. But these days, everyone has a megaphone, which itself gives more weight to everything everyone says. And everyone says everything now, all the time. It's a bigger societal issue that goes far beyond Madonna fandom.

Sorry to rant. I'm sleepy and cranky because someone decided to test the earthquake warning system at 3:00 am here in California. 

[Ayham 5,489]

After watching some videos!!! I have to say the transition from Holiday to Live To Tell is breathtaking!!! Incredibly sad… wow it’s like watching her own story… losing her friends one after another… 😔 

[stefo 6,438]

Ok so, after a conscientious research, I can say that we have multiple angles excellent 4k fotmats for every single number, except Everybody (what this two minutes and a half version did to you guys??) 

This means that WE ARE READY FOR A SERIOUS EDITING OF THE WHOLE CONCERT, you know, the ones we finish prefering to the anxious, hyper-agitated, videogame-oriented versions she uses to release in the recent years, callin' them "film".

Editing wizards, let's keep in touch  

[stefo 6,438]

OOPS, when you're happy to be wrong! Found Everybody too  

Enjoy these clips, almost as close as being with her on stage

 

 

 

 

 

[DJ N A 732]

17 hours ago, MerBoy13 said:

I'm really worried about her guys something isn't right......I was going to get a ticket in December to see her but I don't think I can. It might just be me worried but I mentioned in a post in another thread she should of just cancelled the tour this year and then rearranged for next year.

The show is great. Not perfect but great.

Your "concern" is based off of Youtube clips from 10,000 miles away. The arena was having a blast.

Please stay home and "worry" about something more important in your life if you're this triggered.

[Niall 14]

Last night was my second show, was at opening night in B2 and last night AA of section 413. We saw an ad on the screens in the O2 saying to WhatsApp a number for a chance to win an upgrade to the pit. We entered and were selected, result! Had to go meet a very nice man from Madonna’s team called Jordan, who gave us both wristbands and escorted us to the Sound Factory dance pit.

She was on just after 9pm as was apparently held up in traffic. I asked Jordan earlier what sort of time she’d be on and he laughed and said M comes on when she wants to.

Show was great but that pit was hot and sweaty and there was one particularly annoying, drunk fanatic who was shoving his way around the pit and screaming hysterically at Madonna and generally being very annoying and ruining it for others.

I would defo rate this show on a par with Confessions. I think seats slightly further back are best so you can see everything as there’s always so much going on and if you’re in a pit or way up front you can’t see it all or appreciate it. You are often looking at her back too. So back of B1, B2 & B3 would be my first choice of seats or front few rows of C1, C2 or C3 or blocks 106 & 107.

That’s my shows all done now. What a wonderful experience from Madonna and her team. Killer show and that opening number is simply divine.

[EgoRod 5,477]

5 minutes ago, Niall said:

Last night was my second show, was at opening night in B2 and last night AA of section 413. We saw an ad on the screens in the O2 saying to WhatsApp a number for a chance to win an upgrade to the pit. We entered and were selected, result! Had to go meet a very nice man from Madonna’s team called Jordan, who gave us both wristbands and escorted us to the Sound Factory dance pit.

 

Damn. I was looking at that and wondering what was about it. Congratulations.

[Brendanlovesu1 12,048]

ooooh what's the number, i'm in section 113 for London in December and am torn between staying put or getting an upgrade

[DiegoLCL 5,110]

I'm not saying this to anyone specific here but I just saw another comment about how the little skit with Bob before Holiday brings down the show and takes too long and I went to check and it doesn't take more than 3 minutes!

We are living in a world where people suffer from attention span and if things are not clear, direct and quick they are quickly seen as bad. There's no way a show can be built like this. I sometimes wonder how people would react to the long banter of Blond Ambition and Girlie Show today... This technological world, and here I also include myself as guilty, where everyone is able to edit, modify and reimagine things as they are happening makes us fail to appreciate the artist's vision and appreciate things for what they are.

The show has 7 hits from the 80s in a row in versions extremely close to the originals, not counting those from the 90s and 00s that come later during the show and even so, there are people saying that she didn't think about the general public when doing the show. It's not her fault that the people who decided to leave the house and go to the show expect her to act like an artist that she never was and never will be. It's been 40 years, if people still don't know what Madonna has to offer, again, that's not her problem or her fault.

I saw a lot of people wanting Frozen instead of Rain and like, the songs are literal opposites in their meaning. Everything that Madonna puts on her shows has a reason, no matter how much we like or dislike a song choice, let's take some time to at least understand the reason for her choices and respect her as an artist with a vision, especially in a day and age where there are very few of these in the mainstream pop music.

If in the past Blond Ambition managed to be iconic and reinvent what is expected of a show with a Dick Tracy segment, and the Girlie Show is still revered in the fandom today, having that version of Like a Virgin and I'm Going Bananas, I think we are capable of overcoming something that we personally don't love in this great show without making it the end of the world and the end of Madonna's redemption as a touring force.


This is a woman who has done it all and is still giving it all at 65 years of age and 40 years of career, we probably won't be seeing anybody doing like her again. Let's be nice and grateful, it doesn't cost anything.

[konfideinmenow 353]

1 hour ago, bedtimestory said:

What could have happened to her voice? It sounds weak and off. She could get singing lessons from the best teacher sin the world to learn how to use her voice. Guess shes not as disciplined anymore.

I'm not sure that's it. She's an old lady who was mostly dead a few months ago and on a breathing tube!  You don’t have to love it!!!!  Her neck is missing three or four inches of its former length. Her shoulders are up, back hunched, it happens. She’s an elderly lady, let’s all cut her some slack. Let's also give each other some grace especially those who are just being honest about their concerns and what they are seeing. It doesn’t make them not fans. To me she seems about 40% of her all time best and like 80% of her recent best. From here on out, this is the best it will get; the next tour will show even more slow down. It's natural. Why don’t we all try to enjoy the art she’s given us and share those soundboards and pro shots, after all M would want it that way. 

[Debord 426]

5 minutes ago, konfideinmenow said:

I'm not sure that's it. She's an old lady who was mostly dead a few months ago and on a breathing tube, and you don’t have to love it.  Her neck is missing three or four inches of its former length. Her shoulders are up, back hunched, but she’s an old lady, let’s all cut her some slack, and give each other some grace especially those who are just being honest about their concerns and what they are seeing. It doesn’t make them not fans. To me she seems about 40% of her all time best and like 80% of her recent best. From here on out, this is the best it will get; the next tour will show even more slow down. Why don’t we all try to enjoy the art she’s given us and share those soundboards and pro shots, after all M would want it that way. 

Jesus, having watched the woman metres away from me on Saturday, reading stuff like this is just absolutely mad to me. And 65 is not 'old'!

[Prayer 14,417]

Anyone knows what is this?

Just a prop? Air? Some kind of air effect to make her sound lower on "ROL" - like helium wat the opposite?

[konfideinmenow 353]

2 minutes ago, Prayer said:

Anyone knows what is this?

Just a prop? Air? Some kind of air effect to make her sound lower on "ROL" - like helium wat the opposite?

Water? Looks like a camel pak 

[DJ N A 732]

20 minutes ago, DiegoLCL said:

I'm not saying this to anyone specific here but I just saw another comment about how the little skit with Bob before Holiday brings down the show and takes too long and I went to check and it doesn't take more than 3 minutes!

I don't think it has anything to do with time. Personally, I think it's just incredibly cheesy.

[lap 1,497]

The show is amazing.

The only things I would like to change is replace the very boring Mother and Father for a good single choice (or Promise to try), the messy wig in the Erotica segment, (I don't know if the MJ's tribute interlude is really necessary) and add a longest mash-up in the end of the show with Music and Celebration. 

All the rest is perfect for me. It's a very enjoyable show and all the songs are recognizeble this time. 

[DJ N A 732]

13 minutes ago, Prayer said:

Anyone knows what is this?

Just a prop? Air? Some kind of air effect to make her sound lower on "ROL" - like helium wat the opposite?

It's just water.

I think the narrative is supposed to be: "she takes a hit of something and then everything gets trippy" but it's just her drinking water.

She has fake beer bottles throughout the show too that are filled with water. She did the same thing with the beer bottles in Madame X.

Which is interesting because no one would ever peg Madonna as a beer drinker. Maybe when she was playing English housewife drag while married to Guy. But not now.

[MerBoy13 577]

26 minutes ago, konfideinmenow said:

I'm not sure that's it. She's an old lady who was mostly dead a few months ago and on a breathing tube!  You don’t have to love it!!!!  Her neck is missing three or four inches of its former length. Her shoulders are up, back hunched, it happens. She’s an elderly lady, let’s all cut her some slack. Let's also give each other some grace especially those who are just being honest about their concerns and what they are seeing. It doesn’t make them not fans. To me she seems about 40% of her all time best and like 80% of her recent best. From here on out, this is the best it will get; the next tour will show even more slow down. It's natural. Why don’t we all try to enjoy the art she’s given us and share those soundboards and pro shots, after all M would want it that way. 

I'm so thankful you said this thank you! You get my response perfectly.

[Roland Barthes 5,852]

39 minutes ago, konfideinmenow said:

I'm not sure that's it. She's an old lady who was mostly dead a few months ago and on a breathing tube!  You don’t have to love it!!!!  Her neck is missing three or four inches of its former length. Her shoulders are up, back hunched, it happens. She’s an elderly lady, let’s all cut her some slack. Let's also give each other some grace especially those who are just being honest about their concerns and what they are seeing. It doesn’t make them not fans. To me she seems about 40% of her all time best and like 80% of her recent best. From here on out, this is the best it will get; the next tour will show even more slow down. It's natural. Why don’t we all try to enjoy the art she’s given us and share those soundboards and pro shots, after all M would want it that way. 

Same with Kylie, she looks fatter and smaller now almost like a glittery mozzarella ball, and more nasal than ever nowadays but she's 55 y/o after all. Let's give her some slack. That's how she would want it. In fact Madonna moves like Kylie...when she was younger.

[Roland Barthes 5,852]

25 minutes ago, Prayer said:

Anyone knows what is this?

Just a prop? Air? Some kind of air effect to make her sound lower on "ROL" - like helium wat the opposite?

Could be a nod to Dune maybe.

[True Blue 84 1,855]

2 hours ago, bedtimestory said:

What could have happened to her voice? It sounds weak and off. She could get singing lessons from the best teacher sin the world to learn how to use her voice. Guess shes not as disciplined anymore.

What are you talking about? She sounds pretty good to me, and yes there are backing tracks on songs and backing vocals ( wich is completly normal) but she is singing live over them and i think she sounds good. 

[Roland Barthes 5,852]

Ok, if one of us gets to cross Guy O;'s path during the tour, let's make a pact to ask him about the deluxe reeditions AND the tourbook (and those Max Martin, Sickkick & Honey Dijon tracks)

[eXtremeOccident 2,483]

33 minutes ago, konfideinmenow said:

I'm not sure that's it. She's an old lady who was mostly dead a few months ago and on a breathing tube!  You don’t have to love it!!!!  Her neck is missing three or four inches of its former length. Her shoulders are up, back hunched, it happens. She’s an elderly lady, let’s all cut her some slack. Let's also give each other some grace especially those who are just being honest about their concerns and what they are seeing. It doesn’t make them not fans. To me she seems about 40% of her all time best and like 80% of her recent best. From here on out, this is the best it will get; the next tour will show even more slow down. It's natural. Why don’t we all try to enjoy the art she’s given us and share those soundboards and pro shots, after all M would want it that way. 

WHAT? She easily performed better than Madame X and potentially even Rebel Heart. 

This is the most "Madonna" feeling show since at least MDNA...I don't know how anyone could suggest this is only "40% of her all time best". I don't need Madonna doing a bunch of choreography for it to be an incredible concert...somehow a bunch of revisionist history has taken place in Madonna fandom, because the absolutely revered Confessions Tour didn't feature that much choreography either.

I'm so glad I didn't set my expectations lower for this tour, just because of her age and the last few years...even with the high expectations I had for this show, she far surpassed them.

I hate that in the age of the internet everyone is able to watch the full show before experiencing it and knows all of the spoilers. Seeing this on Opening Night without knowing what I was going into made for this being the most incredible Madonna experience of my life...wish other fans would be able to see this spoiler free, because the unfolding of this show in real time is truly a magical experience.

[eXtremeOccident 2,483]

2 minutes ago, Roland Barthes said:

Ok, if one of us gets to cross Guy O;'s path during the tour, let's make a pact to ask him about the deluxe reeditions AND the tourbook (and those Max Martin, Sickkick & Honey Dijon tracks)

And about changing the ending of the show and moving Hung Up to the rave section