Lauren McGaun
Taking to the stage on the second night of her sold-out O2 London stint, Madonna’s Celebration Tour reminds fans never to forget their roots.
“My former self has carried me through my musical journey,” the Queen of Pop reflects. And that sensational forty-year long music journey is condensed into one evening of spectacle. Starting with ‘It’s A Celebration’, The Celebration Tour is one big arena party for fans.
Four Decades Of Talent
Her twelfth concert tour, which commemorates four decades of Madonna’s greatest hits, showcases the best of the singer’s musical variety. From the upbeat ‘Hung Up’ track to the slower ‘Live to Tell’ melody, Madonna’s full lyrical range is on show. The setlist, which is over 30 songs long, also includes well-known chart hits such as ‘Holiday’, ‘Like a Virgin’ and ‘Material Girl’.
“As well as a strong vocal performance, what makes the show so special is the stellar production”
There were fears this tour might never go ahead, after the 64-year-old was forced to postpone it in July due to health concerns. During her recovery, the singer took to Instagram to tell fans: “Thank you to all my angels who protected me and let me stay to finish doing my work!”
Last weekend therefore came as a huge relief to many fans, who were once more able to hear their favourite singer perform live.
A Full Song And Dance
As well as Madonna’s strong vocal performance, what makes the show so special is its stellar production value. From the techno lighting to the set and dance routines, the Celebration Tour feels more like a West End show. At different points in the performance, Madonna rotates around the stage, wearing a cape and acting out being denied entry to a nightclub.
One particularly touching part of the performance is when she shows pictures of AIDS victims whilst singing ‘Live to Tell’. Madonna lost her close friend Martin Burgoyne in 1986, and this song pays tribute to him, as well as the many others, who sadly lost their lives during the 1980s HIV/AIDS pandemic. The singer famously raises awareness of AIDS and regularly donates her concert proceeds to related charities.
Transitioning from powerful activism to sexual songs, Madonna proves that age doesn’t hold her back. Her costume changes throughout also reflect the different eras of her musical oeuvre.
However, it isn’t just Madonna that takes centre stage at the O2 Arena.
Her daughter, 11-year-old Estere, shows the audience how to ‘Vogue, Vogue’. Moving from her DJ set to the front of stage, Estere’s dance performance proves that talent runs in the family. The singer knows how to showcase her daughters in the best possible way.
Since the first day of the tour, the singer has been notoriously late to the stage, leaving several fans frustrated at the delayed performance. Whilst this is a downside to the concert, most concertgoers agree that the singer is worth the wait. Perhaps Madonna of all people can be fashionably late.
A Loyal Fanbase
As Madonna sings ‘Open Your Heart’, fans have gone and done just that. With Madonna’s set being just under two hours in length, concertgoers are left wanting even more by the end of the show.
Madonna’s Celebration Tour continues until April 2024. With a huge 74 dates in total, she will visit North America, Europe and conclude her set in Mexico City. She returns to the O2 in London on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th December.
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Featured image courtesy of Raph_PH via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
Lauren McGaun
Lauren is a freelance journalist at BBC Politics. She helped set up EJ as Co-Founder and used to be Editor in Chief for over a year. Most evenings you will find her sipping Aperol Spritz whilst watching the news or a documentary.