Proving our love

That Madonna, she'll work hard for you, but she wants a little something in return. It's give and take with her - and the concert she gave at Wembley Stadium last Thursday was true to form. I had seen that Kylie extravaganza at the beginning of last month which was bigger, brassier and bolder than anything the pint-size Aussie had attempted before and wondered - post-Confessions Tour, post-Hard Candy, was Madonna going to match up? Had Kylie's fun factor taken a hop, skip and a jump ahead and stolen a march on the Queen? They would seem to be on a level playing field in many ways since the over-riding theme of Madonna's last two albums has been to go back to the beginning and insist she just wants to have a good time to a disco beat. Would Madonna's ticket prices feel worth the cash?

It's pretty easy to answer: like it or not, Madonna has history on her side both in terms of her own musical back catalogue and age - she gives a performance of substance. There's a seriousness there, both in intent and theme. Would Kylie ever give a rallying environmental, political or religious call to arms as Madonna did? No. Maybe it's a personal preference, but wrapping her songs around this has given her shows a backbone that Miss Minogue probably wisely shies away from. The one thing they do have in common is that their performances are great lumbering roadshows. There exists precious little scope for improvisation with the choreography, vast video extravaganzas, tightly rehearsed band and dancers. Even Madge's 'request' section was a toss-up between a carefully planned Like a virgin and Express yourself. That's not to do either show down, just an observation.

My gays and I were in the Golden Circle at Wembley Stadium. We had come by tickets via a carefully trodden path of preparation and inside knowledge. We knew what tickets we wanted and how to get them. And we were very fortunate. The Golden Circle was a free-wheeling, easy-going, chilled-out front-and centre semi circle of Madge obsession. The people behind the barriers were crushed like battery hens around Gwyneth, Fergie and Kate Hudson. We were not - even when the great diva arrived, forty minutes late, we weren't uncomfortable. Incidentally, yes she was late, no I didn't really notice. Once you've waited for Amy Winehouse, anything else seems like a idle dawdle. But the ramifications of this small delay set in motion events which ended up ultimately spoiling the evening - but more of that in a moment.

What of her performance? The show? Well, it was blistering. I'll say up front I preferred the Confessions Tour, but then that album is much better than 'Hard Candy'. Overall I felt the set list would have done with a light tinker. It would not have hurt to have skipped 'The beat goes on', 'Human nature' and 'Spanish lesson' and dropped in 'Get together' and perhaps a couple of hits like 'Secret' and 'Keep it together' to fit with the R&B theme of the recent record. But oddly enough, even the songs I was not so keen on from the new album came across incredibly well. A combination of bold staging, great choreography (though we felt Madge was keeping her own powder a little drier than in the last couple of outings, she is a venerable age these days, after all) meant they had an oomph and presence lacking on record. And if that could be achieved for the likes of 'She's not me', the welly and wow-factor it gave the better new songs, particularly 'Devil wouldn't recognize you' was startling.

Highlights were 'Devil', a synthy, singalong 'Into the groove', the gritty, guitar-driven 'Borderline', the flame-swirled, remixed 'Like a prayer', a faultless 'Ray of light', the gypsy re-upped 'La Isla Bonita' and the barnstorming finale of 'Give it 2 me'. Wait, that's quite a few highlights. And I've not even mentioned the wonderful stab at 'Miles away', the stunning visuals of intertwining, self-weaving lace behind 'Vogue' and bouncy 'Heartbeat'. Gripes? 'Vogue' did sound a bit like it was being done by numbers - plus, I didn't like the 'tick tock's from '4 minutes' jabbed in there. 'Hung up' with guitar and precious little Abba was ruined and miserable... and though beautifully sung, 'You must love me' stuck out like a sore thumb. But I am grabbing at straws.

She was gone very suddenly. But that's her way these days and she has earned the right to do whatever she pleases. It only remained to head for the tube and home. But! Not so fast! In fact, not at all! Remember that 40-minute delay? It put the kibosh on my trip down the Metropolitan line. Together with another seven thousand (that's an official figure!) people, my coach turned into a pumpkin and the tube was closed at the stroke of midnight leaving me and some Grand Gays stranded in hateful late-night Middlesex. It was vile. Girls in you-regret-those-now stilletoes teetered around in circles. Desperate gays, drowning in the deep end of their comfort zones, looked pale and miserable. Police men on horseback, in a part of London they neither knew of nor cared to, looked on nervously lest a riot erupt. One of our party speed-dialed a car company who, scenting blood on the wind, quoted the first number that came into their heads. Eighty pounds to get to Clapham - that is US$130 or so - but there was no other way out, with bus stops clogged and roads jammed to prevent any kind of route anyway. There may be shivering Madge fans still there as far as I know. But guiding him in using iPhone GPS - every technology at our disposal was ruthlessly deployed - our car turned up, we paid the money and got home - eventually. Somehow we made it through the wilderness, somehow we made it through.

Madonna Devil wouldn't recognize you (live in Cardiff)

Comments

[Tony]

You truly have a way with words other can only aspire to Tricky. :D

[Tony]

*others.

Clearly, I am one of them. D'oh.

[phil]

I saw the Drowned World concert at Earl Court and although we were up amongst the gods in an 18,000 seat venue, it was amazingly intimate. Me and my friend were yards from the bar though so the copious pints of beer helped. But this Wembley Stadium gig just seemed TOO big. I hear those in the upper echelons couldn't hear a thing and walked out.

[TRICKY]

Wembley Arena was like her front room (probably isn't far off the size, come to think of it) by comparison. It was truly MONSTER. Too much I thought. But then - she was playing there in '90 and '93 for 'Blonde Ambition' and 'Girlie Show', so it's not like she hasn't done it before. We're just not used to it. But honestly, the ghoul horror of the trip home - give me the O2 any day of the week.

[Yuri]

I, too, enjoyed the "Devil" and the rave-tastic "Like a Prayer". Great show overall. I saw Madge in Chicago a week ago and was pleasantly surprised by how nice she was and how she interacted with the crowd. She looked as if she was having a blast.

About her lateness, I heard she was fined a hefty amount, but I had not read anything about the desperation of 7,000 folks looking for a way home. That must have sucked. No doubt your quick thinking and level head (and $140US) got you home before most did.