Music Music Music

[Penthesilea]

Overall, I was impressed with all the elements of the show, and felt that Madonna definitely gave me my money’s worth.

Glad to hear you weren't disappointed.

Opening Prayer /Girl Gone Wild (from MDNA) -  The stage was set as a giant church, with Madonna in a confessional.  You see Madonna (in silhouette) pull out a machine gun and break out of the confessional to the sounds of gunfire and explosions, and then launch into Girl Gone Wild.   Her stage was almost in constant movement, with a number or rising platforms and two trap doors that were utilized often.  Audience participation was high, as this video go airplay on many channels.

Revolver (from Celebration) -  This was one of the new tracks that was recorded for her latest greatest hits effort.  The song has Madonna comparing her love to a loaded revolver, and she and her dancers strutted about the stage dressed in black, brandishing revolvers at each other and the audience.

Gang Bang (from MDNA) – While this title sounds sexual in nature, it’s an angry divorce song where Madonna sings:  “bang bang, shot you dead, shot my lover in the head”.  The stage has a small prop that appears to be a cross-section of a hotel room.  Madonna drinks bottles of hard liquor and seeks revenge on her male dancers, taking them out one by one, with the large video screen behind her showing blood splatter effects after each shot.

Papa Don’t Preach (from True Blue) – This performance had Madonna laying onstage after her rampage, or kneeling , as if asking for forgiveness for her violent acts.  At the end of this song, Madonna is captured and dragged off in chains by her male dancers.  Like the opening, audience participation was high compared to Gang Bang and Revolver, which were not radio hits.

Hung Up (from Confessions On A Dancefloor) – After being dragged off to center stage, Madonna and her dances begin to dance, jump and contort themselves on a set of highwires.  This song was “re-done” and heavily autotuned throughout the full song.

I Don’t Give A (from MDNA) - This song is a rap style song with Madonna discussing issues in her personal life, from dealing with motherhood, not having a pre-nup, tabloids and press, and basically anyone who criticizes her.  Lyrics include:  “I’m gonna be okay, I don’t care what the people say, I’m gonna be alright, Gonna live fast and I’m gonna live right, I’m moving fast, can you follow my track?  I’m moving fast and I like it like that, I do ten things all at once, And if you have a problem, I don’t give a...”  A rap by Nicki Minaj is part of the song, and she appears in a pre-filmed performance.

It’s at this point that Madonna stops performing and addresses the audience.  She had greeted us before and shouted out NY, but this is much more in-depth.  She talks about the things she’s seen overseas during her tour, the persecution that people are put through for being gay, for being female, for following a different religion, and that it made her appreciate being an American all the more, and told her audience that they needed to be mindful of the rights they have now, which get taken for granted.

Best Friend / Heartbeat (Interlude) – Madonna  was not on stage for this part.  Her dancers entertained the audience while these songs played together as she and her dancers changed their costumes.

Express Yourself / Born This Way (From Like A Prayer) -  Madonna takes the stage wearing a drum majorette outfit, changing the dark theme of the prior stage sets.  The costumes are bright white and red and the whole attitude of the show has become lighter.  Not long ago Lady Gaga released her song “Born This Way” and many people commented on how similar it sounded to Madonna’s “Express Yourself”, so Madonna drove the point home even more, by singing some of the lyrics to “Born This Way” while the music to “Express Yourself” played.  She even went on to sing a few lings of her song “She’s Not Me”, a slap at Gaga for copying Madonna’s style.

Give Me All Your Luvin’  (from MDNA) – This was the first single from the new CD, and the one that Madonna performed at the Super Bowl back in February.  When the song started, Madonna was joined by a drum corp that performed while suspended in air above the stage.

Turn Up The Radio (from MDNA) – The third (and most likely last) single from the MDNA cd.  There was a bit of an intro, with images of Madonna through the years flashed, giving her a chance to get out of her majorette outfit and grab a guitar, where she stood center stage and played while singing.

Open Your Heart (from True Blue) – I have a very hard time describing the musical style of the version that was performed on the tour….no autotune, and audience participation was high, but it was definitely not the version that is well known.

Masterpiece (from MDNA) -  This song won Madonna a Golden Globe for Best Song from a picture.  A ballad, Madonna used the opportunity to sit onstage with her dancers and perform the song, which she describes as a song about love.  Before starting, she verbally thanked all the fans for all the support she has been given by them for the past 30 years.  This one was my favorite track from her last CD.

Justify My Love (Interlude) (from The Immaculate Collection) – Madonna was not onstage for this, it was video of her playing while she changed costumes, her dancers were onstage performing.

Vogue (from Dick Tracy Soundtrack) – Madonna and her crew come onstage in high-fashion/couture outfits.  No visible autotune on this track at all, and it was a version that was faithful to the original.

Candy Shop/Erotica  (from Hard Candy) – Two sex songs from two CDs, “mashed” together as one.  This song found Madonna and her dancers moving provocatively and groping each other as they moved about the stage.

Human Nature (from Bedtime Stories) – Madonna takes center stage to sing her song about how she was feeling persecuted against during the Sex Book stage of her career.  At  different times in the song her dancers try to grab her and stop her from moving around, but she breaks free from them all and continues on.

Like A Virgin (from Like A Virgin) – a completely stripped down version of this song, where Madonna performs it as a piano ballad at a very slow tempo. A bare-chested male dancer later appears on stage and tenderly holds and caresses her, but near the end of the song, pulls the laces on her corset, restricting her breathing.

Nobody Knows Me (Interlude) – a final costume change, which not only has her dancers onstage, but also uses video screens to flash political messages that included images of war, gay pride, and other images.  Most striking was a montage of young gay/transgendered youths who committed suicide due to the mistreatment they had been dealt.  If you want to see the clip, you can click the link below.

I’m Addicted (from MDNA) – Techno/dance track that featured Madonna and her dancers onstage in black and dancing in synch. 

I’m A Sinner (from MDNA) -  This song was performed as a 60s trippy song.  If you remember her song “Beautiful Stranger” from the Austin Powers movie, you’ll have a good idea of what it sounded like.  Sections of the stage had raised up and images on them to make them appear as Volkswagon busses.  While Madonna stayed on the center bus with her guitar singing, her dancers jumped from bus to bus, wobbling around purposefully to make it appear they were “surfing” on moving vehicles.

Like A Prayer (from Like A Prayer) – Madonna performed a great version of this song, a bit “dancier” than the original version, and it had everyone on their feet dancing and singing along with her.  Halfway through the song she was joined onstage by a full choir to finish the song with her.

Celebration (from Celebration) – The closer of the show, like Revolver, the other new song from her last Greatest Hits package.  Madonna was joined onstage by her whole troupe of dancers, fully utilizing the stage, all the trap doors and rising platforms, and lighting effects to make the stage appear as a giant dance club.

Now the only question is whether you took notes or you remembered all the stuff step by step!
Either way, I'd say you're a crazy nutter.
 

[CellarDweller]

Now the only question is whether you took notes or you remembered all the stuff step by step!   Either way, I'd say you're a crazy nutter.
 

 

Combination of memory and bootleg YouTube videos!  lol

[ZK]

wow that was quite a review - you should be writing for a living Chuck. Glad you enjoyed it too.

[Meryl]

Amazing review, Chuck.  I almost feel like I was there.  Thanks! 

[CellarDweller]

Here is the Billboard Hot 100 songs
for 2012, according to Billboard.com

100.    Burn It Down  - Linkin Park
 99.     Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band
 98.     Fly Over States - Jason Aldean
 97.     Adorn - Miquel
 96.     Somthin' About A Truck - Kip Moore
 95.     Hard To Love -  Lee Brice
 94.     Diamonds - Rihanna
 93.     I Don't Want This Night To End -  Luke Bryan
 92.     Ca$hin' Out -  Ca$h Out
 91.     It's Time - Imagine Dragons
 90.     We Run The Night -  Havana Brown w/ Pitbull
 89.     You Da One - Rihanna
 88.     Take A Little Ride - Jason Aldean
 87.     A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
 86.     5 O'Clock - T Pain
 85.     Die Young - Ke$ha
 84.     Turn Up The Music - Chris Brown
 83.     Love You Like A Love Song  - Selina Gomez
 82.     Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith
 81.     50 Ways to Say Goodbye - Train
 80.     So Good - B.O.B
 79.     Birthday Cake - Rihanna & Chris Brown
 78.     Drank In My Cup -  Kirko Bangs
 77.     Heart Attack - Trey Songz
 76.     Come Over - Kenny Chesney
 75.     Pound The Alarm - Nicki Minaj
 74.     Let Me Love You - Ne Yo
 73.     Work Hard, Play Hard - Wiz Kalifa
 72.     Climax - Usher
 71.     Rolling In The Deep - Adele
 70.     Blown Away - Carrie Underwood
 69.     Paradise - Coldplay
 68.     Ho Hey - The Lumineers
 67.     Pontoon -  Little Big Town
 66.     Good Girl - Carrie Underwood
 65.     Let's Go - Calvin Harris w/ Ne Yo
 64.     Rumour Has It - Adele
 63.     Work Out - J. Cole
 62.     Back In Time - Pitbull
 61.     Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes w/ Adam Levine
 60.     Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw
 59.     Brokenhearted - Karmin
 58.     Springsteen - Eric Church
 57.     Dance -  Big Sean w/ Nicki Minaj
 56.     Don't Wake Me Up - Chris Brown
 55.     Want You Back - Cher Lloyd
 54.     No Lie -  2 Chains
 53.     Drunk On You - Luke Bryan
 52.     Wanted - Hunter Hayes
 51.     Ass Back Home - Gym Class Heroes w/ Neon Hitch
 50.     Without You - David Guetta w/ Usher
 49.     Home -  Phillip Phillips
 48.     International Love - Pitbull
 47.     Gangnam Style - Psy
 46.     Domino - Jesse J.
 45.     Rack City - Tyga
 44.     Scream - Usher
 43.     Someone Like You - Adele
 42.     Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
 41.     The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
 40.     Ni**as in Paris - Jay Z & Kanye West
 39.     Give Your Heart A Break - Demi Levato
 38.     Good Time - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
 37.     Blow Me (one last kiss) - P!nk
 36.     Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 w/ Christina Aguilera
 35.     Turn Me On - David Guetta w/ Nicki Minaj
 34.     As Long As You Love Me - Justin Bieber w/ Big Sean
 33.     We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift
 32.     Young, Wild & Free - Snoop Dogg & Wiz Kalifa   
 31.     Part Of Me - Katy Perry
 30.     Too Close - Alex Clare
 29.     Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
 28.     Boyfriend - Justin Beiber
 27.     Mercy - Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
 26.     It Will Rain - Bruno Marz
 25.     I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
 24.     Titanium - David Guetta w/ Sia
 23.     Take Care - Drake w/ Rihanna
 22.     Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
 21.     Where Have You Been -  Rihanna
 20.     The Motto - Drake w/ Lil Wayne
 19.     Drive By - Train
 18.     One More Night - Maroon 5
 17.     Whistle - Flo Rida
 16.     Good Feeling - Flo Rida
 15.     Wide Awake - Katy Perry
 14.     Some Nights - fun.
 13.     Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO
 12.     Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
 11.     Wild Ones - Flo Rida w/ Sia
 10.     What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
 09.     Starships - Nicki Minaj
 08.     We Found Love - Rihanna
 07.     Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
 06.     Glad You Came - The Wanted
 05.     Lights - Ellie Goulding
 04.     Payphone - Maroon 5 w/ Wiz Kalifa
 03.     We Are Young - fun.
 02.     Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
 01.     Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye w/ Kimbra

[southendmd]

I think I've heard of only 4 or 5 of them.  Guess that makes me old...

[Monika]

Birthday Cake - Rihanna & Chris Brown

They´re making duets now?  

[CellarDweller]

Birthday Cake - Rihanna & Chris Brown

They´re making duets now? 

they've apparently reunited as  a couple as well.

[CellarDweller]

I think I've heard of only 4 or 5 of them.  Guess that makes me old...

Guess that means you need to change the station that you listen to.   

Here are the ones I know from the list.



100.    Burn It Down  - Linkin Park
 94.     Diamonds - Rihanna
 91.     It's Time - Imagine Dragons
 90.     We Run The Night -  Havana Brown w/ Pitbull
 89.     You Da One - Rihanna
 87.     A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
 85.     Die Young - Ke$ha
 84.     Turn Up The Music - Chris Brown
 83.     Love You Like A Love Song  - Selina Gomez
 81.     50 Ways to Say Goodbye - Train
 80.     So Good - B.O.B
 75.     Pound The Alarm - Nicki Minaj
 74.     Let Me Love You - Ne Yo
 71.     Rolling In The Deep - Adele
 70.     Blown Away - Carrie Underwood
 69.     Paradise - Coldplay
 68.     Ho Hey - The Lumineers
 65.     Let's Go - Calvin Harris w/ Ne Yo
 64.     Rumour Has It - Adele
 62.     Back In Time - Pitbull
 61.     Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes w/ Adam Levine
 60.     Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw
 59.     Brokenhearted - Karmin
 56.     Don't Wake Me Up - Chris Brown
 55.     Want You Back - Cher Lloyd
 51.     Ass Back Home - Gym Class Heroes w/ Neon Hitch
 50.     Without You - David Guetta w/ Usher
 49.     Home -  Phillip Phillips
 48.     International Love - Pitbull
 47.     Gangnam Style - Psy
 46.     Domino - Jesse J.
 44.     Scream - Usher
 43.     Someone Like You - Adele
 42.     Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
 41.     The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
 39.     Give Your Heart A Break - Demi Levato
 38.     Good Time - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
 37.     Blow Me (one last kiss) - P!nk
 36.     Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 w/ Christina Aguilera
 35.     Turn Me On - David Guetta w/ Nicki Minaj
 34.     As Long As You Love Me - Justin Bieber w/ Big Sean
 33.     We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift
 31.     Part Of Me - Katy Perry
 30.     Too Close - Alex Clare
 29.     Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
 28.     Boyfriend - Justin Beiber
 26.     It Will Rain - Bruno Marz
 25.     I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
 24.     Titanium - David Guetta w/ Sia
 23.     Take Care - Drake w/ Rihanna
 22.     Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
 21.     Where Have You Been -  Rihanna
 19.     Drive By - Train
 18.     One More Night - Maroon 5
 17.     Whistle - Flo Rida
 16.     Good Feeling - Flo Rida
 15.     Wide Awake - Katy Perry
 14.     Some Nights - fun.
 13.     Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO
 12.     Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
 11.     Wild Ones - Flo Rida w/ Sia
 10.     What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
 09.     Starships - Nicki Minaj
 08.     We Found Love - Rihanna
 07.     Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
 06.     Glad You Came - The Wanted
 05.     Lights - Ellie Goulding
 04.     Payphone - Maroon 5 w/ Wiz Kalifa
 03.     We Are Young - fun.
 02.     Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
 01.     Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye w/ Kimbra

[Sason]

Don't think I've heard any of them at all....

But I noticed that quite a few of them could be interpreted in a Brokeback-ish light. 

What about:

 99.     Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Ennis when he explains to Jack that there won't be no C & C operation

 96.     Somthin' About A Truck - lots of 'em in BBM

 93.     I Don't Want This Night To End - Ennis and Jack at SNIT

 88.     Take A Little Ride - lots of rides in BBM

 81.     50 Ways to Say Goodbye - and they couldn't come up with anything better when parting ways in Signal?

 74.     Let Me Love You - Jack to Ennis

 70.     Blown Away - that's what we all were, wasn't it?

 64.     Rumour Has It - Ennis's biggest fear

 61.     Stereo Hearts - E & J

 59.     Brokenhearted - all of us + the boys (and their wives)

 55.     Want You Back - Alma to Ennis

 50.     Without You - E & J

 37.     Blow Me -

 33.     We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together   

 30.     Too Close - Aguirre's opinion on the boys that summer

 28.     Boyfriend - what they couldn't even dream to be

 25.     I Won't Give Up - Jack's song

 22.     Everybody Talks - what Ennis is so afraid of

 21.     Where Have You Been - Cassie to Ennis after she excuses herself to Carl

 18.     One More Night - what Ennis wanted instead of bringing the sheep down

 15.     Wide Awake - Alma waiting for Ennis to come home after the reunion

 11.     Wild Ones - sung by the bear and the coyote 

 08.     We Found Love - E & J

 06.     Glad You Came - Ma Twist to Ennis

 04.     Payphone - 

 01.     Somebody That I Used To Know - Ennis' song in the last scene