48 and kept on going...

Right, so she's 48 years old... anybody out there is as shocked as I am? I even searched articles about her and confirmed her age over and over again... Madonna, people, Madonna... that's who I’m talking about! Get with the program, will ya?

See, I went to see her concert last month, exactly on the date of her birthday and I’m telling ya, I've never seen a concert like that. It was by far the greatest concert I’ve ever been to... Well, let's start the concert's review like those professionals do it out there, shall we? I'm thinking of spicing up this blog like a professional review thingy (hehe poor choice of words, professional and thingy should never be put in one sentence) and well, in the past I’ve been posting my daily life and things gonna change a bit, now it's gonna be about things I’m thinking about.. You know, put a highlight in this critical mind of mine hahahaha...

____________________________________
Madonna Confessions Concert, August 16th 2006, Wembley Arena, London, UK

A giant disco ball descending from the arena ceiling, a line up of dancers starting to trot like horses and the 4 digital screen backdrops are showing a video of horses restlessly prancing around. The ball opens, Madonna comes out and sing in an equestrian outfit while harnessing her dancers in an S&M manner. This segment of the concert definitely projects Madonna's consistent interest over the years to the primal instinct in human.

The performance rolls on with her most significant message throughout the performance, message of peace. Undeniably, being a musical queen allows her to speak out loud with millions of listener, and she sure exploits that right. The controversial crucifixion stage act, one that has been condemned by Rome religious leaders, ignited the audience applause for her boldness. However, she expresses her warmth and compassion to the world situation by performing a tribute for Africa and also her protest to the world leaders without discriminating by showing footage of pre-recorded stunt incorporating Bush, Blair, Rice and Bin Laden with a very strong message of "Shut-Up! Don't Talk!". Her reaction to the present crisis in Lebanon is portrayed by two dancers with a Star of David and Star and Crescent painted on each chest dancing together expressing a love and hate relationship, to be closed by Madonna uniting them and ended up in a loving embrace of the three.

The rest of the show lines up her reinstated love to the disco era. As one might contend that this love is just a marketing campaign, she proves that she is truly committed to the theme. Injected with Le Parkour and roller disco stunts, the performance shows Madonna's triumphant attempt to marry the 70's and the present day.

The 48 years old pop queen proves she can still rock her audience with a tight set, choreography and sound. The musical director, Stuart Price, or who is better known as Les Rythmes Digitales, definitely has made a successful effort in trying to revamp Madonna's music and helping her to regain some of the fan base she has lost after "American Life". Her previous hits, such as “Music”, “Erotica” and “La Isla Bonita” are remixed to suit the dance tune which heavily hordes the air in the arena that night. The set is as successful as the sound. The backdrops enhance Madonna’s message and digital manipulation of the video footages contribute to the artist’s positive imagery in the eye of her audience.

The tour, once again, confirms her position in the music world. Undisputedly, the queen has managed to set the trend over the years of her career and definitely the path she led has not been without a world-wide stir in the pop world. Is it that her marketing efforts are just a one big success story or is it pure talent? I’ll let you be the judge of that.