Madonna's live performances pack a political wallop

[narcjen]

I don't think she likes a certain someone very much.

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Wednesday, May 26, 2004
All she is saying is give peace a chance


A warning first: Devotees abuzz with anticipation who factor the giddy rush of discovery into the staggering cost of floor seats for either her final Forum dates or one of her two Pond gigs next week are advised to clip and save this opinion until after they have witnessed the spectacle for themselves. I will spoil virtually every surprise.

Like this one: A little more than two-thirds into her angry, hopeful, extraordinary new show, just before stomping her way into a kilt-filled finale centered on a trio of '80s hits she hasn't touched in years, Madonna offered her take on John Lennon's "Imagine." It was one of the most haunting renditions of the dreamer's oft-revived idealistic plea I've heard, sung with deadly seriousness over a pulsating bed of synths.

Behind her, on one of five enormous video screens that dwarfed the rest of the Forum, pictures of starving, ailing and alarmingly armed children dissolved one into the next, as they had earlier in the evening at the start of a war-zone-like staging of "American Life

...
It's really the political and religious overtones that set this one apart. "American Life" sticks in the mind the most, with Madonna in military fatigues and her crew in various guises (an Arab, a Russian, a nun, etc.) parading around a V-shaped catwalk lowered by hydraulics until it hovered just above the audience. The lead-in: the sound of bombs. The backdrop finale, right after she sings, "I just realized nothing is what it seems": an image of actors done up as George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein, getting cozy as blood slowly washed the screen red.

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[redqueen]

1. I love her.

Used to be a huge fan as a teen. Forgot about her after that.

Now I love her again.

:loveya:

[scrotim]

3. i love her too. even when she's bad she's good.

i've been following Madonna's career for more than twenty years now.

the sheer power of her will and personality seems to be what compels me to her music, more than anything.

it has been very interesting to watch her grow, change, evolve; I look forward to her geriatic concerts: Madonna in a wheelchair and bustier?

hey, why not?! :)

[Delano]

4. She chickened out on the original video for "American Life"

Which was ostensibly very critical of Bush. She replaced it with a video of just her singing in front of flags.

She's hardly been as enthusiastic in defending liberty as she has the right to "express her sexuality" or whatever.

Madonna - puff pastry then, puff pastry now - only now the crust has gotten hard and stale.

I have to pay $100 to see Madonna vaguely allude to a just few of many issues with which I am already achingly familiar? And set to a cute synth-pop beat as Madonna tries to get her money's worth for all those singing lessons she's had the last few years? No thanks. I think Miss Ciccone is doing fine without my money.

[Sequoia]

8. That nice elephant shouldn't stand for evil

Just stick in Hilter's face instead.

[kimchi]

2. I've never liked her music; but always respected her business acumen.

Now I respect her political activism as well.

[narcjen]

5. Recent photos

She looks hot!

[Melodybe]

9. It is my opinion that Madonna has done more for women's lib than any

other in the last twenty years.

She was the FIRST woman that was allowed to be smart, powerful, sexual, talented, kind, maternal, and successful. Although I disgree with plenty of her discisions over the years, the fact that she will not apologize for who she is demands respect. I have grown up with Madonna and she has most definitely helped in shaping my views about what a woman can accomplish.

The fact that she hates * just makes me respect her more.

I hate it when people say that Britney is the new Madonna. Britney is a watered down carcature; reduced to nothing more than sex appeal. Their Pepsi deals high light what I feel like is the biggest difference between the two. When Madonna got a Pepsi endorsement, she released her "Like A Prayer" to push the envelope. It was the first video featuring a white woman kissing a black man, a black man that was suppose to be Jesus and flaming crosses, none the less. When Pepsi renigged, she got to keep the 12 million.

When Britney got a Pepsi deal, she pushed no envelope and danced around in a red leather outfit, and of course, kept the deal.

Plus Madonna hates * and Britney sang at his inaguration.

I hope that her new concert is a success, if she ever came within 200 miles of where I live I'd pay to see her, but alas, she doesn't come to the deep south to often.

[narcjen]

10. The article was a review of her show at the Pond in Anaheim CA

Madonna a marvelous entertainer with a flair for blending art and controversy. I'd love to see her perform live.

She's gotten great reviews in the local papers considering Orange County's reputation as a pro-Bush stronghold. I was pleasantly surprised to read this review. I guess its hard to resist the influence of Hollywood and Los Angeles, the neighboring county. I wonder what the reaction of the ultra-conservative San Diego area would be to her shows if she played down there. It is much further south, more insulated from the reach of L.A. liberalism.

[tridim]

6. I wonder if her Repuke protege, Brittany approves?

I love Madonna, but for the life of me I can't figure out what she sees in the no-talent Brittany.

[bryant69]

7. PABAAH doesn't like here

For those who don't know PABAAH is Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti American Hollywood ( http://www.pabaah.com ). They found one fan who didn't like the new music and didn't like the political side, and called for her to get a refund. Great, eh? There were quoting one of those entertainment articles, which follow the standard formula

"this fan says "I loved it the best thing ever"

Another fan agrees "Yep this artist is doing a lot of really great work"

But some fans were dissapointed, "I thought it wasnt that good, and he or she should have done more of the old songs."

Almost every mainstream concert review follows this pattern, it seems to me. Anyway the quoted the article, leaving in three or four positive reviews, but then highlighting the one negative review. As if that were the majority opinion, which it clearly wasn't.

Jerks.

Bryant
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