“The bright tone of the show made for a striking contrast to the star’s last tour, “MDNA,” a dark and violent affair that often ended up puzzling to boot. “Rebel Heart” had no such pretense. In fact, it may be Madonna’s lightest roadshow to date.” That’s Jim Farber in the New York Daily News and word for word it is exactly what I was hoping to read. With everything at stake, Madonna has apparently cut the crap and roared back into view.
The setlist is a nice mix of old and new and since I really love the new portion, Rebel Heart may well be the most underestimated album of the year, And remember how her “Like A Virgin” in 2012 was a terrible poxy dirge. Well here is Farber on it this time: “When performing “Like a Virgin,” she appeared on the gaping stage entirely alone, dancing with a freedom and even an innocence, that made her, at 57, seem once again new.”
Jordan Zivitz in the Montreal Gazette wrote here: The start, and the end. The song title and the show shared a sense of self-confidence and a sense of play. The first was never in doubt; the second was a minor revelation from an artist whose discipline and perfectionism haven’t compromised a love of serious fun.”
Unfortunately, while she did a lot of hits, the pain in the neck has been reimagining them. Bummer. And she is missing a great deal of her best songs off the new one, no “Ghost Town”? Surely some mistake here. NO “JOAN OF ARC”???? Still, she performs next Wednesday at MSG and it should be a killer evening (Amy Schumer opens!)
Here is Farber’s entire review.
Set List:
Iconic
Bitch I’m Madonna
Burning Up
Holy Water
Devil Pray
Messiah
Body Shop
True Blue
Deeper and Deeper
Heartbreak City
S.E.X.
Living For Love
La Isla Bonita
Dress You Up
Who’s That Girl
Rebel Heart
Illuminati
Music/Candy Shop
Material Girl
La Vie En Rose
Unapologetic Bitch
Holiday
