After overcoming a serious bacterial infection, the Queen of Pop revisits her iconic career in a night full of emotion, activism and memorable family moments
Madonna returned to the stage this Saturday 14th at the O2 Arena in London, marking the debut of the tour Celebration. Originally scheduled for July 15, the tour was postponed after the artist faced a serious bacterial infection that led to her hospitalization in intensive care.
During his performance, Madonna she didn’t shy away from recent challenges, declaring, “It’s been a crazy year. I didn’t think I could make it and neither did my doctors.” After the speech, the star sang I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. While performing the line “You thought I would lay down and die,” he turned to the audience and asked, “Really?”
MADONNA IS BACK and I WILL SURVIVE??? pic.twitter.com/ndUpY0aGXd
— Stromboni Pascal (@stromboni2a) October 15, 2023
As well as revisiting her iconic musical career, the Queen of Pop also used the stage as a platform to address global issues, making a passionate plea for peace between Israel and Palestine. “It breaks my heart to see children suffering, teenagers suffering, elderly people suffering – it’s all heartbreaking,” she said. Estadao Following the show’s fallout in the news on foreign websites, check out the critics’ rating below.
crazy night, like life changing Honestly #MadonnaCelebrationTour #TheCelebrationTour pic.twitter.com/UdzAYBpZ5T
—lbs0ngs (@fka_libras0ngs) October 15, 2023
Billboard: Celebrating the Queen of Pop
Madonna, always frank and direct, brought a mix of seriousness and celebration to her tour. The evening wasn’t just a party, but a feisty victory for a woman who arrived in New York with just $35 and transformed herself into the biggest pop diva the world has ever seen.
The show was attended by Bob the Drag Queen, who served as master of ceremony, dressed in the image of the Madonna as Marie Antoinette, recalling the iconic performance of Rowing 1990 at the VMAs.
Bob did an AMAZING job opening the show, couldn’t be happier for them #MadonnaCelebrationTour pic.twitter.com/x7qnZfGUV4
— Adam (@adamkanzen) October 15, 2023
The family’s presence was one of the highlights of the evening, with Madonna’s children playing special roles during the show. Mercy James, one of the artist’s daughters, demonstrated her musical talent by sitting at the piano and playing Bad girl, a song Madonna hadn’t performed live in three decades. Mercy’s ability to play the instrument was a highlight, highlighting that musical talent runs in her family.
More than @Madonna last night I made one of my all time favorites #MadonnaCelebrationTour pic.twitter.com/tQ4lWwI7EH
— Cristo (@cristo_radio) October 15, 2023
At another time, while running Rowing, Lourdes, another daughter of Our Lady, joined her as a judge, evaluating the dancers who paraded on stage. The family celebration didn’t stop there: Esther, also Madonna’s daughter, amazed the public by ‘voguing’ with mastery. Additionally, David Banda, Madonna’s son, showed his connection to music by accompanying his mother on guitar during the song Mother and fatheralso sharing some dance moves with her.
And the winner is #TheCelebrationTour #Madonna #Vogue
Thanks to @StickySweety pic.twitter.com/CMpHjc3Hch
— MadonnaTribe (@madonnatribe) October 14, 2023
BBC: a night of emotions and memories
Madonna, in her performance, brought a combination of emotion and nostalgia, addressing social and personal issues. She expressed her pain at seeing the suffering of children, adolescents and the elderly, especially those affected by AIDS. An emotional version of Live to tell was played against the backdrop of the friends Madonna lost to AIDS, including such luminaries as Martin Burgoyne, Alvin Ailey and Freddie Mercury.
Madonna’s Celebration Tour version of Live to Tell, dedicated to the lives lost to AIDS, including her best friend Martin Burgoyne pictured behind her, was beautiful and incredibly moving. pic.twitter.com/vKr4ibon9H
— Nick Levine (@mrnicklevine) October 15, 2023
The show was a celebration of the career of Madonnawith 47 hits played, 17 archive costumes recreated and an impressive production that included over 600 lights and 80 tons of equipment.
Variety: A Journey Through Madonna’s Life and Career
The tour Celebration Madonna’s is more than just a show; it is a narrative of the artist’s life told through music and dance. She recalled her early days in New York, where she faced adversity and challenges but she never gave up.
Even after a recent stay in intensive care due to a serious bacterial infection, Madonna was not discouraged and returned to the stage with the same energy and passion. The performance also included some of her ex-husbands, as well as tributes to Sinead O’Connor and Michael Jackson.
I hadn’t yet seen this tribute that Madonna paid to Michael Jackson at the show, the words in the background “I will never be able to say goodbye”, Michael Jackson is missed a lot in a world full of violence and hatred we live in, and Madonna is too giant. pic.twitter.com/trCepROBAu
— Luan Crispim (@Luanchrispim7) October 15, 2023
New York Times: Madonna’s reinvention on tour Celebration
The tour Celebration Madonna’s was more than just a show; it was a celebration of the artist’s career and an affirmation of her continued relevance in the world of music. The New York Times highlighted Madonna’s ability to reinvent herself, even after facing recent health challenges. The atmosphere at the O2 Arena has been described as a nostalgia trip, with fans of all ages paying homage to Madonna’s many iconic eras.
The show was a mix of nostalgia and current affairs, with Madonna revisiting her greatest hits and reflecting on her career. Not only did she perform her most iconic songs, but she also addressed personal and global issues, including her recent hospitalization and the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The inclusion of her children in the show added a personal touch, reinforcing the idea that, for Madonna, family is paramount.
Madonna has added Beyoncé’s BREAK MY SOUL (THE QUEENS REMIX) to the set list of her new tour. the queen will always support the queen pic.twitter.com/lF4kEAjXGE
— ???? (@arthphobic) October 14, 2023
OR New York Times he also mentioned Madonna’s tribute to Beyoncé during the show, highlighting Madonna’s continuing influence on the next generation of artists. The tour was seen not only as a retrospective, but also as an affirmation of Madonna’s lasting legacy in the music industry.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
