Don't Cry for Madonna

You would never think Madonna was in the throes of a nasty divorce by the way she looked and performed at the Pepsi Center tonight. She was the most energized person in a nearly sold-out crowd and that is saying a lot. Perhaps she has become inured to dying relationships or she has an uncanny ability to compartmentalize emotions. Whatever it is, she cemented her reputation as the best performer on Earth. There are acts who are both stellar musicians and stellar performers such as U2, but no one can match the magnificence that is a Madonna concert (and she does wield a nasty guitar). I saw her on The Ray of Light tour I guess nearly five years ago, and she only played one “oldie” then. Tonight, she played Get In the Groove, Borderline (perhaps the greatest reinvention of a song I have heard), La Isla Bonita (where the not-so-traditional flamenco was interspersed with an Ukrainian band which alternated between more traditional Ukrainian songs and Riverdance-esque jigs; and the band was led by 70+ year old fiddler), and Like a Prayer (which is now anthemic). The sets were gargantuan and featured a ramp (with a moving walkway) to a circular mini-stage that had a circular screen and its own lighting right above it). There were 4-5 mammoth screens on stage, a roving DJ booth with a stripper pole, and a vintage car that drove onto the mini-stage. There were also mobile video screens which featured images of Kanye, Pharell, Timba, and JT as if they were background singers. The show ran two hours and she showed up on time tonight. She never took a break, save for changing her outfits; hence no need for an encore. Lastly, she looked incredible, she looked about 15 years younger than her 50 years, she had amazing stamina (she jumped rope through one song), and the songs kept the crowd on the floor all night long. Quite simply – You Must Love Her.