Looks like Madonna's new "Re-invention" tour is going to be shocking and controversial. Ho-hum.
From the New York Post:
The show reportedly opens with a frisky Madonna simulating sex with a female tango dancer - which is quaint compared with other segments of the "Re-Invention" show.
When she sings "Papa Don't Preach," she'll be backed by a chorus line of scantily clad, heavily pregnant babes.
That ought to provide comic relief from the setup for "American Life," when the audience gets to hear the sounds of bombs dropping and watch a video montage of troops battling in Iraq.
A video of sickly, starving children will reportedly unspool while Madonna delivers her cover of the John Lennon classic "Imagine."
I suppose I should start sputtering indignant noises now, and beat the crowd- except that I doubt there'll be much public indignation over these extremely trite, passe and unimaginative gestures. It pretty much sounds like The Onion parodying Marilyn Manson with a "Boo" tour.
As so often, Elvis Costello says it best:
"How many times can you jump out of the cupboard
Before someone gets suspicious or someone gets discovered?"
-Elvis Costello "Worthless Thing"
None of this is challenging the audience, or the general public in any significant way. What, simulated lesbian sex? That might appeal to my prurient interest, but surely is not spiritually uplifting or intellectually provocative in any way whatsoever. What's the point?
Now, I'm all in favor of a good controversy, but mere simulated sexual display is not particularly controversial in most of the Western world. Maybe if you do actual nudity on prime time broadcast network television, but that's still just dumb- and it did not in fact even sell Janet's crappy record.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Sandra Smallson
Why don't you shut up and get a life? The show hasn't even happened yet and you have already given a review of the show? Isn't that exactly typical of people as narrow minded and as ignorant as you? With your poisoned pen before the thing even happens..you are not even going to the show but I bet we will get a review of the show from you..LOL..You do spend a lot of time for a woman you obviously could not care fore..Those of us actually GOING to the show CAN@t WAIT to see the usual supreme theatrical performances of her songs that we have loved all through the years..we have no doubt she will maintain her entertainer supreme standards..you fools are the ones still calling it "shock tactics"..LOL..This is Madonna..She likes to depict whatever she is singing about and express herself..Lesbians, war, whatever..you don't like, it? You are bored?..to quote the woman herself.." I can't tell you how much I don't care"
If you took a moment, to sit down and think before you post, you might gain more respect and have more credibility on the board..I mean, to read supposed reports of a show that hasn't happened and you have already laid into the woman? I pity your wife.
WHAT?! Did you think I would ignore this? You knew I wouldn't:) You must have missed me..I missed you too, sweetie..LOL.
2 - David Figueiredo
Interesting to read a review which is solely based on rumours and gossip. (The show does How can one properly review or critisize a concert before it's even begun? (Or before watching it for that matter?)
The show opens with Madonna simulating sex with a female tango dancer? Interesting considering that's not how the show opens according to those in the know.
I also find it interesting that people such as yourself have been bashing Madonna for near 25 years now, yet she is still one of the most successful female recording artists in history.
Obviously she's doing something right.
3 - Dees
you are a sad pathetic person, which would be okay by me if you werent this incredibly dull. This way you just annoy everyone. Why dont you do us a favour and put a big hard dick in your mouth to avoid speaking stupidities?
4 - xx
I can only agree with Sandra and David! IF Madonna is to show war images and stuff it's not because of shock tactics it's to make a statement and if some more people would understand the meaning behind it the world wouldn't be full of so many ignorant people!!!
If you don't like an artist just ignore him/her.
5 - King Louie
Hey,That's not very nice Dees.Don't you talk about our Sandra like that. Are you
trying to scare off one of BC's greatest
comediennes???
6 - ihateoreilly
Al..you are a true idiot. The rumor of this concert was originally posted by the Sun, a tabloid and picked up by the New York Post, another tabloid. Madonna's people have said the show is an assault on the senses, but what has been printed about it has been total lies. The show doesn't, by the way, open with "Die Another Day." It opens with Vogue. Even if she does pull lesbian stunts...good for her. In this day and age where being gay is worse than going to defensless countries and murdering people, good for Madonna. I can only hope she does it in a tasteful way, rather than the cheesy Britney and Christina kiss. And in terms of war..I hope she has a strong anti war message. Once again, the media is making up rumors about something and idiots like Al are going along with it.
7 - al barger is an idiot
al barger is a lot more than just an idiot. idiot would seem to me, far too kind a label to post him.
8 - Sandra Smallson
David, the thing is, even if Madonna is doing the tango with a female dancer..the "Drowned world tour" 3 years ago when she sang "What it feels like for a girl" in spanish "Lo que siente La mujer(hope that's spanish;)..She did the salsa with a female dancer but to conservative anal retentive people that is "simulating sex"..I mean, it would be troubling if it wasn't laughable.
For people like our "critic" here, anything other than the missionary position during sex is an OUTRAGE. God forbid his woman suggests some adventure, he would need to contact Bob Dylan to see if that is acceptable in his world..
How dare Madonna change clothes during her show? How dare she do anything about the visual effects of the show? Nevermind the 250 million Albums/singles sold which discounts his ridiculous point that if she did not do all those things will they go watch or listen to her? Last time I checked, CDs don't come with costume changes and videos and all that Jazz. The critics are clutching at straws. They have nowhere to go with their criticism anymore. Conical Bra? This woman is satan's bride...It's funny how she sells out tours every single time playing to millions of people all over the world simply because of costume changes and "shock tactics" afterall, it should be boring by now? Right?..NO. What's boring is that people like Barger haven't come up with new put downs or criticisms..same old boring critiques of Madonna...Damn, I guess if they didn't write about Madonna would anyone read their articles or even know who they are?...Now, that's the 64,000 dollar question cos M has certainly shown over the years that these unintelligent criticims just don't hold water.
If at 45 she's grandma..I guess Bob Dylan is a corpse..somebody better pinch him and make sure he's not a ghost. He sure looks like he's dead.
If Madonna had done the Victoria Secrets ad, Al barger would write an article of how sleazy she is... It's unbelievable how they can't see what hypocrites they are.
Yup..caught me at the wrong time Al my boy. If you thought I was in Madonna overdrive before..the tour is about to start.. I can't get enough:) And I love that people like you will be keeping me entertained through out. Love it! I am loving IT! This must be your worst nightmare:) Sold out Madonna tour and she'll be all over the news.
Don't worry. People of your ilk have already written their show reviews before the show. Just like you. Madonna knows that already as do her fans. We don't care cos we know come Monday some of the people in the front row having a fabulous time will be those very people that will print rubbish the next day. C'est la vie and it's a bitch:)
9 - Sandra Smallson
King Louie, I think you will find that Dees is referring to Al. However, if Dees is referring to me then he will let me know. At that point I will let him know whether I have done as he has asked regarding the sucking of dick:)
10 - JoseRules
I'm not really that much of a Madonna fan...but I laughed when I saw this post by the so-called critic "Al Buger." It goes to prove that anybody can be a critic these days..all they have to do is review a show BEFORE it starts...LOL...oh, by the way, The New York Post is nothing but a tabloid but coservative, right wing fundamentalists like Al Buger believe anything they read.
11 - duane
Big surprise. I can just hear Madonna and her staff at a strategy meeting ---
Madonna: OK, what can I do on this tour that will divert attention away from the fact that I can't sing any better a junior high school choir girl?
Staff: Lots of dancers and colored lights!
Madonna: But when I dance, my voice gets all jittery.
Staff: None of your fans will notice. Don't worry.
Madonna: OK, dancers, yeah, good. What else?
JB - a staff member: How about simulated sex?
Madonna: Been there.
JB: With a chick.
Madonna: Hmmm.
JB: A foreign chick.
Madonna: Not bad, JB.
JB: An exotic dancing foreign tango chick with barely any clothes on!
Madonna: JB, you're a genius! Hmmm. But I don't want people to think I'm still superficial. I need something else.
Ian - another staff member: Maddy baby, I've got it. A backdrop of starving kids.
Madonna: You mean a bunch of dirty-faced little runts from Syria or one of those other African countries? That's just depressing.
Ian: While you're doing a cover of "Imagine." It can't hurt to leech off that Lennon world peace mystique bullshit.
Madonna: Brilliant, Ian....mmmmm...kissy, kissy.
Chantelle -- another staff member: Look, people, the best diversion is to complain about the Bush administration. You can show your depth by proclaiming that you don't like war! But it's a show. You don't want to be up there giving a bloody speech. You have to be subtle.
Maddona: I could rip up a picture of Rummy.
Chantelle: Too Sineady.
Madonna: I could ram a mike stand into a TV screen showing a Bush speech.
Chantelle: Too Veddery.... Hmmm... Right, how's this? Run a movie of battlefield scenes with lots of big explosions and smoke. They won't pay any attention to your caterwauling, and you can dress up in a uniform and smirk so people know you're against violence. That's deep. And American pop fans love that anti-establishment anti-old people schtick.
Madonna: Yeah, a real statement. I'm so lucky to have been born a creative artistic person. Now, what if I took this wine bottle and shoved it ....
12 - Daniel
"If Madonna simply came out on a stage with musicians and instruments- no dancers, hookers, or costumes, dressed in t-shirts and jeans- and just actually played her new album, would anyone be able to sit through it?"
She did exactly this in On Stage and On the Record for MTV, at the HMV gig in London, the Tower gig in New York and the Paris gig to support the American Life album. Lucky me got into the HMV one, and it was a fantastic concert - her voice was amazing, she was chatting happily to the audience and we all loved it. It seems bizarre that you would think to criticise her for never having done this when she did it in front of a television audience of millions.
The thing is, more than 800,000 people have bought tickets for this tour at up to £420 for VIP tickets because Madonna is simply more creative and entertaining than the vast majority of acts out there. If she was only to have produced 5 songs in her entire career - Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Vogue, Frozen and Music for example - she would have added more to the entire history of pop music than most of her contemporaries. The fact that she is still producing music of the standard of "Easy Ride", "X-Static Process" and "Die Another Day" suggests not a woman who is bereft of ideas but someone willing to experiment, to push herself, to create and evolve in the name of progress. Her tours are the stuff of legend, setting the standard for every other performer and leaving most trailing miserably in her wake. I'll see perhaps 12 other performances this year, but none can even hope to compete with the creativity, energy and sheer performance of Madonna.
You have selected non-facts, got the few you tried to include wrong and repeated the same criticisms which have been levelled at Madonna since 1985. She has evolved, but your opinion of her is stuck in a time warp of sexism and ageism. Surprise yourself - beg, steal or borrow to get a ticket then you might realise that you were the one who had no ideas left, recycling the prejudices of conservatives everywhere.
Madonna will entertain millions through this tour, and contribute to their happiness - ask yourself, how do you think your criticism will do the same for anyone but the people who are happy to believe anything Fox News tells them? How have you truly challenged anyone's perception or opinion by making claims based on claims based on prejudice? Madonna has re-invented, you have only reinforced your own stereotypes.
Daniel
13 - Sandra Smallson
Ladies and gentlemen, Al, Duane and their like, take a look at Duane's post..then take a look at Daniel's post...:) Nothing more need be said. The unfortunate is the one who has come up with a whole dialogue of rubbish and I wish I were as big as Daniel to have ignored his drivel completely:) But you know me...I like my gutter rats:) If I don't go down there to visit them every now and then...I would be unable to use my Kors bubble bath to cleanse myself and come out smelling all peachy and just good enough to eat:)
14 - Stately Wayne Manor
Success in and of itself is not a sign of talent. It's a simple case of being mediocre enough to appeal to the masses.
15 - Sandra Smallson
Lack of success in itself is not a sign of talent. It is a simple case of being awful enough to appeal to only the few with inferiority complexes enough to seek uniqueness in liking something not loved by the masses in a pathetic attempt to differentiate themselves from the norm.
16 - ihateoreilly
Duane..hilarious! even though I don't agree with it. And to Stately Wayne Manor..good quote: "Success in and of itself is not a sign of talent. It's a simple case of being mediocre enough to appeal to the masses" But Madonna has NEVER tried to appeal to the masses..she's never been massively loved.
17 - Diana
No matter what you think about Madonna you have to admit that she's a great artist! She has made so much... Showed the people not to be afraid to express themselves and not to be afraid to show who they are! She has always something to say and it's always something important... so this time it seems (and you can't know until the tour starts) she's making an anti-war statement - so what? Where is the shocking thing about it? Just turn on your TV and you have all the news reports with ther shock-tactics right??? How stupid - not only to judge the show before it has started but to judge it that negative only because it's Madonna without trying to get the point and that's the way i understand your "oh so intelligent" post!
I want to support any artist who not only has something to say but the balls to say it!
In a time when political correctness is valued over honesty i would also like to say: Right on Al Barger!!!
18 - Dario
BERG GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!
The opening night will be the 24th of May so maybe from there you can write something but right now you and your post are rubbish!
BUSH OUT/ MADONNA IN!!!!!!
VOTE FOR KERRY!!!!!!
19 - Al Barger
Miss Sandra- Glad to see you made it to the party. You could be just slightly nicer though.
You might actually a little bit have a legitimate point about reviewing the show before it opens. That would be illegitimate.
I was not exactly intending this as a review of her show, but I can see how you'd get that out of it. What I meant was not a criticism of this particular new venture, but of her career-long tactics.
It could be that some of the actual show does not conform to the New York Post preview, but it sounds just exactly like what Madonna has done for years.
I'm more critical of her crappy albums of the last decade and a half, ie two thirds of her career and counting. They sound like she spent about 15 minutes whipping up a couple of lines of nonsense lyrics and may five or ten seconds worth of half-ass melody, add techno beats and a box of Record Helper and call it a meal.
No kind of elaborate stage production or video she conjures up will make those crappy excuses for songs work.
20 - Smenkharon
Fuck yeah! I love it when Sandra and Al go head to head! Let's get Jim and RJ on here too and see what happens!
21 - King Louie
Your post is spot on Al. But why bother
engaging Sandra in a battle of the wits.
It's not fair as she isn't armed.
22 - Sandra Smallson
Al, the problem I have with you is the anal(close minded) way in which you state your opinions. I actually have no problem with you not liking the music Madonna has put out since 1990. That's your opinion. One can't legislate for tastes. In my opinion, it's your loss because you've missed lots of gems. I am not here to sell Madonna or her music to you. For every one of you, there are 5 of me. So, who cares?! However, when you brazenly accuse Madonna of all sorts of things that EVERY Artist does and you fail to acknowledge those same things in the Artists that you like, that is where you lose credibility with me. I don't care that you don't like that Madonna is provocative. You and your like are the ones who still call it "shock tactics" because you all clearly lack a new phrase. You have said yourself that it's what she's been doing her whole career. So, why are people still shocked? LOL.
I think Daniel's post above puts it very nicely and intelligently. It's the best commentary/post on this thread by a long mile and I include mine and your degenerate comments on the NYpost article in that.
Madonna is as much a musical Artist as she is a visual and creative Artist. She likes to evolve. I don't look, act or dress like I did 15 years ago. I don't know why anyone would expect Madonna to be any different. She has changed as all humans must but for her, mere changing is seen as a career tactic. How unintelligent is that line of reasoning?! There is nothing wrong in your Art/work expressing where you are at that point in your life. Be it a spiritual or sexual phase. It's all part and parcel of being yourself. Al Barger doesn't like it? Too bad. She is not going to arrive on stage looking dishevelled with a band and just stand there in one outfit and sing so people like you can think better of her.
I was at the HMV gig and part of Oxford street was shut down cos of the queues of people trying to get a band to get in since only 500 would be allowed in. It's Madonna. They would go and watch her even if she were reciting the telephone directory. She's got that superstar quality. The X factor. Deal with it and get over it. Her vocals were superb and her guitar playing was good. Even when she messed up the guitar on one song, she cracked a joke and started again. That's Madonna. That's why I like her. Nothing to be ashamed of and no regrets. Confident, through and through.
The Re-Invention tour is a concert and with Madonna a concert is what you will get. She is a woman, she likes to change clothes, she loves her make up. She likes to push buttons cos she clearly knows what gets the goat of people like you.
Barger, it is completely alright not to like Madonna's Albums of her 90's work. It is even okay not to like any of her music. It is also okay not to like her at all. However, I enjoy critics like you because you are so predictable. You say the same old things. You discount facts and show hypocrisy everytime you say anything at all. Why spend so much time talking about a woman you could not give a rats ass about? Why not ignore her?
There are many people I do not like or do not appreciate. However, I have always prided myself on giving credit where credit is due. Unfortunately, people like you never do that. More the pity because it makes you come across sad, clueless, misguided and misinformed. The woman does not have 8 octaves, neither is she going to moonwalk for you like MJ:) but she writes songs that she can sing and are within her vocal range. Anyone who still says Madonna can't sing is hard of hearing and is probably completely deaf. She will dance her heart out with enthusiasm you can't help but enjoy it. She will sing and dance(energetic choreography) which even the best of voices could not manage if they tried to hit those notes with some of Madonna's choreography. The woman is a supreme entertainer and a wonderful creative and visual Artist. I am happy for her that she has been successful in her career and has made such an impact in pop culture. Her impact will live on long after she's gone. As a package, she is an incredible talent in my opinion. You may not think so and that's alright.
Perhaps what you should worry about is how you can make your own life worth something in this world. Instead of pouring misguided scorn and vitriol on somebody who for over twenty years has gone about living her dreams and entertaining the world with her art and will be long remembered after she's dead.
Those who can, DO. Those who can't....HATE. You are an enemy of progress, Mr Barger. as are most from your school of thought. The wonderful relief in all this is that people like you are of no significance in the broad span of things. Madonna's adidas shell tracksuits have more world impact than your entire life and all it contains. Don't blame her. Don't hate the player. Hate yourself for not having the courage to perhaps pursue your own dreams for fear of failure.
23 - ihateoreilly
Hey guys......I'm posting this on my sony clie from the Forum right now in LA. There are hundreds of people listening to the dress rehearsals..although we can't see everything, we can hear. She's singing "Crazy For You" right now and it sounds AMAZING...I can't wait until Monday.
24 - Al Barger
OK, Sandra, here is one specific point where you just don't seem to be understanding me:
I don't care that you don't like that Madonna is provocative.
NO. I'm all in favor of "provocative." For starters, I don't think that she is in fact provocative. Her stuff is PASSE. It does not seem to reflect an artist with something dangerous to say, or anything like that.
A lot of her stuff (and Marilyn Manson's even more so) looks like cheap pre-fabricated "outrage" that doesn't mean anything or go anywhere.
Yanking the prudes' chains is fine, but does not in itself constitute an artistic statement. On the other hand, "Darling Nikki" is an outstanding and unique song and record. That it cheesed off Tipper Gore was just gravy.
Perhaps with all your great psychoanalytic insights based on the fact that I value MUSIC over cheap hype, perhaps you could set up a stand and charge 5 cents for your psychology, like Lucy in the Peanuts strips.
25 - Sandra Smallson
Al, sugar crumbs:), the one thing the world and her brother knows you do not value, is MUSIC.
You needn't worry about how much I'll charge you for my analysis. I am having a philanthropic moment. Doing my bit for care in the community:) Charitable mood. I think what we have here is another alarming incident of you posting when you haven't taken medication. Be a good boy, cherie, and pop your pills.
Bloody Nora! Is it past 11 in the morning already?! I haven't slept a wink. Lover's catch up with cousins is going on forever. I have Spanish men in my living room(My idea of heaven on earth, normally:) but I am so knackered & slightly inebriated..anytime I try to sleep I keep dreaming that one of them (not lover, strangely) is molesting me and I try to scream but I can't because....I am enjoying it:) Darn! I think it's time for MY medication....