There’s no stopping Madonna. “She’s got herself a universe” and its one big dance party from the time the disco ball drops in the opening scene to the last notes of “Hung up”.
Her brand new CD/DVD package features the entire “Confessions Tour” recorded live in the United Kingdom at Wembley Arena during her sold out, record breaking concert in summer 2006. Uncut and uncensored, unlike the watered down version that NBC played last November, Madonna struts, swears, flips the bird, insults the president and hangs from a mirrored cross with tireless conviction. She also does a bit of singing and dancing, belting out some oldies but mostly concentrating on newer material from her last “Confessions on a dance floor” album.
The choreography dazzles, brought to life by a team of talented dancers who at times seem more like acrobats in search of a circus than dancers on a stage at a rock concert. But that’s what makes a Madonna concert so great. As much as I hate to admit it, Madonna is not the best live vocalist, but what she lack in the lips, she makes up for in the hips. This forty –something-year-old mother of two has more moves ups her sleeve than artists half her age.
The CD portion of this package collects some of the more memorable songs onto one live disc. From the first notes of “Future Lovers” your toes begin to move until you can’t help but break out of your seat and “Jump” along to the thumping beats.
However, abruptly and without warning, Madonna sings the first notes of “Live to tell” on track four followed by a series of confessions from youths who’ve lived disturbing lives at the mercy of others. While their stories are poignant, going from a full on disco romp to hearing about some poor boy nearly choked to death at the hands of his father is a bit of a downer at any party.
Minus that exception and the plug for her “Raising Malawi” charity (which does great work for children orphaned by AIDS), the entire package delivers the strength and energy felt at the live show. It relives the highlights for those wealthy enough to have attended and allows the rest of us to experience it in our own living rooms.
The music sounds great with less interruption from rowdy audiences than one would expect, giving the CD a polished quality rare in live recordings. Oh, and the booklet full of images is absolutely Madgenificent.
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