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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > November > 25
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Madonna In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Madonna The Diva arrived at Philips Arena some 95 minutes after the start time printed on her $57-to $352 tickets, with one toned, stockinged leg cocked over her throne and an invitation to her “Candy Shop”.
But over the course of her approximately two-hour, sold-out performance, Madonna The MTV Icon didn’t focus on the hit after hit after hit that made her so. (Which would have been a treat). Instead, current CD “Hard Candy” got better treatment than record buyers and radio programmers gave it, amplified especially well by her 10-plus dancers and galvanizing staging. A production set where the towering video screens were bright with Keith Haring figures during her mid-’80s single “Into the Groove”; split into life-sized Justin Timberlake cut-outs during “4 Minutes”; and a surprising distraction showing Britney Spears having what looked like a meltdown in an elevator during “Human Nature”.
Though Monday’s concert was a mere three days after her preliminary divorce was granted, Madonna The Newly Single Woman made no reference to soon-to-be ex, director Guy Richie - as she had on an earlier stop of her “Sticky & Sweet” Tour. In fact, most of her interaction with the audience - which included her “Bedtime Stories” producer Dallas Austin, and her pick for a mid-90s Calvin Klein ad, Atlanta’s electric R&B singer Joi - was a bit mechanical, and distant.
But in the end, Madonna The Pop Star of a quarter century now, still put on an impressive stage show, reimagining catalog hits like “Vogue” and “Borderline” with new musical vibrance; and of course, her almost eerily-taut self, yet again, into less of a dancer-singer, and more of a still-evolving, all-around force to remark upon.
Were you there last night — and if so, what did you think?
If you didn’t go, you can still see part of the show by visiting our gallery.
