'Drowned World' tour stays afloat in US

by StephanieMasucci guest writer

"I have seen every one of her tours," said a mid-twenties man who was wearing a pink cowboy hat with a matching boa and a wife beater that said "Boy Toy" across the breast. He headed through the crowd with a certain bounce to his step. Over 16,000 men and women of all ages and races joined this man at the First Union Center on Sunday, July 22, to see the second of two soldout concerts in South Philadelphia.

An eclectic array of individuals had come together to see a performer who will go down in history as a cultural icon and an expert in changing personas and a pioneer in advancing the place of women in music.

While thousands of people huddled around the concession stands buying $35 program books and t-shirts that ranged from $40 to $120, Madonna Louise Ciccone was preparing to start her "Drowned World" tour in the United States. After having toured through sold out crowds in such countries as Germany, Spain and England,

Madonna hit home for her first concert since the "Girlie Show" in 1993.

An impatient crowd sat discussing favorite Madonna memories when the lights went down at 8:25p.m., almost a half an hour later than the concert was supposed to begin.

An uproarious thunder of screams and cries began as the conglomeration of lights that was fixed on the stage began to sparkle and rise off of the stage floor. Dancers started to spin around as the music grew louder and louder to the audiences delight. Then the loud cries of die-hard fans rose four octaves higher as the shadow of Madonna appeared through the heavy lights and fog. "I traded fame for love, without a second thought," she began to sing the first track of her critically acclaimed album "Ray of Light," "Drowned World (Substitute for Love)." Tears fell from the faces of onlookers as they tried to grasp the fact that they were actually watching Madonna in person. She had on a black shirt with black bondage pants and a black and white kilt. She retired her red kilt after the European leg of her tour.

Her next song was from her latest album "Music" as she danced and was carried around stage by her dancers. The top performers of their trade were on stage with Madonna doing gymnastics and dances that were of Broadway style. Madonna's voice was as clear as ever as she sang most of her songs from her last two CDs. • the mass criticism she received during her

Guy Ritchie(left} with wife ,Madonna(right} are shown giving a snuggfy kiss. Even though she is pop music's icon, she stifl finds time for fove with her new hubby in between tour dates.

As Madonna left the s~ge for her first Erotica period in the early '90s. She sang costume change, the audience saw men this song while riding a mechanical bull bewearing nothing but flesh colored th?ngs fore singing "Secret" another song from hanging from the ceiling. They twrrled l994's "Bedtime Stories." "La Isla Bonita" around and made their way to the stage was one of the nights most nostalgic numfloor just as Madonna came ~ack on stage bers which is from her 1988 album "Like a in her "Geisha" look. Adormng a komono • Prayer." with sleeves that took up the whole stage, The night seemed to go too fast as a fashe sang the first song released off of "Ray miliar beat started to filtrate through the staof Light," "Frozen." dium. The audience smiled as it realized

She continued this set a la "Crouching that the music was from Madonna's first Tiger Hidden Dragon" as she leapt from the number one single. Madonna came back on stage and did martial arts moves on her fel- stage with her all black outfit on and a hat low dancers. She·left the stage once again holding her tied back blonde hair in place, as the audience was treated to an instru- as she skipped singing "Holiday" with her mental version of "Don't Cry For Me Ar- bright red lipstick on. But alas the lights gentina." She came back on stage sitting on went out and the concert had come to an a couch while playing the guitar to "I De- end. The crowd chanted "Madonna serve It" the song that she dedicated to her Madonna" as the sound of thousands of feet husband, director Guy Ritchie, when she stamped on the floor and banged on their performed in London. Wearing a cowboy seats, Once again the music started. hat leather jacket and her dirt covered jeans, "Music makes the people come together."

Madonna sang her Gold platinum song The lyrics from her latest number one sin"Don't Tell Me" while doing the country gle "Music" were echoed back to her as the line dance from her video. She ripped off audience sang along. her jacket and was wearing a shiny se- This long awaited night however came to quined American flag tank-top as she sang an end. The standing in line for hours to "Human Nature," which was a backlash to buy a ticket had led up to this. Fans left holding ticket stubs that could have cost them anywhere from the face value of $45 to $250, or the scalped and online auction prices of up to $3,000. "This was the most amazing night of my life. I have no words," said Maria Zaccaggni a junior at Temple University. 'This was so much more than a concert. It was history in the making."

Madonna's tour, which will end in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks, sold-out almost instantly across the globe. She cancelled one date in New Jersey due to a case of laryngitis and had to postpone her Boston show one day. Audiences alike are still looking forward to hearing Madonna sing her ballads "You'll See" and "Nobody's Perfect." Her concert was aired on the cable-access channel HBO on August 16 and could possibly be sold on VHS and DVD in the future. Those who "Live to Tell" about this experience know that they are the "Lucky Star" who will "Cherish" this experience "Like a Vrrgin" forever.