Let’s start here. This writer hopes she looks this great at 57. From my fourth row floor seats, Madonna’s taut figure and skin were amazing. Also, I must add, margaritas and Madonna make for a fun-filled evening no matter how long you wait for the headline performer.
By 9 p.m. we were entertained with an intriguing and animated opening act by Lunice, a Montreal born producer and DJ, who enlisted lots of 808 bass, turnt up trap favorites and Rihanna in his mix. Then the sound guys revved up the anxious crowd with hits from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, after we waited a couple hours for the pop star to make her grand entrance. Next thing you know, it was a few minutes shy of 11 p.m. when Madonna descended on the phallic-shaped stage performing “Iconic.” Time. Who cares about time? The excited and sold-out crowd at Philips Arena stood up and cheered as she werked the stage with a video featuring collaborator Mike Tyson on the screen as her backdrop. Ahh, the Rebel Heart Tour finally made its way to Atlanta and it didn’t disappoint.
It really deserves an A-plus for high-energy, sexually-charged choreography, visual appease and theatrics. If a requirement is for an androgynous dancer wearing a man’s suit throughout the show and later flash you with itty bitty tits draped in pearls – paying homage to Josephine Baker’s memorable banana dance performance – scratching your head and svelte pole dancers clad in nun habits and ruffled panties to set you apart, then Madonna is a trailblazer.
Everywhere I turned, there were Madonna wanna-bes that represented every era of her career, from “Lucky Star” (Madonna) and “Material Girl” (Like a Virgin) to present day MDNA and Rebel Heart. They sported “B****, I’m Madonna” and “Madonna Made Me Gay” tees and even tulle mini skirts, fishnet tights and biker boots.
Madonna’s a girl after my own rebel heart. She and her dancers enjoyed a shot of Jose Cuervo Tradicional during the mash up of “La Isla Bonita” and “Dress You Up.” Pre-show, I raised my own No Mas Margarita cocktail to the Queen of Pop that was topped off with the blue agave silver tequila that was also enjoyed by art rebel, Frida Kahlo.
