User Reviews

Something this week triggered me to watch the 1990 Madonna Blond Ambition Tour concert video, and although I gave that one an 8/10; on that scale, this one deserves a 15/10.

I honestly didn't expect to like this concert much, as Madonna is now 34 years older than her 1990 tour, and with my being only six months older than her, I didn't expect anything like what I got. I have been a big fan of Madonna since the mid-80s, so imagine my surprise that just 10 days ago, she performed this 2.5 hour set for 1.6 MILLION people in Rio de Janeiro. It was, in a word, fantástico!

Her dancers are, and have always been, some of the best in the business. The choreography was on point throughout the show, and although Madonna herself wasn't as "dancey" as she was in the 1990s, the show worked through that so that if you weren't looking for it, it was hardly noticeable. I think at 65, we can cut Madonna a break!

Her voice was as strong and PRESENT as it's always been and although another review complains about "playback" happening during the show, (and it's there in places, no doubt about it), it doesn't detract from the show itself. I'm sure that NONE of the 1.6 million fans gave it a second thought.

There were also several new song arrangements that I liked quite a lot. "Vogue" and several others were changed in such a way to bring them into 2024. Songs, as do singers, age, and if an artist like Madonna breathes new life into old hits, I welcome it. I'm not one of those that goes to a concert expecting to hear EXACTLY what's on a CD or stream. I've always appreciated remixes, reboots, new arrangements, and the like.

Even the stagecraft of this show is phenomenal. Stages extend out into the crowd, and there were several gigantic screens on stage and throughout the venue that were used to great effect. This is actually a celebration of Madonna's career -- whether it's her final concert tour is hard to say, but it is exactly that: a celebration of her career. The screens were used to show both still images and video throughout the 80s, 90s, and this century, following Madonna through all those years. And as she's always been a gay icon and a gay ally, "Live to Tell" is dedicated to many people lost to AIDS throughout the years, with their pictures filling the screens. Finally, the Mistress of Ceremonies (of a sort) is Bob the Drag Queen, and he is perfection from the opening of the show throughout the various guises he portrays throughout.

I can't imagine the necessity of this warning, but there is the usual sex mixed with religion in the show, and no one does that better than Madonna! There is also a bit of female nudity to the waist, but only I believe, during one song. Madonna uses "salty" language, as usual, but it seems more tempered and not used for shock value as it was in 1990. Madonna speaks during the show, about her career, and the love she has for her fans, both in Brazil and the world over. And although she probably gave the same speeches in every show on this tour, it seemed sincere and not pandering.

If you have the opportunity to find this concert somewhere, DON'T miss it! I am hoping that it's released on 4K Blu-ray because although Globoplay did a great job, there were still some digital artifacts due to some portions that had too much information on the screen, and it would be great to have this without their logo on the screen throughout. HIGHLY recommended.