Her concert was the highest grossing ever for a female artist in 2006 and now fans can relive the “Confessions” tour with the release of the Confessions Tour Live CD/DVD (Warner Bros. Records).
Yes, it is Madonna with her follow-up to the “Reinvention” Tour live CD/DVD. What makes this better than the previous one is her vocal range.
Having the opportunity to attend the concert last May, I realize now why her concerts sell out fast; it’s the fact that fans will get a spectacular show from beginning to end.
In the DVD, that is what you get when she sings the track “Future Lovers” as Madonna channels her love of horses. Shot by famed photographer Steven Klein in June 2006 for W magazine, the 47-year old is shown in dominatrix wearing gear.
You think to yourself how can she look like that and you are jealous. But what impresses you the most is her vocal range as she sings the song itself.
There are four themes throughout the concert; the first is the horse-riding equestrian, next Jesus, James Brown and finally disco.
The only down side to having the audio CD is the fact that you have to imagine what happens with each song performed and that is where you have to say, thank goodness for the DVD.
Directed by Jonas Akerlunk, the entire concert is beautifully recorded. There is no need to worry about commercials getting in the way of you watching the concert tour like it happened when it aired on NBC.
However, the most exciting part of the concert is when Madonna performs the track, “Erotica/You Thrill Me” because essentially, the same music is kept but what changes are the lyrics to the 1992 hit single.
“You are who you are/and I wouldn’t want to change a thing/in spite of/All the pain that love can bring/Tell me what can I do? I’m so in love with you/You thrill me/Surround me you fill me/You send me/You put me in a trance you thrill me/Inside me you take me?/You thrill me/You put me in a trance,” she sings and you can hear it in her voice that she has developed into a singer.
Critics said Madonna wouldn’t last in the music industry. That was 25 years ago, and look at her now. What do those critics have to say now?
What benefited Madonna the most was the fact that her voice was transformed during the production of the musical “Evita” in 1996 and it was noticed when she released “Ray of Light” in 1998.
In addition, Madonna has a way with spectacular choreography during her concerts and this was no exception. During her performance of the single, “Music,” she channels Saturday Night Fever as well as inspiration from the Sweden band ABBA. That is where the leotard comes into play.
Amazing, I say. John Travolta has competition. So, what are you waiting for? You know you should pick up this CD because it is great and Madonna the ever-evolving, and fashion icon that everyone tries to emulate, there is only one Madonna and she has never sounded better.
