“Open your heart, I’ll make you love me,” Madonna sang to a thrilled, packed, up-way-past-bedtime TD Garden Monday night.
Hearts were wide open. She made us love her.
Madonna has always looked forward, charging out in front of a genre perpetually obsessed with the next young thing. This year, Madonna, who is — GASP! — 65, is taking some time to celebrate her — GASP! — past. Not a greatest hits show (no “Material Girl,” no “Like a Virgin”), the Celebration Tour is a retrospective, a finely curated biography set to the greatest pop of the past 40 years.
She started her story (at 10:15 pm) in the most obvious place: the dance floor. The first mini set crammed in many of catchiest ’80s club jams, often with too much club bass. The whole night had too many melodies crushed under a tuneless low-end rumble, even ballad “Crazy for You” had a needless thumping. (Note: Pop stars, hire an actual band and minimize pre-recorded tracks.)
But, true to form, she overcame the sound with spectacle and charisma. “Open Your Heart” was captivating with Madonna staring into a camera, her dancers recreating the video’s peepshow burlesque vibe behind her.
The narrative moved on to different chapters (heretic, sex positive champion, mother and daughter). In each act, what worked — what’s always worked — remained: great pop, spectacle, charisma, and dancers, oh so many dancers!
The stage expanded from a main section with multiple smaller sections all connected by catwalks. And Madonna and troupe used every inch of floor. “Erotica” had Madonna and her troupe throwing punches in boxing rings on side stages. “Don’t Tell Me” saw the crew strutting in chaps and cowboy hats, and Madonna can still strut with awesome energy.
In one of the most arresting pieces of choreography in any pop show, a dozen dancers spun on a carousel, shirtless, undulating, bathed in warm light, striking crucifixion poses. At the center, Madonna sang a pumping, hypnotic remix of “Like A Prayer.”
“Vogue” played tribute to its inspiration, New York’s ballroom scene of the ’80s. With each dancer dressed in a radically different glammed out outfit showing off in front of judge Madonna. In a twist, 11-year-old daughter Estere topped the competition with her skills (four of her kids helped out including 17-year-old daughter Mercy who accompanied her on a grand piano for “Bad Girl”).
The show covered so much ground. The world-conquering rush of “Ray of Light” and breezy “Isla Bonita” and a wonderful, acoustic and raw version of “Express Yourself.” There was pyro and costume changes, hydraulic lifts and moving video screens with endless montages
And yet, it wasn’t enough. That’s a good thing. She’s made us love her and we want more.
“I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around,” she said in a video clip from an event honoring her as Billboard’s 2016 Woman of the Year. The comment couldn’t be more true considering the ageism and sexism she has faced and still faces. So please, shock he haters, stick around some more.