I'm hung up... on Madonna

I personally think that it is impossible for an American girl of a certain age to not have been extremely influenced by Madonna growing up. She was everywhere, and there was nothing like her. I recall being driven out to the mall on several ocassions just so that I could increase my amount of those jelly rubber bracelets that she made so popular in the mid/late Eighties. There were bright summer days where we all sat inside watching MTV, hoping for another glance of the "Lucky Star" video. The music, the changing style, the revolving door of celebrity boyfriends, the yoga, the single mom-dom, Kabbalah - that's Madonna. Pushing the envelope of social convention and giving the finger to her critics - that's Madonna. She's a unique feminist, a pop-icon power house, and on Thursday night, I spent my evening in her world.

It was the first night of a three night engagement at the Boston Garden, and the place was packed and totally energized. There was just so much Madge love in that place. People were "dressed," and there were a lot of tee shirts from Madonna tours of the past. People were prepared to love this concert, and Madonna didn't disappoint. Neither did our tickets, which were on the floor in the back, making it possible to see the images on the screens all over the stage, as well as Mrs. Ritchie herself who came strutting out onto the catwalk in almost all of her numbers. (Thank God, I got my new glasses last week; I was able to see her FACE!!)

It was a complete spectacle, like a big-time Broadway show meets a Las Vegas magic act. With effects such as disco balls, kalescope Madonnas, equestrine dominatrix gear, a rhinestone-studded, black leather merry-go-round horse, giant crucifix, jungle gym athletics, dancers in bhurkas, roller skates, the show touched on Madonna's personal life (X-rays from her riding accident) to political problems in the USA (shots of political bad'duns, including Bush, Rice and Cheney along with Hussein, bin Laden and Co.) and global issues of concern (African AIDS orphans.) The senses were assalted with sounds and imagery, and the audience welcomed it, rising to their feet from the first number until the end two hours later. (My legs were SORE from wearing, and dancing, in fancy heels.)

Madonna looks amazing. She looks even more amazing considering that she is 47. By the time they got more than halfway through the show, I started to get thigh and arm envy, and then, I got really depressed. The depression passed when I contemplated that it probably has been 20 years since she ate pizza and drank a glass of wine.

The set list featured: Future Lovers // I Feel Love (Donna Summer cover) // Get Together // Like a Virgin // Jump // Live to Tell // Forbidden Love // Isaac // Sorry // Like It Or Not // Sorry // I Love New York // Ray of Light // Let It Will Be // Drowned World/Substitute for Love // Paradise [Not For Me] // (Disco Inferno) Music // Erotica // La Isla Bonita // Lucky Star // Hung Up

(The last I heard, there are still tickets for today's show.)