“Hello to all M fans and friends, Happy 4th of July 2004!
Wow what a weekend I’ve had. Friday night (July 2nd) I went to see Sting & Annie Lennox in concert at Jones Beach in Long Island, New York. Sting was good however it’s his most mellow tour ever (very light FM show). On the otherhand Annie Lennox was excellent. Her vocals were beyond great. Her hour set was jam packed with solo material as well as four Eurythmics songs. She was mind blowing great. Sting introduce Annie on stage, and later on during his set they sang a duet version of Sting’s ‘ We’ll Be Together”. Annie Lennox rocks !

Saturday night I deejayed at The Roxy nightclub in New York City, and last night I was in Philly to see Madonna at the Wachovia Center. In this review I will mainly point out last nights differences from the other shows on this tour.

Last night Madonna looked like she was having fun and a little of her “old” self snuck out last night. For example, after “Papa Don’t Preach” she asked for water (her bottle water) as she routinely does before she goes into her acapella of “Do I have to change my name, will it get me far…”; last night she told the crowd it’s “hot in here, I should take off my shirt right?”. The crowd screamed, and then she said “Nah those days are over for me”, and the audience applauded.

Remember many many years ago at the “Live Aid“Concert which was on July the 13th, 1985, in Philly during Madonna’s concert set, the audience chanted “take it off, take it off” (in respond to Madonna’s “Playboy”/”Penthouse Nude pic’s). Madonna told the audience “I ain’t takin’ shit off today”. Now some 19 years later on stage in Philly again (across the street from the stadium where she said that) Madonna makes a comment about taking off her shirt. I wondered how many fans remembered that connection, and pieced it like I did when she said that last night???

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Speaking of shirts, last night was another first on this tour. After “Crazy For You” instead of throwing her t-shirt out into the audience, she asked an Italian fan by the stage “do you wanna trade t-shirts?? I’ll give you mine if you give me yours?“. He took her up on her offer. He threw his shirt to her, she caught it , and then threw her shirt to him. His t-shirt was black and it said “Rocco…” something. “Rocco” is her son’s name.

Madonna changed alot of the intro’s to her songs too. After performing “Burning Up” she told the crowd “wow you guys are wild. I didn’t know you were so wild. I should hang around here more often”. After performing “Material Girl“, as the stage was escalating down, Madonna reached for her mike stand, grabbed it, took off the mic on it, and belted out a “long high note” like if she was singing “Ray Of Light”, and walked off singing this long high pitch note. – Wow !!!

A bit of the Rolling Stone’s / The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” was been played again during “Don’t Tell Me” at last night’s last show, instead of the French-like music used on previous shows. Before “Imagine“, she pointed out that it was Independence Day (not the 4th of July), and reminded us that “we are all equals!“.

Last night she really smiled, and was a bit more witty, and spunky than previous shows. I did notice one malfunction last night, which is that the confetti thrown during “Holiday” didn’t explode “on clue”. It exploded on a few seconds delay. I didn’ t think the crowd was a festive July 4th crowd however a good crowd they were indeed. In fact I enjoyed the crowd’s energy. Far better than the crowd ‘s at the L.A. show’s. Madonna thank you for a fierce 4th Of July performance.

Now on a personal note. I cried during “Imagine“, and walked out of the show “wet, wet, wet baby”. I dance, and sing at the show’s as if it was my first time watching it and hearing it. I really love this tour. I can’t get enough of it. In fact out all the show’s that I’ve been to on this tour, last night’s vocals were my favorite so far. I loved her vocals last night. She sang “Vogue” in a much sweeter form. Also during “Into The Groove” her vocals were mad sweet , like how she used to sing in the 80’s (with those sugar coated sweet vocals)> Loved it.
So far my favorite Re-Invention shows have been : 1st place – New York City June 2004 shows, 2nd place – Wachovia Center-7/4/2004 show, and 3rd place – MCI Center, Washington, DC-6/13/04 show.

Life is good. I’m seeing Madonna again tonight in Philly, and then again on Wednesday, & Thursday in New Jersey.

Just like a prayer, dreams do come true !!!!!!!!!!! Want your’s, go for it (otherwise time will just pass you by)”

XXX ECHI

Special thanks to Dj Danny Echi for this story.