Idol - Adored by the Tribe

Let's get back to this Madonna Summer in Paris with MadonnaTribe columnist DiscoHub's review of her second night at the Palais d'Omnisport de Bercy.

I had a busy summer.

Luckily not working, but busy on holidays, happily spending time on and off Paris for a few days here, a few weeks there, with friends ans music.

And September came. Madonna was singing live around the western world, I was partying and going to concerts without thinking much about the Re-Invention tour.

It was just on the week-end before September, 2nd, that I realized I would go to Bercy again and see Madonna.

I ride my bike to Bercy on this lovely day.
I live a few blocks away from this ugly arena.

I didn't want my ears to be spoiled by any other sound, so I haven't even listened to any music today.
"American Life" and "Hollywood" are stuck in my mind anyway.

The excitement grows into me. I recall the first time I was to see Madonna live, the Girlie Show. But sad family matters kept me away from Paris at that time. I recall the first time I actually saw Madonna live, the Drowned World tour.
As the sincere Madonna fan I've been for... half of my life, I felt the Drowned World Tour was her revenge tour: the whole world had mocked Madonna as the too-much-sex goddess, the flopstar, the rich-but-silly songstress, the underwear-over-the-head lady, the everything-but-good actress and "Ray Of Light" had proved she had songs to sing and things to say.

Weren't the first words spoken to the public "Fuck You Motherfuckers" on this show ? What else could one say to the outside world, when one has been so high in 15 years as an superstar but respected only for 2 years as an artist? "Everybody adores me, but will they listen to me now?", she meant that night.

Anyway, the Re-Invention Tour, with its multiple fashion designers, huge hi-tech screens and stage, is the ultimate show. I know the songlist by heart. Now, one hour before the concert is supposed to start, I can't wait. I try and get there soon enough. I know Bercy.

No need to be on the spot hours ago, you can always sneak close enough once you're in. While I'm queuing, waiting for two girlfriends of mine, I notice the crazy looks : the like-a-virgin bride dressed in black, the "(Whoever, people are so imaginative) do it better" tee-shirts, the kids, the mothers and fathers, the lonely ones, the fan groups, the "what am I doing here ?", the fags and the fag-hags.

Let's face it : Madonna is not a gay icon. She's an icon. Period.

We finally get into the arena. Some fans are so excited while entering the venue that they start to shout and sing. I have never seen anyone doing this for a Bjork show, for example... Bercy is hot tonight. Even the music flow we can softly hear on the background get a response. Nice setlist, who picked up these electro, big beat, soul tunes? Stuart Price, are you there? The first celebrities go to their seats, big screams.
The waiting is getting long. I want it to begin.
Everyone wants it to begin.

Suddenly the lights come off.
Bercy is louder than ever. As I discover enthusiastically the beautiful pictures displayed on the screens, the scary coyote,
I utter the blasphemous words from "The Beast Within". Then "Vogue" begins, the lights turn brighter and I realize being in the middle of the biggest nightclub I've ever been to! Madonna's voice sounds great, the dance moves are amazing.
My friends, who haven't seen any picture from the RIT shows, look really impressed by the choreography and the very sophisticated set.
"Nobody Knows Me" is one of my favourites and I keep my eyes on Madonna boucing all around the stage, surrounded by these words I've been singing for two years now. Nobody knows her but everybody loves it. After the vocoder effects, her voice on "Frozen" sounds even steadier. This is one of the first big thrills of the evening. This beautifully sad song turns into a great "white soul" performance.

I'm even more excited when I hear the helicopters bombing sounds. "American Life" is coming : I love the rock remix, time for a catwalk! The live version is stronger than I expected. Since I read that the (supposed) real lyrics are "American Lie", the statement makes more sense, about politics, about war, about George Bush, about Iraq. The countdown displayed on the central screen reminds me that the show, every song, every move is precisely timed and that very little liberty of improvisation is left to the artists by Madonna herself.
Nevermind, this is how a Madonna show goes and I know I still have a bunch of songs to enjoy ! The audience is on a love demonstration : Madonna is walking a few steps above us, everyone goes mad ! The final "zero" on the clock hits perfectly the end of the song... "Express Yourself", "Burning Up", "Material Girl", follow on with heavy guitars and fun... Madonna licks Monte Pittman's finger during his "Burning Up" solo, and I wonder : "Is this woman trying to behave sexier than Jimmy Hendrix playing his own guitar with his teeth ?"

When I read the first reviews of the RIT, I was sad that Hollywood would be "only" an interlude, as it is my Number One on "American Life".
It has been my 2003 hit, spun non stop at my place and parties.
But, gold to my ears, my favourite remix has been chosen for the amazing hip hop plus skateboard acrobatics.
"Ev'rybody, ev'rybody"...
The first part of the show closes with everyone dancing and cheering the wonderful crew on stage.

Tribe readers, you are going to hate me.
I didn't enjoy the second part of the show.
The cabaret set looked cheesy, the costumes weren't original enough, compared to the Girlie Show exploiting the same theme and funnily re-inventing "Like a Virgin"...

I don't give a damn about "Hanky Panky", studio or live, I wasn't touched at all by the pseudo-jazz of "Deeper and Deeper" (the only Madonna song that has a jazz twist is "Bedtime Story", in my opinion), "Die Another Day" looked clumsy and sounded rather flat whereas it is a great song with powerful string arrangements, and "Lament" didn't make any sense with the electric chair.

This sequence may explain my friend's reaction after the show : she said "I thought I would go and see a myth, I saw a star".
For sure, Bercy was still under the influence of Madonna performig bravely these hits, never giving up her energy and generousity.

The breakbeats of "Bedtime Story" remixed by Orbital, re-remixed for the flying trapeze act, wiped away my disappointment (even though the "Paradise (Not For Me)" from DWT remains the best interlude so far).

Madonna shows great artistry by this video update and gives a real meaning to the word "re-invention".
She wins over me... again!

Madonna comes back on stage, dressed in chic black, wearing her guitar like others their handbags... And invites us to the biggest karaoke, with her most soulful songs.
After a nice "Nothing Fails", "Don't Tell Me" starts with the awkward accordion theme and the public sings more than perfectly the words.

Madonna seems surprised by this non English speaking audience who knows the lyrics so well. And of course, "Like A Prayer", with its lovely politically correct video makes everybody dance and sing.
Madonna never has to ask us to "get up and do our thing": in the Bercy arena, the central part has no seat so we have been standing from the beginning!

Shy Siedah Garrett greets us with a wonderful but too short vocal, and Madonna grabs her hand very strong at the end of the song...

Watching the video, I think to myself : can only African American people can sing gospel music ?

"Mother and Father" is high energy again. At the end of the "victim of a kind of rage" line sung with obvious... rage, the people in the very front cheer loudly Madonna's rap and she smiles back to them.

When "Imagine" begins, I realize that the show is soon coming to its end...
I want more of it! I look at the public, people sitting in the rows start to bright their lighters and raise their hands.

And my critical brain can't help but refrain me from applauding the end of the song as the not-so-subliminal commercial for "Spirituality for kids" is displayed on the screen.

After a "Papa Don't Preach" digest that makes everybody dance and laugh, the best is yet to come.

The pipe interlude is one the most notable re-inventions of the show.
It combines three ideas: it is a great musical number in itself, it is accompanied by an original drum choreography (have I told I fell in love with every dancer that night?) and it works very well as an introduction to "Into The Groove".

At this moment, I look around me and notice that many people are wondering if it is a joke. But they soon understand that something big is coming: "Into The Groove" starts with Missy Elliott ("Oops, I think, the Gap commercial again") and really enchants me... Madonna, the music, the piper, the moves, everything makes me "step to the beat", If you know what I mean... Should I write what I felt after that?

"Crazy For You", like "Hanky Panky", has never raised any interest in me.
But I am amazed to see that this song has a huge success, die-hard fans in the front love this performance: Madonna keeps on giving her voice, her energy, her words to whoever want to get them.

Sadly, I say to my friends "Two more songs, and we're done".

And "when the Music starts", my heart starts rushing also.

These final minutes seem to be seconds.
I remember dancing and jumping,
I remember singing and applauding,
I remember the huge discoball,
I remember feeling Bercy like I never felt it, sharing the pleasure.

I remember the drums,
I remember the catwalk again,
I remember the smiles on everybody's faces,
I remember the explosion,
I remember the confetti and I remember the screens hiding the stage before the music is even off.

Bercy lights up again, and my friends wait for the encores. Hopelessly...

After the show, I'm going to a birthday party.

All the way, I can't help myself. On my bike, I'm singing aloud : "Don't put me off, cause I'm on fire...".