madonna melbourne tour 2016

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• March 13, 2016 Setlist

Madonna Setlist at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia

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Tour: Rebel Heart Tour Tour statistics Add setlist

• Joan of Arc / Samurai
• Song played from tape Revolution ( video intro; with "Iconic" snippets ) Play Video
• Iconic Play Video
• Bitch I'm Madonna Play Video
• Burning Up Play Video
• Holy Water ( with "Vogue" snippet ) Play Video
• Devil Pray Play Video
• Rockabilly Meets Tokyo
• Song played from tape Messiah ( video interlude ) Play Video
• Body Shop Play Video
• True Blue ( acoustic ) Play Video
• Deeper and Deeper Play Video
• HeartBreakCity ( with "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" snippet ) Play Video
• Like a Virgin ( with "Heartbeat" sample ) Play Video
• Latin / Gypsy
• Song played from tape S.E.X. ( video interlude; with "Justify My Love" snippet ) Play Video
• Living for Love Play Video
• La Isla Bonita Play Video
• Fever ( Eddie Cooley  cover) ( acoustic ) Play Video
• Like a Prayer Play Video
• Rebel Heart Play Video
• Party / Flapper
• Song played from tape Illuminati ( video interlude ) Play Video
• Music ( with "Give It 2 Me" sample ) Play Video
• Candy Shop Play Video
• Material Girl Play Video
• Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend ( Jule Styne  cover) ( a cappella snippet ) Play Video
• La vie en rose ( Édith Piaf  cover) ( acoustic ) Play Video
• Unapologetic Bitch Play Video
• Holiday Play Video

Edits and Comments

9 activities (last edit by event_monkey , 18 Oct 2023, 17:29 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Bitch I'm Madonna
• HeartBreakCity
• Living for Love
• Rebel Heart
• Unapologetic Bitch
• Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by Jule Styne
• Fever by Eddie Cooley
• La vie en rose by Édith Piaf
• Like a Virgin
• Material Girl
• La Isla Bonita
• Deeper and Deeper
• Like a Prayer

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Madonna gig timeline.

• Mar 10 2016 Forum Theatre Melbourne, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 12 2016 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 13 2016 Rod Laver Arena This Setlist Melbourne, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 16 2016 Brisbane Entertainment Centre Brisbane, Australia Start time: 11:25 PM 11:25 PM
• Mar 17 2016 Brisbane Entertainment Centre Brisbane, Australia Add time Add time

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Marquee memories: kimbra.

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Madonna's Rebel Heart tour a tour de force of power and eroticism

Topic: Music (Arts and Entertainment)

It has been 23 years since Madonna last performed in Australia. ( Supplied: Kevin Mazur )

It has been 23 years between visits but Saturday night's packed concert at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena only proved the old adage that perhaps distance does make the heart grow fonder.

When Madonna was last in Australia she had just released her infamous book, Sex, and was riding on the back of her latest album, Erotica.

In the years since Madonna has become a mother-of-four and has seen countless imitators come and go.

But as she proved during her Melbourne Rebel Heart's show: "You don't mess with the Queen."

From the opening number, Iconic, Madonna commanded the stage. Even after all these years in the spotlight her sheer force and determination astounds.

What was most refreshing about Saturday night's tour de force is that the years have not tamed her desire to shock.

The opening sequence was a fantastic mixture of Catholic imagery and samurai-inspired costuming, culminating in an erotically charged depiction of The Last Supper.

This section featured what can only be described as scantily clad pole-dancing nuns. It was a sight to behold as Madonna, now 57, straddled one of the near-naked nuns whilst spinning at the top of a pole singing a song, an ode to oral sex titled Holy Water.

Madonna shows us she has the self-assured courage to challenge what seems "appropriate" for a woman of her age.

In recent years there have been comments that she needs to tone it down, or that she is too old to be overtly sexual. I think this goes hand in hand with the general sentiment that a woman of a certain age needs to relinquish her desire, and age gracefully.

But this is Madonna we are talking about — the woman who became a worldwide superstar rolling around the stage in an erotic fervour singing Like A Virgin.

Sex has always been her game and she is one of the best at it — and if anyone has the guts to not follow the boring notion of ageing gracefully, it is Madonna.

Madonna has survived a career spanning over 30 years in the often fickle world of pop music, and this concert is a testament to her skill as a performer, as well as an "I'll show you" to ageism.

Show a mix of new work and back catalogue classics

The show epitomises physical endurance, with Madonna singing and dancing for more than two hours.

The attention-grabbing opening sequence gives way to a series of other set pieces, each elaborately staged. From a 1950s car workshop, to a bedazzled matador extravaganza — her stagecraft is magnificent.

She mixed a raft of songs from her Rebel Heart album with classics from her significant back catalogue.

You could almost feel the crowd's hearts melt when she pulled out a ukulele to sing True Blue and the nostalgic goosebump-inducing rendition of Like A Virgin, which she sang alone on stage.

It was a beautiful moment for a crowd who had grown up with her voice.

Her powerful rendition of Living for Love showcased her strong dancers, and it was great opportunity to focus on the female dancers who are amazing artists in their own right.

Another highlight of the show was the incredible artistry of the Melbourne-based company, Strange Fruit.

Their circus poles were used to stage a daring and hair-raising sequence with male dancers flipping and bending high above the crowd, balanced precariously on the ends of elastic looking poles.

The show slowed down slightly in its final third, with a moving tribute to Molly Meldrum. Madonna singled him out in the audience and dedicated the song Take a Bow to, in her words, "the first Australian man to fall in love with me".

Meldrum responded as Madonna gave him a kiss by saying, "I f**cking love you".

Madonna smiled as the crowd chanted "Molly, Molly, Molly!" Many would remember their first encounter with the superstar more than 30 years ago on ABC's Countdown.

Bawdy sense of humour and profanity pervade show

The opening sequence combined Catholic imagery and samurai-inspired costuming. ( Supplied: Kevin Mazur )

Madonna is well-known for her controlled career and, remarkably, Saturday night showed a few chinks in her armour.

There were genuine moments where she seemed to let go and a sense of chaos and vulnerability crept into the performance.

Madonna seemed at times emotional and open to spontaneity. This was on the back of her recent career-first intimate show, Tears of a Clown, at Melbourne's iconic Forum Theatre.

It was refreshing to see this side to her and as she sat on the side of the stage singing a beautiful version of the Edith Piaf standard La Vie En Rose , surrounded by a glow of twinkling iPhone lights, the crowd was mesmerised.

The final act was a gorgeous tribute to the glamour of the 1920s and the phenomenal Josephine Baker.

Madonna looked sparkling in a Jeremy Scott for Moschino flapper dress, complete with thousands of Swarovski crystals.

Throughout the show a bawdy sense of humour and profanity pervaded and built to a cameo from Australian drag star Courtney Act who capped the camp quota for the evening.

By the time she closed with the classic party anthem Holiday the crowd were on their feet. Hopefully it would not be another 23 years before her next holiday down under.

Madonna continues her tour in Brisbane and Sydney this week.

Madonna – Melbourne March 13th 2016 – Concert Review

Madonna has been an icon in the music industry and pop culture for over 30 years. Last night I attended her concert in Melbourne as part of her Rebel Heart Tour and I have to say it was a great show.

As you would expect from a Madonna show, the production budget is huge. As a result, the concert staging was dynamic and the visual imagery displayed on the large screen on the main stage was fantastic. The main stage area incorporated a smaller stage that could be tilted and performed on. Furthermore, the staging included a log runway which had a smaller stage area in the middle section and then a stage area in the shape of a heart at the end of the runway. Throughout the show Madonna and her dancers used all aspects of the stage and so I doubt anybody could complain that they couldn’t get a good view of Madonna.

Madonna’s dancers were amazing. Obviously with her background as a dancer, Madonna chose people who would bring her artistic vision to life and they did not disappoint. The different costumes used by the dancers throughout the show were extraordinary, especially the costumes used in the opening song. Madonna had numerous costume changes during the show which I guess were used to set the tone for different sections of the show.

Madonna’s band comprised of 2 keyboard players, 1 drummer who also played percussion, 1 guitarist and 2 backing vocalists. During the show, I watched the band very closely as it was a small band and I was curious to see how they would replicate the big sound in Madonna’s songs. It was obvious that the band was playing to a lot of sequenced tracks. More refreshingly, it was great to see Madonna playing electric guitar in “Burning Up” and acoustic guitar in “Rebel Heart”. It was also great to see Madonna play songs on the ukulele, especially hearing her do a version of Edith Piaf ’s “La Vien Rose”.

As the name of the tour implies, most of the songs played were from Madonna’s latest album “Rebel Heart”. So I guess the hard core Madonna fans would be happy to be in her presence regardless of the set list. However, walking out of the arena and listening to people talk about the show I think a lot of people would have loved to have heard more of her hit songs. From memory, the hit songs Madonna performed were “Burning Up”, “La Isla Bonita”, “Music”, “Like A Prayer”, “Material Girl”, “True Blue”, “Deeper and Deeper”, “Holiday” and “Like A Virgin”. I really loved the new sound of “Like A Virgin”. The version performed on the tour is so good it should be released as a single.

Overall, I really enjoyed this concert even though it felt more like a theatrical show compared to other concerts I’ve been too. It was clearly evident that Madonna is a real artist who puts a huge amount of effort, thought and money into producing her shows. Having seen Madonna perform in Melbourne on her Girlie Show World Tour in 1993, I was not expecting a “greatest hits” type of concert where the majority of songs performed would be the artist’s most popular songs. Nevertheless, I think if Madonna played 3 to 4 more of her hits, more people would have loved the show even more.

Madonna is an artist who deserves to be respected. In the 1980’s her music was heard everywhere and from the beginning of her career up until now she continues to inspire millions of people all over the world. As fans we may not always understand her artistic choices or fully comprehend the messages she gives through her art but at least she is making an effort to produce great art. Last night’s concert was another example of Madonna producing great art.

By STEVE YANKO © STEVE YANKO 2016

PS. Madonna’s performance of Bach’s Minuet in G on her “…favourite instrument…” was excellent. 🙂

Madonna’s website

Steve Yanko

Steve Yanko is a Music Teacher, Musician, Song Writer & Consultant who loves working in the world of music.

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Madonna Announces Performances In Australia & New Zealand

Live Nation announced today that Madonna will make a historic return to Australia performing live for the first time in 23 years as well as her first ever shows in New Zealand, with her Rebel Heart Tour. The tour will kick off at Vector Arena on March 5th and 6th in Auckland, followed by the Australian dates presented by Telstra Thanks® and including concerts March 12th & 13th in Melbourne, March 19th & 20th in Sydney and March 26th & 27th in Brisbane (complete itinerary follows). Tickets go on sale Monday, July 6th at 10am. 

The Rebel Heart Tour begins in Montreal on September 9th and continues throughout North America and UK/Europe.  “Madonna continues to be one of the most successful touring artists in history. Her shows are always legendary and we are thrilled to have her back on tour,” says Arthur Fogel, President - Global Touring and Chairman - Global Music.

The Rebel Heart Tour follows the March 9 release of Madonna’s critically acclaimed 13th studio album - Rebel Heart - by Interscope Records.    A week after its release Rebel Heart debuted at No. 1 in Australia making it Madonna’s eleventh No. 1 album on the Australian ARIA Charts, tying the record for most number one albums on the chart.  In the United States the album shot to the top of the Billboard Sales Chart.  The first two singles from the album, "Living for Love" and "Ghosttown" went to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Charts, and Madonna subsequently set a new world record becoming the only artist to have 45 Number One songs on any chart in Billboard History.  On June 16th, Madonna released the “Bitch I’m Madonna” EP featuring ten remixes from Sander Kleinenberg, Fedde Le Grand, Junior Sanchez, and more. 

Along with extraordinary critical acclaim as an artist, songwriter and producer who has sold a record breaking 300 million records, Madonna’s reputation as one of the most successful, provocative and enduring live performers of all time speaks for itself. The 2008/2009 Sticky & Sweet tour is the highest grossing tour of all time for a solo artist and the 2012 MDNA tour was the most successful tour of that year.

Icon is Madonna's official fan club. In celebration of Madonna's return visit to Australia, Icon will host a pre-sale for current registered Icon members. Lifetime Legacy members of Icon will receive first access to tickets and VIP Packages starting Tuesday, June 23rd at 10am local times. Members of Icon from Australia and New Zealand, registered before June 15th 2015, will receive a special code to access to Icon pre-sales beginning on June 23rd at 12-noon local times. 

Tickets for the Rebel Heart concerts in New Zealand and Australia will go on sale on Monday, July 6th at 10am through ticketek.com.au or 132 849 for Australia and ticketmaster.co.nz or 0800 111 999 for New Zealand.

Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour in Australia is presented by Telstra Thanks. Telstra’s General Manager of Loyalty, Fady Taouk, said Telstra Thanks will be offering customers the chance to jump the queue for tickets to the Australian leg of the Rebel Heart Tour. “Telstra customers will have access to a pre-sale from Tuesday, June 30th at 11am through Thursday, July 2nd at 5pm as well a range of great experiences when the tour arrives in Australia.  Pre-register for a unique code now at telstra.com/music .”

In both New Zealand and Australia Citi® Cardholders will be eligible for a pre-sale opportunity beginning Wednesday, June 24th at 10am through Friday, June 26th at 5pm. For tickets visit www.livenation.com.au / www.livenation.co.nz .    

My Live Nation members can access tickets during the pre-sale commencing Friday, July 3rd at 10am through Saturday, July 4th at 5pm.   Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour is produced by Live Nation Global Touring.    

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND 2016

Date / City / Venue                 Mar. 5 - Auckland, NZ - Vector Arena - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 6 - Auckland, NZ - Vector Arena - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 12 - Melbourne, AU - Rod Laver Arena - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 13 - Melbourne, AU - Rod Laver Arena - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 19 - Sydney, AU - Allphones Arena - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 20 - Sydney, AU - Allphones Arena - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 26 - Brisbane, AU - Entertainment Centre - On Sale Jul. 6 Mar. 27 - Brisbane, AU - Entertainment Centre - On Sale Jul. 6  

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Tears Of A Clown

by MadonnaTribe · March 10, 2016

Here are the 15 incredible songs that Madonna performed at the Forum in Melbourne tonight for Tears of a Clown .

1) Send in the Clowns (from Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music”) 2) Drowned World/Substitute for Love 3) X-STaTIC PRO-CeSS 4) Between the Bars (Elliott Smith cover) 5) Nobody’s Perfect 6) Easy Ride 7) Intervention 8) I’m So Stupid 9) Paradise (Not for Me) 10) Joan of Arc 11) Don’t Tell Me 12) Mer Girl 13) Borderline 14) Take a Bow

Encore: 15) Holiday

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tony Villanueva (@super_hero_tony)

Tags: Live Down Under Live in Melbourne Tears of a Clown

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Madonna – Rebel Heart Tour, Melbourne 2016 I Review

Prelude: fact v fiction.

If you’ve watched any of the televisions news, read any of the ‘reliable’ newspaper reports or social media updates regarding Madonna’s supposedly drunken behaviour, public melt down on stage and erratic displays on throughout the tour, then you may have believed it to be all true. Because if its on the television news or in a newspaper then it most definitely accurate. Well, I can tell you it could not be any further from the truth.

Since Madonna first appeared almost 40 years ago in the music industry, she has been classified as ‘a one-hit wonder’, ‘she won’t last longer than six months’, ‘her time is up’ or a ‘has been’. The woman is used to being written off, more times than a snake sheds it skin.

Over 300 million selling albums and 84 singles later, I think by now she has probably proven herself. Madonna continues to make ground in the music industry and continues to sell out stadiums around the world and still be the biggest selling female singer of all time.

If you have ever been to any Madonna concert you will know that its jam packed with full on tight choreography and intricate moves. There is just no movement for any sort of stuff up. One slight hiccup and the whole concert is completely ruined.

Madonna has been a classically trained dancer since the age of 17 and has been so self-disciplined on health all her life. If Madonna was drunk, the whole two hour concert would be disastrious and the one thing Madonna hates is having no control. She is all about the control (sorry Ms. Jackson. Haha!) and has always been a strict disciplinarian when she is working and also expects others around her to be just as focused as well.

This is an artist that gives 120 per cent. She works harder than any other artist in the industry in obtaining perfection.

So the best suggestion I have in regards to all these media reports is to basically use any newspaper or magazine article that is bad mouthing Madonna (especially more so if it happens to be written by Piers Morgan, because he likes to make it his mission to publicly acknowledge his personal hate/vendetta towards Madonna) use the article for you pet to toilet themselves on it and throw it into the garbage bin. Seriously.

Just don’t buy into any media outlet that prefers to sell fiction rather than fact.

REBEL HEART: A TRUE WARRIOR

This concert has shown why it was worth the 23 year wait for Australians and why she is undoubtedly the best pop star in the world.

Seriously, no one knows on how to put on a show like Madonna. Since the ground breaking Blonde Ambition tour in 1990, which changed the way concerts were ever going to be done, this type of concert has been replicated by female singers world wide repeatedly. Combining vigorous dance performances, with elaborate costumes, giant screen sets and including video imaginary when the singer is quickly changing their costumes. Madonna continues to out do even the youngest female singers stage wise. There is no stopping Ms Ciccone. You couldn’t back when she first appeared in 1983 and you most definitely cannot in 2016 and/or beyond.

Madonna made her grand entrance on Saturday 12th March 2016 (and played again on Sunday 13th March) at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne (Australia) with the song, ‘Iconic’ from her most recent album ‘Rebel Heart’, being descended onto the stage in a gilded cage, dressed in a kimono marching up and down the runway with commandment, authority and power. The performance, which includes Catholic imagery roars with warrior determination and fierceness that is all too well classic Madonna. She has always done things, ‘Madonna’s way’.

At one point during the night Madonna joked that the heart stage,  “looks like a penis! I swear I didn’t design it that way but looking at it this way it sure does look like a penis! ” Madonna breaks into laughter and the crowd laughs along. The entrance was fierce and showed that this was a Madonna not to be messed with. From here she undresses and heads straight into ‘Bitch, I’m Madonna’, proclaiming it with every ounce of energy of who she is. From here she heads straight to the middle of the runway, straps on a very cool V guitar and plays a rocked-out version of ‘Burning Up.’ The crowd is screaming and jumping up & down going berserk

On this night I could already see that this was a different Madonna to the one I saw on Thursday night last week at her   Tears of a Clown show  . On that night she was raw, fragile, reflective and emotionally broken because of the continuing saga with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie over custody battles with their son Rocco.

On Saturday, Madonna was full of fire and ready to show Australia and the world why she is who she is: the best.

Madonna said to the audience: “Thank you for your patience, you’ve waited over 20 years. What the f**k is wrong with me? Seriously! Fuck me! No, seriously somebody f**k me!” Madonna cracks up laughing, the crowd laughs along and many respond with , “yes please!’ Guys AND girls. She isn’t serious about asking somebody to f**k her. Can the media just back off and realise when Madonna is having a laugh and just playing around. When did it all become so politically correct and humor just disappear. Oh that’s right! Newspapers and trashy tabloids need readership but most importantly sell their publications to make some money. Desperate sad low lives.

Regardless what her age is, she is an inspiration for all women to aspire to. And what I mean by that, is by believing in yourself, in your sexuality, not allowing what society dictates on how you should act and be once you reach a certain age. Not allowing your gender to be a determining factor on how your life should be decided by others and most of all, to stand up for whatever it is that you believe in. They don’t need believe in it, only you do. Do what makes you happy. Madonna has always done this since she arrived in the entertainment industry and always had the courage to challenge what seemed “appropriate” for a woman at any age.

The first section of the theme ends with ‘Holy Water & Vogue’. You have scantily clad  sexy pole-dancing nuns and at one point its an incredible vision of Madonna, straddling the back of one her near naked dancers dressed up as nuns whilst spinning at the top of a pole. Obviously if yo’ve heard the lyrics of the song you would know that its about oral sex. When the album was released earlier last year, two of the songs I didn’t really take to were ‘S.E.X.’ and ‘Holy Water’. Over time as I listened to the album regularly, they both started to grow on me and now are one of my (many) favorites on the album. Remember she does things very tongue in cheek. To watch both songs actually performed live, takes the them to a whole other level that I am now obsessed with these two songs. On the night those two performances were simply visually stunning and the choreography so on point, that it was beyond INCREDIBLE! Massive applause to the choreographer for these dance routines. So intricate, tight and freaking sexy as hell.

Year after year, comments in the media and by certain prudish society sectors keep commenting on how ‘Madonna needs to start to cover up’, ‘act her age’, ‘just tone it down’ and to ‘cover up grandma’.

My question is why?

Is society simply that afraid of a woman who is self assured, self confident in her own body and skin, and in her sexuality?

Does that mean from the age of 40 EVERY woman in the world should be wearing grandma underwear, wear dresses or skirts down to their ankles and sit on a porch and knit dollies?

Are women supposedly meant to age gracefully, be silent and lurk behind the shadow of a man?

While male entertainers are commanded and applauded from the (extremely) much younger women they date to continuing on working the worlds stage still at the age of 70 plus. They are labeled as heroes and legends but whereas if its a woman, she’s called a haggered, a has-been and should be put out to the retirement village. 

Madonna has always been about testing and pushing the boundaries, little bit by little bit. Setting the motion for discussion amongst all of us. Opening up our eyes and minds to a whole new world. And she succeeds. Whether if the topic is too controversial for its time, it is guaranteed that it will be spoken about when it’s universally ready. Sex and religion has always been her main game and she is the best one at playing it.

Madonna’s stage craft in each section of the show is absolutely brilliant. Each set is elaborately staged and travels from one theme to another. You are taken on a journey of thoughts, feelings, education and visual master pieces. It’s done in a way to evoke a spirit in each of us all. The show is a theatrical experience. From the elaborate sets, to the choreography, to the acrobatics from her dancers (especially when they are flying back and forth on the poles – absolutely incredible!) – when Madonna does a concert, this is how a concert should be done.

The selection of songs for this tour I feel have been perfectly selected. Unfortunately there has been a few fans that have been disappointed with the set list and have preferred if she had played more greatest hits rather than material from the current album.

What we need to realise is that Madonna has a huge back catalogue of material: 84 singles in total. There is just  no way she would be able to fit almost 40 years of hits into a two hour show, unless you wanted one minute and thirty second length versions of each song. Then there would still be someone out there that would fault even in that.

Some fans need to understand that if any artist (regardless if its Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna or even Justin Timberlake) when they play a concert, they will add in some of the fan favorite past hits but also need to promote their latest material. Whether you like the current album or not, if you want the greatest hits… honey just go through your iPod or CD collection, and put it on, if that’s what you only want.

With this tour, Madonna has added in 9 of the songs from ‘Rebel Heart’ and still played 9 – 11 songs of her past hits. ‘Rebel Heart’ has had mixed reviews since it was released but was generally well received. I personally think it’s her best album since ‘Confessions on a Dancefloor’. Unfortunately the leaked version ruined the anticipation of the album before it was released and took away a lot of the hype and brilliance of the album. But I still love it and play it regularly (sorry to any passing vehicles that may hear my car go past with the sound turned up EXTREMELY LOUD!).

The moment Madonna sat on the steps playing the ukuele singing ‘True Blue’, the crowd went completely bonkers. Madonna hasn’t played this song since the ‘Who’s That Girl’ world tour and it just brought back those teenage years and melted our hearts. It was pure true love.  ‘Deeper and Deeper’ sounded better than I had expected and then to see Madonna, dance around on parts of the stage to ‘Like A Virgin’ (which she sang alone) was just pure happiness and magic. You could see the enjoyment on her face and how much fun she is having with this tour (even though her heart is breaking, she has those two hours which she is able to forget about the pain).

Madonna has always had a love affair for all things that are latin and the song ‘Living for Love’ and the classic favourite, ‘La Isla Bonita’ were incredibly strong performances that incorporated the latin spirit and firery passion.

It wouldn’t be a Madonna show if the F word wasn’t said. Saying f**k became a frequent part of the show. Throughout the show there was a lot of ‘f**k yeahs, ‘f**k f**k yeahs’ and ‘f**k f**k f**k yeahs’ and the entire crowd ate it up! They loved it! Continuing on from her ‘Tears of  Clown’ show, Madonna said a few more jokes such as, “What’s a deer with no eyes?”…“No eye deer” and “How do you get a pop star pregnant?” … “You f**k her!” . It was endearing and simply it was the classic Madonna we have all loved: the wise cracking girl with a dirty mouth.

The part of the show I found to be quite touching and intimate was when Madonna spotted Molly Meldrum (Australian icon music presenter and journalist) in the crowd. She let the crowd know that Molly Meldrum was here and that,  “he was the first Australian man to fall in love with me.”  At that moment the entire crowd repeatedly chants, “Molly! Molly! Molly! “. Then Molly grabs Madonna’s microphone and screams, “I f**king love you!”. The whole audience erupted into applause and screams. Madonna smiled and said back to Molly, “I love you too. I love you too!” and dedicates, ‘Take A Bow” to the man, thanking for his decades of support.

Now, lets get another rumour out of the way: Madonna handed a hip flask to Molly. Insinuating that there was alcohol. Once again, the media ran with this and headlines around the world screamed that Madonna was further drinking on stage and there was proof! Molly Meldrum has recently admitted that the hip flask was filled with water.

– SETLIST –

Joan of Arc/Samurai section: (Intro: Revolution) Iconic Bitch I’m Madonna Burning Up Holy Water Vogue Devil Pray

Rockabilly meets Tokyo section: Body Shop True Blue Deeper and Deeper Heartbreak City Love Don’t Live Here Anymore

Like A Virgin

Latin/Gypsy section: (S.E.X.) Living For Love La Isla Bonita Take A Bow Rebel Heart

Party/Flapper section: (Illuminati) Music Send In The Clowns Candy Shop Material Girl La Vie En Rose Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend Unapologetic Bitch

ENCORE Holiday

Once upon a time the music world used to be thought provoking, artistic, imaginative, fun and had such amazing brilliant pop songs… now its all about tits, ass and pants hanging in the middle of your ass with the underwear showing (so not cool OR attractive. Serious hard-on killer). Madonna’s concerts always make you question about the theme (future discussion topics) that she presents to you. Whether you like it or not.

Unfortunately, Kylie Minogue wasn’t the ‘Unapologetic Bitch’ of the night as many Australians had hoped and prayed for. Kylie wasn’t able to attend the show and had to return back to London. So instead we had a past reality contestant, Courtney Act be  the ‘unapologetic bitch’ for the song ‘ Unapologetic Bitch .’ Oh well. Many were desperate (myself included) to see Kylie and Madonna together on stage. Perhaps one day in teh future we may get a Madonna and Kylie duet (cue in me kneeling down on the floor and saying the ‘Our Father’ prayer.. I’m deadly serious, guys).

She ended the show with the classic party anthem, ‘Holiday’. The Australian flag was draped over her body and the crowd went berserk.

The Rebel Heart tour is far greater and better than what the ugly news media troll/outlets are wanting you to know. They have tried to undermine Madonna and try to drive her legions of  dedicated loyal fans and the general public away. Trying (desperately) to poison Madonna’s reputation and tour. Sure the tickets were expensive as hell. But this is one artist you want to pay the big bucks for and with the shows that I attended and saw, you got your value for money back in ten fold. Let me just tell you, this is one of the greatest shows you will ever see. Madonna is better than ever. Forget about the age. Pffft! Like the saying goes, ‘age ain’t nothing but a number.’ And when I get to her age one day and I freaking have her body and her stamina??! Hell, I would be owning it too! Remember this woman works out every day for hours. She is a health maniac. She is the owner of her temple and there is no way that she would be intoxicating it in any way. Maybe, she is a better actress than everyone realises…

If you’re expecting a greatest hits show, seriously give your ticket to someone else who just wants to see Madonna and enjoy her for her music, talent, performance and showmanship. Like I said just before, Madonna is better now than she ever has been. She is all about the theater, music, choreography, entertainment and journey that music and concerts give to you.

Madonna is still at the top of her game and she will still be there for a very long time to come.

Don’t f**k with the Queen.

Madonna plays Brisbane March 16 & 17 and then plays the final leg of the Rebel Heart Tour in Sydney on March 19 & 20.

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my dear friend, your post about madonna got me so emotional! you described perfectly what haters should know! I’m glad you attended the Tears of a Clown show too. when you informed us about it on instagram I was so happy for you! I agree with all you said, haters should attend madonna’s show before hanging shit on her! she works very hard to get a perfect show!and some people are just jealous and envious and they din’t want to believe that a female artist still reigns the world of music since 1982! also because she’s a woman! if it was a man there wouldn’t be any haters! sexism is still one of the worst cage of this world! anyways.. I like the pics you took those days and I like your outfit as well! I m so proud of you susana I tell you everytime I read your posts ?? keep it up! jolierebelheart

MADONNA: TEARS of a CLOWN, Melbourne 2016

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Madonna Announces 2016 Australian Tour

By Emmy Mack

The last time Madonna performed live in Australia, Taylor Swift was still in nappies. But the long-reigning queen of pop is finally set to make her historic return to our shores, announcing her first tour in 23 years.

Touring off the back of her freshly released 13th studio album Rebel Heart , Madge will bring her worldwide album lap Down Under for six dates across the east coast, performing two arena shows apiece in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in March of 2016.

The tour announcement comes hot on the heels of the release of her Madge-sty’s star-studded new music video for Bitch, I’m Madonna , which features pretty much every big-name celeb who wasn’t already in Taylor Swift’s video for Bad Blood .

However, fan reception to the cameo-stuffed clip has so far been mixed , following its troubled launch on streaming service, Tidal.

Fans will have a chance to see if it measures up on the live circuit next March. Tickets to Madonna’s Rebel Heart Australian tour go on sale on Monday, July 6th from 10am, with exclusive presales for Live Nation members, Citi® Cardholders, Telstra customers and members of Madonna’s official fan club, Icon.

Check out full ticketing and presale details, below.

Watch: Madonna – Bitch, I’m Madonna

Rebel Heart Tour Dates and Presale Info

Madonna Rebel Heart Australian Tour Dates Fan Club pre-sale: 10am – 10pm Tuesday, 23rd June.

Citi pre-sale: 10am Wednesday, 24th June – 5pm Friday, 26th June.

Telstra Thanks pre-sale : 11am Tuesday, 30th June – 5pm Thursday, 2nd July.

My Live Nation & Ticket Agent pre-sales: 10am Friday, 3rd July – 5pm Saturday, 4th July.

General tickets on sale 10am Monday, 6th July

Saturday, 12th March 2016 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Tickets: Ticketek

Sunday, 13th March 2016 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Tickets: Ticketek

Saturday, 19th March 2016 Allphones Arena, Sydney Tickets: Ticketek

Sunday, 20th March 2016 Allphones Arena, Sydney Tickets: Ticketek

Saturday, 26th March 2016 Brisbane Entertainment Centre Tickets: Ticketek

Sunday, 27th March 2016 Brisbane Entertainment Centre Tickets: Ticketek

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Watch CBS News

Madonna starts Melbourne concert more than four hours late

By Ned Ehrbar

March 10, 2016 / 12:04 PM EST / CBS News

By all accounts, Madonna's first attempt at her new "Tears of a Clown" show was worth the wait -- even if that wait was more than four hours long.

Madonna took a break from the Australian leg of her "Rebel Heart" tour to perform a new, more intimate style of show called "Tears of a Clown" at Melbourne's Forum Theater Thursday night -- though the show ended up being Friday morning.

CBS News spoke with an attendee who confirmed that while the show was scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m., management was already warning those in line Thursday afternoon that it would start late. The crowd was not let into the venue until nearly 11:00 p.m., and Madonna didn't take the stage until 12:50 a.m., with the concert ending just before 3:00 a.m.

The Greatest Show on Earth #TearsOfAClown pic.twitter.com/qLwrmA9qXU — News-of-Madonna (@newsofM) March 10, 2016

The show itself, which was streamed live on Periscope, featured an old-fashioned carnival theme, with Madonna dressed as a clown in a top hat. She arrived riding a small tricycle, circling the stage a number of times before comically falling off near the front.

The Tears of a Clown show began with Madonna rides a tricycle across the venue in clown suit. pic.twitter.com/i49xxgOGFY — Madonna Source (@MadonnaDailyID) March 10, 2016

Madonna apologized for the delay and for any mistakes that she and her band made during the gig, as it was a "work in progress." She also told the crowd that she was not making any money on the tour because of all the late fees in each city.

Later in the show, she surprised the audience with candid references to her personal life past and present. She dedicated her song "Intervention" to son Rocco, with whom she has been having a very public feud .

She also mentioned ex-husband Sean Penn at one point, recounting a story about how when he was in prison and she would visit him, he was placed near a serial killer who always had a line of groupies waiting to see him, while no one but Madonna was waiting to see Penn -- which was just fine as far as Madonna was concerned.

• Madonna snaps selfies with Filipino orphans

Her antics during the show also involved testing out stand-up comedy routines between songs, giving two audience members each $100 and sporting a jewel-encrusted grill that made her difficult to understand. She performed many lesser-known tracks and acoustic versions of hits, as well as a cover of Elliott Smith's "Between the Bars."

@madonna - tears of a clown 2:30AM #melbourne #australia #madonna @guyoseary A photo posted by Jerry Rojas (@jroinstant) on Mar 10, 2016 at 7:25am PST

Ned Ehrbar is an entertainment producer for CBS News.

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START practising your best Vogue moves, people — Madonna’s on her way.

More than 20 years since her last Aussie jaunt, the Material Girl is bringing her Rebel Heart tour Down Under in early 2016, Billboard reports.

The Living for Love singer kicks off her world tour on August 29 in Miami before heading to the UK and Europe to promote her 13th studio album.

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Her Asian and Australian dates are expected to be announced by the end of March.

The last time the 56-year-old performed on Aussie soil was way back in 1993 for the Girlie Show World Tour.

Her November 19 show at the Sydney Cricket Ground was filmed and released as a TV special on HBO to critical acclaim.

The self-confessed perfectionist has been hard at work promoting her new album, with high-energy performances at the Brit Awards (that fall!) and the Grammys, plus a slew of interviews.

Madonna’s announced her upcoming world tour on her website before teasing fans with this video on Instagram about her shows.

Two Australian cities have been revealed as stops on the British band’s high-demand global tour, according to a new report.

Four Seasons singer Frankie Valli is still touring exhaustively aged 90 – but clips from his recent concerts have to be seen to be believed.

Australia’s pop princess has made an announcement just a day before the lead single of her upcoming album is set to drop.

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