Madonna’s ‘The Celebration Tour’ gives fans 40 years of music in one night

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Madonna, the ultimate mononym, graced the Chase Center stage on Wednesday during the second night of her San Francisco stop of “The Celebration Tour.”

The seven-time Grammy Award winner celebrated four decades of music taking the audience on her journey through song and theatrics. The long-awaited tour dates were postponed in October due to the pop star’s recent health concerns and then was postponed again in January.

Madonna announces 2023 SF tour stop, will span 40 years of music

The 65-year-old entertainer brought a wide range of ages to the sold-out arena. In true Madonna fashion, there was plenty of kissing and floor crawling. With singles such as “Burning Up,” “Celebration,” “Ray of Light,” “Take a Bow,” and “Like a Prayer,” Madonna and her dancers performed salaciously and seductively.

Bob the Drag Queen kicked off the show, hyping up the crowd and explaining the show would display multiple periods of Madonna’s life. Madonna’s first performance was her 1999 single “Nothing Really Matters.”

The majority of the production was her chronological order of hits with the anecdotes and stories of how the songs came about.

Madonna is a strong supporter of the LGBTQIA community, which has always reflected in her music and this tour was not any different. Madonna also celebrated the LGBTQIA community and ballroom cultures. The event ended with a runway voguing competition.

The concert was also a family affair for Madonna. Her daughter Estere danced to her ballroom classic “Vogue.” Madonna’s other daughter, Mercy James, assisted in the “Bad Girl” performance delivering the piano performance.

This upbeat full-house show did not shy away from the tougher times Madonna has faced, including losing friends to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 80s. The song “In This Life” highlighted multiple people who died from the epidemic and are still suffering from the disease.

Madonna shared a story about the worst road trip of her life: Michigan to San Francisco as a teenager. She jokingly described it as “the miserable experience of her life.” Teenage Madonna still managed to get grounded on the trip. Despite not being allowed to roam the streets, she still was able to describe San Franciscans as having a sense of “freedom.”

“San Francisco looked like heaven to me,” Madonna said as the crowd burst with appreciation.

Madonna’s stories stole the show, and connecting with the audience on a human level engaged her adoring fans more. Her beer bottle breaks (which she confirmed wasn’t actually beer) made the crowd cheer harder in between songs.

Madonna did have a task for the audience, while the crowd illuminated the arena.

“When you leave here tonight, I want you to share your light with each other, with your friends, families, lovers, and most importantly your enemies,” Madonna said. “It will make a difference. I promise you.”

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