"Make a hometown girl feel welcome," Madonna urged at her long-time-coming return to Michigan Nov. 18. And, at Detroit's Ford Field, they did. All 30,000 of them. Amidst an undersold sea of girls and gays, the Rochester native performed, as part of her "Sticky & Sweet Tour," her first home-state show in seven years, suggestively – and fittingly – opening with her leg thrown over the side of a throne. For two zippy hours, she extended her unflappable energy through a short-on-sex spectacle that was, as expected, a grandiose, bipolar – but mostly hella fun – affair. It was easy to get lost in her labyrinth of awesomeness, and we did. Heck, over a week later, we're still wow-ing over these moments (multiple Madonnas! "Material Girl"! Double Dutching!) – dreaming of them, waking up to them, bragging (endlessly) about them. Let's hope it's not another seven years before we do it again, Madonna.
NEW OLDIES
The Queen of Reinvention lived up to that title. Toying with oldies-but-goodies – a punk-rock "Borderline" (with Madonna rocking the electric guitar), a on-speed "Into the Groove," and a risky, but effing fab, hyper-Latin "La Isla Bonita" – was another reminder why wannabes keep trying to top her swagger, style and sophistication, but never come close.
'SHE'S NOT ME'
The self-boasting cut off April's "Hard Candy" was, on stage, a yesteryear rewind as four female dancers resurrected Her Madge-esty's ( hehe!) many personas – like cone-bra-donning sex kitten and slut-in-chiffon bride. The star manipulated them like mannequins, before ferociously dancing – and stomping up a storm. She made it pretty clear: There's only one Madonna.
THE ZINGERS
Plenty escaped her unfiltered mouth – but not just when she sang (or pretended to). She harassed some dude with an allegedly bad 'do, she sneered when people wouldn't sing along, but, best of all, she recognized her Michigan MIA-ness: "I don't come here very often – so, please, make a big deal out of it." (No problem!)
'MATERIAL GIRL'
With a concert that was so foolproof, and a giddy gaggle so sucked into the romp, Madonna could've gotten away with murder. But, when she broke from the set-list to take a fan request, it was a pleasant waft of fresh. When this pop gem was picked, she claimed to have forgotten the words, and ping-ponged through it with the audience. So genuine, unrehearsed and totally un-Kodak like.
JUMPING ROPE
Jump-roping double-Dutch style: not just a thing for fifth grade girls. Even though she looked like one, (barely) dressed in teeny-tiny, apple-red shorts – and an ear-to-ear smile – Madge, during "Into the Groove," gleefully made an elementary pastime part of a sly, old-school song section. Next tour: Hopscotch, please?
