When Madonna's Rebel Heart tour was announced in the spring, you could almost hear the collective scream of joy from Alberta fans as for the first time ever the Material Girl would be playing Edmonton. The first show sold out in minutes, and a second stint also sold out quickly. After the initial enthusiasm came the anticipation and nervousness. What kind of show would this tour be? 30 years is a long time to wait to see an artist, and with ticket prices ranging from $50 - $1000 with most of the arena in the $190 - $380 range, the question became would she deliver?
The answer in short is yes. Running just over 2 hours with an epic production, it was without a doubt the most spectacular show that has been in Rexall in recent memory. In the past few years we've seen the likes of Katy Perry, Cher, Janet Jackson and Shania Twain also bring big spectacles to town, so that speaks volumes. For many there is Madonna and then everyone else and she certainly seemed determined to live up to that hype.
Descending in a cage to Iconic followed by Bitch I'm Madonna the level was set high instantly as dancers marched around the stage. Moments later Madonna was hanging out with stripper nuns on poles, at one point standing on one as they both spun around for Holy Water and then writhing around on a giant table that hosted a recreation of the Last Supper for Devil Pray.
Madonna more than kept up with the 20 dancers insanely talented dancers, matching them step for step. Some of the interludes where she was changing costume really let the dancers shine – and incredibly erotic dance on 4 beds that included 2 same sex pairings for S.E.X. And the dancers standing atop 20 foot poles and bouncing above the floor for Illuminati were both highlights that didn't include Madonna herself. She did spend most of her time on a stage that featured a long ramp to a smaller stage and a pair of ramps branching off so that Madonna and her dancers often were close to most of the arena.
The show featured mostly material from Rebel Heart – over half the set. They came across better live then the album and songs such as Heartbreak City – featuring Madonna and a dancer on a staircase at the far end of the arena on a small stage attached by ramp to the main stage – and Ghost Town which unfortunately was cut from the set on night two were stunning. Body Shop set literally in a body shop including a half a car and tires were all highlights.
The set in fact would be the only place where the concert faltered somewhat. Outside of the current album she selected more obscure older tracks like whose That Girl and Burning up. The only massive hits from her catalogue were Deeper and Deeper, Like A Virgin, La Isla Bonita, Music & concert ending Holiday. Dress You Up, Into The Groove & Lucky Star formed a medley as well. An audience connects more with music they are familiar with and at times, once the novelty of "Holy shit its Madonna in front of me" wore off you could feel the audience not losing interest, but not as excited as the more familiar songs. Rexall would have lost its collective minds to something like Like a Prayer, Papa Don't Preach or Ray of Light for example. There can be arguments on both sides, because it is the artists’ prerogative and it was the Rebel Heart tour but at the same time at a point in ones career you have to meet the fans partway. Bon Jovi wouldn't skip Living on a Prayer, Janet Jackson not performing Together Again would be disappointing and Cher will always play Believe. There are songs that should be included especially when fans are paying a lot of money to be in your presence.
The set was pretty much the same each night, with a couple of tracks cut on night two possible because Madonna had a lengthy interaction with a crying fan in the front row. One thing that came across in the show was that Madonna and her band and dancers were having fun. Madonna chatted frequently with fans from the stage, reached out and touched fans hands, and demanded people take of their shirts. Which they did. Because it's Madonna. She even talked a gay couple into proposing from the stage, which certainly is a hell of a "how we got engaged" story.
In the end, everyone took their different experience from the concert. Everyone I have spoken with loved it, and the reviews of the tour have been positive. It was spectacular to watch and be a part of and for many in attendance, something they have waited for their entire lives. Who ever thought that Madonna, who previously only played Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver or skipped Canada altogether, would play here? It was a dream come true and in the end that is what matters. Memories were made these nights because Madonna came to Edmonton.