We're celebrating Madonna's 60th birthday with a whole week of features here at Wet Thud. Yesterday, we counted down our favourite songs in her discography, and tomorrow and Thursday, we'll rank her albums and videos respectively. For today though, we're taking a look back at her live performance history. Read on, as Wet Thud ranks the tours of Madonna... 10. The MDNA Tour (2012)
Alright, let's get one thing out of the way: None of Madonna's tours have been anything less than thoroughly entertaining live spectacles with top production values, but the fact is some tour has to occupy the bottom position on this list, and her trek in support of the MDNA album is it. The record itself was among the less enthusiastically received in Madonna's discography, and with no less than ten of its tracks dominating the setlist, more casual fans in attendance were left wanting for the hits. Meanwhile, the loyal diehards who catch M every time she goes out on the road were left wanting for fewer repeats of songs they'd only just seen played on her Sticky & Sweet Tour three years prior. Released on CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and digitally as MDNA World Tour.
No. of shows: 88 Countries played: 29 (Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.) Average setlist: Virgin Mary [intro] Girl Gone Wild Revolver Gang Bang Papa Don't Preach Hung Up I Don't Give A Best Friend [video interlude] Express Yourself Give Me All Your Luvin' Radio Dial Medley [video interlude] Turn Up The Radio Open Your Heart Masterpiece Justify My Love [video interlude] Vogue Erotica/Candy Shop Human Nature Like A Virgin Waltz Love Spent Nobody Knows Me [video interlude] I'm Addicted I'm A Sinner Like A Prayer Celebration 09. The Drowned World Tour (2001)
While she remained far from idle over the eight year gap between 1993's Girlie Show expedition and 2001's Drowned World outing (three studio albums, two compilations, a soundtrack, two major film roles, a wedding, and two children, to mention just a bit of what she got up to during this time), it remains the longest break between Madonna tours to date. While it would have been easy to pack a setlist full of the singles she'd released over the intervening years, the Drowned World tour found Madonna more interested in executing an artistic vision than pandering to people's expectations of her. Divided into five movements dubbed the cyberpunk, geisha, cowgirl, Spanish and ghetto sections of the show, highlights included a medley performance of Ray Of Light tracks "Mer Girl" and "Sky Fits Heaven," featuring aerial work inspired by the film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.' Released on DVD as 'Drowned World Tour 2001.'
No. of shows: 47 Countries played: 6 (Spain, Italy, Germany, France, England, and the United States.)
Average setlist: Drowned World/Substitute For Love Impressive Instant Candy Perfume Girl Beautiful Stranger Ray Of Light Paradise (Not For Me) [video interlude] Frozen Nobody's Perfect Mer Girl/Sky Fits Heaven What It Feels Like For A Girl [video interlude] I Deserve It Don't Tell Me Human Nature The Funny Song Secret Gone Don't Cry For Me Argentina [instrumental interlude] Lo Que Siente La Mujer La Isla Bonita Holiday Music 08. The Virgin Tour (1985)
There's nothing like the very first time. Comparatively, it was a very modest affair, without the video backdrops and tightly choreographed dance troupes we've come to expect from Madonna's excursions over the years since, but what The Virgin Tour lacked in technical grandeur, it made up for in pure energy. Madonna hysteria was in full swing in 1985, with teenaged girls across America biting her style, and a half dozen of her songs lodged in the charts. Even your grandparents knew her name after nude photos from her younger days were published in Playboy. The setlist was essentially a marathon of her earliest singles, and the support act of a pre-Licensed To Ill era Beastie Boys makes this one of the more legendary double bills of all time. Available on VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD as 'Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour.'
No. of shows: 40 Countries played: 2 (The United States and Canada.)
Average setlist: Dress You Up Holiday Into The Groove Everybody Angel Gambler Borderline Lucky Star Crazy For You Over And Over Burning Up Like A Virgin Material Girl 07. The Who's That Girl Tour (1987)
There were technically fewer dates than on the previous Virgin Tour, but 1987's Who's That Girl Tour bettered its predecessor by taking Madonna's live show outside of North America for the first time. With sellouts throughout Asia and Europe, M established herself as an international touring act. Redefining the concert experience, the set included multiple costume changes and then-revolutionary projection screens, with imagery to correspond with each song. This was also the first time backup singers Niki Haris and Donna DeLory joined Madonna on the road, a role Haris would reprise on every Madonna tour through 2001, and DeLory through 2007. Available on VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD as 'Madonna: Ciao, Italia! Live From Italy.'
No. of shows: 38 Countries played: 8 (Japan, the United States, Canada, England, West Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy.)
Average setlist: Open Your Heart Lucky Star True Blue Papa Don't Preach White Heat Causing A Commotion The Look Of Love Dress You Up/Material Girl/Like A Virgin Where's The Party Live To Tell Into The Groove La Isla Bonita Who's That Girl Holiday 06. The Rebel Heart Tour (2015/2016)
Madonna's most recent trek, the Rebel Heart Tour, again paid close attention to the album she was flogging when creating the setlist. Released as Rebel Heart Tour on CD and DVD, this tour also gets a little bump up the list for closing with a unique, one-off show in Australia, to thank her loyal fans there for not abandoning her despite skipping their neck of the woods on her tour itinerary five times since her previous visit in 1993. Entitled 'Tears Of A Clown,' the special, intimate performance for fan club members was held at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne during March 2016, and consisted of Madonna playing and talking about fifteen of her lesser-performed songs.
No. of shows: 82 Countries played: Canada, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Scotland, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.
Average setlist: [Video introduction] Iconic Bitch I'm Madonna Burning Up Holy Water/Vogue Devil Pray Messiah [video interlude] Body Shop True Blue Deeper And Deeper HeartBreakCity/Love Don't Live Here Anymore Like A Virgin S.E.X. [video interlude] Living For Love La Isla Bonita Dress You Up/Into The Groove/Lucky Star Medley Who's That Girl Rebel Heart Illuminati [video interlude] Music Candy Shop Material Girl La Vie En Rose Unapologetic Bitch Holiday 05. The Sticky and Sweet Tour (2008/2009)
Madonna's longest-lasting tour, the Sticky & Sweet Tour played out in two stages, with a second leg of dates being announced for the succeeding year following the conclusion of the initial 2008 shows. Visiting cities and countries she had either not played in years or at all, it remains one of the highest grossing concert tours of all time. Standout moments included the first performances of "Borderline" since 1985, and an homage to Keith Haring and the New York City of the 1980's during "Into The Groove." Released as Sticky & Sweet Tour on CD and DVD.
No. of shows: 85 Countries played: 32 (Wales, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Montenegro, Greece, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Belgium, Norway, Russia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Israel.)
Average setlist: The Sweet Machine [video introduction] Candy Shop Beat Goes On Human Nature Vogue Die Another Day [video interlude] Into The Groove Heartbeat Borderline She's Not Me Music Rain [video interlude] Devil Wouldn't Recognize You Spanish Lesson Miles Away La Isla Bonita Doli Doli [dance interlude] You Must Love Me Get Stupid [video interlude] 4 Minutes Like A Prayer Ray Of Light Hung Up Give It 2 Me 04. The Confessions Tour (2006)
This was another tour where the setlist focussed very heavily on her then current album. Why The Confessions Tour succeeded in this regard, and the MDNA Tour faltered, is as simple as Confessions On A Dance Floor generally being regarded as a stronger album. Highlights included the performing of a rare remix version of "Erotica," a parkour demo during "Jump," a full-on crucifixion during "Live To Tell," and Madonna appearing to hatch from a disco ball descended from the stadium roof for the show-opening mash-up of "Future Lovers" and "I Feel Love." Released as The Confessions Tour on CD and DVD.
No. of shows: 60 Countries played: 12 (The United States, Canada, Wales, England, Italy, Germany, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Japan.)
Average setlist: Future Lovers/I Feel Love Get Together Like A Virgin Jump Confessions [dancers interlude] Live To Tell Forbidden Love Isaac Sorry Like It Or Not I Love New York Ray Of Light Let It Will Be Drowned World/Substitute For Love Paradise (Not For Me) The Duke Mixes The Hits [video interlude] Music (Inferno) Erotica (You Thrill Me) La Isla Bonita Lucky Star Hung Up 03. The Girlie Show (1993)
Following on the heels of the Erotica album and 'Sex' book, The Girlie Show saw Madonna take her brand of artistic hedonism to her broadest audience yet, visiting five continents over the course of three months. High points included an interpolation of the Temptations' "Just My Imagination" during "Rain," a Studio 54 tribute in "Express Yourself," and a subsequent orgy during "Deeper And Deeper." Released as 'The Girlie Show: Live Down Under.'
No. of shows: 39 Countries played: 11 (England, France, Israel, Turkey, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.)
Average setlist: The Girlie Show Theme [intro] Erotica Fever Vogue Rain Express Yourself Deeper And Deeper Why's It So Hard In This Life The Beast Within [dancers interlude] Like A Virgin Bye Bye Baby I'm Going Bananas La Isla Bonita Holiday Justify My Love Everybody 02. The Blond Ambition Tour (1990)
Thought this one was going to take the top spot, didn't you? As the subject of the much beloved 'Truth Or Dare'/'In Bed With Madonna' documentary, the Blond Ambition Tour holds a special place in many a Madonna fan's heart, and truthfully, it did help set a new standard for what a pop concert could/should be. The show attracted the most attention for the second of its five distinct sections, the "religious" portion of the program, which commenced with Madonna and two hermaphrodite dancers pleasuring themselves on a large red bed to the tune of "Like A Virgin," and concluded with "Papa Don't Preach" being sung in a church setting while her dancers were dressed like nuns and priests. Unfortunately, while select songs are included within 'Truth Or Dare,' the full concert has not seen an official release since being issued on Laserdisc in the early 1990's.
No. of shows: 57 Countries played: 10 (Japan, the United States, Canada, Sweden, France, Italy, West Germany, England, the Netherlands, and Spain.)
Average setlist: Express Yourself Open Your Heart Causing A Commotion Where's The Party Like A Virgin Like A Prayer Live To Tell/Oh Father Papa Don't Preach Sooner Or Later Hanky Panky Now I'm Following You Material Girl Cherish Into The Groove Vogue Holiday Keep It Together 01. The Re-Invention Tour (2004)
It would figure that the top ranking tour on this list would be the only one that has never received an official commercial release for home viewing. Bootlegs exist, and abbreviated versions of performances can be seen in the 2005 documentary, 'I'm Going To Tell You A Secret,' but for reasons that aren't entirely clear, a professionally filmed version of this particular full show remains elusive. It's unfortunate, because the Re-Invention Tour featured the most eclectic setlist of any Madonna tour yet, with each album in her catalogue to that point represented by at least one song. With only six tracks from the then-current American Life album played, it felt more like a 'greatest hits' show. Highlights included the military-themed "American Life" and "Express Yourself" segment, the return of "Crazy For You" to the setlist for the only time since the Virgin Tour, and a bagpipe-enhanced run-through of "Into The Groove."
No. of shows: 56 Countries played: 7 (The United States, Canada, England, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and Portugal.)
Average setlist: The Beast Within [video intro] Vogue Nobody Knows Me Frozen American Life Express Yourself Burning Up Material Girl Hollywood [dancers interlude] Hanky Panky Deeper And Deeper Die Another Day Lament Bedtime Story [video interlude] Nothing Fails Don't Tell Me Like A Prayer Mother And Father Imagine Susan MacLeod [bagpipe interlude] Into The Groove Papa Don't Preach Crazy For You Music Holiday Did you catch our list counting down Wet Thud's Top 60 Madonna Songs? Check back tomorrow when we'll rank her albums, and again on Thursday, when we do the same with her videos. Lastly, on Friday, we'll publish the results of our readers poll, determining the 60 Greatest Madonna Songs according to you.
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