Madonna was one of the foundational female artists of the MTV dance pop genre, and this tour will be a testament to that legacy and a test of cultural boundaries, writes Robin Givhan in Perspectives.
As a performer, she was always moving forward, always latching on to the next thing simmering just outside the mainstream. She altered her look to mark each new chapter, and her audience applauded her. But the culture is less likely to applaud the looks of a 64-year-old woman unless she is perceived as somehow defying the march of time or aging gracefully — which is to say walking quietly into the sunset wearing expensive cashmere and sensible shoes.
It will be quite something when Madonna takes the stage and all the familiar beats begin to play. Fans won’t be coming to see her stand behind a microphone and belt out a ballad. The performance, in all its sweaty and sexy athleticism, has always been the draw: the voguing, the bullet bras and, of course, the look. She was the club-hopping ragamuffin, the Marilyn Monroe doppelganger, the dark-haired heretic, the platinum sex goddess.
Madonna is the MTV godmother bringing her personal playlist and bump-and-grind aesthetic back to the stadium crowds. There’s something exciting and unnerving about the prospect this high-wattage video star returning to the stage with such bravado. Her brand of exhibitionist feminism put the female body directly in the spotlight, and that became fundamental to her public identity.
One wants her to be as dynamic as she was decades ago. After all, there’s a good deal of nostalgia embedded in this tour. But the reality is that no performer can ever go backward. The excitement isn’t in a repeat performance of “Vogue” or “Like a Prayer.” The thrill is in the possibilities of what those songs can become.
The anticipation is not merely in hearing a fresh take on the old tunes. It’s also the exhilaration ofMadonna, still disruptive and full of swagger. Just by stepping onstage, she gives popular culture a new chapter in the female story.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Madonna Plays Celeb Truth or Dare to Announce World TourMadonna plays Truth or Dare with celeb friends to announce her 'Celebration' tour.
Read more »
Madonna coming to Houston for her ‘Celebration’ tour.Madonna is coming to Houston and she's ready to play all of her hits. -- Madonna coming to Houston for her ‘Celebration’ tour - KPRC2 hounews HTX Madonna
Read more »
Madonna announces tour stop in Chicago this summerGlobal superstar Madonna announced on Tuesday she will bring The Celebration Tour to Chicago this summer.
Read more »
Madonna announces 'The Celebration Tour' | CNNGet ready for four decades of Madonna's hits.
Read more »
Madonna to perform in downtown Phoenix at Footprint Center: here's how to get ticketsMusic icon Madonna's latest tour will be making a stop in the Valley.
Read more »
Madonna unveils 2023 North America and European tour datesNEW YORK (AP) — Madonna will “Take a Bow” with a new tour through North America and...
Read more »