Sticky & Sweet Concert Review

The Sticky & Sweet Tour, in support of Madonna's Hard Candy album, left somewhat of a sour & bitter taste for many, as it hit Madison Square Garden during its New York stop this weekend. Taking to the un-air-conditioned stage at 9:35pm, later than the advertised ticketed start time of 8:00pm, fans were finally treated for their 1 ½ hour wait. Once it began, the show was, as expected, a visual and aural delight.

Clearly not her first time at the rodeo, the Queen of Pop opened her "Candy Shop" strongly and streamlined into the "Beat Goes On." In black bondage gear of a leather leotard and tall, high-heeled boots, the mother of 3 whipped her already frenzied crowd into a sugar high. A video clip of Kanye West played during his part and dancers, joined by Pharrell, rode atop a white vintage car rolling across the stage. Another guest star by way of video was Britney Spears, who appeared during "Human Nature." The first retro classic, "Vogue," was remixed with a harder rock sound, but lost none of its iconic stature; Madonna and crew, joined by thousands of participants in the NY arena, posed and danced, drawing her opening set to a close.

On the screens came images of a hard-bodied, 50 year old Madonna, in fighting shape. Two boxers filled the void onstage and got into the ring during a brief interlude of "Die Another Day." Madge showed why her body is in incredible shape for any age by jump-roping "Into the Groove" in red shorts and a glittered hoodie, and later double-dutching at the faster tempoed '80s hit. She followed up the cardio workout with "Heartbeat" off of her new album, before donning the guitar and doing a fantastic punk rock version of "Borderline." Dedicating the next song to all the ladies, she traded the instrument for white, heart-shaped sunglasses and performed another new track, "She's Not Me." Dancers in quintessential images of Madonna's past looks stood on stage during the song. The second set ended with the modern classic, "Music."

Another video montage flashed on screen, showing a female cartoon with piercing blue eyes serenely picking flowers in a green field, before "Rain" washed into the Eurythmics' haunting "Here Comes the Rain Again." An opaquely lit cylindrical tube descended, became transparent, and found Madonna on top of a piano in a hooded shroud, singing "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You." The fiesta kicked off with "Spanish Lesson," before being taken "Miles Away" into "La Isla Bonita." Her dancers threw off their own hooded cloaks, changing in a flash from grim reapers to colorful Latin flavor. The night became worldly when an international folk song was played, complete with an accordion player, vibrant costumes and traditional folk dancing. Sitting on the side, Madonna let others take center stage. Slowing things down, she once again picked up the guitar and dedicated "You Must Love Me" to her daughter Lourdes, in honor of her 12^th birthday.

The fourth and final set began with the most emotionally charged video of the night. It contained clips of politicians, including presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, pictures of Genocide, the Holocaust, and Adolf Hitler urging the message to make a change to save the world. The looped phrase of 'Get Stupid' from "Give It 2 Me" played in the background. Producer extraordinaire Timbaland was shown in his part of "4 Minutes," while Madonna danced around digitalized columns of the track's duet partner, Justin Timberlake. "Like A Prayer" found Madonna rocking out to the guitar once more, before demanding those sitting to get up, asking for song requests, and doing an impromptu verse and chorus to "Express Yourself." Laser lights added to the mass appeal of "Ray of Light," before getting "Hung Up." The show ended as it began, with Pharrell joining Madonna for "Give It 2 Me." The two embraced as the neon words, Game Over, let the audience know that the night of tricks and treats had ended. With no encore, the satisfied crowd was escorted out by the exit song of "Holiday" pumping throught MSG's speakers.

Ever the consummate performer, Madonna did it again. She put on a phenomenal show without skipping a beat. Full of energy, full of heart, but perhaps full of her own hype, the Material Girl did not disappoint...once she decided to arrive. Though an opening act would help ease tensions amongst the devoted, until then fans will have to put up with the sour beginning to get the sweet ending.