From Duane:
I just returned from to show in Ft. Lauderdale.
Needless to say Madonna TOTALLY noticed the folks that were SITTING in their seats in the front rows of the stage. She even asked them if they were sleeping.
She obviously did not say that this was the best crowd she has performed in front of. If I was lucky enough to get FRONT ROW seats, I would NEVER have been sitting on my ass.
The show started after 8:45 and some of the shirts were less expensive than sold in LA.
I thought I would let you know how sad it was to see the front part of the floor sitting and having Madonna notice this. She was NOT happy. The show was spectacular as usual, there were just some folks that brought the evening to such low point.
Enjoy the rest of the US portion of the tour if you attend.

From Allan:
She had to keep telling the audience to stand up already, and at one point she even said 'you need to go home if you are tired'.
The highlight of the night was when she reached down and held my hand during 'Like a Prayer', I was in the front row and the audience went wild!

From Peter A:
I just saw Madonna in concert and it was breathtaking! I am so amazed at how beautiful and healthy she looks. Her hair is gorgeous and she dances with so much grace and class. She bows a few times and poses so elegantly.
I have to say that I cried when she sang Nothing Fails and Imagine. I don't want to give out too many details for the fans who will see her but the energy at the end of the show is extraordinary. This is a must-see concert!

From Robert E:
I'm SO happy to finally be able to comment on the greatness of Madonna's 'Re-Invention" show, but so UNhappy to report on my fellow audience 'greeting' Madonna to Ft. Lauderdale's Office Depot Center. In a nutshell, the crowd really hurt the show.
I was surprised that a small number of concertgoers wore 'Madonna wear', and SHOCKED that nearly the whole front center section was sitting down for 60% of the show. I was about 12 rows back, and only a handful of the front-center crowd stood much at all. This was most conspicuous during almost the whole 'cabaret' section of the show, and during 'Mother and Father', where I wondered if the audience fell asleep!
It should, however, be noted that not everyone sitting was doing it by choice: the venue security personnel actually asked me and my partner to sit down because we were blocking a group of silent sitters in the row behind us during 'Deeper and Deeper'. Needless to say, I was pretty upset, but I plan to email the Office Depot Center to let them know that such tactics clearly brought down Madonna's enthusiasm, as she noted at least four or five times during the show.
Despite the uphill crowd, Madonna's voice and face, typically, shined: perhaps living up to her 'I'm at my best when I'm pissed off' quote from 'Truth or Dare', her voice never faltered, her dancing was tight and extraordinary, and she looked often stunningly beautiful onstage.
At one point, right before 'Crazy For You', I expected her to interact with the audience humorously as she had reportedly done at prior venues. But instead she just stood there, her eyes closed beneath the lights, as if waiting to see if the audience would call her back to performance.
At that moment, the 'vulnerable little girl' side of Madonna was more evident than ever, and she proceeded by making a few fans' dreams come true by singing to them directly during 'Crazy For You', and, admittedly, by the time she ended the show with 'Holiday', the audience was back in the palm of her hand, where she'd rightfully expected more of them to be all night.
'Re-Invention' was an A+ show that lived up to the hype in every respect. It definitely felt more relaxed and less distinct as a performance piece than the trio of 'Blond Ambition', 'The Girlie Show', and 'Drowned World', but it was every bit as visually and emotionally impactful as those less concert-y predecessors. Madonna proved that she could truly re-invent the arena rock/pop show as it currently stands, and in doing so delivered not only her best work of live art yet, but the most convincing argument ever that she is the greatest female entertainer of our time.
Love you Madonna, Love you fans, Love you Madonnalicious!

From Peter:
I went to see Madonna last night at the Office Depot Center. The show started late at around 8:50pm. This show has a lot of elements from Drowned World. Major visual effects and her playing a lot of guitar. The show was great and her voice was flawless.
The Beast Within followed by Vogue brought the house down, and off course my favorite song, Express Yourself, on which she said: 'Alright Fort Lauderdale, are you ready? Do you believe in love?' Everyone got up and screamed from the top of their lungs. Her rendition of John Lennon's 'Imagine' was very emotional for me.
She kept asking people not to sit down and at one point she said to the people in the front rows: 'What the fuck is up with all these people sitting down? This is the No-Sitting area. You're tired, bored or what? If you are, go home and go to bed'....needless to say that afterward no one sat for the rest of the show. It was a great show.

From Eduardo:
As expected, the show was 45 minutes late, but it was worth the wait. Madonna was at the top of her game last night, first of two shows at the Office Depot Center in Ft. Lauderdale. The installations, at the beginning of the show, were beautiful, thought provoking, and highly sophisticated. What was most intriguing about the Re-invention Tour is the fact that there were so many different forms of media yet they all came together seamlessly. A provocative and intriguing attempt by our Lady Madonna.
On a not so great note, the audience was very boring. Madonna consistently told people in the front row to get up and dance. She exclaimed, 'What, are you guys sleepy or bored? It was a little embarrassing for a city that is known for partying and having a good time. I hope that the audience this evening is more lively.

From Tyler:
I noticed in the previous reviews that Madonna has been getting more and more involved with her audience. However, she didn't talk to us much AT ALL. The only things she really told was to stop sitting down, and asked if we were bored. She seemed pretty disappointed at this show's audience, and I don't blame her. People were having fun but I don't think there was as much energy as there was in her previous shows. I'm ashamed of having been apart of this crowd!
Nonetheless, Madonna still f*cking rocked! And I got my butt up just for her, even though there was hardly anyone standing up in my row.

From Doug:
Last night, Madonna rocked the house at the Office Depot Center but unfortunately most of the audience could care less. The crowd kept sitting down repeatedly during slow songs or unfamiliar songs and Madonna was CLEARLY bothered by this. She made MULTIPLE comments as to the lack of energy coming from the crowd.
During 'Material Girl', she kept repeating 'I can't hear you!' and 'You're not loud enough!'
After 'Nothing Fails', she told the crowd that they were 'gonna make me sad' with all of the sitting.
After 'Mother & Father' she asked why the entire left side of the floor was sitting saying 'I'm working harder than you are!'
From my seat 3 rows up next to the stage, I could see her at the end of 'Holiday' and she was NOT PLEASED. All I can say for the folks attending Thursday's show, STEP IT UP PEOPLE!
As far as my experience went, Madonna gave me all that I could have ever asked for and more. I saw the 6/27 Boston show and both performances were on par as far as vocals and energy level. Madonna made my millenium though during 'Like A Prayer'. She walked over to our section and surveyed the crowd, then turned to the front of the stage but gave one more look in my direction and winked at me. Everyone in my row started screaming 'She winked at you!' and I almost fainted. My legs quivered and a rush of energy flowed through me like never before. Thank you Madonna!
Comparing the 2 shows I attended, I would have to say that Boston was better only because the crowd never sat down and gave Madonna as much as she was putting out. I expected the folks in South FL to get wild but they sadly disappointed me. As I said above, STEP IT UP PEOPLE!

From Garrett:
South Florida may have welcomed Madonna, but not the way she deserved! A lot of people sat down through most of the show, even those with front floor seats! For some songs almost everyone was up and having a good time, but overall the crowd really lacked enthusiasm through most of the show. Madonna even asked if everyone was sitting down because they were tired or because she was boring them. She even told people if they were tired to go home and go to bed.
For this show I was in the lower level and was asked to sit down at one point. Why pay $150 to sit and not make the most of the experience? Out of respect for others I sat during the slower songs, but jumped up every time she sang a fast one. The concert really went by fast last night. I don't know if it's because I've already seen the show and knew what to expect or because I had to sit through most of it. When you're on your feet and they begin to hurt the show seems to last longer, which I don't mind because you have a lot more fun when you're up and dancing.
This time around I was on the side, halfway down the arena. It was nice to have a different perspective, but I kept wishing I was down on the floor again up close (saw the concert 6th row floor in Atlanta). After seeing the show twice, I still think 'Nobody Knows Me' is one of the best performances, if not my favorite! Madonna dancing and walking on the moving floor looked awesome! Seeing it from the floor is even better.
'Imagine' gave me tingles up my spine and it was cool to see a lot of people holding up lighters to that song. Her dancing to 'Die Another Day' and 'Papa Don't Preach' is incredible! I loved when Madonna and the dancers join hands and spin in a circle during 'Papa Don't Preach'. They look like they're having so much fun! At this show more people got up and danced to 'Die Another Day' than I would have thought. I was happy to see that.
I was really annoyed when at least a quarter of the arena got up to use the bathroom and get food during 'Mother & Father'. I guess Madonna gets to see who her true fans are during that song. Well, no matter if I sit or stand I'll always have an awesome time seeing Madonna live. There's nothing that could compare!
For those who saw her in Atlanta....thanks for your enthusiasm and making it so much fun for me! I'll never forget that concert! (July 24th). Also, thanks to the fans that were really into last night's show. I'm sorry you didn't get to experience the excitement I saw in Atlanta. Even though South Florida is my home, I will always make the effort to drive the 9 hours to Atlanta to see her in the future.

From Alex:
What a special concert. I was sitting on the side and saw everything crystal clear. Her voice was amazing and the set list is the best. The only bad thing was the audience. Very dead and boring. She said at one point, 'Are you having a good time? Really? Prove it!' I was so upset, but, I am excited for Sunday August 1st and, Monday August 2nd in Miami. I know the crowd will be wild!

From Giovanni:
All right ya'll she rocked! I was on the floor....went as a VIP Platinum ticket holder. The down side was the people doing the platinum thing were totally retarded, had no idea what they were doing!
The concert was great, she didn't talk much to the crowd....but she definitely made up by the singing. She sounded amazing...loved Crazy for You....(which used to be one of my least favorite songs) and Nobody Knows Me....I can't really say what was my favorite, they all were good. I really enjoyed her American Life stuff, which happens to be my favorite album!
This tour is really good, she looked much more beautiful in person, skin like a porcelain doll!
Got my 'I have a Madonna complex" shirt....and my trucker cap....can't wait till Miami's show! Rock on Babe, your the sh*t!

From David:
First of all Madonna was fabulous but the crowd, I don't know....the people in the front rows should have given there tickets to die hard Madonna fans that were going to stand up and dance because Madonna kept saying 'Are you guys tired', 'Do you need to go home and take a nap?'
She was not very interactive with the audience at all probably because they were not up and dancing and didn't speak at all to us like she has in the previous concerts so I'm hoping tonight the concert which I'm also attending, the audience is wild and dancing and she talks more to us.
Absolutely incredible performance of her doing 'Burning Up', 'Material Girl' and 'Papa Don't Preach'. Britney needs to take some lessons.

From Ryan:
Madonna was so awesome, her voice sounded beautiful, and she looked beautiful.
Our audience was awful, nobody stood up, she had to keep asking people in the front row to atand up.
I felt so bad for her. I want to aay thank-you to everyone that stood up last night, and dance, and sang. Madonna gave an awesome performance last night. Also I want to especially say thank-you to Madonna for giving one of the best nights of my life I have ever had. Madonna You Rule!

From Juan:
Madonna's show was amazing! From begining to end every single song was mesmerising, I'm happy I have two more shows to go I can't wait! I was blown away when she sang Nothing Fails and Imagine....her best show ever!

From Chris:
I just came back from tonight's concert at the Office Depot Center. The show was amazing, Madonna's voice was flawless. Apparently last night's crowd weren't too enthusiastic, because she yelled, 'You guys rock!'....'You guys are SO much better than last night's crowd, thank God'....she also added, 'I really didn't feel like coming out and doing the show tonight, but you guys have changed my energy, so THANK YOU!'

From TOXICTEASE:
I can not even describe the show. I was in the pit, and my friend asked me how it was and all I could say was 'OMG Amazing!' The people in our pit (stage right) were so much fun (Hi everyone! This is the girl who was with her mom, lol). Not to mention how amazing it was just to have Madonna a few inches away from you! And, from what Ive heard/read - the audience was so much better tonight! Not to mention Madonna seemed like she was having so much fun and seemed like she was in a lovely mood!

From Joe:
I feel the need to share how incredible the concert was! It wasn't even a concert - it was a multimedia festival and an onslaught of fresh takes on the undisputable Queen's classic songs plus the new stuff. I was on the main floor at the Thursday night show at the Office Depot Center in Ft. Lauderdale with high expectations and every one was met. It was beyond awesome from start to finish. I am most amazed at how all the rumors about her voice being so improved were totally true. She simply sounds better than ever, looks gorgeous, and is relentlessly energetic.
However, you could definitely tell in the beginning of the show that she was being a bit cold and mechanical (came across like a routine), BUT then, she shouts to us, the crowd, mid-way through, 'I really didn't want to come out here tonight, because I wasn't in the mood and I was tired, but you all have really changed my energy. Thanks!' After that, it was like she flipped some switch inside herself and blew the place away. She also shouted, 'You guys are so much better than last night's crowd.' I guess Wed night's crowd sucked.
Thank goodness everyone was insanely happy, energetic, and excited when I was there tonight. Tons of shouting and dancing as best you could being elbow to elbow. I would have been so upset if people sat during that unbelievable show she put on. Everyone seemed glued to her every move and there was lots of singing along, especially during 'Crazy for You' and 'Music.' I felt I needed to go to the gym and run my six miles after staring at her for a couple hours.
I did notice that she skipped the encore option of letting us scream for her return and simply did the two finale songs without waiting. Anyway, this woman is phenomenal. I've been a fan for so long, but I've never seen her live, in person. She's simply, without question, an amazing performer with few that can match her talents. I still can't believe how excellent it was and well, I just can't wait for her next album.

From Steel714:
After seeing what the audience did to her the night before, it was amazing to see Madonna so happy and alive again. She said 'Ft Lauderdale Rocks' and then went on to say 'You guys are so much better than last night.' 'Do you mind if I sing all my songs?' All the audience was standing throughout the whole concert and she would look out into the crowd and say 'Thank GOD'.
She also seemed to slip down on the floor during the 'Like A Prayer' but she pulled it off and it looked like she made it a dance move. She was very happy. She never had to say 'Stand up people' or 'If your bored, go Home.' I'm so glad I got to go to both nights because it's amazing how much different one show can be with all the energy. She went on to say that the crowd was giving her energy and that made her put on a better show and yes during the song American Life she joked about 'Do I have to change my name?' 'Oh I guess I already did'. Wonderful show. Unbelievable.

From Martin:
Madonna rocked my world three ways from Sunday last night. It was my first ever Madge concert and it was everything I could have ever hoped it to be and more! She looked stunning and sounded beyond amazing. I had floor seats, section 5, row G, which means that when the catwalk came down I directly to her right, about 10 people away - I had a perfect view.
The moment 'The Beast Within' came on I got chills and goosebumps all over my body. I was so nervous and so into it I had had to step away to go to restroom like four times before showtime. Then 'Vogue' started and the crowd went wild. She sand it beautifully. 'Frozen' almost broke my heart. I liked 'Nobody Knows Me' more than I thought I would, and it was probably one of my favorites.
I was determined not to sit down at all, which I didn't, and even told my friend that if he sat down he'd be walking home. I was trying to spread that energy around because even though the crowd was overall better than the previous night (she didn't have to ask us to get the f*ck up!), I knew at some point the low-energy girls and their pestered-into-going-boy toys would eventually poop out and take a seat.
I adored the military section because Madonna was rocking it! Again, she sounds so good, and she's gotten so much better at her guitar-playing. It dawned on me that 'Burning Up' came out right around the time I was coming out of my mother, and it surprised me that I knew all the words. She didn't forget the lyrics to 'Material Girl' and totally rocked it.
I wish she would've performed 'Hollywood' but the dancers, belly dancer and skateboarder kept me up and going.
'Hanky Panky' was playful, 'Deeper and Deeper' gorgeous - I loved it as a ballad. During 'Lament' people sat down, urgh....and then 'Die Another Day' with the tango - it was awesome.
The video for 'Bedtime Story' is absolutely gorgeous. For 'Nothing Fails' she came to the right side of the stage, and since the dorks in front of me sat down I had a clear view of Madonna, which game me more goosebumps because I love that song. 'Don't Tell Me' with the 'Bittersweet Symphony' sample was so good I almost cried. And then....the no-sitting-song....'Like A Prayer.' I almost had a heart attack. She sang, I sang, everybody sang, it was off the freaking hook! Then 'Mother And Father' for which again some sat down even though she's up there pouring her heart and soul.
For 'Imagine' people lit up and she did tremendous justice to that beautiful song - the crowd cheered when Lennon's face came on. 'Into The Groove' with Missy on the M-I-C via video was the kind of song that made jump as high as I possibly could, or at least more than before. She put on her Kabbalists Do It Better (Yeah, we do!) T-shirt and had a blast spinning around with the back up singers and dancers.
Then she did 'Crazy For You' for which I hope the crowd would be more into it, and then 'Music' and 'Holiday' for which the catwalk came down again - loved it! Unfortunately they left me wanting more! So I'm going to the Miami concerts!
It was an amazing show - I give it on a scale from 0 to 10, 10 being the top, a solid 46!

From Robin:
WOW! What a show! This was my first Madonna Concert and I am 35 years old! It has been along time coming since I first became a fan in 1984. I was in the RIGHT PIT, and she interacted with us so much! She even reached down and shook my hand. She seemed to be having a GREAT time, and her energy level was HIGH! You could just feel it! We could see her laughing, and before Frozen....we were yelling 'Madonna,Madonna,Madonna' and she looked right at us and smiled!