From Phill:
Just gotten back and can only say it was amazing. After having spent the day watching all her tours on DVD/ vid we can say it is by far her best. Previous reviews are correct in that it matches the energy and atmosphere of previous tours (i.e blonde ambition) with the theatrics (Drowned world). The Beast within intro is simply stunning.
With regards to her first night in the UK there were a few changes. I noticed that her first costume was different than in the US. Rather than the gold corset, she wore a blue one with red beading. It's not that clear from the images so I'd wait for other reports of this just in case it was my eyes playing tricks!
Also she changed her 'Kabbalists do it better' T shirt to 'BRITS DO IT BETTER' (T shirt is available from merchandise store) and when speaking to the crowd she actually said 'Brits do it better....and I should know!' and then giggled. Of course this got the crowd going too!
Regarding the anti-war images used during american life, she seemed to use the original footage (Bush kissing Sadam, corpses etc) from the first cut of the video. It was good the see the crowd cheering without any boos (unlike in LA) when she finished the song.
The video footage used for Bedtime story (and the remix of the song) are fantastic. Hopefully this will be included on the DVD.
She interacted with the crowd at a few occasions. With Express Yourself she said 'here's a trip down memory lane' the started the 'come on boys....' speech. Material girl was preceded by 'this is a golden oldie and sometimes I forget the words....you'll need to help me out'. She said her ususal 'I don't want to see anyone sitting' for Like A Prayer (the background video of everyone singing this was excellent).
All I can say is I can't wait to do it all again on Wednesday!

From Lee:
We booked for the first Manchester date announced (SUNDAY) and were lucky to get fan club tickets in the front rows.
All very well but, Saturday night is always a good night in Manchester so we decided to get last minute tickets a couple of days ago for the first night also. We had awful seats right at the side (actually behind the video screens) and right at the top. Several of us complained to the stewards as one of the stage lights was shining right in our eyes and hurting our sight. A very kind steward agreed and said she would bring spare tickets to let us upgrade and we could move if we wanted to. We did move and got upgraded to great seats nr the front with a great view.
Madonna's opening costume seemed different from previous shows (I've only seen photos), the design was different and the corset was silver rather than gold, maybe just lighting? She rolled through the first part of the set without much audience interaction, but exclaimed 'Fuck it's hot in here' (it was). At one point she said 'Our first UK show and we decided to come to Manchester first'. Tonight Madonna wore a 'Brits Do It Better' T shirt and at one point said 'Brits really do do it better - I should know!'.
Like a prayer seemed to be the highlight for the audience as a whole with most of the crowd taking on the choral role of the song - nice! My personal highlight of the night was Crazy for You. I watched her through my binoculars up close for the whole song and I swear that I could see the young woman of 1985 singing that song and shining on stage. She seemed to really give it heart and soul.
Material Girl was reinvented in the best possible way and musically has never sounded better. I loved the back projection on Hollywood which has a Tarot Card theme. One of the most notable and striking images from the show was American Life when dancers dressed as nuns, Rabbis, Cardinals, Russian Orthodox etc. lined the double V walk, standing stock still to emphasise and contrast with the bloody carnage on stage behind, along with Madonna's heartfelt cries of 'This kind of modern life is not for me'.
After a tingling but beautiful and well placed rendition of Imagine - Into the Groove kicked in and from here on it was non stop partying and high spirits - apart from a great Crazy for you, there simply wasn't time to reflect on anything let alone that the show would soon be over. The last two songs - Music and Holiday were nothing more or less than a frantic parting shot, which seemed to leave a wound that gaped and begged for more. Looking around, the audience was not prepared to go. Encore or no encore, the audience finally left - reluctantly!

From Lisa:
This was my 1st Madonna gig and most certainly was not disappointed. I had excellent seats in the middle section on the floor just 4 rows away from the stage. I was amazed how close I was to Madonna and I'm sure she looked right at me at the end of American Life! She may have been trying to check what I had on my tshirt as me and my cousin had MANCUNIANS DO IT BETTER ones on.
We all wondered what would be on hers for Papa Don't Preach and she came out with a BRITS DO IT BETTER one on. I suppose we should have guessed as they were being sold in the venue stalls. A lot of the merchandise has come down in price I thought and the elusive HOMEGIRL and COMPLEX tshirts were back on sale.
Anyway, back to the concert. Madonna put on her tshirt and said 'Hey I should know', referring to the Brits doin it better and her hubby Guy. Then she kinda went all shy after sayin it. It was an amazin gig and with all the other reports I can't really add any more as she did the exact same set list and seemed to say the same kind of things, like before Crazy For You dedicating it to the fans.
One piece of advise though, don't get caught taking photos if you are in the first few rows as you'll get sprung (like me!) and try and take your camera off you and frog march you to Customer Services! I didn't let it get that far though and promised not to take any more.
One thing Madonna did comment on was hot it was and we could see her sweat! It was unbelievably warm in there and if you are going be prepared to sweat buckets!
Had an amazing time and I'll go do it all again tonight!

From Tony B:
Well what can I say what a show it was after reading many of the American fan reviews I could not believe how BRILLIANT it was and madonnas voice was amazing.
I was sat 5 rows from the front and what a view it was awesome and from the moment it started everyone was was up off there chairs singing and dancing well everyone at the front was, Madge didn't complain about anyone sitting.
She wore a t-shirt with Brits Do It Better and she said she should know and had a big smile on her face everyone new what she meant.
Well cant wait for the 19th now got a VIP ticket for that show bring it on. MADONNA YOUR THE BEST LOVE YOU!

From S. Sutcliffe:
AWESOME
This is without doubt the best concert I have been to for all round entertainment. The t-shirts with the slogan 'Brits Do It Better' should have read 'Madonna Does It Better'.

From Billy:
What can I say what hasn't been said before, breathtaking! I travelled all the way from London to witness the best show ever! I managed to get front row tickets from the presale on Icon and they were worth every penny and more. Everything was just brilliant, I danced, jumped, clapped and sung my heart out.
My fav was 'Into The Groove' just brought back memories of Blond Ambition and just such a great version oh and of course 'Vogue' what an opener!
The only problem (minor) was waiting for the fan club tickets, wasn't able to collect til 6:45 and then by then there was a massive que, luckily I was quite near the front. Thank god they sent out the London tickets.
Roll on Earls Court & Wembley, here I come!

From Rick:
OMG went to the opening night at Manchester and we won pit tickets and SO got to Touch MADONNA's Knee HAHAHA we screamed, we got starstruck and the show was the most amazing experiance of out life. Me and my friend so couldn't sleep last night as we were so hyped up.
We chanted for Donna Delory when she finally graced our side of the stage and the other backing singer (I don't know her name) so wowed us. She made eye contact with us throughout and was graceful in Don't Tell Me, when she raised her hat and gave us a little smile.
Madonna's voice was supberb, she looked fantastic and it was so worth that me and my friend both lost our voices haha!

From Richard:
The show was simply amazing, the best crowd I've ever seen. Up in section 204 you could hear the entire arena singing along at a level the same as that on stage!
Everyone at the hotel afterwards who had been to the show couldn't believe they had just seen Madonna in the flesh, a few weren't even fans but just fancied a night out. They were gobsmacked!

From David:
This was a really special show for me as I was there with one of my best friends in the world and it was in my adopted hometown. I won't go into details about how the show ran as we all know that by now. What I will say is that the atmosphere was electric and the reaction to some of her songs was amazing - 'Into The Groove', 'Crazy For You' and 'Like A Prayer' got the best reactions. I felt so lucky to be a part of it all. When I looked around during "Like A Prayer" and saw everyone loving it and going mad, I have to confess, I welled up!
It's a really fun, unrelenting show. Madonna seems really happy to be up there, doing her thing and gives it up to her fans in a way I haven't really experienced before. The highlights for me were the end of 'Don't Tell Me' (where she looked really overwhelmed at the reaction of the audience when she sang 'don't ever, ever, tell me....') and 'Holiday' - I was literally ten feet from her, screaming my head off while she sang her heart out. Fantastic....absolutely the best concert I've ever been to.
Roll on Thursday when we do it all again, London-style!

From Andy:
Blown away doesn't even come close. This was the first time I've seen Madonna live and my God was it worth every penny. Sat in Block E so when the catwalk came down she was right above me. Amazing.
The opening track, The Beast Within, was very effective and you just knew you were about to witness something extra special. Then onto Vogue which blew me away with her fantastic yoga positions. One of the highlights for me came next with Nobody Knows Me - not one of my favourite tracks before, but this kicked ass on the night!
Other highlights for me were Like A Prayer - thank you to the entire crowd for this particular song - the atmosphere was electric and you could tell Madonna loved the response from us all - Don't Tell Me mixed with Bittersweet Symphony, the Orbital remix of Bedtime Story with the beautiful visuals - she looks better each year in my opinion - Music with its pure energy, Holiday with the party atmosphere all around us, Americal Life with the Headcleaners rock remix thrown in for good measure - in fact every song was performed with sheer perfection!
From where I was standing I only saw one or two people sitting down during Hanky Panky and Deeper And Deeper - but they were pregnant women so we can forgive them for that I reckon!
And where did the reports come from stating that seats were empty? Did anyone else there see this? I bloody didn't! As for the lack of encore, we knew that Holiday was the final song from the other fan reviews and the offical programme, so after almost 2 hours of pure energy, stunning visuals, electric atmosphere, audience interaction, energetic dancing and perfect singing, I think Madonna put on the best show ever for us all.
I'd have paid any price for this show and seriously hope this wasn't her final tour. She may be 46, but i was knackered just watching her! I've always been a fan of Madonna's - sure, everyone's entitled to their own opinions about her and I have the odd song of hers which doesn't really do it for me, but in my opinion she's without doubt the most famous woman of our time - constantly reinventing herself, never disappointing her fans and above all, a true professional. Madonna, you rule - thank you for the best night of my life - and thank you to the audience who were there too for your energy!

From Paul M:
That was amazing! Easily my favourite of her tours, from the minute the screens came on flashing those images to the point where the confetti rained down and almost completely obscured my view the time simply flew.
'Don't Tell Me' mixed with 'Bittersweet Sympthony' was a high point and the new mixes of the tracks were fantastic - Express Yourself seemed to be the favourite around me. I almost couldn't wait for one track to end so the next could start.
Great to see her looking like she's having so much fun up there. Great crowd who all really got into the mood and danced, and a rather fine mancunian version of 'Happy Birthday' - what a silky voiced lot us Mancs are!
I just can't wait to go Earls Court on Wednesday! Viva Madonna!

From Warren:
Just back from the concert. What can I say? Amazing! Madonna told us that we were a better crowd than last nights!
After Papa Don't Preach, the backing singer stopped the music and asked the whole arena to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Madonna. She asked if she was allowed to sing it too. We all joined in and she was chuffed!
I was seated (well standing) on the middle floor slightly to the left and during Holiday when that platform came down, she was only about 15 feet away! I was gobsmacked! I know you all probably think it's wishfull thinking but she actually caught my eye as I was freaking out and dancing. I've been that close - wow! Well worth every penny of that £150.00.

From Peter:
Having watched both Manchester shows I can say that tonight's show kicked ass compared to Saturdays detached, robotic performance. Madonna really responded to the audience and even said 'You guys are much better than last night'. On Saturday Madonna didnt seem to enjoy herself at all. Tonight she interacted with the audience more and in turn we got chance to honour our idol by singing Happy Birthday at the request of Siedah Garrett.
Before Imagine Madonna commented that the song was wrote by 'A man that comes from a town not far from here' and before 'Crazy For You' Madonna dedicated the song to 'Everyone that made me feel loved. I am truly one of the luckiest girls in the world. I have always felt that I have had an angel over my shoulder, looking out for me....I'm a perfect example that you can achieve anything you want to. Dream the impossible dream'.
Highlights: Like a Prayer, Into the Groove, Express Yourself, Holiday.
Low Point: Die Another Day - it just doesnt fit with the sentiments of Deeper and Deeper and Lament is melodrama that borders on embarrassment.

From Paul:
On Saturday night I had £75 tickets for Block 205, way up near the roof. I was excited about being at the gig but still felt jealous of the people down the front.
At around 8.30pm two American girls walked up to our block and spoke to four girls in the row in front of me, she said 'are you four together?' It turned out that they weren't, just two groups of two. She then said 'who's the biggest Madonna fan?' I leaned over and shouted 'I'm a bigger fan than all four of them put together!' The American girl then gave two tickets to the girls on the left then leaned over them, handed me some tickets at said 'these are a gift from Madonna, have a great time!'
I ended up with two tickets for Block B, row A, seats 1 and 2! I was very very very excited, as you can imagine.
I have never been that close to Madonna, she looked at me a few times (the best being during the little dance with the bagpipe player during Into The Groove, where I was laughing and she looked at me and laughed too!)
As you can imagine I'm still in shock, I know I will never forget that night for the rest of my life.

From Wayne:
From the moment she rose onto the stage, Madonna had the whole crowd in the palm of her hand. Everyone was on their feet and the show was flawless.
Following Papa Don't Preach, the 7th row held up cards spelling out 'Happy Birthday' and 14,000 people sang for her while she hugged the dancers on stage. She then dedicated 'Crazy for You' - 'to everyone who makes me feel loved', before tossing the 'Brits Do It Better' t-shirt into the crowd.
I have never heard her sound so good before. MADONNA - I'll see you again on Wednesday!

From Manannan:
The Lady has still got it!
After singing LIVE all night, the backing singers got the crowd to sing an inpromptu Happy Birthday to Madonna, and she really seemed touched by it. The whole show was amazing and left you just wanting more.

From Andrew:
Sundays show was amazing! She started 50 minutes late as usual. Such fantastic dancing and voice, imagery, it was a fast paced show and she was having a good time - alot more so than appeared on the Drowned World tour.
She wore the original outfit for Vogue and commented the crowd tonight is 'way better' than last night's crowd!
Before she finished the very end of Don't Tell Me she said 'I'll take as long as I want it's nearly my birthday!' - then Siedah stopped the show and announced it was Madonna's birthday tommorrow and the dancers all were on the stage and then after singing with the audience Happy Bithday to Madonna she said 'I feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world, I feel like I've always had an angel watching over my shoulder and I'm here to tell you that you have too and I'm the perfect example of how you can be whatever you want to be - Dream the impossible!'
The show last night was flasless and the voice especially during Deeper and Deeper and The Lament was incredible.

From Michael:
What can I say, last night my dream came true! I have waited so many years to see Madonna live and now it’s happened!
Madonna was an hour late on stage she came on at 9pm, but it was well worth it. Of course she stared off with 'Vogue' and everybody was going wild!
The highlight of the show for me was 'Express Yourself'; I did have a good dance to that.
Also I loved when we sang Happy Birthday to Madonna, after 'Papa Don’t Preach'. Madonna’s backing singer came on and said 'Stop the music, Madonna don’t look at me like that. Right Manchester you all know what day it is tomorrow, so you know what you’ve got to do!' After we sang Happy Birthday to her, Madonna said to us 'I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, I am here to say to you all – be what you want to be, and dream the impossible dream!'
If you want me to be honest, I cried and cried!

From Steve:
My friend and I were at both shows....all I can say is BRILLIANT. For the second night I managed to get PIT PASSES, and it was like seeing the show from a whole new point of view. We got great eye contact from Madonna and Donna smiled and waved at me a number of times! The crowd for both nights were LOUD.
The dancing was amazing, not many 46 year olds could get on down like that! Oh and on the second night after Papa don't preach the show was brought to a stop and EVERYONE sang Happy Birthday to Madonna! She thanked everyone and told us all to follow our dreams.
There was some great merchandise as well - thankfully not as expensive as the tickets. My only bad point was that Madonna didn't talk to the crowd that much....but she can do what she likes can't she?
All in all it was an amazing concert....Britney you can't do it better!

From Amy:
I went to see the show last night amd it was the best concert I've ever been to!
She performed all her classics like Papa Don't Preach and Like A Prayer but the best part of the show must have been her cover of John Lennon's Imagine.
Madonna is by far the greatest female artist in the world! What an experience!

From Stuart:
The best bit was getting to sing Happy Birthday to her - one of her dancers came on just before crazy for you and we all sang to her. She seemd emotional after and I'm sure she wiped away a tear!
Before Don't Tell Me she said 'I see a few of you have cowboy hats so you may want to get them ready for this next song'
At the end of Don't Tell Me she kept repeating the line 'Don't ever tell me to stop' and said 'I can take my time as its nearly my birthday' then she carried on saying it and finally said 'don't ever tell me to stop mother f*ckers!'
Before Imagine she said 'this next song was written by someone who grew up not far away from here'
After Papa Don't Preach after we had sang Happy Birthday to her she said she 'felt like the luckiest girl alive and that I have had an angel looking over my shoulder all my life' she said each one of us did too and that we should follow our dreams.

From Lisa:
Although I wasn't as close on the Sunday night (4th row floor sat night and 13th row sunday) I still had an amazing time. Madonna comented on the crowd being better than the previous night - even though a lot of the same people were at both! I think she meant she was getting a better vibe from Sunday night's crowd as absolutely everyone was up out of their seats throughout the entire show. A lot of the people in the side tiers on Saturday sat down! Why? I couldn't tell you.
She interacted a lot more with the audience and of course one of the highlights was when Siedah Garrett came out after Papa don't Preach and led us all in a rendition of Happy Birthday to Madonna. That was so cool and madonna was truely touched. It was such a privelage to have been able to sing Happy Birthday to my Idol! :)
The best weekend of my life and one of my ambitions has now been made complete by going to see The Queen Of Pop (and in my hometown too!)
Everyone waiting for their London shows are in for a treat. ENJOY!

From Paul W:
Just got back from seeing Madonna at MEN on her final Manchester gig and it was absolutly fantastic! She kept us in constant tension as she didn't start until 9:00! (8.00 start) The atmosphere was amazing. It was my first Madonna concert and I was very pleased.

From Damian:
I was lucky enough to see Madonna twice in Manchester. First on the 14th where I was 5 rows from the front and then on the 15th where I was 7 rows from the front in block 115. Both nights Madonna put on a fantastic show. Though I feel we let her down as crowd on the first night.
On the second night I could see the entire stage and the mechanics of it all. And it really is truly amazing in every sense. What was really sweet was that when they all went off after the show I saw the other dancers give Madonna a massive group hug backstage.
Even Madonna said we were a better crowd on the second night, and I was pleased because on the video screens you could see her smile and she was clearly enjoying the crowd and the show. Vocally she was breath taking. The fact that she interacted with the crowd that much more the second night, because we gave out made it all the better. There's no questioning that Madonna at 46 still its way above the rest. An amazing show full of vision, spectacular vocals and one hell of a back catalogue.
It's worth noting too that many people seem to be complaining that she kept her fans waiting, 45 minutes beyond the time she was due on. But I suspect she was waiting for her fans instead because both nights the arena didn't fill up until about at least 8.30 when the show was clearly listed as starting at 8pm. So perhaps we were the one's being rude, and not Madonna.

From Nicola:
As soon as the lights went down 'The Beast within' came on my heart started to beat faster, the visuals on the screen were amazing, so haunting and powerful,the last line of the song you hear her voice 'Behold I am coming''....the screens move back then she appears, well that was it my eyes welled up.
I was in the 13th row from the front and was lucky enough to have a fantastic view, when the platform came down during American Life & Holiday she walked over my head. I have seen her in the Drowned world Tour and Girlie show, also the 'Up for Grabs' Play and I thought this show topped them all, she looked stunning her body is amazing and she looks very youthful with her long hair.
I enjoyed every song, just before 'Don't Tell Me' she announced this was her 'oldie but goodie' we all sang Happy Birthday as her backing singer announced that if Nikki was here she's be doing this, Madonna asked she if she had to sing, but! we were all so loud, it felt really good to wish her Happy Birthday it was truly amazing. Just before 'Like a Prayer' she announced that this was the get of your ass song the crowds were so loud I could hardly hear her sing.
Just fantastic the night went so quick. I would like to thank Madonna for such a great show, just can't wait for the DVD now.

From Lollapalooza:
It's not exactly a report, cause there are so many things to write about the show and many things were already reported by other fans, but I guess no one yet mentioned that when ending Burning Up right before proceeding to the final 'You know you've got me burning up, baby' part she sang 'YOU'RE BURNING UP, BURNING UP FOR MY LOVE' followed by the usual 'I'm burning up, burning up for your love'. You should have seen her face then too! I guess she expected some reaction from the crowd! That didn't quite follow though. I personally started laughing, really! It was cool! :)

From Alex:
We flew all the way from Gran Canaria to see the Re-Invention tour, and all I can say is 'WE WERE BLOWN AWAY!' It was my fifth time seeing her Madgesty, and before the concert I had read fan and press reviews on Madonnalicious, but nothing could have prepared us. She keeps on getting better and better! The highlight of the concert was when the whole arena stood up and sang Happy Birthday, an experience we will never forget. I only wish we had bough tickets for the Saturday night show aswell.

From Mike:
I am 18 years old, and I have been a Madonna fan for as long as I can remember. It has always been a dream of mine to see her live, and on Sunday 15th August 2004, at 9pm (an hour late, but never mind!) it came true! I had tears in my eyes all the way through, the fact that I was so close to the woman I have adored since I was a child was all too much for me. It was well worth £150 a ticket, and anybody who disagrees is not a true fan.
Well as we all know 'The Re-Invention Tour' is amazing, but the highlights for me were 'Vogue', 'Express Yourself', 'Die Another Day', 'Nothing Fails', 'Don’t Tell Me' and 'Like A Prayer' I also loved it when we sang 'Happy Birthday' to her, and I have to be honest at that point it really was too much, and I did wipe away a tear or two!
Seeing her live made me realize what a professional she was, her sound went funny in 'Express Yourself' and she just carried on belting it out. I also want to thank the woman sitting next to me Mo, for making the hour wait for Madonna to come on stage a good laugh, and also for having someone to dance with! So if you ever read this THANK YOU!