Influential megastar Madonna is set to begin her highly anticipated The Celebration Tour on Saturday at the O2 Arena, and fans are in for a treat. The Queen of Pop, who began her career in the 80s, will showcase her legendary career in a “documentary” style, according to her musical director.
Stuart Price, Madonna’s musical director and long-time friend, spoke to the BBC about the celebration. He said: “A greatest hit doesn’t have to be a song. It can be a wardrobe, it can be a video, or a statement. Madonna’s reputation is for being highly precise and highly rehearsed across all departments. When you look at a tour of this scale, it has so many moving parts, so many elements, that everything has to be highly fixed.”
Price, who worked with Madonna on her 2001 Drowned World Tour, praised the star for the icon she cemented herself as. He said: “There’s one thing that’s always dynamic, and that’s Madonna herself. Her personality is so strong, her interaction with the audience is so strong, that it creates opportunities for variation from night to night.”
Madonna, who last toured in the UK for her Madame X Tour in 2020, will see the “Hung Up” singer begin the celebration this Saturday, when she performs at a sold-out show at the O2 Arena in London. The icon will also be performing in the UK on Sunday, 17 October and 18 October before heading to Belgium. However, if fans missed out on these dates, they are in luck as the star will return to the UK for two more shows in early December.
Whilst Madonna certainly has the catalogue for more than 40 hits that she could include in her setlist, here are some that fans would love to see.
“Like A Virgin” (1984)
The icon’s signature song, “Like A Virgin”, was the song that catapulted Madonna into super-stardom. The track, which has been certified Gold in the UK, took Madonna to new heights and made her a pop-culture icon.
“Into the Groove” (1985)
Madonna’s first number 1 hit in the UK, “Into the Groove” is certainly a favourite amongst fans and artists. The song, which has been sampled by the likes of Dannii Minogue, has been cited as a pop classic for its cool and experimental production.
“Express Yourself” (1989)
This dance-pop infused track with deep funk elements is another staple in Madonna’s discography. The song and video saw the icon push new ground thanks to its themes of feminism and freedom of expression.
“Erotica” (1992)
One of Madonna’s darkest and edgiest songs, “Erotica” is another gem from the Queen of Pop. Whilst the lyrics and video are most definitely racy, the track saw the icon tackle the theme of sex like never before. The song was last performed by Madonna almost a decade ago on her The MDNA Tour… here’s hoping it will make its grand return!
“Music” (2000)
A smash hit, “Music” was the lead single from her eight-studio album titled Music. The song has been a commercial success across the world, becoming certified Gold in the UK, Germany, France and Sweden.
“Me Against the Music” (2003)
A track adored by many, “Me Against the Music” saw the Queen of Pop and Pop’s princess Britney Spears go back and forth in a dynamic exchange. Fresh off the wedding bells from the iconic 2003 VMA performance, the duo delivered yet again when the stars collaborated on the hit single.
“Incredible” (2008)
Despite it not being a single, “Incredible” is pop at its finest thanks to the production by The Neptunes. The track, from the 2008 album Hard Candy, would be a perfect choice for the star to cover.
“Girl Gone Wild” (2012)
This electropop party track is who Madonna is as an artist – daring, bold and unapologetically sexy.
With just a few more days until the tour kicks off, fans of the star will celebrate the icon in true Madonna fashion.
