Wonderful monster

Madonna will finish her European tour in Moscow

Madonna's concert in our country is an event that became such even before it actually took place. The level of interest in the concert of the American superstar, a symbol of pop music in the 80s, 90s, and even the 2000s, is extremely high for a number of reasons. Almost since winter, “reliable rumors” began to circulate that a concert was coming. It was rumored that first a certain organization reached an agreement with the singer’s management, then two more organizations (almost left-wing) intervened in this negotiation process, which did not agree on anything, but immediately offered more money and raised the stakes in the game. Be that as it may, the fuss of bulldogs under the carpet is over, and the date of Madonna's concert is precisely determined - September 11, the venue is Vorobyovy Gory. Tickets went on sale today, August 8, and members of Madonna's official fan club were able to order them online as early as Friday.

What’s nice is that the producer of Madonna’s show, the head of Live Nation Central and Eastern Europe, Tim Dowdall, said at a press conference (even such a boring and protocol event as “a press conference of the concert organizers regarding the upcoming performance of the superstar” in itself turned into a real event) that Madonna considers performing in Moscow one of the priorities of her European tour.

According to the organizers of the Moscow performance, the price of the bulk of the tickets will be 1.5 thousand rubles, and this is “the lowest price for Madonna’s concert as part of her current European tour.” Seats in the stands will cost more - their price will reach 25 thousand rubles. Tickets must have several levels of security, including watermarks, be printed on special paper, and each must have its own barcode. Madonna's official website reports that during the concert she intends to perform songs from her latest album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, released in 2005.

Meanwhile, Madonna's European tour, which will end exactly in our capital, continues. One of the most scandalous concerts of the tour took place last weekend in Rome. The fact is that Madonna, in response to criticism from the Vatican, invited Pope Benedict XVI to her concert on August 6 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, RIA Novosti reports. The singer's press secretary Liz Rosenberg told reporters about this. "Madonna invited the Pope to the concert so he could see first-hand how beautiful, eloquent and humanistic Madonna's message is behind Live to Tell," Rosenberg said. This song, dedicated to African AIDS victims, is performed by Madonna “crucified” on the cross. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said it was "a blasphemous profanation, a symbolic expression of the superficiality that reigns in our time, in which relativism reaches the point of self-destruction." “We must show greater determination in defending the sacrifice of Christ,” the cardinal said. And representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church called on their flock to boycott this performance, since Madonna “mixes sacred things with her own passions.” Nevertheless, Liz Rosenberg is sure that the Pope would “appreciate the show.” And Madonna called Jesus himself as a defender, saying that the message of Christ is “a message of love for one’s neighbor and patience,” and she, Louise Veronica Ciccone, sings about the same thing. And in general, in her show “there is nothing that would deny the church or show disrespect towards it.”

But we need Madonna - we need her in any form, with any reputation. Even with all her gigantic popularity, there are people who remain indifferent to her services to mass culture. They (and your humble servant) consider Madonna to be pretentious, vulgar, a so-so vocalist (“plywood woman in law”), and we are especially angry that she uses any means, goals and targets to shock. DJ Paul Oakenfold, who is scheduled to perform with her in Moscow, told me that she is a “wonderful person.” I believe. Well, in show business, many people are wonderful, this profession presents them as monsters. What absolutely cannot be doubted is Madonnina’s brilliant sense of opportunism. So, let's put our likes and dislikes in our pockets and admit it: we damn well need Madonna. Because she is the penultimate guarantor that everything is in order with our concert life and will be even better. In August 1998, such a breakthrough concert was the performance of the Rolling Stones at the Luzhniki Grand Sports Arena. Until now, all music lovers' gossip about our concert life boils down to one thing: who has not yet performed with us and what it would mean. That is, we are very pleased with how many and what kind of concerts are taking place in our country. But still, there are performers who are awaited every year, rumors about whose imminent arrival arise as often as “signs of the second coming.”

Over the past ten years, attitudes towards touring foreign performers have changed radically. A concert by a popular foreign artist was no longer considered something out of the ordinary, and sweet groans of delight and complete apology were replaced by sober analysis and a “we-want-to-pleasure-for-our-money” attitude. During all this time, the list of undisputed names that are needed for Russia to enter the map of the world concert space has been reduced from hundreds of positions to almost zero. But this almost zero price is worth it: I would venture to name the three main “expectants”. If you don’t agree, try to come up with your own (only maybe your idol has already played in the capital - semi-secretly, in a nature reserve, as was the case with Sophie Ellis Bextor, Jerry Halliwell or Anastasia). So, the trinity is this: Radiohead, U2 and Madonna. Despite the fact that the last two are a sine qua non, an obligation. If the concert takes place, it will become the penultimate milestone taken by the Russian concert business. Because the last one is still U2.

Alexander BELYAEV