Madonna kicked off her massive ‘Celebration World Tour’ with the first of six sold-out shows at London’s The O2 on Saturday (October 14).
The Queen of Pop embarked upon an emotional journey through some of her biggest hits, including songs she has not performed on stage in decades, spanning her 1983 debut through to the present day.
Within the show were nods to her beginnings as a struggling artist living in New York City, along with the personal and professional lows to spiritual awakening and ultimately stratospheric success.
She also broached the subject of her hospitalisation over the summer which saw the planned US opening leg of tour delayed while she recovered. “I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Madonna told the crowd.
Live To Tell served as a tribute to AIDS victims and she also addressed the situation in Israel and Gaza. “It’s so painful to witness,” she said. “It breaks my heart to see children suffering, teenagers suffering, elderly people suffering. I’m sure you agree.”
During Vogue, Madonna’s daughter Lourdes joined her to score dancers out of 10 in a segment influenced by the New York Ballroom scene.
Madonna’s ‘Celebration World Tour’ plays across Europe through December 6, before heading Stateside with an extended run into April 2024.
Setlist: Madonna – Celebration World Tour, The O2, London (Saturday, October 14)
Act 1
Nothing Really Matters
Everybody (with elements of Where’s The Party)
Into The Groove
Burning Up
Open Your Heart (with elements of Live To Tell)
Holiday (with elements of Chic’s I Want Your Love)
Live To Tell
Like A Prayer (Girl Gone Wild, Act Of Contrition and Sam Smith & Kim Petras’ Unholy)
Act II
Erotica (with elements of Erotica (Final Demo 2) and Papa Don’t Preach)
Justify My Love
Fever
Hung Up (with elements of Hung Up on Tokischa, Kehlani’s Gangsta, and Fever)
Bad Girl
Vogue
Human Nature
Crazy For You
Act III
Die Another Day
Don’t Tell Me
Mother And Father
Little Star
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor cover)
La Isla Bonita
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover)
Act IV
Bedtime Story
Ray Of Light
Rain
Act V
Bitch I’m Madonna (with elements of Give Me All Your Luvin’ and Unapologetic Bitch)
Celebration (with elements of Music)
