History is made up of people. But not just people: history is written by legends. The ones that leave a mark, the ones that mark the future. If there was an official book of the entire history of music, Madonna would have a page. Or a whole chapter. Yesterday, Madonna, the Queen of Pop, gave the first of two concerts in Barcelona as part of her tour. Holiday tourorganized by Live Nation Spain, thereby adding another line to the history of music that will be immortalized forever.

Tour Holiday tour It was conceived in honor of Madonna’s 40th anniversary in the music industry. Almost nothing. Four decades since their first album. Eight decades during which she never stopped making music, being a pop icon and, above all, doing what she does best: being controversial and leaving no one indifferent.

Their first concert on Wednesday, November 1st, All Saints’ Day, started out bittersweet. Complete disorganization (lack of signs to enter, mixing in the same queue for the track and stands…) marred the start of the concert, which began an hour later. Although “Arka” entertained as the opening act almost 18,000 people from Palau Sant Jordi As much as she could (she was punctual), the rest of the time was filled with the sounds of repeating electronic databases, drinking beer and munching on various foods that those present produced with desperation and boredom.

While it’s true that divas love to keep people waiting, the case of the American’s current tour has a negative (or at least worrying) connotation. Health conditions forced the start of Madonna’s 2023 world tour to be postponed, although, fortunately for European fans, dates on the old continent were not affected. And, as the following hours showed, he was fine.

After an agonizing wait, Bob the Drag Queen, guest artist for this tour, opened the show in style speaker from fashion. Dressed in the same dress as Madonna made history at the 1990 MTV Music Awards., in Victorian dress and fans, opened the show, which examined the artist’s entire career. How could it be otherwise?

In a touching speech, after a couple of songs, the 65-year-old diva wanted to explain in a few free words in Spanish that this tour overview of his career, his life. The good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly. Everything she did after her debut in New York as a dancer ultimately led her to become one of the most famous and influential singers on the planet. “Welcome to my story. “This is the story of my life.” To make sure the message got through, he dared to ask the audience in (poorly conjugated) Spanish, “Do you understand?”, to which his audience responded with applause and thunderous shouting.

This story could not help but include a tribute to those who are no longer here. Flying over the stage in a square structure, Madonna managed to sing for those friends who fell ill with AIDS. Among them is the image Freddie Mercurywhich filled the Palazzo Sant Jordi with applause.

While the general public may not be aware of this facet, Madonna took the opportunity to show off her more familiar side. Not only through their children, participants in the show in different songs (guitar, piano or dance fashion). The singer also remembered her mother through images and some words. The mother who never was the mother he lost when he was only five years old.

It also couldn’t miss religious iconographyj. In the center of the stage there were dancers in crucifixion poses; to the sounds of Gregorian chants, the singer gave way Like a prayer undoubtedly one of his most controversial and iconic songs.

Madonna on the military conflict in Palestine

Also in a religious vein, Madonna appealed to the teachings of Jesus and Christianity. Without music, speaking directly to the public, Madonna wanted to talk about world problems. Without specifying, although everyone knew what war she was referring to, Madonna stated that the world had to stop and think about what Jesus wanted to teach: radical inclusion, radical hospitality…. And radical, unconditional love for one’s neighbor. In English, he said that “we cannot save the world unless we love our neighbors. That’s all,” he concluded. Palau Sant Jordi responded unanimously and in agreement with the artist.

Because Madonna declared herself Jewish, Yeah. Another two thousand. But also Catholic aferrim And he also expressed his interest in Koran. Madonna was everything and nothing. But what has always been is contradictory and changing. The only corset for the singer was a Victorian-style dress.

Of course, there should have been some mention of his contribution to the film industry. May be, her role as Evita Peron It may not be one of her best projects, but Madonna saw fit to sing. Die another day a song that was conceived for the James Bond film of the same name.

Message to Heaven from the Queen to the King

One of the most emotional things that only Madonna could do was pay tribute to the greatest. Message from the Queen to the Absent King. Two shadows danced on a huge projection (one in a suit and hat, the other in a wedding dress). Michael Jackson songs mingled with the iconic Madonna herself while images of the two were projected.

This gesture, more than a tribute, is a representation of the path that two young men paved for thousands of artists to follow decades later. Because not only were they the king and queen of pop music, but they also invented a special way of creating art. The music industry in its current form was invented by Madonna and Michael Jackson.. The importance of live performance, innovation, lighting, show planning, surprises, costumes… Anyway, importance of the showwhich is now, in digital times, the backbone of the music industry to support artists and workers, they invented it.

So seeing the graphic image of these two young men dancing like two equals, like two friends who saw the future and just sang and danced to change the world., is the greatest gesture of love shown on the stages of the planet. From monarch to monarch, from artist to artist, from the one who persists to the one who is no longer there.

Overall, this tour helped Madonna regain those projects that were once viewed poorly by the audienceas in the case Erotica. It reminded the world that the Queen of Pop also created rock, country and disco. She was a diva of all styles, she is the diva that no one has ever managed to be.

But above all, this tour, celebrating his forty years as an artist, is a tour of respect, memory and love. Love for the artists who accompanied her in her beginnings, such as Freddie Mercury or Michael Jackson; love for friends and family who are here and those who are not… but most of all, love for your fansto an audience that, after so many years, so many reinventions, controversies and various projects, continues to fill stadiums, so that every time the Queen of Pop calls them, they quickly and energetically come to the royal call.