CheekyChicago

I don’t think I realized what an unbelievably huge Madonna fan I was until this week when I packed myself into the United Center with the rest of Chicago to see the second night of the Sticky and Sweet Tour. The minute the lights went down and the glittery “M” appeared on huge video monitors around the stage, I was screaming like a middle-aged woman at Oprah. It suddenly all came back to me. This was not just an assignment for Cheeky. I loved Madonna. And I always had.

My life with Madonna flashed before my eyes. I remembered choreographing a dance to “Vogue” with my sister; secretly watching a copy of “Truth or Dare” in middle school with my very cool best friend; dancing to “Ray of Light” at a high school dance and screaming along with “Like a Prayer” at every sorority formal. Madonna, I realized, had been a key part of the cultural tapestry that has surrounded us for the past 25 years. Suddenly, the night seemed to take on historical significance. I watched in awe as one of the video panels spun around to reveal Madonna in a top hat, one leg slung over the side of a throne. I was not worthy.

When the music started, the U.C. immediately took on a dance club vibe. Madonna opened her set with “Candy Shop,” an incredibly catchy song from her new album Hard Candy. She then quickly went into “Beat Goes On” and “Vogue.” I was in heaven. At 50 (you heard me) Madonna is still an absolute powerhouse on stage. The choreography is as difficult and as innovative as ever, incorporating hip-hop, Indian and Latin influences. The vocals are impressive, especially in the Evita ballad “You Must Love Me.” Madonna even picks up an electric guitar for a few numbers. But she has lost some of the raw sexuality that she exuded during her early years. She’s more assured. She’s edges rather than curves. Dare I say it? She almost seems masculine. This is not necessarily a negative. It is just another face of an adept shape shifter.

The two high points of the show for me were “Human Nature,” featuring a video cameo of Britney Spears whispering “Express yourself, don’t repress yourself” throughout and “La Isla Bonita” done with a gypsy folk flair. “Into the Groove” was also a standout, with Madonna at one point double-dutch jump roping. The only low point for me was “She’s Not Me,” another (weak) song from Hard Candy.”

The concert closed with an audience request. Madonna complied, singing an acapella version of “Dress you Up” and quickly transitioning into “Hung Up.” There was no encore, even though everyone wanted one. But I guess when you’re Madonna, you do what you want. All in all, this concert renewed my relationship with an icon. In other words, two thumbs up. Let the downloading begin.