SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 Madonna performs at Madison Square Garden in New York City. — AFP photos Madonna still provocative but wistful on new epic tour wo hours into a show in which transgender nuns twirled on More sex and shock gay, similarly transformed several of her giddiest ‘80s tracks-”Dress stripper poles and hot-bodied dancers simulated most imagina- Madonna helped revolutionize the concept of a concert with her You Up,” “Into the Groove” and “Lucky Star” into an acoustic, Spanish- Tble sex acts, Madonna’s eyes glistened. “I’m so lucky to have sur- 1990 “Blond Ambition” tour, giving a new aura to her music through tinged medley brought joyously to stage as a flamenco dance. vived this long,” the pop legend told a sold-out crowd Wednesday prolific costume changes and heavy overtones of sex including simu- “This is the first time my manager told me I’m wearing too much night at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “I’m feeling pretty nos- lated masturbation, which even brought condemnation by The clothing,” Madonna said at she donned a Latin floral dress. Madonna talgic tonight. I first performed here 30 years ago,” she said. On one of Vatican. Madonna has not toned down the sex on the “Rebel Heart” opened the tour last week in Montreal and plans a total of 76 shows the first dates of her new “Rebel Heart” tour, Madonna still proved her tour. She even entered the stage to a recording of her voice declaring, through March 27 when “Rebel Heart” closes in Brisbane, Australia. It capacity to provoke and, at 57, powered lustrously through an elabo- “I have tits and ass and an insatiable desire to be noticed.” is Madonna’s first tour since her 88-date global sweep in 2012 for her rately choreographed set whose breakneck pace would daunt an On “Holy Water,” dancers dressed as nuns with a transgender album “MDNA,” concerts that triggered frequent controversy for her artist of any age. The show opened with Madonna descending from a appearance glided up and down poles and hoisted Madonna per- outspoken commentary on issues including US gun culture and cage to a procession of armored dancers inspired by both Joan of Arc ilously in the air. The stage then turned into a mock “Last Supper,” Europe’s far-right. and the samurai. with Madonna as the main course tied on the table with her legs flirta- “Rebel Heart” is by contrast mostly free of politics save during Madonna and her dancers changed attire at a dizzying pace, as the tiously open. But Madonna was ready to strip down the music as well. “Illuminati,” her toying take on conspiracy theories, in which a screen singer assumed personas that ranged from 1920s cabaret coquette to In one of the most emotionally resonant moments of the night, she flashed sudden scenes ranging from a Ku Klux Klan rally to a gay rights erotically charged matador. But Madonna also turned wistful before sat alone with a ukulele and sang, in French, Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en kiss-in. Madonna in recent years has accused her critics of ageism and, the audience in her adopted hometown, remembering her first time Rose.” The twice-divorced Madonna introduced the song by describ- when she signed off, she was back to her steely self. There was no dra- in Madison Square Garden, when she closed her blockbuster tour for ing herself as “cynical” about marriage, stating: “I have good reason to matic bow or prolonged encore, with her simple parting words: “Like a Virgin” in 1985. The show of emotion was rare for Madonna, be, but I still am a romantic at heart.” “Thank you, New York. We’ll be back.” — AFP who is known for her fierce professional determination and has responded defiantly after recent setbacks including online leaks of the Embracing Latin culture “Rebel Heart” album. Madonna, whose New York fan base is heavily Latino as well as T.I. sets record straight: He still works with Iggy Azalea Rock in Rio festival .I. is setting the record straight: The rapper says he’s still returns to roots working with Iggy Azalea, despite reports claiming their Tbusiness partnership was over after his recent radio inter- view. In an interview with The Associated Press, T.I. said Thursday on 30th anniversary night that he still considers the Australian rapper his “little sister.” hirty years after their late lead singer Freddie Mercury He said his words were taken out of context after talking about led an adoring Rio crowd in a legendary rendition of their relationship during an interview on a New York radio station this week. T“Love of My Life,” Queen returns to the Rock in Rio fes- T.I. said Azalea is still signed to his Grand Hustle label. She said tival this weekend. That performance, with 250,000 people the same Thursday on Twitter. “That’s still my partner,” T.I. said of singing along in the rain, was the highlight of the inaugural Azalea, known for her hit song “Fancy.” “Her life has taken her in a festival, and this year’s gathering, starting Friday, hopes to different direction. My life is still as it was before. But Iggy is doing recapture the magic. what she feels makes Iggy happy. That’s what she should do. Queen will take back the stage, with guest frontman We’re focused on making the next Iggy record and dodge the Adam Lambert. Some 85,000 people are expected for each same adversities we faced last time.” day of the concerts, running till tomorrow at Athletes’ Park, During the radio interview, T.I. talked about the harsh criticism close to where much of the Olympics will be held next year. Azalea received about her music and trying to defuse a public A second festival session will be held next week, from feud between Azalea and rapper Q-Tip. Last year, Q-Tip tried to September 25 to 27. school Azalea on hip-hop’s history and implied she had appropri- In 1985, Brazil was just coming out of a long military dic- ated the black culture. tatorship when 1.3 million people attended what was then a After T.I. attempted to bring peace between Q-Tip and Azalea, 10-day rock festival. In addition to Queen, this year’s version she fired back with a series of messages toward critics through will feature some of the artists from that original event, Twitter. That’s when T.I. felt he needed to step back and allow including Rod Stewart. Brazilian golden oldies Paralamas do Azalea to have her space. “It’s definitely not a ‘sever my ties, walk Sucesso, Lulu Santos and Erasmo Carlos will be there, as will away, I’m upset’ thing,” he said. “It was more so like, OK, you have In this Nov 23, 2014 file photo, Iggy Azalea, left, and T.I. Metallica, System of a Down, Slipknot, Rihanna, Katy Perry, a lot on your plate right now. I’m going to pull back or wait until accept the award for favorite rap/hip-hop album for ‘The New Elton John and A-ha.—AFP you come to a place where you’re ready to come back to the Classic’ on stage at the 42nd annual American Music Awards table, so we can start again and make history some more.”—AP at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. — AP.