Madonna makes history on Copacabana beach

On the night of May 4, a crowd estimated at 2.5 million people gathered on the sands of Copacabana, in Rio de Janeiro, to watch the return to Brazil of a pop music legend. Madonna's show, the last of her “The Celebration Tour”, marked, in addition to the singer's return to Brazil after 12 years, the 40th anniversary of the Queen of Pop's career. In a night full of special appearances, emotional tributes and a step back in time to important moments of her journey, Madonna enchanted the assembled audience and showed once again why she is considered the Queen of Pop.

The origin of a legend

Madonna, showing herself to be full of energy even at her 65 years of age, kicked off the show with “Nothing Really Matters”, followed by a series of hits such as “Burning Up” and “Open Your Heart”. This initial act was a tribute to the beginning of his career, with a more rock-oriented approach and an electrifying energy.

An emotional tribute

In the second act of the show, the screen showed a tribute to several singers that moved the audience. Among the honored singers, it was possible to recognize Freddie Mercury and Brazilian icons such as Cazuza and Renato Russo. The tribute was in memory of all the brilliant artists we lost to AIDS.

In this act, Madonna not only paid tribute, but also engaged the public with performances of well-known songs such as “Live to Tell” and “Like a Prayer”. Additionally, she made references to the Catholic Church, mainly through symbols, reinforcing her message of inclusion and acceptance.

Embed from Getty Images

_{Madonna show pays tribute to music icons who were victims of AIDS (Photo: reproduction/Buda Mendes/GettyImages Embed)}

Exploring the sensual side

Embed from Getty Images

_{Madonna in a wonderful performance with her dancers (Photo: reproduction/Buda Mendes/GettyImages Embed)}

In the third act of the show, Madonna surprised by carrying out a complete visual transformation, wearing a robe that covered bold lingerie, in addition to changing her hairstyle. This act took on a more provocative and sensual tone, exploring themes such as female sexual freedom and empowerment.

Madonna sought to encourage the expression of female libido and sexuality with songs such as “Erotica”, “Justify My Love” and “Bad Girl”, defying taboos. An emotional moment was when her daughter, MJ (Mercy James), joined her on stage, playing the piano while Madonna sang “Bad Girl”, one of her songs released in the 90s.

Anitta on stage with Madonna

In the transition to the fourth act, the stage was transformed into a party atmosphere, with one of Madonna's daughters taking on the role of DJ while the singer herself changed costumes. When she returned, Madonna was wearing an extremely short dress in the colors of the Brazilian flag.

Soon after, Anitta joined Madonna on stage for the now classic ballroom moment, creating a partnership between the two in which they presented an interactive performance, in which men paraded for them and received notes from the judges, adding humor and sensuality to the show. night.

During this moment, Madonna performed songs such as “Human Nature” and “Crazy for You”, the latter famous for being the soundtrack to the film “De Repente 30”.

_{Anitta delivers a fun performance alongside Madonna (Reproduction/Instagram/@multishow)}

Cultural expression and diversity

In the fifth act, Madonna appeared on stage in a fringed jacket and boots, accompanied by one of her musicians playing the guitar. His look transported the audience to an American country atmosphere, mixed with a touch of modernity.

She also sang hits like “Express Yourself” and “Don't Tell Me”, using this act to once again reinforce authenticity and individual expression. Furthermore, this part of the show was the stage for a drum performance, which added a different and interesting rhythm to Madonna's performance. To the sound of the drums, Pabllo Vittar made his long-awaited entrance on stage, wearing the Brazil t-shirt and then dancing with the Queen of Pop.

_{Pabllo Vittar joins Madonna on the Copacabana stage to perform with the Queen of Pop (Reproduction/Instagram/@hugogloss)}

Reflections and evolution

In the transition to the sixth act, the screen showed a montage of testimonials and tributes from renowned artists, including even Madonna's personal reflections on her own trajectory. Between speeches, Madonna shares insights into what it means to be such an iconic figure and the weight of fame in her life.

With a futuristic touch, reflecting the artist's constant evolution and her vision for the future of music, in this penultimate act Madonna presents the audience with emotional performances of songs such as “Bedtime Story”, “Ray of Light” and “Rain”.

Visual spectacle and inspiring messages

_{Madonna pays tribute to Michael Jackson at her concert in Rio de Janeiro (Reproduction/Instagram/@hugogloss)}

In the seventh and final act, the culmination of the show came with an incredible tribute to Michael Jackson through “Billie Jean”. While the image of the King of Pop performed on the screen, Madonna from the 80s joined him through a graphic image, performing “Like a Virgin”. The show ended with the same energy as at around 1am with “Bitch, I'm Madonna” and “Celebration”.

Despite the late start, as it should have started around 9:45 pm and only started an hour later, Madonna's show was an incredible celebration for all the fans present in Copacabana, and even for those who were only able to watch on the TV screen. TV, as they have been transported through decades of music.

The show seemed to become even more complete, mainly due to the surrounding landscape. In fact, Madonna expressed her admiration for the wonderful scenery of Copacabana: “We are in the most beautiful place in the world. With seas, mountains, Jesus. It's magical here!”.

Featured Photo: Madonna during the “Celebration Tour” show in Copacabana (Reproduction/Marcos Hermes)