Friday 27 July 2012

The MDNA Tour: Gothenburg 4/7/2012

I'm sitting here, waiting for the Olympic Opening Ceremony to start. I thought they'd be getting straight to business, but noooo, they're interviewing Finnish sportspeople. How extremely boring! I just want to see a nice show! So, I might as well start writing about the Madonna show in Gothenburg instead. This is a very special update as July 4th is henceforth known as The Best Day of My Life. You'll soon find out why.

So. I took the train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg on the 3rd, just after finding out that one of Madonna's trucks carrying her sound system had keeled over on the highway on its way to Sweden. I was a bit stressed out for a moment, wondering whether the show would go on as planned despite this, but Live Nation Sweden assured the concert wouldn't be affected, so not to worry. Phew!

I was going to the show with Carola and another online fan friend from Sweden, Gabriel. However, both of my friends' arrival to Gothenburg was delayed as Carola's train was late and Gabriel missed his. So, I went to the queue outside Ullevi on my own at around 8 am and was number 18. Pretty cool! Now, THIS was the best queue I've ever been in! Not only did you get a number but you also put your name on a list so you could come and go as you pleased as long as you were back in the queue every two hours when they'd check if you were still around. That was just so brilliant - more proof that Swedes Do It Better! Also, there were toilets outside the venue, and you had time to go and have lunch so you actually had some energy when the show finally started past 10 pm. I loved it! The best thing of all, however, was that there were absolutely amazing people in the queue! I made some incredible new friends who're just as crazy about Madonna as I am. Miguel from Spain, and Ellen, Maria, Johanna, Helena, Charlotte and Sara from Sweden REALLY made the day that much more special! The girls had the coolest T-shirts ever as well - just have a look:

Miguel, Ellen, Helena, Maria and Johanna!

Me with the girls :)!
Eventually, Carola and Gabriel arrived as well - yay! Gabriel had forgotten to print out his concert ticket, though, so they had to leave to try and find a place where they could do that once they'd gotten their numbers for the queue. Luckily they found a place - what a relief! Once they got back, I went out for pizza with the Swedish girls. Fun! And once we were back in the queue, Carola and I had a look at all the tour merchandise and just hung around and chatted with Gabriel and Miguel.

Ellen, Charlotte and me :)!


Me with Miguel and Gabriel :).

Gabriel, Carola and me :)!

In the queue...
The day didn't seem long at all and it was seriously the best queueing experience I've ever had - which means that from now on I'll ALWAYS go to Sweden for Madonna! Since the company is so fabulous, too, I just don't see why not ;).

Right. Then the iPad girl and the wristband girl appeared...and they accidentally let me press the iPad twice! When I first got to press it, I didn't win anything. See, THIS is my luck with these things - I have none. But, then she accidentally gave it to me again AND I DID WIN!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYY, can't believe it! Of course I didn't say anything about having already pressed it - the way I see it is that they tricked us with having a Golden Triangle there in the first place, so it's equally alright for me to trick them a bit with their contests as well. I gave the other wristband to Carola, and then we went and begged for one for Gabriel as well (though I had no idea we'd succeeded until I saw Carola actually give the wristband to Gabriel, heh).



The way they let us in was very organised as well - we went through the gates one by one, walking, showing our number and saying our name. Brilliant! I think we were let inside the stadium at around 6 pm this time, and once we were in, Madonna was on stage doing her soundcheck again. We got a great spot right in front of the main stage in the Triangle, a bit to the right, and we decided to stay there without moving around during the show, or the soundcheck, at all. I think this was a good decision because once you stayed put, you somehow got a clearer picture of the show as a whole. The spot was PERFECT! We were against the fence, so in the very first row of people. I couldn't believe our luck once again! Too good to be true!

Madonna did I Don't Give A and Turn Up The Radio during the soundcheck, and here's some picture and video proof of it all:








After the soundcheck, we had to do some hanging around again. Here are some very happy pictures from the Triangle...


FRONT ROW!!


Waiting...

Ullevi is ready for the Queen!

The show started past 10 pm, after Martin Solveig (who was good this time as well), and it was so amazing all over again! Where we were standing, the floor was shaking and rumbling from the music...it was one of the most incredible feelings I've ever had, it's like you have music inside you, coursing right through your body! For someone like me who lives and breathes music, it can't get any better than that! Carola and I were screaming to each other how great it was! The best thing ever!!!

And so here we go again, this time with more videos...Girl Gone Wild was STUNNING, once again! I just can't get past how unbelievably amazing the entrance is...have a look for yourself, this time I filmed it all!


Revolver.
And on to Gang Bang, which is one of my favourite MDNA performances...look!


It's so good, it's choreographed so well with every kick, hit and shot timed perfectly. It just looks amazing live, and I think it also shows in the video.

Gang Bang!

Hung Up!

I don't give a fu-fu-fu-fu...

Don't go for second best baby, put your love to the test!





That picture above. I took it. Can you believe it? Because I did. It's gorgeous, I can't stop looking at it! I'm so insanely proud of that picture that it's one of my best moments on this tour! Madonna doing Turn Up The Radio. "Turn down the noise and turn up the volume, don't have a choice 'cause the temperature's pounding, if leaving this place is the last thing I do, then I want to escape with a person just like you." <3 Yes I do.

Aaand on to another video, which is one of my favourites on the tour as well, Masterpiece <3. And Vogue <3.





Candy Shop!

Madonna and Brahim getting steamy!

Human Nature.



Like A Virgin.

NO FEAR.

Nobody Knows Me. "I don't want no lies, I don't watch TV, I don't waste my time, won't read a magazine."

Drawing attention to the teen suicides of the recent years...:(


"No one's telling you how to live your life but it's a set-up until you're fed up. It's no good when you're misunderstood but why should I care what the world thinks of me? Won't let a stranger give me a social disease."

I'm Addicted.

I'm A Sinner.
And then...the most incredible thing ever, that I thought I wouldn't care about, that I honestly hadn't even thought would EVER happen...Like A Prayer. And suddenly Madonna was right in front of us...AND I TOUCHED HER HAND!!!!!!!! I cannot believe it, just can't. The moment seemed to last forever, her hand was so soft and her skin seemed very thin...AAAAAAAAA, I'VE TOUCHED MADONNA!!!!!!!! I'll post one bad picture now, but it has to be done because I took it right after I'd touched her:


INCREDIBLE. I was in heaven and still am. I can't believe I've actually touched my idol of 20 years, the woman who changed my life when I was nine years old. The woman who taught me all the English I know. The woman who turned me into the person I am today. I can't explain how it feels. My left hand is my lucky hand (I'm left-handed as well) :D! I felt such extreme happiness at this show, like life is meant for living and I'm doing it NOW. Just incredible. I felt like I could do anything, and I'm still feeling like that! The best night of my life.

After the show, I basically floated all the way to my hostel, after saying goodbye to Gabriel and Carola, and buying the tourbook and an MDNA bag. 4/7/2012 will be hard to beat's all I'm saying.

Also, I want to take this moment to say that whoever thinks that pop music is light-hearted has to go to a Madonna show. Madonna can be light-hearted, sure, but more than anything, her shows are extremely dark and deep. They're packed with things that'll make you think, as are her lyrics if you care to pay them any attention. It truly pisses me off when people say that they have zero respect for pop music because it's commercial or whatever. Just because something sells, it can't be good? I never understood that kind of reasoning. Madonna is a genius and she has vision like no one else. She has opinions and she knows how to turn them into art - that then ALWAYS goes on to upset someone and make people attack her. I'm so proud of her for never letting anyone get her down and always continuing to be the brave person that she is and standing up for what she believes in.



2 comments:

  1. After reading this post, I would love to go to one of Madonna's concerts. Her shows seems to be amazing :D

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    Replies
    1. Yay, that's the way to go ;)! It's definitely worth it, especially if you're prepared to do the crazy queueing thing to get a good spot!

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