LOS ANGELES — Some people are simply lucky. I guess I am one of them.
Last August, I got a call from my good friend Rhiza “RP” Pascua of Music Management, Inc. (MMI) which is presenting Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour at the MOA on Feb. 24 and 25 next year, with Live Nation Global Touring and Globe.
“Do you want to watch the concert?” said Rhiza very casually, calling from L.A. where she lives.
“Hmmm,” I mumbled, “I can’t afford it,” referring to the P57,000 (the highest) ticket price.
“Not in Manila,” clarified Rhiza, “ in L.A.”
I felt like a bomb hit me. I was incredulous!
So on Oct. 27, my L.A.-based nephew, STAR correspondent Raymond Lo, and I drove to The Forum (as big as, if not bigger than, the Philippine Arena), the neon sign in front of it flashed, “Rebel Heart SOLD OUT.” Rhiza and Mals Ledesma (president of AEDI Productions, who was celebrating her birthday the next day), arrived earlier. They were outside the venue, shooting the cool California breeze with the Globe team composed of Ernest Cu (president/CEO of Globe Telecom), Issa Cabreira (senior VP of Consumer Mobile Marketing Group) and Winsley Royce Bangit (VP for Prepaid Business Department).
As VIP guests, wearing our Rebel Heart ID’s, we proceeded to The Forum’s clubhouse and, while waiting for the show to start, took samples of the menu that included True Blueberry (Grey Goose La Poire Vodka, Basil Simple Syrup, Housemade Blueberry Lemonade, Rose Water, Fever Tree Soda Water, and Aromatic Bitters with pear and berry garnish), Pepper Don’t Preach (St. George Green Chile Vodka, Housemade Thyme Syrup, Fresh Sweet and Sour, Fever Tree Soda Water with chili wheel garnish) and Like a Virgin (Non-alcoholic) choices of Infused Simple Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Fever Tree Soda Water with citrus garnish. If you’re a Madonna fan, you should know how those drinks got the names.
The Forum was packed full with fans, many of them wearing Madonna T-shirts, Madonna trinkets and Madonna tattoos. Scheduled for 7 p.m., the show didn’t start until two hours later but nobody seemed to mind. For Madonna, never mind if it took forever for her to mount that stage that occupied a good portion of the orchestra section, shaped like a cross with the front forming a heart (kaya nga rebel heart, eh!). That was where Ashton Kutcher and Queen Latifah were seated.
When Madonna finally appeared, the whole house erupted with screams of delight. Madonna set the audience on fire, charging everybody with energy so powerful that nobody would believe that she has hit 57. In the flesh, she looked so petite and yet she ruled the stage, running around it, yelling, crawling, falling on her knees, rolling and rolling, electrifying the audience with every song (matched by change of costumes) non-stop for more than two hours, not at all catching her breath and lusting for more, more, more! Yes, she sang them all: Iconic, Bitch I’m Madonna, Burning Up, Holy Water, Devil Pray, Body Shop, True Blue, Deeper and Deeper, HeartBreakCity, Living for Love, La Isla Bonita, Dress You Up, Secret, Candy Shop Material Girl, Like a Prayer, Like a Virgin and, of course, Rebel Heart, capping the show with Holiday and La vie en rose in perfect French.
“I love what I do,” Madonna told the audience between songs, “and I want to share it with people like you!”
It was what you may call a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth the ticket price in whatever currency. It was so theatrical, with the props full of symbolisms…religious, sexual, evil, love, name it the show had it. Even the stage was “performing.” The rear portion would rise to hide Madonna as she changed outfit, served as a wide bed for three couples “at it” (two men, two women, and a man and a woman, with Madonna and partner at the center of the action). On the screen that served as backdrop on stage were shown Madonna sketches and drawings done by fans.
Memorable scenes:
• Dancers dressed like nuns from neck up, but clad in bikinis;
• Madonna twirling around and around a huge cross, not kissing a beat;
• Kneeling before a priest-looking man seated unmoved, Madonna singing as if fondling the wireless microphone; and
• Madonna on her back at a table, singing with amazing ease.
“You don’t judge others who are different from you,” she barked in to the microphone. “That’s the most important aspect of being a rebel heart.”
Then, she came out dressed in white like a bride, marched slowly down the stage, carrying a bouquet singing Like a Virgin. At the heart-shaped area, she posed and asked, “Anybody here who wants to get married?” Shouts of approval from the audience. “Did you know that there are three rings in a relationship? Engagement ring, wedding ring and suffering.” Well, not so new but coming from Madonna, that sounded original.
She then threw the bouquet and guess who caught it — Katy Perry. Madonna helped Katy onto the stage and together they walked hand-in-hand to the back, shared something that looked like a banana and danced to the cheers of the audience. “What’s your name again?” Madonna teased Katy (named by Forbes as the highest-paid female musician of 2015, with an income of $135 million in the past 12 months).
“It’s lonely at the top,” Madonna sighed before rendering a soulful version of La vie en rose, adding, “I love this City of Angels where people don’t smoke,” while a male dancer casually rolled between his fingers something that looked like a cigaret…or was it something else?
The show ended way past midnight.
And that was how the Material Girl made me feel like a virgin again and touched me for the very first time.
(Watch The Rebel Heart Concert and avail yourself of the Staycation Package and be treated like royalty. The package is worth P65,000 and it includes, 1) Two (2) Lower Box Regular Tickets for the Feb. 25, 2016, show; 2) Overnight stay in a luxury room (good for two) at The Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on Feb. 25, 2016 (double or king depending on availability); and 3) Buffet breakfast for two at Spiral 4. Free scheduled Shuttle Service from hotel to Mall Of Asia Arena and back to hotel, after the concert. For inquiries, call SM Tickets Special Package Hotline at [+632]863-2810 or log on to www.smtickets.com. Offer valid until Dec. 30, or while supply lasts.)
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)