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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
André Paine's rating
Reader rating
Description: The iconic pop veteran performs songs from her back catalogue.
Phone: 0871220 0260
Website: www.theo2.co.uk
Email: customerservices@theo2.co.uk
Trains: Tube: North Greenwich, BR: Westcombe Park Railway Station 
, Tube / Bus: 108, 129, 161, 188, 422, 472, 486 
Extra info: Food, Pub, Air Conditioning, Telephones
Moonwalk: Madonna and her backing dancers look on as Kento Mori performs a Michael Jackson tribute during the 50-year-old Material Girl’s concert at the O2
Even for an artist famed for reinvention, it must have been a dizzying 10 months for Madonna since her last appearance in London at Wembley Stadium: the divorce, a new daughter, four-year-old Mercy from Malawi, and the death of Michael Jackson, originally scheduled to play the O2 three days after Madonna.
Her tribute last night made this spectacular performance — the launch of phase two of the 50-year-old’s European Sticky & Sweet tour — even more memorable.
Some fans who were also at Saturday’s 17,700-capacity show knew what was coming, but that didn’t reduce the impact when dancer Kento Mori, dressed like Jackson, moonwalked to Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin’ Something.
“Let’s give it up to one of the greatest artists the world has ever known — Michael Jackson,” said Madonna, while a boyish Jackson appeared on the big screen. “Long live the king!”
Madonna couldn’t claim to possess the virtuosity of Jackson at his peak. But whatever her vocal limitations, this was a triumph of eye-popping production, exhausting choreography and her indomitable personality, as well as those fantastic songs.
The appearance of Kanye West and Britney Spears on video as well as a vintage Rolls-Royce on the ego ramp initially suggested a show big on gimmickry. Yet, while it was rehearsed with military precision, Madonna gave much more than you expect from a global superstar, even when tickets cost up to £175.
Nevertheless, the pounding musical interludes during the costume changes were actually better than plenty of concerts. So when Madonna rose from below the stage in a mini-skirt, skipping and then pole-dancing on a moving DJ booth during Into the Groove, the reaction was approaching hysteria. “Who says the English are reserved?” she bawled.
Despite her own raunchy history, Madonna’s rock-hard body was not too exposed, although she did manage to snog a look-alike of her Eighties self and a dancing monk grabbed her backside for a stipulated two seconds.
It was her fearsome pop power and the fantastic dancing that kept you transfixed though, whether on joyous renditions of Like a Prayer and La Isla Bonita, or the fantastic clubby finale of Give it 2 Me, during which Madonna and her dancers each wore one white glove in honour of Jackson.
“No one’s going to stop me — ever,” Madonna pointed out after a breathless two hours. Based on this performance, who can doubt her?
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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We went to the Sunday show at the O2. I had seen her on the opening night 2008 version, in Cardiff and that was amazing. This improved version totally blew it away...with the inclusion of Holiday, Frozen, Open your Heart, Dress You Up, it notched itself up to an even higher level of amazingness. She loved doing the show, and we certainly loved her doing it. We were 6 rows from the end of the catwalk and it was worth every penny paid. Simply Genius. A1 entertainment and she knows how to do it well. She may not be able to out sing her contemporaries but she certainly knows how to out-dance, out-perform, out-whoopupthecrowd, out-everything them! Long Live The Queen. We love you Madge.
- Owen Bell, London
fantastic!!!!!!!!!! she is the ultimate star!!!!! saw her in nyc and in brazil!!!!!
you cant believe it!!!! the county stoped for her!!!! it was 5 sold out stadium shows!!!! the world loves u madonna!!!!!
- William, london, engalnd
I caught the show last year at Wembley and will be seeing the show tonight at MEN. If I was at all underwhelmed by it the first time round then why oh why would I have bought another ticket at such an astronomical price? BECAUSE SHE IS WORTH IT.
- Andy Medcraft, Hoole, Chester.
As a performer...truly amazing..
The show itself, underwhelming, uninspired, overhyped, over praised. An average rock show pretending to be a pop spectacle...where did it all go wrong?
The 'improvements' to the original tours set list came in the wrong places and we still had to indulge the tedious gypsy section.
Madonna used to set the bar for this kind of event, it's embarassing when Britney Spears shuffles and mimes through her set and still manages to pull off a visually more impressive show, with innovative and original set peices and staging. As does PINK, AC/DC, Kylie, Pet Shop Boys, etc. The Sticky and Sweet Tour is a paint by numbers job, large screens -check,catwalk-check,....this could have been Bon Jovi!
In an arena where Take That and U2 are putting on "spectacles" an audience expects more for it's £175...and we expect more from Madonna. Her presence and amazing physicality is just not enough for the people in the further reaching seats...this was no Blonde Ambition, it was certainly not Confessions...it wasn't even a Girlie Show...
When it was good it was amazing, but it wasnt enough to carry the show, the ticket price or do the performer justice...
not sweet...just bland.....
- W. Moraghan, London
Absolutely Brilliant and inspiring - she puts all her male contemporaries to shame!
- David Grey, london
At her show at the Milllennium Stadium a few months back, Musclel Madge turned up on stage a full NINETY MINUTES late - and she didn't have the courtesy or good grace to apologise to her audience. Pah!
What sort of appalling religion is Kaballah if it doesn't teach it's followers humility and when to say " Sorry "?
- Jargonaut, South London
she was amazing went in both nigths i've see madonna 9 times she so incredible.
- Elias Guterres, london
Yes great review and so true, I was at Saturdays gig and she was really on fire, a true superstar and a super show.
- Mark, london, uk
Terrific fun. I danced from beginning to end. Her limited vocal talent is made up for with her dancing and effort.
On the down size, she decided to turn up over an hour late which casued many of the audiance difficaulty getting away form the venue. Sure she new this would be the case but does she give a damn? I think not
- Keith, Corby
fantastic went both nights and would go again, cant wait for the next cd and tour! Thought the tribute to Michael Jackson was touching
- Lindahf1, london
Fabulous concert. I've seen Madonna 5 times over the years since Blond Ambition and this show was the best - she was far more playful with the audience and less focused on stage theatrics of previous shows. The 'rave' section with Like a Prayer and Frozen were genius and the finale really was show-stopping. The crowd had a great time. Shame the news reports seem to be blaming her for TFL's shambles of a service.
- Daniel, East London, East London
A premier show from a premier superstar. She was quite simply, amazing.
She dances, sings (yes really sings!!!) and wows for a straight 2 hours. She is the ultimate performer. The show was an assault on the senses; always something going on, it was hard to know where to look.
It was a fusion of concert, Cirque-De-Soleil and a moving art-piece.
Stunning!
- Simon, London
Amazing review, and SO true! Shes so incredible.
- C, Kent
