Confessions Tour

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For the live album of the tour, see The Confessions Tour'

Confessions Tour

Tour by Madonna
Start date	May 21, 2006
End date	September 21, 2006
Legs	3
Shows	34 in North America 22 in Europe 4 in Japan 60 in Total
Madonna tour chronology
The Re-Invention Tour (2004)	Confessions Tour (2006)	TBA

1 History
- 1.1 Madonna Responds to Controversy
2 Ticket Sales
3 The Show
4 Set List
5 Personnel
6 Dancers
7 Tour Dates
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] History

Starting in May 2006, Madonna's Confessions Tour was a concert tour organized to support the album Confessions on a Dance Floor. According to Billboard the tour grossed US$260.1 million ^[1] with a total of 60 shows and 1.2 million people in paid attendance through North America, Europe, and Japan.[1]

Madonna had hoped to end the tour in Australia, but the logistics did not work out. She issued an apology to her Australian fans on her official website and has stated that she doesn't plan on retiring soon, and will visit Australia on her next tour.

According to the website, this is what Madonna posted on the 13th of July, 2006.

“

To my fans in Australia

Please forgive me. I really did hope and expect to come to Australia during the Confessions Tour and asked my managers to try to include some shows there. I have fond memories from previous tours. Unfortunately, the logistics just didn't work out this time around. We looked into going from Japan to Australia and ending the show there but I have to get my kids back into school in England and they are, as you can understand, my most important priority. The important thing to remember is that I'm not retiring anytime soon and I am gonna get to Australia as soon as I can. You remain in my heart and Thank you for your continued love & support.

Love, Madonna^[2]

”

Live Nation also looked into doing shows in Latin America which were unfortunately scrapped due to time constraints, however Madonna's manager Guy Oseary has said she will hit these markets on her next tour.

[edit] Madonna Responds to Controversy

The show aired on NBC, Madonna: The Confessions Tour Live From London, on November 22, 2006. The show aired in the UK on Channel 4 on November 26, in Brazil on HBO on December 7, in the Netherlands on VARA on December 30, and it will air in Finland and Japan at a later date. It was filmed by director Jonas Åkerlund in London on August 13, 15th and 16th (which also was Madonna's 48th birthday). The concert was released in a live CD+DVD edition which named The Confessions Tour on January 29, 2007 (Worldwide) and January 30, 2007 (USA and Canada).

“

"I am very grateful that my show was so well received all over the world. But there seems to be many misinterpretations about my appearance on the cross and I wanted to explain it myself once and for all.

"There is a segment in my show where three of my dancers 'confess' or share harrowing experiences from their childhood that they ultimately overcame. My 'confession' follows and takes place on a Crucifix that I ultimately come down from. This is not a mocking of the church. It is no different than a person wearing a Cross or 'Taking Up the Cross' as it says in the Bible. My performance is neither anti-Christian, sacrilegious or blasphemous. Rather, it is my plea to the audience to encourage mankind to help one another and to see the world as a unified whole. I believe in my heart that if Jesus were alive today he would be doing the same thing.

"My specific intent is to bring attention to the millions of children in Africa who are dying every day, and are living without care, without medicine and without hope. I am asking people to open their hearts and minds to get involved in whatever way they can. The song ends with a quote from the Bible's Book of Matthew:

"'For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me and God replied, "Whatever you did for the least of my brothers... you did it to me."'

"Please do not pass judgment without seeing my show."^[3]

”

NBC made headlines when it censored the concert and refused to broadcast controversial footage of the pop star hanging from a crucifix during one of her songs. This controversial footage was also removed from the MuchMoreMusic broadcast of the show in Canada. However, the crucifixion scene was broadcast in full on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and VARA in the Netherlands. The segment in question wasn't shown with Madonna appearing on the cross, but instead NBC aired pictures of African Orphans that appeared upon the screens during the live performance with a counter that ran from 0 to 12 million (representing the 12 million children orphaned by AIDS in Africa).

At least one NBC affiliate, Gannett-owned WXIA-TV Atlanta, opted not to carry the concert, airing it on its co-owned sister station, WATL, instead. Also News Channel 6 WVVA-TV out of Bluefield WV, chose not to show the concert either. They said it was inappropriate and felt that the viewers did not need to see the show. They showed the Nutcracker instead.

NBC and Channel 4 also did not air the "Sorry Interlude", "Drowned World/Substitute For Love", "Paradise (Not For Me)" and "Lucky Star".

After airing on NBC the concert special aired on Bravo, mun2, and in high definition on Universal HD on December 29. The three above listed cable networks are all owned by NBC Universal Cable.

[edit] Ticket Sales

Tickets for the tour sold out within minutes of going on sale at many venues in North America and Europe, and new dates were immediately announced - included five new dates at Wembley Arena and new dates in New York, Chicago, Paris, Los Angeles and Montreal. Madonna rang up eight sellouts at Wembley Arena beginning Aug. 1, notching the highest Billboard Boxscore gross of 2006 in the process. [2] She grossed more than $80 million for the US shows alone throughout the summer, and it instantly became the highest grossing summer tour of the year 2006. Madonna's Tour: Spent 5 months on tour. Preformed 60 dates. Ticket prices were between $55 and $350.

In particular, NRJ reported that the two French dates sold out within 15 minutes of going on sale, resulting in two shows being added. The two original dates in London sold out almost instantly, and five new shows at Wembley Arena were announced. [3] On April 8, Madonna sold 30,000 tickets in under 40 minutes in Montreal, breaking a record previously held by U2. On July 9, 2006, 50,000 tickets went on sale for Madonna's Osaka and Tokyo shows. The tickets were sold out in a record five minutes. It was Madonna's first time touring Japan in 13 years. Fans began waiting in line and calling ticket brokers well in advance of the first day sale date. In order to meet high demand, an additional date was added, September 21, 2006, at the Tokyo Dome. On August 8, 2006, more than 35,000 tickets for the first ever Madonna concert in Moscow went on sale and, as claimed by show organizers, all were sold out in four days, which could be a new record in that country as all other artists had taken more than 2 weeks to sell out the tickets in the region. However, after many troubles with the concert (venue uncertainty, date change, ticket exchange), and, obviously, huge amount of tickets in the hands of speculators, tickets were on sale at their nominal values until the last minute.[4]

The most expensive ticket sold was $3883 for front row at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. [5]

[edit] The Show

Madonna performing in Los Angeles during the first show of Confessions Tour

Madonna described the tour as "turning the world into a giant dancefloor"

The show is divided into four separate acts with different themes: equestrian, urban bedouin, glam punk and disco fever. Each show in each city is almost the same except some very few differences.

Scenes in the opening number, "Future Lovers" and "I Feel Love", were taken from Madonna's 2006 photoshoot with Steven Klein for 'W' magazine.

Madonna's actual x-rays from her horse riding accident were used as backdrops during the "Like A Virgin" performance.

The tour generated international controversy due to its use of Christian religious iconography. While singing "Live to Tell", Madonna hung from a mirrored cross, wearing a crown of thorns around her head. Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups in North America and Europe came together to criticize what they saw as Madonna's exploitation of "sacred" Christian symbols. In response, Madonna personally and publicly invited Pope Benedict XVI to see the show while in Rome - insisting that she was doing the controversial act to raise awareness and money for orphans abandoned in Africa (particularly Malawi) due to HIV/AIDS and that "Jesus wouldn't mind." (While she sings "Live To Tell," in the background run haunting images of the devastation wreaking havoc in Africa right now. On top, a count begins from 0 until it reaches 12 million - the number of orphans created by HIV/AIDS in Africa alone [2006 UN estimate]).

The version of "Erotica" performed in this show includes lyrics from an early demo version of the song, commonly known by fans as "You Thrill Me".

Yitzhak Sinwani (who is featured on the album track "Isaac") sings alongside Madonna for the same song and joins her on renditions of "Paradise (Not For Me)", "Drowned World/Substitute For Love", and "La Isla Bonita".

Initially, Madonna was to perform the songs "Deeper and Deeper" and "Everybody" but replaced them in favor of "Erotica" and "La Isla Bonita". She rehearsed these and even performed "Everybody" during her Confessions promo tour throughout various nightclubs.

Musician Lenny Kravitz, who also appeared in the audience during numerous shows, joined Madonna live on stage for the song I Love New York at one of the Paris gigs.

The stage had a gigantic structure. It had a central runway that leads to a small stage with a screen as the floor, two side extensions that lead to small stages of their own also with screens in the floor, severals huge screens that keep moving throughout the stage, and a number of elavators; a revolving stage and a huge platform are attached to the central runway in one song.

[edit] Set List

Sketches done by Jean-Paul Gaultier.

"Future Lovers (with a few lines of "I Feel Love")
"Get Together"
"Like A Virgin"
"Jump"
Dancers Interlude: Dancers' Confessions
"Live To Tell"
"Forbidden Love"
"Isaac"
"Sorry"
"Like It Or Not"
Video Interlude: "Sorry (Remix)"
"I Love New York"
"Ray Of Light"
"Let It Will Be"
"Drowned World/Substitute For Love"
"Paradise (Not For Me)"
"Music" Inferno
"Erotica"
"La Isla Bonita"
"Lucky Star"
"Hung Up

[edit] Personnel

Tour director: Jamie King
Musical director: Stuart Price
Costume design: Arianne Phillips, Jean Paul Gaultier, Roman Diaz
Background vocals: Donna DeLory, Nicki Richards & Yitzhak Sinwani
Worldwide promoter: The Next Adventure

[edit] Dancers

Jason Young
Daniel "Cloud" Campos
Leroy "Hypnosis " Barnes
Mihran Kirakosian
William "Norman" Charlemoine
Steve Nester
Addie Yungmee
Sofia Boutella
Charmaine "Charm" Jordan
Reshma Gajjar
Tamara Levinson [6]
Sebastien Foucan
Levi Meeuwenberg
Victor Lopez
Oleg Vorslavs

[edit] Tour Dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
North America
May 21, 2006	Los Angeles	United States	Forum
May 23, 2006	Los Angeles	United States	Forum
May 24, 2006	Los Angeles	United States	Forum
May 27, 2006	Las Vegas	United States	MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 28, 2006	Las Vegas	United States	MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 30, 2006	San Jose	United States	HP Pavilion
May 31, 2006	San Jose	United States	HP Pavilion
June 3, 2006	Los Angeles	United States	Staples Center
June 5, 2006	Fresno	United States	Save Mart Center
June 6, 2006	Fresno	United States	Save Mart Center
June 8, 2006	Phoenix	United States	Glendale Arena
June 10, 2006	Phoenix	United States	Glendale Arena
June 14, 2006	Chicago	United States	United Center
June 15, 2006	Chicago	United States	United Center
June 18, 2006	Chicago	United States	United Center
June 19, 2006	Chicago	United States	United Center
June 21, 2006	Montreal	Canada	Bell Centre
June 22, 2006	Montreal	Canada	Bell Centre
June 25, 2006	Hartford	United States	Civic Centre
June 26, 2006	Hartford	United States	Civic Centre
June 28, 2006	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
June 29, 2006	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
July 2, 2006	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
July 3, 2006	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
July 6, 2006	Boston	United States	TD Banknorth Garden
July 9, 2006	Boston	United States	TD Banknorth Garden
July 10, 2006	Boston	United States	TD Banknorth Garden
July 12, 2006	Philadelphia	United States	Wachovia Center
July 13, 2006	Philadelphia	United States	Wachovia Center
July 16, 2006	Atlantic City	United States	Boardwalk Hall
July 18, 2006	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
July 19, 2006	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
July 22, 2006	Miami	United States	AmericanAirlines Arena
July 23, 2006	Miami	United States	AmericanAirlines Arena
Europe
Date	City	Country	Venue
July 30, 2006	Cardiff	United Kingdom	Millennium Stadium
August 1, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 3, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 6, 2006	Rome	Italy	Olympic Stadium
August 9, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 10, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 12, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 13, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 15, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 16, 2006	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
August 20, 2006	Düsseldorf	Germany	LTU Arena
August 22, 2006	Hannover	Germany	AWD Arena
August 24, 2006	Horsens	Denmark	Forum Horsens Outdoor
August 27, 2006	Paris	France	Bercy Stadium
August 28, 2006	Paris	France	Bercy
August 30, 2006	Paris	France	Bercy
August 31, 2006	Paris	France	Bercy
September 3, 2006	Amsterdam	The Netherlands	Amsterdam Arena
September 4, 2006	Amsterdam	The Netherlands	Amsterdam Arena
September 6, 2006	Prague	Czech Republic	Sazka Arena
September 7, 2006	Prague	Czech Republic	Sazka Arena
September 12, 2006	Moscow	Russia	Luzhniki Stadium
Japan
September 16, 2006	Osaka	Japan	Kyocera Dome Osaka
September 17, 2006	Osaka	Japan	Kyocera Dome Osaka
September 20, 2006	Tokyo	Japan	Tokyo Dome
September 21, 2006	Tokyo	Japan	Tokyo Dome
Boxscore Data
The Forum	Los Angeles	40,044 / 40,044 (sellout)	$7,686,380
MGM Grand Garden	Las Vegas	27,528 / 27,528 (sellout)	$7,257,750
HP Pavilion	San Jose	27,024 / 27,024 (sellout)	$4,761,555
Staples Center	Los Angeles	14,158 / 14,158 (sellout)	$2,804,583
Save Mart Center	Fresno	20,154 / 20,154 (sellout)	$3,749,800
Glendale Arena	Phoenix	28,820 / 28,820 (sellout)	$4,890,090
United Center	Chicago	52,000 / 52,000 (sellout)	$9,271,790
Bell Centre	Montreal	34,940 / 34,940 (sellout)	$5,670,150
Hartford Civic Center	Hartford	21,558 / 21,558 (sellout)	$6,451,235
Madison Square Garden	New York	91,841 / 91,841 (sellout)	$16,507,855
TD Banknorth Garden	Boston	36,741 / 36,741 (sellout)	$6,337,115
Wachovia Center	Philadelphia	29,749 / 29,749 (sellout)	$4,639,775
Boardwalk Hall	Atlantic City	12,322 / 12,322 (sellout)	$3,246,100
American Airlines Arena	Miami	30,410 / 30,410 (sellout)	$5,568,485
Millennium Stadium	Cardiff	55,795 / 55,795 (sellout)	$7,788,845
Wembley Arena	London	86,061 / 86,061 (sellout)	$22,090,582
Stadio Olimpico	Rome	63,054 / 63,054 (sellout)	$5,268,886
LTU Arena	Dusseldorf	44,744 / 44,744 (sellout)	$5,926,105
AWD Arena	Hannover	39,871 / 39,871 (sellout)	$5,218,985
Horsens Forum Outdoor	Horsens	85,232 / 85,232 (sellout)	$11,435,199
Bercy	Paris	67,758 / 67,758 (sellout)	$9,145,832
Amsterdam Arena	Amsterdam	102,330 / 102,330 (sellout)	$11,783,254
Sazka Arena	Prague	37,666 / 38,342	$5,861,668
Luzhniki Stadium	Moscow	37,939 / 37,939 (sellout)	$5,548,998
Kyocera Dome Osaka	Osaka	50,623 / 50,623 (sellout)	$7,379,553
Tokyo Dome	Tokyo	71,231 / 71,231 (sellout)	$11,463,877
	TOTAL	1,210,294	$194,754,447