Madame X Tour

Madonna first expressed interest in a smaller-scale show during an interview with BBC News while promoting the Rebel Heart Tour live album in September 2017. She said, "I've done so many shows—world tours, stadiums, sports arenas, you name it—that I feel like I have to reinvent that now too. I like doing intimate shows and being able to talk directly to the audience."[13]

By early May 2019, some media outlets reported that Madonna would announce a tour to support Madame X album, where she would play 'super small venues' across the United States, along with a few other more details.[14] Their info was confirmed soon by Madonna herself, who announced it through a comedy video, posted on her social networks, where she was having a hangout with longtime collaborator Diplo.[15]

A few days prior to opening night, it was reported she would implement a no-phone policy in order to maximise the intimacy of the show and for people to concentrate on the art itself.<[16] For this policy, Madonna partnered with Yondr, which is a phone-sealing bag company.[17] However, this has received mixed reactions from fans online.[18] This no-phone policy has been kept for both Lisbon[19][20] and London[21] batches of gigs.

Madonna made the following statement regarding the people who violated the no-camera policy: "Three shows into Madame X and I've enjoyed every minute of this intimate experience! I love looking into the audience and not seeing iPhone's and cameras flashing but instead eyes, smiles and happy human faces. However I am mystified and confused by some people who insist on sneaking in second cameras and disregarding my request to not record the show. This request is common at all Broadway shows, dance concerts, stand up comedy and the opera. People who ignore my request are not allowing themselves to enjoy the show completely but also show a lack of respect and consideration for my wishes. If you can't live without your phone for two hours this experience is not for you."[22]

In relation to merchandise, Madonna announced a pop-up shop a week before the first show in New York City.[23] Additionally, she collaborated with Too Faced cosmetics to release two make-up kits that are inspired by the make-up Madonna will be using during the shows.[23][24] A similar pop-up store has been open in Paris from March 4 to 14, 2020, during French batch of concerts.[25]

Madonna begun the tour rehearsals around late May 2019, by doing various workshops, where, among other stuff, the dancers, setlist and arrangements were chosen. By then, she documented her daily work through her Instagram social account, namely rehearsals. [26][27]

After her performance at Stonewall 50 - WorldPride NYC 2019, the workshops also ended, and rehearsals went ahead with full choices made. This time, all daily work was being documented not only by Madonna herself, but also by her tour crew.[28][29] Among the numerous videos and pictures that the singer posted, one of these included Madonna, joined by the Orquestra Batukadeiras, rehearsing her 1991 single, "Rescue Me", which had never been performed on a tour. [30] This performance ended up being replaced for a video interlude instead. "Looking for Mercy" and "Rain" were also rehearsed but didn't make the final cut.[31]

Additional songs chronicled by her Instagram account that were rehearsed, but ultimately axed, included "You Must Love Me",[32] "What It Feels Like for a Girl",[33] and "Easy Ride".[34] "Falling Free" from MDNA was rehearsed as a dance interlude but has not yet been performed.[35]

Around late August, Madonna and her crew moved tour rehearsals to the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, to complete the rehearsal process before the tour kicked off.[36][37]

Madonna at London Palladium in 2020.

The first three nights of the show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music were met with universal acclaim from critics. Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly stated, "[...] when the construct of Madame X disappeared, what remained was something simpler and somehow much more satisfying than the equestrian or the cha-cha instructor or the saint (or even the mother, the magpie, the erstwhile standup comedian): Not just a pop star and perennial provocateur, but an artist in full."[38] Jon Pareles from The New York Times wrote: "As both album and show, "Madame X" is Madonna's latest declaration of a defiant, self-assured, flexible identity that's entirely comfortable with dualities [...] Yes, she is 61, but her music remains determinedly contemporary."[39] Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone stated, "Madonna has never shied away from taking chances. Thirty years after she set fire to the Eighties with the disco basilica Like a Prayer, she's as gloriously weird as ever. Hence her excellent new Madame X tour, a testament to the genius in her madness. [...] (Mentioning Bruce Springsteen) How gratifying that these two Eighties icons are not only still topping the charts, they're doing it with their wildest, most experimental work. We chose well when we picked these two as our heroes, right? As Madame X proves, Madonna will never be the kind of superstar who repeats her successes, sticks to her strengths, or plays it safe. Instead, she's getting weirder with age. Thank all the angels and saints for that."[40] Amy Linden from Pollstar wrote, "[...] But perhaps her most significant cultural impact is that while she might not always be the first one in the pool, over the course of close to four decades she's proven herself to be the performer who makes the biggest splash and whose artistic choices continue to matter."[41]

Despite positive reception, Madonna has faced frequent criticism over the lateness of each show, often starting on average two hours later than announced.[42] Ticket distributors did eventually send emails out announcing a later start time in an attempt to minimize the backlash.[43][44] In her Las Vegas show, she clarified to the booing crowd that 'A queen is never late'[44] and that she did not appreciate the hostility, heckling, and demand for refunds. One concertgoer announced that they were filing a lawsuit over the late start time of the show.[43][44]

At the end of the year, Billboard added the Madame X Tour on its list of the best live shows of 2019.[45]

Back at the beginning of 2019, the Lisbon-based production service company Krypton International worked on the mini-documentary The World of Madame X, filmed by Madonna longtime contributor Nuno Xico,[46][47] that ended up being released in early July 2019 by Amazon Prime.[48] On January 12, 2020, this company posted, via their official Instagram account, a picture of an 'All Stage Access Pass' for the Lisbon tour evening happening that day, followed by the information that they were shooting and recording that concert for a potential subsequent live album and Blu-Ray.[47]

The following set list was obtained from the concert held on September 17, 2019, in New York City.[49] It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.

Notes

• From November 17 to December 21, 2019, "Sodade" was temporarily removed from the set list.[50][20]
• On November 25, 2019, Swae Lee joined the performance of "Crave".[51] Additionally, Madonna performed an a capella version of "Fever".[52]
• Starting on January 12, 2020, "Papa Don't Preach" was removed from the set list and "Sodade" was performed as a duet with Portuguese singer Dino d'Santiago.[53]
• On January 12 and 14, 2020, Madonna performed Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" a capella.[53]
• On February 5, 13 and 29, 2020, Madonna performed "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", as a tribute to the song composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was allegedly present at the concert of that night.[54]
• On February 6, 2020, Madonna performed Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence".[55]
• During some European concerts, "Crave" was dropped from the setlist.[56]
• During some Paris concerts, Madonna performed Édith Piaf's signature song "La Vie en rose".[57]

Credits adapted from Madonna's Official Website.[70]