Rebel Heart

This past January a defining moment in my life occurred.  For as far back as I can remember I have been enthralled with Madonna.  I acutely remember being like 6 years old at my aunt and uncle's home and my older cousins watching MTV or VH1 and just being mesmerized by a Madonna music video.  From the pink, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend dress in Material Girl to the peep show in Open Your Heart; each video is as much a part of my childhood memory as decapitated figurines (thanks Mark!) and the smell of fresh corn tortillas from La Gitana tortilleria.  Having associated most of my life with the music of this icon  I found myself having a culmination of sorts when attending my first Madonna concert.

This wasn't my first attempt at seeing her Madgesty in concert.  Her last tour brought her to Dallas and I jumped at the opportunity to see her then.  I wrangled my two best friends and we were set to make a weekend trip out of it.  The motherfucking night before the concert as I prepped my overnight bad I received a text and email detailing the concerts cancellation.  To say I was crushed would be an understatement however something in my soul said it wasn't going to happen.  I hadn't allow myself to get excited about it.  To add insult to injury I made the mistake of making nonrefundable prepaid hotel reservations (a mistake I will NEVER make again).  I felt so betrayed I didn't listen to a Madonna song for months.

After about a year my resolve softened though it would take another year for me to even entertain the thought of viewing that tour's concert footage.  Slowly the music returned to my life just in time for the Rebel Heart album.

I will admit that I am a Madonna stan however that doesn't mean I'm not cognizant of her faults.  The previous couple of albums were misfires.  Sure they were catchy and good at times but as a whole they lacked the artistry and boldness of Madonna at her peak.  She had been waning and it was all too obvious to see.  I'm not sure that you could chalk it up to age as much as an entertainer trying to stay relevant.  Madonna didn't have to try.

When Rebel Heart was released it was a return to form.  Actually the release wasn't the pivot as much as the leak of the album's demos was.  The demos were pure pop perfection but the leaks obviously caused a mad dash at remixing and drastically changing what were already perfection.  The leak hurt the album big time on the charts and threw the queen off her game.  I firmly believe if everything had gone to plan Rebel Heart would have easily made a best of list.  In any case, this album had restored my faith in Madonna and was giving me life.

When the tour was announced I seriously contemplated getting tickets but the bitch had scheduled her dates on a rainbow around the south.  I had no interest in traveling out of state to catch her so it was a non starter.  Little to my surprise she was extend her tour and set a date in good ole San Antonio.  Done and done.

I enlisted my bff in accompanying me and we planned to stay at his mother's home in San Antonio.  No hotel messiness this trip (screw you Fairmont Dallas!).  The previous concert attempt left me nervous.  If I didn't allow myself to get excited for the last one, I sure as shit kept myself numb for this one.  I didn't want to be disappointed again and I don’t do disappointment well.  No hope was better than anything.

We arrived at the venue about an hour before the concert was scheduled to begin.  We went with my bff's San Antonio friends and they questioned arriving early.  Everyone knew that Madonna was chronically late to her concerts.  I didn't care.  I wasn't going to chance missing a moment of the show.  I should have listed.

If not for the alcohol I would have been a ranting lunatic.  30 minutes turned into an hour and an hour turned into two.  At two the arena lights went dim, the stage lights came up and….the dj started his set.  Motherfucker.  At two and a half hours the real show began.

I was annoyed.  I had been bored forever and was tired.  It was 10:30 Sunday night and this diva needs her beauty rest.  I was kinda over the concert before it even began.  Then the video started.  Emblazoned across 3 gigantic screens was the opening video that set the tone for the entire night.  Madonna invoking Monroe.  Mike Tyson in a cage.  All which lead to Samurai dancers marching in unison carrying cross staffs as Madonna descended onto the stage in a cage.

All. Was. Forgiven.