Madonna - The Drowned World Tour

Now, eight years after The Girlie Show Years Tour 1993, Madonna has come back with The Drowned World Tour 2001, which promoted the MUSIC album. This televised concert, which was performed in Michigan, Madonna's homestate, on August 26, 2001, is nothing less than a classic. Although it is disappointing to see that she excludes almost all of her older material, she still made it a concert that everyone can enjoy. You all ask, 'How does she come up with these incredible ideas?'. The answer, ladies & gentlemen, the answer is: She's... Madonna.

The show starts with the band, including Donna DeLory and Niki Harris, standing in center stage looking at the audience as different pieces of Madonna's songs are played. The band takes their places and jams to the first song on the setlist, DROWNED WORLD (SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE). Madonna performs it so gracefully, while standing on a large platform, wearing a green & white top, where the sleeves and back are see-through material, a green & white flannel skirt, black pants underneath the skirt with red suspenders tied around her legs, complete with black shoes. After DROWNED WORLD (SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE), she goes into a dance-crazed performance of IMPRESSIVE INSTANT. After that, she grabs her trusty guitar and strums away to a rock version of CANDY PERFUME GIRL where she shouts F*CK OFF, MOTHERF*CKERS! After, she takes center stage and says, DO I MAKE YOU HORNY? as BEAUTIFUL STRANGER begins. RAY OF LIGHT is performed next and only Madonna can perform it with the energy shows here.

After, on the video back-drop screen, a special video of PARADISE (NOT FOR ME) is shown, where in the video, Madonna is shown as a GEISHA. As the video ends, Madonna takes the stage, wearing a black wig, a black JAPANESE GEISHA robe with red trim, as she performs an awesome rendition of FROZEN. After, she goes into a graceful performance of NOBODY'S PERFECT. After, she stand ontop of a fake tree, this time dressed in a red jumpsuit and black wig. This is still the GEISHA look, but she has something up her sleeve. She starts off with the first verse of MER GIRL, then goes in to the first verse and first chorus of SKY FITS HEAVEN, which then leads into a whole Japanese fighting sequence between her and her dancers. After the fight, Madonna takes the stage and finishes off MER GIRL.

After a costume change, Madonna takes the stage, dressed in a country-western outfit. She sits on a stack of hay, strumming on her acoustic as she performs I DESERVE IT. After that, she confidently sweeps through DON'T TELL ME. HUMAN NATURE follows, while she rides her ole mechanical bull. After that, she performs a song she had written herself entitled, THE FUNNY SONG (OH DEAR DADDY). After that, she gives a great rendition of SECRET, which then leads into a great rendition of GONE. Before I go on, let me point out that GONE was sometimes reversed with YOU'LL SEE. In some cities, including Michigan, Madonna performed GONE. Other cities, including my hometown, Philly, Madonna performed YOU'LL SEE.

She takes another costume change as two of her dancers waltz to an instrumental version of DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA. Madonna takes the stage, wearing a full-front black dress, black slacks and high-heeled shoes, complete with her hair tied into a bun, as she performs LO QUE SIENTE LA MUJER, a Spanish version of WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL. Then, with her acoustic guitar hand, she performs an amazing rendition of LA ISLA BONITA. The encores are HOLIDAY and MUSIC. Sorry, but you'll have to see it for yourselves, can't tell you everything. Buy it and prepare to be amazed. Below is the tour's setlist.

DROWNED WORLD (SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE)
IMPRESSIVE INSTANT
CANDY PERFUME GIRL
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
RAY OF LIGHT
PARADISE (NOT FOR ME) (Video Interlude, costume change)
FROZEN
NOBODY'S PERFECT
MER GIRL/SKY FITS HEAVEN medley
I DESERVE IT
DON'T TELL ME
HUMAN NATURE
THE FUNNY SONG (OH DEAR DADDY)
SECRET
GONE or YOU'LL SEE
DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA (instrumental) dancers' interlude
LO QUE SIENTE LA MUJER (WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL)
LA ISLA BONITA
HOLIDAY
MUSIC