Round and round, like a circle…

“Confessions” is the third Madonna tour in a row to close in September – but the Queen of Pop has not always been made her shows travel around the world in summertime.

Thirteen years ago today, Madonna opened her Girlie Show at the Wembley Stadium. Here’s what BBC News’ Neil Smith wrote about the show two years ago, when Madonna was coming back to town with her “re-Invention” show.

“Madonna chose London as the starting point for her 1993 tour, her most explicit and controversial to date.

Coming off the back of her Erotica album, her critically-panned film Body of Evidence and her infamous ‘Sex’ book of photographs, The Girlie Show showed the singer at her most confrontational.

Madonna opened the show dressed as a whip-cracking dominatrix, surrounded by topless dancers of both sexes.

But there were lighter moments too – singing Like a Virgin in the guise of Marlene Dietrich, for example, or donning an Afro wig for Express Yourself.

Controversy followed the pop star around the globe. She caused uproar in Puerto Rico by rubbing the island’s flag between her legs on stage, while Orthodox Jews protested against her first ever show in Israel.

The critics were predictably sniffy. “It’s tough to stay on top by spanking somebody’s bottom,” wrote Time magazine’s Richard Corliss.”

Thanks to tonybecks… for inspiration.