”Thank you Russia, see you next time!”
Madonna played Saint Petersburg tonight and the Tribers got a fantastic series of live updates from the show in the MadonnaTribe Forum thanks to our Communty members Lollapalooza, who texted from the Palace Square, and djs collecting and reposting the updates. Here is a short breakdown of how the concert was.
• It rained in the afternoon, but the weather turned to sunny later on. Can’t get to the square – the Nevsky Prospekt is closed. Guys in queue at the square complain that the police forces them out. Bad.
• Tryed to detour, but they blocked the whole Nevsky. Not letting tourist, pedestrians or even local residents through.
• Soundcheck started. “Candy Shop” is on. Got as close as I could, but no idea how to get in or when will they let us in.
• This is getting crazy – people who queued at night and from early morning are now sent running along the Nevsky back and forth. Madonna performed “Beat Goes On” and “Human Nature”.
• They removed everyone from the Nevsky Prospekt. People who were waiting all night are f*cked up!
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“Into the Groove” is on.
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Worst ever organization. People from different sectors sent to just one entrance to the sealed area – corner of Nevsky and Moika river. This is going to ba a huge mess for fans and regular spectators. Not to mention the people whocant get to their homes!
• They kinda started letting people in, one in a time. Some friends are by the square now at metal detectors. They say there is danger of stampede…
• I’m through. Gold Circle is small. Nice. The stage is high. People in front won’t see much. Sunny so far.
• Sound equipment directed straight front from the stage towards the Alexandrivsky garden, not a single degree to the sides to avoid echo and damage to the buildings. Clouds and some wind coming, not hot anymore…
• Local time 7.15 PM: Paul Oakenfold is on with his set. People up and dancing.
• Paul is playing some great Russian music. Very cool!!! People love it.
• Drizzling now… Umbrellas up, no stage view for anyone – those close see nothing anyway and block other people’s view with umbrellas…
• It’s raining still. Paul is playing “Celebration”. Good reaction. Jesus dancing on stage too.
• 8.00 PM local time: Heavy rain. Paul Oaneknfold finished his set with “Celebration”. People chanted the swear word she said in her concert ad. Now back rows scream “remove f*ing umbrellas”.
• 8.45 PM local time: Everyone is wet through… Terrible… They are trying to wipe the stage… Rain stopped for now, but clouds are not looking good.
• 9.25 PM local time: Show has started… in daylight!
• In “Candy Shop” the dancer couldn’t take her jacket off. Side screens don’t work properly. “Beat Goes On” “alright Saint Petersburg” got a roar from the crowd!
• Madonna is all smiles. Big “Thank You” after “Beat Goes On”. She threw her hat away after first verse and chorus of “Vogue” but the inner part of the hat is in left in her hair!
• Someone threw pink bunny on stage. She didn’t throw it away immediately. Held in hands for some time. Before “Holiday” people chanting the swear word “ohuenno” – fucking awesome…
• She dedicated “Miles Away” to Russia.
• The Kolpakov Trio are singing an extra song after “Doli Doli”. She introduced them as her Romani friends from Russia.
• She just made quite a long speech – She told the crowd they can’t imagine how she feels playing on the Palace Square surrounded by the beauty of the city, and that she’s lucky to be able to perform in this historic place.
• It is Arkady’s (the violinists) birthday. Heart shaped balloons in the audience for “You Must Love Me”.
• “Get Stupid” is now on, and we’re into the final section of the show…
• Game over! She said “Thank you Russia, see you next time” and kept waving her hand until she had disappeared. And one final, but important, comment about the show: she didn’t swear at all, not a single word!!!
Special thanks to our Communty members Lollapalooza and djs.