Here’s the full report by our friend Dye Another Day from the Confessions Tour opening night at the Forum in L.A.

“It was a rainy night in Los Angeles. I could hear “Erotica” and “La Isla Bonita” used as the soundcheck. They were late letting us in: 7:30. I circled the arena a few times, but felt nervous and took my seat. The show started at almost nine o’clock. (That’s 21:00 for our international friends, lol).

• Future Lovers
After the Steven Klein video, Madonna does indeed descend from the ceiling inside the hugest disco ball you’ve ever seen. Blinding in intensity, “Future Lovers” is performed live for the first time ever. Parts of “I Feel Love” are also included. This is a tightly choreographed routine that lets you know that Madonna is not done being kinky and sexy.

• Get Together
This is her new single and a great, bouncy dance number.

• Like A Virgin
This is performed for the first time in 13 years. She goes out onto the right catwalk, mounts a saddle like the one used for Human Nature in Drowned World, and does a dazzling, burlesque pole dance. Just as she stood on her head for the opening of “Vogue,” you will gasp at what she attempts onstage. It is a miracle the way she reinvents this song, yet always makes it as fresh and simple as a bolt of lightning.

• Jump
Was this the first time ever? Did she play this at GAY? A huge cage is lowered from the ceiling, and the dancers are swinging all over it. It’s visually stunning, very cirque de soleil. Very acrobatic.

• Live To Tell
For the first time in 16 years, the song she wrote for husband Sean Penn’s movie “At Close Range,” in Los Angeles, the city where they married. Madonna rises out of the stage on a cross. She is wearing a prune colored, see-through top and a headdress of thorns. The expression on her face is otherworldly. It was one of the most dramatic things I’ve ever seen. This will no doubt get Madonna the attention she has wanted since the day she stepped onto this Earth.

• Forbidden Love
This was the first time performed live, a very nice, deep, dancy track with the dancers.

• Isaac
The show is getting spiritual and dramatic. The first time performed live and very enjoyable.

• Sorry
Yet another cage comes out, and Sorry is performed for the first time live.

• Like It Or Not
This might not be Madonna’s best song, but it fills an important slot in the 00’s Madonna concert: “I’m not sorry,” “It’s not my time to go,” “Don’t ever tell me to stop.” “This is who I am, ” she tells the crowd, who adores her for that very thing, of course.

• I Love NY
Madonna reappears with a guitar wearing a black leather jacket. “Los Angeles is for people who sleep… but not you guys!” I was surprised at the strong reaction to this song. It sounded different and the entire floor was bouncing up and down.

• Ray Of Light
Ironically, this spiritual song is the antithesis of Glam Rock but – as always – Madonna makes it work. Since she has performed this in Drowned World, she gave it a really different spin for this concert.

• Let it Will Be
This was my biggest surprise. Boy does she work this number – she’s everywhere! – and it ROCKS LIKE HELL.

• Drowned World
I thought this song was a throwaway, but as the title of her first world tour of the 00’s, it has a familiarity, it’s beautiful, and continues to define her: “I traded fame for love without a second thought.” She sits at the edge of the stage for this, exactly like “In This Life.” The boys in the front row got plenty of eye contact and smiles from Madonna.

• Paradise Not For Me
The first time ever performed live. She sat down for this and it was just incredible.

• Disco Inferno
Let me just say this – if you like Cloud, you will like this. It is such fun – the “Hollywood” of this show, exactly.

• Music
Madonna reappears in the white Travolta suit and performs a great “Music.” The only song Madonna has performed on every tour of the 00’s.

• Erotica
As “The Girlie Show” bypassed L.A. in 1993, this was the first and only time this song has been performed in Los Angeles. At this critical stage of her life and career, I dare say it was important that Madonna, who toured with some major material just two years ago, to bring something magical out of the bag. And this was so, so special. Really exceptional. The crowd went berserk. What a night.

• La Isla Bonita
Madonna seemed to really be in very high spirits and really gave this number her all. It sounded very different, and Los Angeles loves this number.

• Lucky Star
The first time in 19 years. I think they put itching powder on everyone’s seats, because the entire forum was shaking their asses violently. Madonna wears an illuminated cape – think of the Riddler’s outfit in “Batman.” It’s obviously battery-powered. It says “Dancing Queen,” another homage to the disco era that this show is about.

• Hung Up
She burned the building to the ground. L.A. just loved it, but that’s the way L.A. is. They love anything they’ve seen on television. She ends the concert identically – IDENTICALLY- to the ending of Reinvention. The are all dancing, and they are lowered into the stage as a video screen covers them. Instead of “Reinvent Yourself,” it says, “Have you confessed?”

All in all, a remarkable show. She did a brilliant job of promoting her new album, while touching on her key images — the lucky star, “Like a Virgin,” and the sex goddess (which has been missing since the Girlie Show – smart going, M). Absolutely one of her best shows ever. If she’d had a voice, Blond Ambition would still rule, but she’s performing SO much better now – this really is the ultimate Madonna concert. It fills me with joy to watch her, always.”

A huge thank you to Steve aka Dye Another Day for this report and the live updates.