Madonna shows she can still wow the crowds

Twenty-five years after the release of her eponymous debut album, Madonna proved she has still got what it takes to wow audiences with an energetic set at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Maidstone.
The queen of pop – who turns 50 on August 16 – closed the event at Mote Park following acts including Duffy, Usher and The Feeling.

Those who had been waiting all day to see Madonna were not disappointed when she appeared on stage in the main tent dressed in a tight black outfit and black knee high boots and opened her set with song Candy Shop, from her number one album Hard Candy.

She dedicated her next song, Miles Away, to “anybody who’s afraid of falling in love”.

Madonna then launched into her number one single 4 Minutes while screens on stage showed images of Justin Timberlake, who sings on the track with her.

There was a surprise in store for fans when Madonna picked up an electric guitar, said she planned to sing an old song and launched into the opening lines of the Rolling Stones hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.

After only a few bars, she stopped and called out to the audience: “How many of you are drunk?” When they responded with a collective cheer, she replied: “That’s so worrying.”

After teasing the audience with the Stones cover, she then planned to sing “a song from the past, but not too far back from the past” and played her former number one Hung Up.

After finishing it with an impressive guitar solo, she changed into a pair of trainers and showed off some energetic dance moves during another song from her latest album, Give It 2 Me.

From the Press Association.