Madonna rocked the Garden for the third time last night – with the show having much more than a few surprises.

If you want to read about a special birthday dedication and the first special guest on stage at the Sticky & Sweet Tour, M-Tribe friend and Community member DyeAnotherDay is the right man for you:

Saturday night!

October 11.

Third New York show!

I open my eyes. It is about 10 a.m.

I stumble to my computer, hit Ticketmaster, buy a seat, and go back to sleep, thinking “at least I’m going.”

When I rise, I check Ticketmaster again and examine the ticket I purchased.

Not terrible.

I hit Ticketmaster all day.

Nothing.

Saturday night.

Cool weather.

Madison Square Garden.

S O L D O U T

M A D O N N A

It doesn’t get any better than this. I am a lucky happy person.

At first, I’m like this-is-so-not-happening…

But my seat is really not bad! I have a very clear view of the stage.

It gets later and later. I decide “Oh fuck this” and drink a glass of champagne. 9 turns into 9:30 and there’s still no Madonna.

I am seated to a kind of hot str8 type named Joe. He has seen every U.S. performance and is going to Vegas.

We confer furiously, and by 9:30, we are both wondering what is holding the show up.

Lights out at 9:45!

The video is fantastic from every seat, front to back. Tonight I am aware that the video is about a piece of candy that is being made, but maybe it’s just the champagne.

From my seat, the entrance is better. From the floor, it just looks like she appears out of nowhere.

But she does this full rotation, and the entire right side of the arena sees Madonna glide across the entire stage to her throne position.

Okay, I want you guys to know that I could be out drinking right now! So no ragging on me.

The first section is great. The Rolls gets better every time I see it – she really works it and is all over it.

Tonight, she doesn’t push it back to the stage — she hops on top of it and whispers to someone in the car — it looks like Pharrell.

“Human Nature” is turning into a favorite.

“Vogue” doesn’t really work from the nosebleeds. There is too much light around the center stage, and Madonna sort of gets lost.

During “Die Another Day”, I SCRAMBLE to get a gulp of water, and barely make the opening of “Into the Groove”.

The guy I’m sitting next to is like, “My God, she just never stops!”

“Into the Groove” goes over extremely well with the New York crowd.

Madonna seems very into performing. At this point, she has nothing to lose or gain — she simply seems to adore being onstage. Her every movement reflects this. I’ve seen Madonna so many times and I can honestly say I’ve never seen her happier.

I love “Heartbeat.” I think it’s my favorite song in the show.

“Borderline” is amazing.

She almost falls down during “She’s Not Me.” It looks like she trips on something.

“Music” is great.

After the “Rain” video, the center stage reflects this and turns into a giant waterfall.

“Spanish Lesson,” “Miles Away,” and “La Isla Bonita” thrill the crowd and are performed perfectly.

Now Madonna addresses the audience: “I’d like to dedicate this song to my beautiful daughter, Lola. Today is her 12th birthday. The first time I performed this song, she was growing inside me. This is for you, Baby.”

I have chills even typing this now. It was soooo amazing.

By the last segment, I knew this was a great Madonna concert.

I was struck by the fact the she performs “4 Minutes” basically solo. It seems like a huge production number, but it’s just Madonna. It is very detailed. I saw it from the front row opening night – and I saw it again tonight — but the number cannot happen with the countless people onstage. Tonight I saw that several of those people eventually join her onstage – it’s really fascinating.

Madonna sprints to the rear of one of the “4 Minutes” pillars.

One of the dancers helps her remove her Xena: Warrior Princess breast plates.

“And it feels like….”

Madonna is now in her stainless steel boustier peforming “Like a Prayer.” The entire room is chaotic – a Disney-like display of lighting. The room erupts – but it did not shake. I really paid attention, because it shook the other night and it did not rock tonight. I wanted to tell you that.

Still, it was amazing.

And, in fact, I really liked “Ray of Light.” It hadn’t done much for me, but it got me moving tonight!

Before “Hung Up,” Madonna surveyed the crowd for requests. I wonder how long this is going to last – a LOT of people up front were ready with SOMETHING, but she sings “Express Yourself.”

“Hung Up” is fabulous.

Poor Sarah Palin.

Madonna really had me laughing.

“This is what Sarah Palin’s mind sounds like.”

A friend of mind commented that this show doesn’t have enough drama, but it has a lot of humor.

Finally, Madonna kicks into “Give it 2 Me.”

Pharrell appears with Madonna the Front Floor goes into mayhem. His jeans seem to be suspended by a thread of dental floss – his entire rear end is plainly visible.

He could have easily been quite uncomfortable but he handled it well.

He and M worked the entire stage getting the audience to sing along. Madonna was either hanging onto Pharrell or, at one point, jumping on top of him and having him carry her onto the runway. They have a good time with the whole crowd from the front row to the Pods.

The dancers go to their positions on either side of the stage, and Pharrell and Madonna climb the stairs together. She grabs him, hugs him, wraps herself around him as the stage lowers them.

Game Over.

“Holiday” blasts over the sound system.

I am trapped in a stairwell with everyone in my section.

I decide to dance and a few people join me. We turn our little stuck pocket into a mini-disco. (WHAT is wrong with me.) WE HAVE GOT TO GET TOGETHER.

I emerge from Madison Square Garden. I walk across the street and order a Perrier and an Absolut Martini.

I walk into the Village and grab some pizza.

I walk into my apartment, get some water, go to my computer, and type what you just read.

It is 1:56 a.m. and my body is sticky with sweat. My ears are ringing. Right now.

And I still have tomorrow night.

Special thanks to DyeAnotherDay