If anyone thought Madonna's love for life in the British countryside meant her days of courting controversy were behind her, they were clearly mistaken. The Queen of Pop proved she has lost none of her ability to shock when she kicked off her Confessions tour with an unforgettable concert in Los Angeles on Monday night.
After alighting on the stage in a giant mirrored disco ball, the 47-year-old, who was clad in was a black riding outfit with top hat, launched into her hit Future Lovers. And although she had obviously taken inspiration from her fondness for equine pursuits, her mount - a muscle-bound dancer complete with reigns and a saddle – might look a little out of place in the grounds of her Wiltshire estate.
Never one to shy away from ruffling a few feathers, the iconic singer also included plenty of religious imagery in her show. Seventeen years have now passed since the performer upset Vatican officials with the infamous video for Like A Prayer, but she shows no sign of changing her ways. Indeed the mum-of-two drew gasps from the audience at LA's Forum venue when she appeared suspended on a 12 foot cross with a crown of thorns on her head.
There were also plenty of more light-hearted moments, however. With the launch of her most recent album Madonna reinvented herself as a Seventies disco queen and she wasn't about to forget her newfound retro image. The chart-topping veteran donned a white spandex catsuit, complete with matching cape, when she performed the dancefloor favourite Celebrities towards the end of the show.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
