IN THE PIT OF IT ALL :: Our Resident Madonnaologist, Philip Tetro, was FRONT ROW at Madonna’s first of two Toronto concerts last night. Read all about the best night of his life below.
Last night was the absolute best night of my life. In case you don’t remember how, Madonna herself personally gave me pit tickets to her MDNA concert at the Air Canada Centre last night.
When we got to the venue, I went to the box office with my email confirmation and was redirected to the booth to pick up my tickets and wristbands. This booth was a little different than “Will Call”. It was simply titled “Madonna Friends and Family Tickets.” Cue heart attack number one.
After waiting in line with my baby blue and gold wristband with my mother and sister for an hour, the doors opened and we ran to the golden triangle we would call home for the next six hours of our lives. I texted Guy Oseary’s assistant, Sam – yes, you got that right, texted her- to come out and say “hello” to thank her for helping me organize my tickets, and the conversation went a little something like this: “Madonna loved your video. She watched it again from her home on her T.V. Enjoy the show!” Cue heart attack number two.
By this point, I’m on Cloud 9. My friend David [Robert] called me to go have a quick beer before the show, so I went to meet him (I still had about two hours before the show was to start). Not even five minutes pass and my mother calls to let me know Madonna’s team had come to look for me. Needless to say, I didn’t finish my beer. I return to find Guy Oseary with his camera taking pictures of fans before the show, as he is known to do. He notices me, so I go to shake his hand. He pushes my hand away and comes in for the biggest bear hug I’ve ever given someone (my attraction to older Jewish men is now in full-effect). I thanked him for the tickets and he thanked me for “everything.” Me?! He then goes on to say that “we love you.” We?! Cue third and final pre-show heart attack. I am already losing my shit by this point.
Madonna comes on stage at around 10:30 PM and performs like the Queen she is. She was definitely more into this show than I’ve seen in videos of the tour before (yes, I can tell you exactly what has happened at each show). She was smiling, she was glowing, she looked fantastic, she sounded fantastic and she was having so much fun.
The highlights of the show for me were definitely “Express Yourself” – performed as a majorette leader: you could not wipe the smile of her face with a million dollar bill; “Open Your Heart” – a Basque, folk street party, complete with her son, Rocco by her side, reminiscent of Madonna and the little boy from the music video; “Masterpiece” – I knew my mom wouldn’t be able to control herself for this song and, as expected, as soon as I saw her cry, I couldn’t help myself; “Holiday” – only performed once before on this tour, Madonna gave Toronto a vacation as she did a long, sing-a-long version of the most-performed song in her catalogue. The entire night was just magical.
During “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer” and “Like a Virgin,” I could smell her. During “Turn Up The Radio,” I am convinced she winked at me. I have never been happier in my entire life, and nothing or no one could have made it better. My life is complete.
See you in Mexico, Madonna.
Photo by Madonna’s manager, Guy Oseary.
