Confessions Tour 4613636 226073542 2008-07-16T18:35:35Z 86.141.201.156 /* Setlist */ {{for|the live album of the tour|The Confessions Tour (album)}} {{Infobox concert tour | | concert_tour_name = Confessions Tour | image = [[Image:Confessionstourlogo.jpg|250px]] | image_caption = Promotional poster for Madonna's 2006 World Tour | artist = [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] | album = ''[[Confessions on a Dance Floor]]'' | start_date = [[May 21]] [[2006]] | end_date = [[September 21]] [[2006]] | number_of_legs = 3 | number_of_shows = 34 in [[North America]] <br> 22 in [[Europe]] <br> 4 in [[Japan]] <br> 60 in Total | last_tour = [[Re-Invention World Tour|Re-Invention Tour]] <br />(2004) | this_tour = '''Confessions Tour''' <br />(2006) | next_tour = [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]] <br />(2008) }} The '''Confessions Tour''' was the seventh world [[concert tour]] by [[United States|American]] singer-songwriter [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] to support her album ''[[Confessions on a Dance Floor]]''. According to [[Billboard]] Madonna's tour grossed $194.8 million<ref>{{cite web||url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/wjn8/|title=BBC - Pop/Chart Review - Madonna, The Confessions Tour|date=2007-02-21|accessdate=2008-07-13|last=Young|first=Tom|Work=BBC News}}</ref> with a total of 60 shows and 1.2 million people in paid attendance through [[North America]], [[Europe]], and [[Japan]], making it the highest grossing tour ever for a female artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003154128|title=Madonna's 'Confessions' Tour Sets Record|date=2006-09-20|accessdate=2008-07-13|last=Waddell|first=Ray|work=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2006/09/madonna_sets_fe.html|title=Madonna sets female tour record|date=2006-09-20|accessdate=2008-07-13|last=Barnes|first=Ken|work=Listen Up|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> ==Setlist== # Future Lovers <small>(contains excerpts from ''I Feel Love'')</small> # [[Get Together]] # [[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]] # [[Jump]] # Interlude: Confessions # [[Live to Tell]] # Forbidden Love # Isaac # [[Sorry (Madonna song)|Sorry]] # Like It Or Not # Interlude: Sorry (Remix) # I Love New York # [[Ray of Light (song)|Ray of Light]] # Let It Will Be (Paper Faces Mix) # [[Drowned World/Substitute For Love]] # [[Paradise (Not For Me)]] # Video Interlude: The Duck Mixes The Hits <small>(contains excerpts from ''Borderline'', ''Erotica'', ''Dress You Up'', ''Holiday'' and ''Disco Inferno'')</small> # [[Music (Madonna song)|Music]] <small>(contains elements of ''Where's the Party'' and ''Disco Inferno'')</small> # [[Erotica (song)|Erotica]] <small>(Unreleased Demo Version)</small> # [[La Isla Bonita]] # [[Lucky Star (song)|Lucky Star]] <small>(contains elements of ''Hung Up'')</small> # [[Hung Up]] Source: <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.madonnacatalog.com/confessionstour/tourbook/index.htm|title=Madonna Confessions Tour Programme Book|date=2007|accessdate=2008-07-13|work=The Madonna Catalog|publisher=Warner Bros. Records}}</ref> ==Tour dates== {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! width="150" rowspan="1"| Date ! width="140" rowspan="1"| City ! width="140" rowspan="1"| Country ! width="220" rowspan="1"| Venue |- bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | colspan=4 align=center | '''North America''' |- |align="center"|[[May 21]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Los Angeles]] |align="center"|[[United States]] |align="center"|[[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] |- |align="center"|[[May 23]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Los Angeles |align="center"|United States |align="center"|The Forum |- |align="center"|[[May 24]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Los Angeles |align="center"|United States |align="center"|The Forum |- |align="center"|[[May 27]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[MGM Grand Garden Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[May 28]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Las Vegas |align="center"|United States |align="center"|MGM Grand Garden Arena |- |align="center"|[[May 30]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[San Jose, California|San Jose]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[HP Pavilion at San Jose]] |- |align="center"|[[May 31]] [[2006]] |align="center"|San Jose |align="center"|United States |align="center"|HP Pavilion at San Jose |- |align="center"|[[June 3]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Los Angeles |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[Staples Center]] |- |align="center"|[[June 5]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Fresno, California|Fresno]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[Save Mart Center at Fresno State|Save Mart Center]] |- |align="center"|[[June 6]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Fresno |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Save Mart Center |- |align="center"|[[June 8]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[Jobing.com Arena|Glendale Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[June 10]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Phoenix |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Glendale Arena |- |align="center"|[[June 14]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Chicago]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[United Center]] |- |align="center"|[[June 15]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Chicago |align="center"|United States |align="center"|United Center |- |align="center"|[[June 18]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Chicago |align="center"|United States |align="center"|United Center |- |align="center"|[[June 19]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Chicago |align="center"|United States |align="center"|United Center |- |align="center"|[[June 21]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Montreal]] |align="center"|[[Canada]] |align="center"|[[Bell Centre]] |- |align="center"|[[June 22]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Montreal |align="center"|Canada |align="center"|Bell Centre |- |align="center"|[[June 25]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Hartford]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[XL Center|Hartford Civic Center]] |- |align="center"|[[June 26]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Hartford |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Hartford Civic Center |- |align="center"|[[June 28]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[New York City]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[Madison Square Garden]] |- |align="center"|[[June 29]] [[2006]] |align="center"|New York City |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Madison Square Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 2]] [[2006]] |align="center"|New York City |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Madison Square Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 3]] [[2006]] |align="center"|New York City |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Madison Square Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 6]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Boston]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[TD Banknorth Garden]] |- |align="center"|[[July 9]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Boston |align="center"|United States |align="center"|TD Banknorth Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 10]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Boston |align="center"|United States |align="center"|TD Banknorth Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 12]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Philadelphia]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[Wachovia Center]] |- |align="center"|[[July 13]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Philadelphia |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Wachovia Center |- |align="center"|[[July 16]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Atlantic City]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[Boardwalk Hall]] |- |align="center"|[[July 18]] [[2006]] |align="center"|New York City |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Madison Square Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 19]] [[2006]] |align="center"|New York City |align="center"|United States |align="center"|Madison Square Garden |- |align="center"|[[July 22]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Miami]] |align="center"|United States |align="center"|[[American Airlines Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[July 23]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Miami |align="center"|United States |align="center"|American Airlines Arena |- |- bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | colspan=4 align=center | '''Europe''' |- |align="center"|[[July 30]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Cardiff]] |align="center"|[[Wales]] |align="center"|[[Millennium Stadium]] |- |align="center"|[[August 1]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[London]] |align="center"|[[England]] |align="center"|[[Wembley Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[August 3]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 6]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Rome]] |align="center"|[[Italy]] |align="center"|[[Stadio Olimpico|Olympic Stadium]] |- |align="center"|[[August 9]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 10]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 12]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 13]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 15]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 16]] [[2006]] |align="center"|London |align="center"|England |align="center"|Wembley Arena |- |align="center"|[[August 20]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Düsseldorf]] |align="center"|[[Germany]] |align="center"|[[LTU Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[August 22]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Hannover]] |align="center"|Germany |align="center"|[[AWD Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[August 24]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Horsens]] |align="center"|[[Denmark]] |align="center"|[[Casa Arena Horsens|Forum Horsens]] |- |align="center"|[[August 27]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Paris]] |align="center"|[[France]] |align="center"|[[Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy]] |- |align="center"|[[August 28]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Paris |align="center"|France |align="center"|Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy |- |align="center"|[[August 30]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Paris |align="center"|France |align="center"|Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy |- |align="center"|[[August 31]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Paris |align="center"|France |align="center"|Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy |- |align="center"|[[September 3]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Amsterdam]] |align="center"|[[Netherlands|The Netherlands]] |align="center"|[[Amsterdam Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[September 4]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Amsterdam |align="center"|The Netherlands |align="center"|Amsterdam Arena |- |align="center"|[[September 6]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Prague]] |align="center"|[[Czech Republic]] |align="center"|[[Sazka Arena]] |- |align="center"|[[September 7]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Prague |align="center"|Czech Republic |align="center"|Sazka Arena |- |align="center"|[[September 12]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Moscow]] |align="center"|[[Russia]] |align="center"|[[Luzhniki Stadium]] |- |- bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | colspan=4 align=center | '''Japan''' |- |align="center"|[[September 16]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Osaka]] |align="center"|[[Japan]] |align="center"|[[Kyocera Dome Osaka]] |- |align="center"|[[September 17]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Osaka |align="center"|Japan |align="center"|Kyocera Dome Osaka |- |align="center"|[[September 20]] [[2006]] |align="center"|[[Tokyo]] |align="center"|Japan |align="center"|[[Tokyo Dome]] |- |align="center"|[[September 21]] [[2006]] |align="center"|Tokyo |align="center"|Japan |align="center"|Tokyo Dome |- |} ===Rumored Australian Leg=== When the tour was announced, there were many rumors amongst fans that Madonna would take the tour to Australia (the first in over 10 years). However, in the summer of 2006, she announced that there would not be an Australian leg to the already successful tour<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/madonna-rules-out-aussie-leg/2006/07/24/1153593257433.html|title=Madonna rules out Aussie leg|date=2006-07-24|accessdate=2008-07-13|work=The Age}}</ref>. Her official website released the following statement: {{quote| To my fans in Australia, Please forgive me. I really did hope and expect to come to Australia during the Confessions Tour and asked my managers to try to include some shows there. I have fond memories from previous tours. Unfortunately, the logistics just didn't work out this time around. We looked into going from Japan to Australia and ending the show there but I have to get my kids back into school in England and they are, as you can understand, my most important priority. The important thing to remember is that I'm not retiring anytime soon and I am gonna get to Australia as soon as I can. You remain in my heart and Thank you for your continued love & support. Love, Madonna}} ===Box Office Score Data=== {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! width="150" rowspan="1"| Venue ! width="140" rowspan="1"| City ! width="140" rowspan="1"| Tickets Sold ! width="220" rowspan="1"| Gross Revenue |- |align="center"|The Forum |align="center"|Los Angeles |align="center"|40,044 / 40,044 (sellout) |align="center"|$7,686,380 |- |align="center"|MGM Grand Garden |align="center"|Las Vegas |align="center"|27,528 / 27,528 (sellout) |align="center"|$7,257,750 |- |align="center"|HP Pavilion at San Jose |align="center"|San Jose |align="center"|27,024 / 27,024 (sellout) |align="center"|$4,761,555 |- |align="center"|Staples Center |align="center"|Los Angeles |align="center"|14,158 / 14,158 (sellout) |align="center"|$2,804,583 |- |align="center"|Save Mart Center |align="center"|Fresno |align="center"|20,154 / 20,154 (sellout) |align="center"|$3,749,800 |- |align="center"|Glendale Arena |align="center"|Phoenix |align="center"|28,820 / 28,820 (sellout) |align="center"|$4,890,090 |- |align="center"|United Center |align="center"|Chicago |align="center"|52,000 / 52,000 (sellout) |align="center"|$9,271,790 |- |align="center"|Bell Centre |align="center"|Montreal |align="center"|34,940 / 34,940 (sellout) |align="center"|$5,670,150 |- |align="center"|Hartford Civic Center |align="center"|Hartford |align="center"|21,558 / 21,558 (sellout) |align="center"|$6,451,235 |- |align="center"|Madison Square Garden |align="center"|New York |align="center"|91,841 / 91,841 (sellout) |align="center"|$16,507,855 |- |align="center"|TD Banknorth Garden |align="center"|Boston |align="center"|36,741 / 36,741 (sellout) |align="center"|$6,337,115 |- |align="center"|Wachovia Center |align="center"|Philadelphia |align="center"|29,749 / 29,749 (sellout) |align="center"|$4,639,775 |- |align="center"|Boardwalk Hall |align="center"|Atlantic City |align="center"|12,322 / 12,322 (sellout) |align="center"|$3,246,100 |- |align="center"|American Airlines Arena |align="center"|Miami |align="center"|30,410 / 30,410 (sellout) |align="center"|$5,568,485 |- |align="center"|Millennium Stadium |align="center"|Cardiff |align="center"|55,795 / 55,795 (sellout) |align="center"|$7,788,845 |- |align="center"|Wembley Arena |align="center"|London |align="center"|86,061 / 86,061 (sellout) |align="center"|$22,090,582 |- |align="center"|Stadio Olimpico |align="center"|Rome |align="center"|63,054 / 63,054 (sellout) |align="center"|$5,268,886 |- |align="center"|LTU Arena |align="center"|Dusseldorf |align="center"|44,744 / 44,744 (sellout) |align="center"|$5,926,105 |- |align="center"|AWD Arena |align="center"|Hannover |align="center"|39,871 / 39,871 (sellout) |align="center"|$5,218,985 |- |align="center"|Horsens Forum Outdoor |align="center"|Horsens |align="center"|85,232 / 85,232 (sellout) |align="center"|$11,435,199 |- |align="center"|Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy |align="center"|Paris |align="center"|67,758 / 67,758 (sellout) |align="center"|$9,145,832 |- |align="center"|Amsterdam Arena |align="center"|Amsterdam |align="center"|102,330 / 102,330 (sellout) |align="center"|$11,783,254 |- |align="center"|Sazka Arena |align="center"|Prague |align="center"|37,666 / 38,342 (98%) |align="center"|$5,861,668 |- |align="center"|Luzhniki Stadium |align="center"|Moscow |align="center"|37,939 / 37,939 (sellout) |align="center"|$5,548,998 |- |align="center"|Kyocera Dome Osaka |align="center"|Osaka |align="center"|50,623 / 50,623 (sellout) |align="center"|$7,379,553 |- |align="center"|Tokyo Dome |align="center"|Tokyo |align="center"|71,231 / 71,231 (sellout) |align="center"|$11,463,877 |- |align="center"| |align="center"|'''TOTAL''' |align="center"|'''1,210,294 ''' |align="center"|'''$194,754,447 |- |} ====Ticket sales==== Tickets for the tour sold out within minutes of going on sale at many venues in North America and Europe, and new dates were immediately announced - included five new dates at Wembley Arena and new dates in New York, Chicago, Paris and Los Angeles. Madonna rang up eight sellouts at Wembley Arena beginning Aug. 1, notching the highest Billboard Boxscore gross of 2006 in the process. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003052334|title=Billboard Bits: Madonna, Arthur Nights, Army Of Anyone|date=2006-08-23|accessdate=2008-07-13|work=Billboard}}</ref> She grossed $80 million for the US shows alone throughout the summer, and it instantly became the highest grossing summer tour of the year 2006. Madonna's Tour:Spent 5 months on tour. Preformed 60 dates. Average ticket prices were between $55 and $350. In particular, [[NRJ]] reported that the two French dates sold out within 15 minutes of going on sale, resulting in two shows being added. The two original dates in London sold out almost instantly, and five new shows at [[Wembley Arena]] were announced. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4886478.stm|title=Madonna tour tickets go on sale|date=2006-04-07|accessdate=2008-07-13|work-BBC News}}</ref> On April 8, Madonna sold 30,000 tickets in under 40 minutes in Montreal, breaking a record previously held by [[U2]]. On July 9, 2006, 50,000 tickets went on sale for Madonna's Osaka and Tokyo shows. The tickets were sold out in a record five minutes. It was Madonna's first time touring Japan in 13 years. Fans began waiting in line and calling ticket brokers well in advance of the first day sale date. In order to meet high demand, an additional date was added, September 21, 2006, at the [[Tokyo Dome]]. On August 8, 2006, more than 35,000 tickets for the first ever Madonna concert in Moscow went on sale and, as claimed by show organizers, all were sold out in four days, which could be a new record in that country as all other artists had taken more than 2 weeks to sell out the tickets in the region. However, after many troubles with the concert (venue uncertainty, date change, ticket exchange), and, obviously, huge amount of tickets in the hands of speculators, tickets were on sale at their nominal values until the last minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rian.ru/society/20060912/53809994.html|title=На концерте Мадонны в "Лужниках" присутствуют 35 тысяч зрителей|date=2006-09-12|accessdate=2008-07-13|work=Лента новостей "РИА Новости}}</ref> ==Personnel== *Tour director: [[Jamie King]] *Video Director: Dago Gonzalez for [[Veneno, Inc.]] *Musical Direction: [[Stuart Price]] *Costume Design: Arianne Phillips, [[Jean Paul Gaultier]] and Roman Diaz *Worldwide Promoter: The Next Adventure ===Band=== *Keyboards: Marcus Brown and Stuart Price *Drums: Steve Sidelnyk *Guitar: Monte Pittman and Madonna *Backing Vocals: [[Donna De Lory]] and Nicki Richards *Guest Vocalist: Yitzhak Sinwani *Dancers: Jason Young, Daniel "Cloud" Campos, Leroy "Hypnosis " Barnes, [[Mihran Kirakosian]], Williams "Normann" Charlemoine, Steve Nester, Addie Yungmee, Sofia Boutella, Charmaine "Charm" Jordan, Reshma Gajjar, Tamara Levinson, Sébastien Foucan, Oleg Vorslav, Levi Meeuwenberg and Victor Lopez ==About the Tour== Madonna mentioned in an interview UK newspaper The Guardian on November 20, 2005 that she may tour the following year; she was going to call it the '''''Confessions Tour''''' or '''''Confess Your Sins Tour'''''. A further rumoured name for the tour was the '''''Dance and Sing World Tour''''' although [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] soon denied this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1646635,00.html|title= Looks good on the dancefloor|date=2005-11-20|accessdate=2008-07-13|last=Garfield|first=Simon|work=The Observer|publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> Madonna described the tour as "turning the world into a giant dancefloor." The show is divided into four separate acts with different themes: [[Equestrianism|equestrian]], urban [[bedouin]], [[glam punk]] and [[disco fever]]. Each show in each city is almost the same except some very few differences. Scenes in the opening number, "Future Lovers" and "I Feel Love", were taken from Madonna's 2006 photo shoot with [[Steven Klein]] for ''[[W (magazine)|W]]'' magazine. Madonna's actual [[x-rays]] from her horse riding accident were used as backdrops during the "[[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]]" performance. The tour generated international controversy due to its use of Christian religious iconography. While singing "[[Live to Tell]]", Madonna hung from a mirrored cross, wearing a crown of thorns around her head. [[Christianity|Christian]], [[Jewish]] and [[Muslim]] groups in North America and Europe came together to criticize what they saw as Madonna's exploitation of "sacred" Christian symbols. In response, Madonna personally and publicly invited Pope [[Benedict XVI]] to see the show while in [[Rome]] - insisting that she was doing the controversial act to raise awareness and money for orphans abandoned in [[Africa]] (particularly [[Malawi]]) due to [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]] and that "Jesus wouldn't mind." (While she sings "[[Live to Tell]]," in the background run haunting images of the devastation wreaking havoc in Africa right now. On top, a count begins from 0 until it reaches 12 million - the number of orphans created by HIV/AIDS in Africa alone [2006 UN estimate]).[[Image:Madonnact.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Madonna performing in ''[[Los Angeles]]'' during the first show of ''Confessions Tour'']] The version of "[[Erotica (song)|Erotica]]" performed in this show includes lyrics from an early demo version of the song, commonly known by fans as "[[You Thrill Me]]". Towards the end of the song, musical elements of "[[Everybody (Madonna song)|Everybody]]" are woven in, as when [[Stuart Price]] was remixing songs for performance in the tour, the song was due to be performed after "Erotica/You Thrill Me". However, when the song was cut (it was instead performed on the promotional tour for the ''Confessions on a Dancefloor'' album), Price and Madonna liked the added elements so much they left them in. Yitzhak Sinwani (who is featured on the album track "Isaac") sings alongside Madonna for the same song and joins her on renditions of "[[Paradise (Not For Me)]]", "[[Drowned World/Substitute For Love]]", and "[[La Isla Bonita]]". Initially, Madonna was to perform the songs "[[Deeper and Deeper]]" and "[[Everybody (Madonna song)|Everybody]]" but replaced them in favor of "[[Erotica (song)|Erotica]]" and "[[La Isla Bonita]]". She rehearsed these and even performed "[[Everybody (Madonna song)|Everybody]]" during her Confessions promo tour throughout various nightclubs. "[[Nothing Fails]]" was also rehearsed as a mix in with [[Drowned World/Substitute For Love]] but it didn't make the final cut. After Madonna demanded for the air-conditioning to be turned off at the Phoenix stop, rumors started that she had requested for the air-conditioning to be turned off during the remainder of the tour. These rumors were confirmed when Madonna announced that she had requested for the air-conditioning to be turned off at the Chicago stop on [[June 18th]]. Madonna sang [[Give Peace a Chance]] during her stop in [[Moscow]] during her "diva speech". She brought out her whole stage crew, even Isaac and Stuart, and had them lift their hands up and sway. Musician [[Lenny Kravitz]], who also appeared in the audience during numerous shows, joined Madonna live on stage for the song ''I Love New York'' at one of the Paris gigs. The multi-million dollar stage and props took 24 semi-trailer trucks to transport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/madonna/articles/story/10464314/madonnas_confessions_tour_an_index|title=Madonna by the Numbers date=2006-06-01|accessdate=2008-07-13|work=madonna.com|publisher=Rolling Stones}}</ref> The setup had a main stage with multiple elevators, a central runway with LED lights and strobes lining it, a central stage with an LED view screen in the construction and an elevator. The two secondary runways were raised up into the stands and also had view screens inside of the construction. There were two projection screens raised above the audience so those who couldn't get a clear view of the stage could still see the performance. There were also seven L.E.D. screens that moved around during the performance, including one semicircular transparent screen lowered onto the stage during "Future Lovers", "Live to Tell", "Like It or Not", the "Sorry" interlude video, "I Love New York", "Music Inferno", and "Hung Up". Among the various props were a two million dollar disco ball embellished in $2 million worth of Swarovski Crystals, bringing it to a weight of two tons. During the opening number the ball was lowered onto the stage at the end of the runway. Madonna was raised up into it via the elevator and the ball opened, revealing her. Inside the ball was hydraulic tubing to hold it open, two sets of stairs, and hundreds of LED lights. Other props include the turntable-pummel horse used during [[Like A Virgin]], a set of metal bars, and the boom box used during 'Hung Up' ===Crucifix controversy=== [[NBC]] made headlines when it censored the concert and refused to broadcast controversial footage of the pop star hanging from a crucifix during one of her songs. This controversial footage was also removed from the [[MuchMoreMusic]] broadcast of the show in Canada. However, the crucifixion scene was broadcast in full on [[Channel 4]] in the United Kingdom and [[VARA]] in the Netherlands. The segment in question wasn't shown with Madonna appearing on the cross, but instead [[NBC]] aired pictures of ''African Orphans'' that appeared upon the screens during the live performance with a counter that ran from 0 to 12 million (representing the 12 million children orphaned by [[AIDS]] in [[Africa]]). There were talks with Madonna and Warner as well as HBO to see if they could air the concert live from Madison Square Garden on HBO. However the deal fell through when HBO denied Madonna the amount of time needed to air the concert. At least one NBC affiliate, [[Gannett]]-owned [[WXIA-TV]] [[Atlanta]], opted not to carry the concert, airing it on its co-owned sister station, [[WATL (TV)|WATL]], instead. Also News Channel 6 [[WVVA-TV]] out of Bluefield WV, chose not to show the concert either. They said it was inappropriate and felt that the viewers did not need to see the show. They showed the Nutcracker instead. NBC, TVR 1 and Channel 4 also did not air the "[[Sorry (Madonna song)|Sorry]] Interlude", "[[Drowned World/Substitute For Love]]", "[[Paradise (Not For Me)]]" and "[[Lucky Star (song)|Lucky Star]]". WCNC-TV, an [[NBC]] affiliate in Charlotte, NC, pre-empted the concert and aired in place a local [[Christmas]] tree lighting. The concert was shown in full at 2:05am EST. After airing on [[NBC]] the concert special aired on [[Bravo (television network)|Bravo]], [[mun2]], and in high definition on [[Universal HD]] on December 29. The three above listed cable networks are all owned by [[NBC Universal Cable]]. Madonna released a statement about the controversy: {{quote|"I am very grateful that my show was so well received all over the world. But there seems to be many misinterpretations about my appearance on the cross and I wanted to explain it myself once and for all.'' ''There is a segment in my show where three of my dancers 'confess' or share harrowing experiences from their childhood that they ultimately overcame. My 'confession' follows and takes place on a Crucifix that I ultimately come down from. This is not a mocking of the church. It is no different than a person wearing a Cross or 'Taking Up the Cross' as it says in the Bible. My performance is neither anti-Christian, sacrilegious or blasphemous. Rather, it is my plea to the audience to encourage mankind to help one another and to see the world as a unified whole. I believe in my heart that if Jesus were alive today he would be doing the same thing.'' ''My specific intent is to bring attention to the millions of children in Africa who are dying every day, and are living without care, without medicine and without hope. I am asking people to open their hearts and minds to get involved in whatever way they can. The song ends with a quote from the Bible's Book of Matthew:'' ''For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me and God replied, "Whatever you did for the least of my brothers... you did it to me." ''Please do not pass judgment without seeing my show.''<ref>{{cite press release |title=Madonna Releases Statement Explaining Crucifix Scene From Confessions Tour |publisher=Warner Bros. Records |date=2006-09-21 |url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Warner-Bros-Records-702387.html |format= |language= |accessdate=2006-09-22 |quote=I am very grateful that my show was so well received all over the world... }}</ref>}} ==See also== *''[[The Confessions Tour (album)|The Confessions Tour (CD/DVD)]]'' ==External links== * [http://www.madonnacentral.co.nr Madonna Central] * [http://www.madonna.com/ Official website] * [http://www.theredcollection.com/ Tour Art] * [http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Madonna+Confessions+Tour&m=text Fan Photos from Confessions Tour] * [http://www.nbc.com/Madonna NBC concert website] * [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0902306/ Internet Movie Database] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Madonna}} [[Category:Madonna concert tours]] [[bg:Confessions Tour]] [[da:Confessions Tour]] [[es:Confessions Tour]] [[fr:Confessions Tour]] [[it:Confessions Tour]] [[ka:Confessions Tour]] [[nl:Confessions Tour]] [[ja:Confessions Tour]] [[pt:Confessions Tour]] [[ro:Confessions Tour]] [[ru:Confessions (турне)]] [[sk:Confessions Tour]] [[sl:Confessions tour]] [[fi:Confessions Tour]] [[sv:Confessions Tour]] [[vi:Confessions Tour]] [[tr:Confessions Tour]]