Hardly any other concert has been as eagerly awaited as the first German show of Madonna’s The Celebration Tour: the artist’s first of two Cologne concerts took place in the Lanxess Arena on November 15th.
For some viewers, the wait for Madonna turned into a test of patience: Some fans complained via X (formerly Twitter) that the singer was taking too much time in advance. The show apparently only started shortly after 10 p.m., but this is nothing unusual compared to previous shows on the tour.
With the strong opener “Nothing Really Matters,” the “Queen of Pop” reconciled the angry fans in the audience:
During a break between two songs, Madonna talked about how she wanted to dress the same way she does today, even at 81 years old. “Because I’m weird and so are you. And that’s why we’re together.” She also likes to think back on the past. “Because without you I am nothing. Without the past, I wouldn’t have the present. And without the present I have no future.”
What was special was the small a cappella performance with the audience for “Causing a Commotion” – it was only the second time during the tour that she sang the film song from 1987’s “Who’s That Girl?” Further highlights for the Cologne audience were tour premieres of “Papa Don’t Preach”, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” and “Live to Tell”.
“Vogue” live in Cologne:
“La Isla Bonita” live in Cologne:
Madonna live in Cologne: The complete setlist on November 15th
Nothing Really Matters
Everybody
Into the Groove
Causing a Commotion (A Cappella with the Audience)
Burn Up
Open Your Heart
Holiday
Live To Tell
Like a Prayer
Erotica
Papa Don’t Preach
Justify My Love
Fever (Eddie Cooley cover)
Hung Up
Bad girl
Vogue
Die Another Day
Human nature
Don’t Tell Me
Mother and Father
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor cover)
La Isla Bonita
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Bedtime Story
Ray of Light
Rain
Bitch I’m Madonna
Celebration