Madonna’s Times Square takeover Thursday night caught a few thousand tourists and New Yorkers off-guard.
Thanks to Grindr, the “Queen of Pop” led an 18-minute set to debuts a few songs from her new album “Confessions II.” She popped out of a building for an 18-minute impromptu free concert on the northeast corner of West 47th Street and Seventh Avenue. While back-up dancers writhed around on a rotating platform, the Grammy winner sampled songs from her new album Confessions II. Video screens flashed the performance in black and white, and Grindr ads plugged what is Madonna‘s 15th studio album.
Doubling as a LGBQT+ Pride Month celebration, when rainbow-colored lighting and images of the 1969 Stonewall riots flashed above the stage, the crowd cheered. Before launching into “I Love New York,” Madonna shouted, “Alright New York City – I wrote this song for you.” That anthem increased the decibel level considerably, as did “Hung Up.” The playlist included “I Feel So Free,” “Bring Your Love,” “Love Sensation” and “Get Together” and was live streamed via Grindr’s app.
Related Articles
Wearing sunglasses, a Dolce & Gabbana corset with satin cups, baby doll bloomers, lace-trimmed thigh-highs and silver knee-length boots, the musician first thanked the crowd for coming. She then danced throughout and even took over the deejay’s turntable briefly. Dolce & Gabbana and Grindr are the official sponsors of “Confessions II,” which is referred to as “Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II.”
Grindr pre-gamed the show by having a few hundred people turn up at the Sony Theater for drinks. Many of the attendees, who had been told to come alone, were unsure of what exactly they were in for. Some thought they would be watching a simulcast of the concert and possibly welcoming Madonna there later. Some took to the dance floor including a bare-chested man who had worked up a sweat. There were a fair amount of sequins on display, given the hour – 5:30 p.m. Others turned up in more relaxed styles like a Tom of Finland latex top and low-slung jeans.
You May Also Like
Grindr’s chief executive officer George Arison clued in guests to the concert about 15 minutes prior to its start. But there was plenty of buzz in the days before especially among members of the LGBQT+ community. “There’s no bigger supporter of the gay community than Madonna so the performance made sense,” he said.
What was his biggest concern? That the app would work. With 15.5 million active monthly users, there was a sizable virtual crowd. Wearing a pale mauve Dolce & Gabbana suit and shirt, Arison said that when he received an email from Madonna’s longtime manager Guy Oseary about teaming up, he presumed it was a scam. “It took me about a month to get back to him, but it turned out it was actually him. Madonna was launching this new album and she wanted to launch it on Grindr.”
Waiting at the bar, during the pre-event, Madison Rose spoke of the importance of celebrating. “I’m a queer pop star myself. Madonna is so iconic so it’s really beautiful that we get to have this synergetic energy tonight. Before the Pride part of the performance, the 65-year-old Madonna yelled, “C’mon gays, girls and guys.”
Thousands of passers-by filed into Times Square to catch the performance. Interestingly, rainbow signage in several major retailers appears to be scarce compared to previous years. A few of Madonna’s back-up dancers warmed up the crowd, by dancing on the sidewalk beforehand. After the show, many lingered, still absorbing what they had happened upon. Seated on a nearby curb, Natasha Cosbech of West Virginia said, “We saw her on the screen and said, ‘Is that Madonna?’ She’s iconic – she’s just Madonna. I’ve been of a fan of Madonna’s since I was seven. I’m 50 now.”
One grey-haired security guard was less impressed, telling a companion, “That’s not the Madonna I knew.” Well, no, but she’s also sold more than 400 million albums, since starting out in the 1980s.
Even two costumed characters, “The Fortune Teller,” and “Gear Man,” who do not speak, danced along. After being tipped off about the concert, Mai Kato left her Times Square studio to catch it. As for her two anonymous friends, “They are lost in Times Square and they are on a journey of finding themselves,” she said.
What did they think of Madonna?” Let me ask,” Kato said. “Oh, they loved it,” as The Fortune Teller spread out her arms approvingly and Gear Man nodded enthusiastically.