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The Drowned World Tour (billed as Drowned World Tour 2001) was the fifth
concert tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific to ...
by American singer-songwriter
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
in support of her seventh and eighth studio albums ''
Ray of Light ''Ray of Light'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released in early 1998 by Maverick Records. A stylistic and aesthetical departure from her previous work, ''Ray of Light'' is an electronica and techno-pop reco ...
'' (1998) and ''
Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
'' (2000), respectively. The tour began on June 9, 2001, in
Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
,
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
and ended in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
,
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
on September 15. It was her first tour in eight years, following The Girlie Show in 1993. Set to start in 1999, it was delayed until 2001 as Madonna filmed and starred in the movie ''
The Next Best Thing ''The Next Best Thing'' is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by John Schlesinger (his final feature film before his death in 2003) about two best friends who have a child together and a custody battle years after. Starring Madonna, Ruper ...
'', began working on ''Music'', gave birth to her son Rocco and married
Guy Ritchie Guy Stuart Ritchie (born 10 September 1968) is an English film director, producer and screenwriter. His work includes British gangster films, and the ''Sherlock Holmes'' films starring Robert Downey Jr. Ritchie left school at age 15 and wor ...
. When the tour was finally decided, there was little time, so in just three months, auditions for dancers were held, musicians and technicians were hired and rehearsals took place. Madonna appointed
Jamie King Jamie King (born 1972) is an American creative director, choreographer, and producer. His work directing concert tours for pop stars has grossed over $2 billion. Early career King started his career in entertainment as a dancer. He appeared on ...
choreographer while French designer
Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corsets, ...
, who had worked with the singer in the past, was in charge of the tour's wardrobe. Gaultier created the outfits in such way that they indicated different phases of Madonna's career. The poster and logo for the tour included references to
Kabbalah Kabbalah ( he, קַבָּלָה ''Qabbālā'', literally "reception, tradition") is an esoteric method, discipline and Jewish theology, school of thought in Jewish mysticism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ( ''Məqūbbāl'' "rece ...
, which Madonna was studying at the time. Like the singer's previous tours, the show was divided into different thematic segments: ''
Rock 'n' Roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
Punk Girl'', ''
Geisha {{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha {{nihongo, Geisha, 芸者 ({{IPAc-en, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ʃ, ə; {{IPA-ja, ɡeːɕa, lang), also known as {{nihongo, , 芸子, geiko (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or {{nihongo, , 芸妓, geigi, are a class of female ...
Girl'', '' Cyber Cowgirl'' and '' Spanish Girl/ Ghetto Girl''. The set list consisted mainly of songs from ''Ray of Light'' and ''Music'', with "
Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
" and "
La Isla Bonita "La Isla Bonita" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album '' True Blue'' (1986). Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, with additional lyrics by Bruce Gaitsch, the song was originally presented by Leonard ...
" being the only 1980s singles she performed. The show was appreciated by
critics A critic is a person who communicates an assessment and an opinion of various forms of creative works such as art, literature, music, cinema, theater, fashion, architecture, and food. Critics may also take as their subject social or governme ...
, who lauded the staging and production. Nonetheless, the lack of Madonna's 1980s songs left some dissatisfied. Drowned World was a commercial success; grossing more than US$76.8 million ($ million in dollars), and playing to over 730,000 fans in sold-out shows throughout Europe and the United States, it became 2001's highest-grossing concert tour by a solo artist. At the 2001 Pollstar awards, it was nominated for Major Tour of the Year and Most Creative Stage Production, but lost them both to U2. The concert on August 26, at
The Palace of Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...
in
Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
, was filmed professionally and broadcast live on
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
as ''Madonna Live: The Drowned World Tour''; afterwards, it was released on VHS and
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
under the title ''
Drowned World Tour 2001 The Drowned World Tour (billed as Drowned World Tour 2001) was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Madonna in support of her seventh and eighth studio albums ''Ray of Light'' (1998) and ''Music'' (2000), respectively. The tou ...
''.


Background

After the release of her seventh studio album, ''
Ray of Light ''Ray of Light'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released in early 1998 by Maverick Records. A stylistic and aesthetical departure from her previous work, ''Ray of Light'' is an electronica and techno-pop reco ...
'' (1998), Madonna stated in an interview on
Larry King Live ''Larry King Live'' was an American television talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was the channel's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly. Mainly aired from CNN's Los Angeles s ...
in January 1999 that she was involved in an upcoming movie titled ''
The Next Best Thing ''The Next Best Thing'' is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by John Schlesinger (his final feature film before his death in 2003) about two best friends who have a child together and a custody battle years after. Starring Madonna, Ruper ...
''. Filming lasted from April to June 1999, with Madonna initially planning to tour during the second half of the year, stating that once filming was completed she would "rehearse to go on tour. And then I'll probably play up until the millennium". However, said plans fell through and the tour was pushed back to 2001; this was due to the fact that she had, in her own words, "been distracted by having children and filming movies". By 2000, Madonna was in a relationship with English director
Guy Ritchie Guy Stuart Ritchie (born 10 September 1968) is an English film director, producer and screenwriter. His work includes British gangster films, and the ''Sherlock Holmes'' films starring Robert Downey Jr. Ritchie left school at age 15 and wor ...
; their son Rocco was born in August 2000, her eighth studio album, ''
Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
'', was released that September and, three months later, her and Ritchie married in
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
. In November 2000, Madonna stated that she was eager to go on tour again: "I've already got ideas ..of stuff I'd like to do for a big tour. I feel like it's time. I need to take a trip around the world and sing a few songs". The tour was officially announced by the singer's publicist Liz Rosenberg in April 2001. Her first concert tour since 1993's The Girlie Show, time was short and Madonna had to prepare everything within three months; auditions for dancers took place in New York in March and April and were personally supervised by the singer and dancer Christian Vincent.
Jamie King Jamie King (born 1972) is an American creative director, choreographer, and producer. His work directing concert tours for pop stars has grossed over $2 billion. Early career King started his career in entertainment as a dancer. He appeared on ...
was appointed
creative director A creative director (or creative supervisor) is a person who makes high-level creative decisions and, with those decisions, oversees the creation of creative assets such as advertisements, products, events, or logos. Creative director positions ar ...
and the tour's official
choreographer Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer is one who cr ...
; King recalled that the tour "was so hectic that I suffered from depressions and fell considerably ill". Madonna had begun taking guitar lessons in 2000 with
Monte Pittman Monte Lee Pittman (born November 19, 1975) is an American musician and studio musician based in Los Angeles, known largely as Madonna's long-time guitarist and for playing for heavy metal band Prong. He has also worked as a solo artist. Caree ...
and played both acoustic and electric guitar in four of the show's numbers. Other personnel included Madonna's backup singers and dancers of 14 years
Niki Haris Niki Haris (born April 17, 1962) is an American singer and dancer of pop, R&B, dance music and jazz, perhaps best known for having been one of Madonna's backing vocalists from 1987 to 2001, and as being the guest lead vocalist on various Snap! s ...
and
Donna De Lory Donna De Lory is an American singer, dancer and songwriter. Part of a musical family, De Lory has been performing since a young age. Her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Ray Parker Jr., Kim Carnes, Santana, Martika, Laura Branigan, Be ...
, Ron Powell on
percussions A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Excl ...
, Steve Sidelnyk on
drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
and
French house French house, also known as French touch, filter house and tekfunk, is a style of house music originally produced by French musicians in the 1990s. It is a form of Euro disco and a popular strand of the late 1990s and 2000s European dance m ...
music expert
Stuart Price Stuart David Price (born 9 September 1977) is an English electronic musician, DJ, songwriter, and record producer known for his work with artists including Madonna, Dua Lipa, The Killers, New Order, Kylie Minogue, DMA's, Example, Take ...
as
bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a Bass (instrument), bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboar ...
and
keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
player; the latter went by the moniker Jacques Lu Cont and had worked with the singer on remixes of ''Music''. In the end, the troupe was made up of ten dancers, two backup singers and six musicians; rehearsals went on for five days a week, thirteen hours a day. Clair Brothers Audio support was roped in for providing a mixture of high-tech techno sound and fusion of acoustic and trance. Madonna later clarified: "I don't see the point of doing a show unless you offer something that is going to mind-boggle the senses. It's not enough to get on stage and sing a song. It's all about theatre and drama and surprises and suspenses". The Drowned World Tour officially began at
Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
's
Palau Sant Jordi Palau Sant Jordi (, en, St. George's Palace) is an indoor sporting arena and multi-purpose installation that is part of the Olympic Ring complex located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, it was ...
on June 9, 2001, and ended at the
Staples Center Crypto.com Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. The arena opened on October 17, 1999; it was ...
in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
in September; it was originally scheduled to kick off with two shows in
Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
's Kölnarena, but said concerts had to be canceled due to technical difficulties; as a result, 35,000 tickets were refunded. The show on August 3 at
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
's
Continental Airlines Arena Meadowlands Arena (formerly Brendan Byrne Arena, Continental Airlines Arena and Izod Center) is a closed indoor arena facility located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The arena is located on N ...
was also cancelled, this time due to illness, reducing the dates from fifty to forty-seven.


Development

The tour took its name after
J. G. Ballard James Graham Ballard (15 November 193019 April 2009) was an English novelist, short story writer, satirist, and essayist known for provocative works of fiction which explored the relations between human psychology, technology, sex, and mass medi ...
's 1962 novel ''
The Drowned World ''The Drowned World'' is a 1962 science fiction novel by British writer J. G. Ballard. The novel depicts a post-apocalyptic future in which global warming caused by heightened solar radiation has rendered much of the Earth's surface uninhabit ...
'' and Madonna's 1998 single of the same name. Liz Rosenberg stated that it would be her "grandest spectacle to date". In May 2001,
AOL AOL (stylized as Aol., formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City. It is a brand marketed by the current incarnation of Yahoo (2017 ...
, the tour's main sponsor, offered its subscribers advance tickets to the US shows before they went on sale to the general public. Like Madonna's previous tours, Drowned World was divided into different thematic segments: ''
Rock 'n' Roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
Punk Girl'', ''
Geisha {{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha {{nihongo, Geisha, 芸者 ({{IPAc-en, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ʃ, ə; {{IPA-ja, ɡeːɕa, lang), also known as {{nihongo, , 芸子, geiko (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or {{nihongo, , 芸妓, geigi, are a class of female ...
Girl'', '' Cyber Cowgirl'' and '' Spanish Girl/ Ghetto Girl''; each of these segments represented a phase of Madonna's career. The singer herself said that she envisioned the show as "a theatrical representation of my music ..I have taken my inspiration from many things — martial arts, flamenco, country, punk, rock and roll, dance, and circus". The set list consisted mainly of songs from ''Music'' and ''Ray of Light''; among her pre-1990s singles, only "
Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
" (1983) and "
La Isla Bonita "La Isla Bonita" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album '' True Blue'' (1986). Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, with additional lyrics by Bruce Gaitsch, the song was originally presented by Leonard ...
" (1987) were included. ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' reported that this was Madonna's choice, as she didn't want to do a "'Solid Gold' hit parade". The tour's production manager Mark Spring said in an interview for ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' that it was the "most complicated thing" he had ever done. He further elaborated: "The adonnamystique figures very highly, so you have a whole other level of professionalism you have to attain. t'snot that you wouldn't do your best, of course. But this is Madonna. Her show is perfect. There are no mistakes". Two
Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2022. After introducing the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet times its size, t ...
aircraft were needed to ferry the tour from Europe to the United States, and 300 cargo vehicles were used for transporting over 100 tons of equipment. The stage was "the size of three
tennis courts A tennis court is the venue where the sport of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the centre. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles matches. A variety of surfaces can be u ...
" and described by Spring as "a machine on the move". A vast
electrical grid An electrical grid is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids vary in size and can cover whole countries or continents. It consists of:Kaplan, S. M. (2009). Smart Grid. Electrical Power ...
, composed of
truss A truss is an assembly of ''members'' such as beams, connected by ''nodes'', that creates a rigid structure. In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so that the assembl ...
sections, chain motors,
electrical cable An electrical cable is an assembly of one or more wires running side by side or bundled, which is used to carry electric current. One or more electrical cables and their corresponding connectors may be formed into a ''cable assembly'', which ...
s and the
control devices Control may refer to: Basic meanings Economics and business * Control (management), an element of management * Control, an element of management accounting * Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization * Controlling ...
that linked electronically or mechanically with the performances happening, was hung from above; four video screens formed the backdrop of the stage. Other material included a
mechanical bull A mechanical bull, also known as a bucking machine, is a device that replicates the sensation of riding a bucking animal, such as a rodeo bull or horse popularized by Sherwood Cryer. It is usually powered by a variable-speed electric motor. Pad ...
and equipment designed for aerial movements. The sets were built in sections made by three companies. A permanent crew of one hundred persons, ranging from lighting, sound and carpenters to dancers, wardrobe and make-up, was hired. Monitor mixing was handled by four monitor engineers, with two of them for Madonna's monitors. Blake Suib, one of the engineers, commented that Madonna was a perfectionist, as she could tell when a sound coming from the speakers sounded bad or good during rehearsals. By suggestion of music director Pat Leonard, they tried out using 14 kHz of sound frequency in their live speakers, which was unusual to use at the time. They also came up with the idea of using isolated amplifiers to pick up the individual sound of each instruments. Suib commented that "the creative process of coming up with new ideas, implementing them, and then soberly evaluating their results was time-consuming but worth it". Dave Kob, FOH engineer for the tour, explained:
"The show is extremely technical, extremely fast-paced, and the variety of music is amazing. ..It goes from screaming heavy metal to techno dance, to
Country and Western A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...
; there's even a
flamenco Flamenco (), in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and ...
hootenanny A hootenanny is a party involving music in the United States. It is particularly associated with folk music. Etymology Placeholder Hootenanny is an Appalachian colloquialism that was used in the early twentieth century U.S. as a placeholder nam ...
where everyone comes down front, beats on logs and plays acoustic guitars and pennywhistles. Then it goes back to 'Holiday' which is an old dance number. It keeps you steppin'. Madonna sings everything live. She's been that way from the beginning of her career, even with all the athletic dancing. She's a hard worker and she expects everybody else to work as hard or harder. I respect that.
Designer
Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corsets, ...
was signed up to create the costumes for the tour; his designs had a fusion of punk and Scottish fashions, geisha, cowboy and Spanish themes. These included torn shirts and zippered black pants, a nod to Madonna's early days; black wigs and white makeup which referenced the geisha aesthetic used on "
Nothing Really Matters "Nothing Really Matters" is a song by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, ''Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, and was produced by the singer with William Orbit and Marius De Vries. The song ...
" (1999); leather
chaps Chaps ( or ) are sturdy coverings for the legs consisting of leggings and a belt. They are buckled on over trousers with the chaps' integrated belt, but unlike trousers, they have no seat (the term "assless chaps" is a tautology) and are not jo ...
over jeans like the ones she wore on her " Don't Tell Me" music video, and a "hybrid" of clothes from the "La Isla Bonita" music video and the 1996 musical ''
Evita Evita may refer to: Arts * Evita (1996 film), ''Evita'' (1996 film), a 1996 American musical drama film based on the 1976 concept album of the same name * Evita (2008 film), ''Evita'' (2008 film), a documentary about Eva Péron * Evita (album), ''E ...
''. Brothers,
Dean and Dan Caten Dean and Dan Caten (né Catenacci; born December 19, 1964) are Canadian fashion designers, radio personalities, and businessmen. They are identical twin brothers and the founders and owners of Dsquared², an Italian luxury fashion house based in ...
, creators of the DSquared2 fashion line, contributed with
ghetto fabulous ''Ghetto fabulous'' is a lifestyle expression that originated among African American communities living in poor urban areas. In the media Ghetto fabulous is a fashion stereotype In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief ...
costumes, which represented the phase of Madonna's career at that time. Stylist
Arianne Phillips Arianne Phillips (born April 26, 1963) is an American costume designer. Phillips was recognized for her work on the Broadway musical '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', starring Neil Patrick Harris, earning her a Tony award nomination for Best Cost ...
, who had worked with Madonna on the past, oversaw the costumes, designing some and collaborating on others with Gaultier. Three exact copies of the outfits Madonna wore in each segment were created, while only two copies were made for the dancers' clothes. The poster and the logo for the tour were developed by Chase Design Group, who wanted to make the logo as aesthetic as possible. They developed a custom icon and type of logo to convey the "unique and ethereal qualities" of Madonna's show, which was described by the group's founder Margo Chase as "a multilayered musical and spiritual journey through diverse worlds". Chase commented that since "Madonna is a student of Kabbalah, she requested that we include references to that body of knowledge". The resulting logo and poster included both Arabic and Hebrew references. A number of designs were prepared by Chase and the one ultimately chosen by Madonna made it to the main poster of the show, which featured Madonna's face-shot from the "
What It Feels Like for a Girl "What It Feels Like for a Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her eighth studio album ''Music'' (2000). It was released as the third and final single from the album on April 16, 2001, by Maverick Records. Madonna and Guy Sigs ...
" video shots.


Concert synopsis

The show was divided into four different thematic segments: ''Rock 'n' Roll Punk Girl'', ''Geisha Girl'', ''Cyber Cowgirl'' and ''Spanish Girl/Ghetto Girl''. It began with a performance of "
Drowned World/Substitute for Love "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, '' Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written and produced by Madonna and William Orbit, with additional songwriters including Rod McKue ...
"; Madonna entered the stage amidst billows of
dry ice Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is commonly used for temporary refrigeration as CO2 does not have a liquid state at normal atmospheric pressure and sublimates directly from the solid state to the gas state. It is used primarily a ...
and sang atop a rising platform. She wore a sleeveless black top, crossover top with one net sleeve, jeans with zips and bondage straps, a studded dog collar and a tartan
kilt A kilt ( gd, fèileadh ; Irish: ''féileadh'') is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish Hi ...
. A high-energy performance of "
Impressive Instant "Impressive Instant" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 2000 studio album ''Music''. Originally intended to be the fourth single of the album, the release was cancelled due to a disagreement between Madonna and her recordi ...
" followed. It found the singer surrounded by dancers wearing gas masks and encased in rolls of black mesh. Madonna then played the electric guitar for "Candy Perfume Girl". Afterwards, "
Beautiful Stranger "Beautiful Stranger" is a song by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on May 19, 1999, by Maverick and Warner Bros. Records as a single from the soundtrack of the film, '' Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me''. Madonna ...
" was performed by the singer,
Niki Haris Niki Haris (born April 17, 1962) is an American singer and dancer of pop, R&B, dance music and jazz, perhaps best known for having been one of Madonna's backing vocalists from 1987 to 2001, and as being the guest lead vocalist on various Snap! s ...
and
Donna De Lory Donna De Lory is an American singer, dancer and songwriter. Part of a musical family, De Lory has been performing since a young age. Her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Ray Parker Jr., Kim Carnes, Santana, Martika, Laura Branigan, Be ...
; the backdrops displayed scenes from '' Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'' and psychedelic fluorescent whirls. Towards the end, they were joined by a lost technician. The section finished with "
Ray of Light ''Ray of Light'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released in early 1998 by Maverick Records. A stylistic and aesthetical departure from her previous work, ''Ray of Light'' is an electronica and techno-pop reco ...
", which had the singer dancing energetically across the stage.
Monte Pittman Monte Lee Pittman (born November 19, 1975) is an American musician and studio musician based in Los Angeles, known largely as Madonna's long-time guitarist and for playing for heavy metal band Prong. He has also worked as a solo artist. Caree ...
played the electric guitar while the screens showed an extended version of the song's music video. The ''Geisha Girl'' act began with a video interlude of "Paradise (Not For Me)", showing Madonna as a
geisha {{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha {{nihongo, Geisha, 芸者 ({{IPAc-en, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ʃ, ə; {{IPA-ja, ɡeːɕa, lang), also known as {{nihongo, , 芸子, geiko (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or {{nihongo, , 芸妓, geigi, are a class of female ...
. Also present were nearly naked dancers who hung upside down from the ceiling. As the video ended, the dancers stood in front of the stage and opened their mouths, which were lit from inside. The singer then emerged in a short black wig and a hand-painted black
kimono The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...
with fifty-two-feet long red sleeves, to sing " Frozen". A short intro of " Open Your Heart" led to "Nobody's Perfect", where Madonna was portrayed to be sacrificed for her sins. This was followed by "Mer Girl", which turned into the fast-action,
ninja A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enem ...
/
samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
martial arts battle performance of "
Sky Fits Heaven "Sky Fits Heaven" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, '' Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard; the song also contained additional production from William Orbit, ...
". A video of a beaten, bruised Madonna played on the main screen during this final part. The singer then proceeded to grab a shotgun and pretended to shoot one of her dancers. A remix interlude of "
What It Feels Like for a Girl "What It Feels Like for a Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her eighth studio album ''Music'' (2000). It was released as the third and final single from the album on April 16, 2001, by Maverick Records. Madonna and Guy Sigs ...
" closed the section; dancers in
anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
and
manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
inspired costumes swung from wires as the backdrops featured interspersed footage from
Satoshi Kon was a Japanese film director, animator, screenwriter and manga artist from Sapporo, Hokkaido and a member of the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA). He was a graduate of the Graphic Design department of the Musashino Art Univer ...
's 1997 film ''
Perfect Blue is a 1997 Japanese animated psychological thriller film directed by Satoshi Kon. It is based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, with a screenplay written by Sadayuki Murai. Featuring the voices of Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shiho Niiy ...
'' and
hentai Hentai is anime and manga pornography. A loanword from Japanese, the original term ( ) does not describe a genre of media, but rather an abnormal sexual desire or act, as an abbreviation of . In addition to anime and manga, hentai works exis ...
anime ''
Urotsukidōji is a Japanese erotic horror manga series written and illustrated by Toshio Maeda. First serialized in ''Manga Erotopia'' from 1985 to 1986, ''Urotsukidōji'' marked a departure from Maeda's earlier works, with its focus on erotica, dark hu ...
''. "I Deserve It" opened the ''Cyber Cowgirl'' segment. Madonna, who wore a
cowgirl A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...
outfit with chaps, sat on a bale of hay and played the acoustic guitar. " Don't Tell Me" had her and the dancers
line dancing A line dance is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows. These lines usually face all in the same direction, or less commonly face each other.Knight ...
, like in the song's music video. "
Human Nature Human nature is a concept that denotes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting—that humans are said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or ...
" featured a bondage-themed choreography with a
lasso A lasso ( or ), also called lariat, riata, or reata (all from Castilian, la reata 're-tied rope'), is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the Spanish an ...
and, towards the end, the singer sensually rode a
mechanical bull A mechanical bull, also known as a bucking machine, is a device that replicates the sensation of riding a bucking animal, such as a rodeo bull or horse popularized by Sherwood Cryer. It is usually powered by a variable-speed electric motor. Pad ...
. Afterwards, she addressed the audience in a mocking southern accent and sang a
cannibalism Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, b ...
-themed song titled "The Funny Song". "
Secret Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
" was performed with the acoustic guitar and footage of riverside
baptism Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
, Sufi dervish ceremonies and Buddhist prayers on the backdrops. Madonna finished the section with an acoustic "Gone", replaced with "
You'll See "You'll See" is a song by American singer Madonna from her ballads compilation, ''Something to Remember'' (1995). The album was released with the intention of toning down the image of Madonna, who was being heavily criticized at the time. She w ...
" on certain US concerts. The final act, ''Spanish Girl/Ghetto Girl'', began with an instrumental interlude of
Don't Cry for Me Argentina "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is a song recorded by Julie Covington for the 1976 concept album ''Evita'', later included in the 1978 musical of the same name. The song was written and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice while they were ...
; several dancers did a
Tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries as the result of a combina ...
number with lit candles placed along the side of the stage. Madonna then emerged on top of a rotating leather podium to perform "Lo Que Siente la Mujer", dressed in black trousers and a backless black dress. For "
La Isla Bonita "La Isla Bonita" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album '' True Blue'' (1986). Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, with additional lyrics by Bruce Gaitsch, the song was originally presented by Leonard ...
", the singer once again played acoustic guitar and was accompanied by flamenco dancing. A mash-up of "
Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
" and Stardust's " Music Sounds Better With You" (1998) was then performed by Madonna, Haris and De Lory. The final number was "
Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
", and featured the singer and all the dancers. Confetti fell from the roof while images of her past music videos flashed onscreen behind her. The phrase "The End" appeared on the screens, and signified the show was over. Following the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
, certain changes were made to the final Los Angeles concerts: Madonna wore an
American flag The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the c ...
as kilt during the opening segment as a display of
patriotism Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to one's country. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings, language relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or histor ...
. The closing of "Mer Girl" omitted the shooting; the singer instead put the shotgun down, hugged the dancer and they left the stage together; "The Funny Song" was removed; all the dancers joined in for "Holiday", which usually only featured Madonna, Haris and De Lory.


Critical reception

The Drowned World Tour received generally positive reviews from critics. Rafael Estefanía from
BBC Mundo BBC Mundo (Spanish for ''BBC World'') is part of the BBC World Service's foreign language output, one of 40 languages it provides. History BBC Mundo is the BBC's service for the Spanish-speaking world. It is part of BBC World Service. The ...
gave the opening show in Barcelona a glowing review; he said the singer had offered "one of the best shows in a long time", and that her stage presence remained "as explosive as ever". Another positive review came from ''
El País ''El País'' (; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. ''El País'' is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA. It is the second most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . ''El Pa ...
'', who described it as one of the most "spectacular" and "shocking" concerts to take place in Barcelona. According to
ABC News ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...
, Drowned World "took adonna'sreputation for entertaining above and beyond literally: one routine found her flying above the stage suspended by trapeze wires". For ''The Independent''s Simon O'Hagan it proved that "as a solo artist, Madonna is without equal ..her desire to put on a spectacle, not just a concert, creates challenges that have extended the boundaries of what a rock'n'pop tour can achieve". He concluded it was her "most ambitious and daring" tour. A writer from Argentinean newspaper ''
Clarin Clarin or Clarín may refer to: Geography *Clarin, Bohol, a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines * Clarin, Misamis Occidental, a municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines *River Clarin, a river in Ireland Media ...
'' said that the tour "reaffirmed adonna'sQueen of Pop title". The show's technical aspects also garnered praise. ''El País'' lauded the "surprising and suggestive display" of technology, as well as the "shapeshifting stage capable of turning into almost anything". Similarly, Michael Hubbard from
online magazine An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a print magazine format to being online only was the computer magaz ...
''
musicOMH MusicOMH (stylized as musicOMH) is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B. History MusicOMH was founded and launched by ...
'' highlighted the "stunning" stage setup and "superb" lighting.
Simon Price Simon Price (born 25 September 1967) is a British music journalist and author. He is known for his weekly review section in ''The Independent on Sunday'' and his book ''Everything (A Book About Manic Street Preachers)''. Career Writer Pric ...
, from ''The Independent'', deemed it "a triumph of hydraulics, bungee rope acrobatics and cutting-edge choreography". MTV's Corey Moss concluded that "music might make the world go round, but costumes and theatrics make it more fun. Nobody knows this better than the
Material Girl "Material Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album, '' Like a Virgin'' (1984). It was released on November 30, 1984, by the Sire label as the second single from ''Like a Virgin''. It also appears slightly ...
". ''
Slant Slant can refer to: Bias *Bias or other non-objectivity in journalism, politics, academia or other fields Technical * Slant range, in telecommunications, the line-of-sight distance between two points which are not at the same level * Slant d ...
''s Sal Cinquemani felt the "technically flawless" show was "further evidence of the Big M’s perfectionist blond ambition" and concluded that " adonnais still unmatched in her ability to lift cultural iconography into the mainstream". On the contrary, Rafael Estefanía expressed that "the technological visual feast sometimes overshadowed the music itself", an opinion that was shared by ''El País'' and ''Entertainment Weekly''s John McAlley. ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
''s Alex Needham called the tour a tribute to her "incredible graft, magnetic appeal and, above all, her supreme ability at making pop music"; he also said that if other musicians were to put "a tenth of the creative energy" into concerts as Madonna, "we would all be a lot better off". On a similar note, Phil Gallo from ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' opined that the "mesmerizing and confident" Drowned World Tour "puts to shame any singer who thinks she might have a shot at Ms. Ciccone's pop throne". Michael Hubbard further added: "you’d struggle to find a better show ..and you’d find it difficult to find a mainstream artist who can command near-universal respect for anything like as long as this fine lady". Writing for ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', Alex Petridis explained that "her contemporaries are either in reduced circumstances or languishing in the middle of the road ..Madonna, however, still twists hip dancefloor trends to her own design". He ultimately concluded that "with its perfect dance routines, special effects, devoted audience and hint of bullish arrogance, the Drowned World show befits the world's most famous woman". For John McAlley, it wasn't up to par to 1990's
Blond Ambition World Tour The Blond Ambition World Tour (billed as Blond Ambition World Tour 90) was the third concert tour by American singer Madonna. It supported her fourth studio album '' Like a Prayer'' (1989), and the soundtrack album to the 1990 film ''Dick Tracy ...
but was better than The Girlie Show; " rowned Worldoffers plenty of artiness, attitude, eye candy, and its own brand of ambition" ..there are plenty of reasons to bow at this artist's feat". Alberto Armendáriz, from Argentinean newspaper ''
La Nación ''La Nación'' () is an Argentine daily newspaper. As the country's leading conservative newspaper, ''La Nación''s main competitor is the more liberal '' Clarín''. It is regarded as a newspaper of record for Argentina. Its motto is: "''La Nac ...
'', felt that the only "criticizable" aspect was that "the whole affair asso tightly scripted, it left no room for spontaneity or interactions" between the singer and the audience.
Jon Pareles Jon Pareles (born October 25, 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', said the singer's voice sounded "fuller and smoother" than on previous tours, particularly in performances such as "I Deserve It" (2000) and "
You'll See "You'll See" is a song by American singer Madonna from her ballads compilation, ''Something to Remember'' (1995). The album was released with the intention of toning down the image of Madonna, who was being heavily criticized at the time. She w ...
" (1995). Nonetheless, he criticized her "arrogance" and use of profanities. " herepresents self-love backed by plenty of gym time and a whole troupe of devoted flunkies – enough to delight an audience she only seems to disdain. '' Music makes the people come together, '' – together, that is, if Madonna is in charge", Pareles concluded. A negative review came from Ethan Brown, writing for ''
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
'' magazine; he felt that "limp" performances such as "Nobody's Perfect" (2000) and "I Deserve It", "didn't live up to her attitude". Brown also said that, despite "few stunning visual moments", the concert didn't capture "the sense of purpose" of the artist's past tours. "Madonna is a frustratingly small stage presence, too, mostly standing motionless or strumming rudimentary chords on an acoustic guitar ..the music was equally airless", he concluded his review. The lack of the singer's 1980s songs was met with criticism: VH1's Christopher Rosa opined that "the sheer lack of classic hits was a letdown for audiences, not to mention the fact that adonnaseemed icier than ever". On his ranking of Madonna's tours, in June 2021,
The Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Iliad'', the ...
's Rocco Papa placed Drowned World on the 11th position; "while it proved that she still had it after giving birth to two kids, it lacked warmth and light .. ndmany hits from her back catalogue". For ''The Guardian'', Caroline Sullivan wrote that the tour's lack of "classics" would disappoint the singer's "die-hards", and that "no right-thinking person would rather hear 'Candy Perfume Girl' than ' Like a Virgin'". DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson remarked that anyone who "expected to see a greatest hits concert left sorely disappointed", but praised the singer for creating the show "''she'' wanted to do, not the one she thought would be the safe choice". Gina Vivinetto from '' The Advocate'' said that, even though Madonna ignored most of her "80s hits", she "made up for it by showing off a much stronger singing voice". Alex Petridis also defended the singer's decision to focus on the new material; "it's a pleasingly defiant gesture no other stadium-filler could match – imagine the
Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
only playing songs from their last two albums and try not to shudder". On a similar note, Sal Cinquemani felt album cuts such as "Candy Perfume Girl" translated into "edgier numbers", and also complemented the concert for being aimed at "true fans—critics (and hits) be damned". Finally, Alex Needham concluded that, even though the lack of Madonna's classic songs was "criminal", the Drowned World Tour "couldn’t have been better". It was nominated for Major Tour of the Year and Most Creative Stage Production at the 2001 Pollstar awards, but lost to U2's
Elevation Tour The Elevation Tour was a worldwide concert tour by Irish rock band U2. Staged in support of the group's 2000 album ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'', the tour visited arenas across North America and Europe in 2001. Contrasting with the extrava ...
.


Commercial reception

Dates for the Drowned World Tour were limited to cities in Europe and North America. For many weeks prior, Arthur Fogel from
Live Nation Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is an American global entertainment company and monopoly that was founded in 2010 following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The company promotes, operates, and manages ticket sales for live entertainme ...
attempted to book dates in
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
's
Air Canada Centre Scotiabank Arena ( French: ''Aréna Scotiabank)'', formerly known as Air Canada Centre (ACC), is a multi-purposed arena located on Bay Street in the South Core district of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the home of the Toronto Rap ...
, between the
Sunrise Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon and its accompanying atmospheric effects. Terminology Al ...
,
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, and
Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
gigs, though no free bookings were available; it became Madonna's first tour to completely skip over Canada. The first
Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
concert attracted 18,000 people. Initially, only one concert was confirmed at
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
's
Earls Court Exhibition Centre Earls Court Exhibition Centre was a major international exhibition and events venue just west of central London. At its peak it is said to have generated a £2 billion turnover for the economy. It replaced exhibition and entertainment grounds, ...
, but after the 16,000 tickets sold out in just fifteen minutes, promoters added five more dates, which were completely sold out in six hours; prices ranged between £40 and £85. With a million hits on the official website within the first 10 minutes, and an estimated 30 million attempts through ticket hotlines – which were attended by 265 operators – Madonna made history by having her London shows among the fastest selling of all time. In the United States, all concerts sold out in hours, with the four Los Angeles dates selling out in just seventeen minutes. With forty-seven concerts, and over 730,000 tickets sold in Europe and the United States, it was reported to have earned US$76.8 million ($ million in dollars), averaging at $1.6 million ($ million in dollars) per show; Drowned World became the highest-grossing concert tour of 2001 by a solo artist, as well as the fourth highest-grossing overall, only behind U2,
'N Sync NSYNC (, ; also stylized as *NSYNC or 'N Sync) was an American boy band formed by Chris Kirkpatrick in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. Their self-titled debut album was successfully released to European ...
and the
Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys (often abbreviated as BSB) are an American vocal group consisting of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, and cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. Lou Pearlman formed the group in 1993 in Orlando, Florida. The gr ...
.


Broadcast and recording

The concert on August 26, at
The Palace of Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...
, was filmed professionally and broadcast live on
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
as ''Madonna Live: The Drowned World Tour''. It marked the third time Madonna worked with the network following the Blond Ambition and Girlie Show broadcasts; Nancy Geller, senior VP of original programming for HBO, stated that "it's a thrill for us to have Madonna back, because we know it is going to be a spectacular show, with that combination of her amazing talent and extravagant style".
Hamish Hamilton Hamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half-Scot half-American Jamie Hamilton (''Hamish'' is the vocative form of the Gaelic Seumas eaning James ''James'' the English form – which was ...
directed the special, while production was in charge of
Marty Callner Marty Callner (born 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American television director, who has made music videos, comedy specials, concert specials, and television shows, in a career spanning from 1977 to present day. He is the creator of HBO's '' Ha ...
. It scored 5.7 million viewers, and became the network's third-highest-rated prime-time concert special since 1997. It received two nominations at the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming and Outstanding Choreography, and won Best TV Concert at the 2002
AOL AOL (stylized as Aol., formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City. It is a brand marketed by the current incarnation of Yahoo (2017 ...
TV Viewer Awards. The special was released on VHS and
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
under the title ''
Drowned World Tour 2001 The Drowned World Tour (billed as Drowned World Tour 2001) was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Madonna in support of her seventh and eighth studio albums ''Ray of Light'' (1998) and ''Music'' (2000), respectively. The tou ...
'' on November 13, 2001, the same day as Madonna's second
greatest hits album A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
, ''
GHV2 ''GHV2'' (an abbreviation of ''Greatest Hits Volume 2'') is the second greatest hits album by American recording artist Madonna. Maverick and Warner Bros. Records released it on November 13, 2001, coinciding with the video album, '' Drowned Wor ...
''. Captured with a 14-camera High Definition shoot, it was presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 on the single-sided, double-layered DVD; due to those dimensions, the image was not enhanced for 16:9 televisions. The photographs used on the video's packaging were taken by Madonna's personal friend, actress
Rosie O'Donnell Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American comedian, television producer, actress, author, and television personality. She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series ''Star Search'' ...
. Following its release, the video received mixed response from critics, who praised the sound quality but criticized the poor image. In the United States, it became Madonna's fifth number one on the ''Billboard''
Top Music Videos The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in '' Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
chart, and was certified platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) for shipment of more than 100,000 copies.


Set list

Set list, samples and notes adapted per Madonna's official website, the notes and track listing of ''Drowned World Tour 2001'', and additional sources. Act 1: Rock 'n' Roll Punk Girl # "
Drowned World/Substitute for Love "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, '' Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written and produced by Madonna and William Orbit, with additional songwriters including Rod McKue ...
" # "
Impressive Instant "Impressive Instant" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 2000 studio album ''Music''. Originally intended to be the fourth single of the album, the release was cancelled due to a disagreement between Madonna and her recordi ...
" # "Candy Perfume Girl" # "
Beautiful Stranger "Beautiful Stranger" is a song by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on May 19, 1999, by Maverick and Warner Bros. Records as a single from the soundtrack of the film, '' Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me''. Madonna ...
" # "
Ray of Light ''Ray of Light'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released in early 1998 by Maverick Records. A stylistic and aesthetical departure from her previous work, ''Ray of Light'' is an electronica and techno-pop reco ...
" Act 2: Geisha Girl #
  • "Paradise (Not for Me)" # " Frozen" # " Open Your Heart" Swell # "Nobody's Perfect" # "Mer Girl" #"
    Sky Fits Heaven "Sky Fits Heaven" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, '' Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard; the song also contained additional production from William Orbit, ...
    " # "Mer Girl" # "
    What It Feels Like for a Girl "What It Feels Like for a Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her eighth studio album ''Music'' (2000). It was released as the third and final single from the album on April 16, 2001, by Maverick Records. Madonna and Guy Sigs ...
    " Act 3: Cyber Cowgirl #
  • "I Deserve It" # " Don't Tell Me" # "
    Human Nature Human nature is a concept that denotes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting—that humans are said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or ...
    " # "The Funny Song" # "
    Secret Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
    " # "Gone" Act 4: Spanish Girl/Ghetto Girl #
  • "
    Don't Cry for Me Argentina "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is a song recorded by Julie Covington for the 1976 concept album ''Evita'', later included in the 1978 musical of the same name. The song was written and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice while they were ...
    " # "Lo Que Siente La Mujer" # "
    La Isla Bonita "La Isla Bonita" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album '' True Blue'' (1986). Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, with additional lyrics by Bruce Gaitsch, the song was originally presented by Leonard ...
    " # "
    Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
    " # "
    Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
    " Notes * On certain US shows, "
    You'll See "You'll See" is a song by American singer Madonna from her ballads compilation, ''Something to Remember'' (1995). The album was released with the intention of toning down the image of Madonna, who was being heavily criticized at the time. She w ...
    " (1995) was performed instead of "Gone". * Following the
    September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
    , "The Funny Song" was removed from the set list.


    Shows


    Cancelled dates


    Notes


    Personnel

    Adapted from the ''Drowned World Tour 2001'' program.


    Band

    *Madonna – creator, vocals, guitar *
    Niki Haris Niki Haris (born April 17, 1962) is an American singer and dancer of pop, R&B, dance music and jazz, perhaps best known for having been one of Madonna's backing vocalists from 1987 to 2001, and as being the guest lead vocalist on various Snap! s ...
    – vocals *
    Donna De Lory Donna De Lory is an American singer, dancer and songwriter. Part of a musical family, De Lory has been performing since a young age. Her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Ray Parker Jr., Kim Carnes, Santana, Martika, Laura Branigan, Be ...
    – vocals *
    Stuart Price Stuart David Price (born 9 September 1977) is an English electronic musician, DJ, songwriter, and record producer known for his work with artists including Madonna, Dua Lipa, The Killers, New Order, Kylie Minogue, DMA's, Example, Take ...
    – musical director, keyboards, guitar *Michael McKnight – programmer, keyboards *Marcus Brown – keyboards *
    Monte Pittman Monte Lee Pittman (born November 19, 1975) is an American musician and studio musician based in Los Angeles, known largely as Madonna's long-time guitarist and for playing for heavy metal band Prong. He has also worked as a solo artist. Caree ...
    – guitar *Ron Powell – percussions *Steve Sidelnyk – drums


    Dancers

    * Christian Vincent – head dancer *Ruthy Inchaustegui – dancer *Nito Larioza – dancer *
    Tamara Levinson Tamara Levinson (born November 17, 1976, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a dance choreographer and retired American rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, rib ...
    – dancer *Marlyn Ortiz – dancer *Anthony Jay Rodriguez – dancer *Jamal Story – dancer *Kemba Shannon – dancer *Eko Supriyanto – dancer *Jull Weber – dancer *Addie Yungmee- dancer


    Choreographers

    *
    Jamie King Jamie King (born 1972) is an American creative director, choreographer, and producer. His work directing concert tours for pop stars has grossed over $2 billion. Early career King started his career in entertainment as a dancer. He appeared on ...
    – choreographer *Alex Magno – choreographer *Kelly Parker – assistant choreographer *Debra Brown – aerial choreographer *Leslie DeWhurst – assistant aerial choreographer *Stefanie Roos – associate choreographer *Taimak Guerreillo – Martial arts coordinator *Ho Sung Pak – assistant to Martial arts coordinator


    Wardrobe

    *
    Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corsets, ...
    – designer *
    Arianne Phillips Arianne Phillips (born April 26, 1963) is an American costume designer. Phillips was recognized for her work on the Broadway musical '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', starring Neil Patrick Harris, earning her a Tony award nomination for Best Cost ...
    – designer *
    Dean and Dan Caten Dean and Dan Caten (né Catenacci; born December 19, 1964) are Canadian fashion designers, radio personalities, and businessmen. They are identical twin brothers and the founders and owners of Dsquared², an Italian luxury fashion house based in ...
    – designer


    Crew

    *
    Hamish Hamilton Hamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half-Scot half-American Jamie Hamilton (''Hamish'' is the vocative form of the Gaelic Seumas eaning James ''James'' the English form – which was ...
    – broadcast director *Jamie King – stage production director *Joyce Fleming – creative technical consultant *Tif'nie Olson – assistant to director *
    William Orbit William Mark Wainwright (born 15 December 1956),"William Orbit." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 30. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2000. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, 7 May 2017. Available onlinvia ''Encyclopedia.com'' known ...
    – engineer *
    Mirwais Ahmadzaï Mirwais Ahmadzaï (born 23 October 1960), known mononymously as Mirwais, is a French electronic dance music record producer and songwriter. Born in Switzerland to an Afghan father and an Italian mother, Ahmadzaï was a member of the defunct 198 ...
    – engineer *Pat McCarthy – engineer *
    Mark "Spike" Stent Mark "Spike" Stent (born 3 August 1965) is an English record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with many international artists including Madonna, Marshmello, U2, Beyoncé, Björk, Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen, Grimes, Ed She ...
    – engineer *Caresse Henry – artist management *Shari Goldschmidt – business management *Richard Feldstein – business management *LeeAnn Hard – business management *Liz Rosenberg – publicist *Chris Littleton – tour manager *Arianne Phillips – stylist *Luigi Murenu – stylist *Rita Marmo – stylist *Klexius Kolby – make-up *Julie Harris – make-up *Joseph kale – art director *Peter Morse lighting director *Jake Davies – sound design *Carol Dodds – video director *Edwin Stern – yoga instructor *
    Kevin Reagan Kevin Reagan is a three-time Grammy Award-winning graphic designer/art director, also honored by the AIGA, ''Print'', and ''Communication Arts''. He has created artwork for critically and commercially acclaimed albums by Madonna, The Foo Fig ...
    – tour book design *
    Rosie O'Donnell Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American comedian, television producer, actress, author, and television personality. She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series ''Star Search'' ...
    – cover photo


    References


    Bibliography

    * * * * * * * * * * *


    External links


    Madonna.com > Tours > Drowned World Tour
    {{Authority control Madonna concert tours 2001 concert tours