It was 2005. I was in the Physical Education Annex of the University of Santo Tomas, waiting for my Folk Dance class to start, when someone from the next class played Madonna’s “Hung Up.” Confessions on a Dance Floor just came out, so kids my age were listening to the Queen of Pop. And it was good. That album won Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards and broke a record for topping the charts in 41 countries. It is now one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s.
I was hooked.
I soon lapped up her previous albums, filling my iPod Mini with songs that were older than me. I fell in love with “Material Girl,” “Borderline,” “Holiday,” and “Like a Prayer.” I watched her movies, read her books, and sang along to her concert tours. I also listened to the pop singers who emerged since then, but I haven’t seen one who could match Madonna’s daring, artistry, and re-invention.
While I was still in school, I made my mom promise me to buy me a ticket in case Madonna goes here. She readily agreed, probably thinking that Madonna has reached her peak and she’s too old to tour. But I patiently waited. I waited for 11 years. Late 2015, amidst another rumor that Madonna is touring the Philippines, it became true! The Philippines would be one of the stops for her Rebel Heart Tour!
I still remember the promise my mom made me, but I’m already working. The tickets were so expensive, so imagine my joy when Globe sponsored my ticket! And what an experience it was. Madonna is not just a singer. She is an entertainer, and she performs just as well as she did in The Virgin Tour in 1985.
I want to tell you more about my fandom, but I wrote a lengthy review on WhenInManila.com, which turned out to be a recap because I loved it so much. The Rebel Heart Tour proved why Madonna is still called the Queen of Pop. And she’s not going anywhere.