Search - Madonna - Drowned World Tour 2001 on DVD

This DVD exceeds expectations!

Jerry | Syracuse, NY USA | 11/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The DVD of Madonna's Drowned World Tour unexpectedly exceeded my expectations in every way. I had the pleasure of seeing Madonna's Drowned World Tour live in New York City, and this DVD is the next best thing to actually being there. For those who watched and taped this concert off of HBO, the quality of this DVD is far better and gives a more cinematic feel to the concert. Some complained that HBO's coverage of the concert wasn't that great, but this DVD has been altered in some ways to provide a better viewing experience. For example, some camera angles were improved at key points of the concert. The sound quality is amazing, especially if you have a home theater system. This DVD blows any other that I own away! As for the concert itself, Madonna has a tremendous amount of energy that never dies during her performance. Each of the four segments of the concert are unique and entertaining. I haven't seen her other concerts, but I can surely say that this is Madonna at her best!"

Eight long years

tom | Toronto, Ontario | 11/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I read the set list for Madonna's Drowned World 2001 Tour, I, like many others were disappointed. Where was Like A Prayer? Express Yourself? Erotica? Madonna seemed to have discarded hits for album tracks that would be unfamiliar even to her most casual fan. Yet, as we all know, it's unfair to judge something without seeing it first.I was very pleased with Drowned World, but then again I think Madonna is at her most creative when she's on stage. Unlike so many other performers Madonna is extremely imaginative in creating her live shows. Of course the set design, costumes and lighting are top-notch. But that's not what makes this show work; it's the little touches Madonna adds. Take for example her soulful singing on the acoustic tracks "I Deserve It" and "Gone", which sound rather bland on the album "Music", but resonate on stage. And what about the Spanish version of "What It Feels Like For A Girl" in which Madonna sings completely in Spanish and dances with a group of women that is both gender-bending and sensual? Fabulous. Then there's the warm version of "La Isla Bonita" where Madonna plays guitar and sings and dances cheerfully with her dancers. It seems more than ever that Madonna is concentrating on singing her songs rather than dancing and flashy gimmicks.However the show is not without its' problems. Some songs seem too short, particularly "Sky Fits Heaven" which is part of the dazzling Geisha section in which Madonna becomes a flying, vengeful Geisha, and the encore of Holiday, which could have been a bit longer. The cowgirl section doesn't always work. Human Nature doesn't seem to fit in with songs like "Don't Tell Me" and "Secret". I think Madonna could have sang "Express Yourself" and/or especially "American Pie". And what a loss to not hear Madonna herself sing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" live, especially at this point in her career where her voice has never sounded better. Hearing the instrumental version is fine, but to not see and hear Madonna re-enact that stellar moment on the Casa Rosada, well, is unfortunate. I do agree with one of the reviewers who said that some of show's ideas don't always work. I don't think Drowned World is as well developed a show as Blonde Ambition or Girlie Show in terms of its ideas and theatricality, but musically (ie. Madonna's singing and musical gifts), it's just fine."

MADONNA's Drowned World Tour most Successful Tour of 2001

Porfie Medina | Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA | 10/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw the MADONNA Drowned World Tour 2001 on HBO in late August, and I was also lucky enough to see her show Live in Las Vegas on September 1st. I just have to say this is the most amazing show MADONNA has ever done. MADONNA does songs mostly from her last two albums. MADONNA does everything from play guitar to doing a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon performance of her song Sky Fits Heaven. MADONNA plays electric guitar on Candy Perfume Girl, and plays acoustic guitar on songs like Secret, I Deserve It, and the classic La Isla Bonita. She also brings back one song she has performed on every tour the classic HOLIDAY. Her Dancers are amazing, and never before has MADONNA looked or acted like a True Rock star. Here is a list of the songs MADONNA performs on this DVD. Drowned World/Substitute For Love, Impressive Instant, Candy Perfume Girl, Beautiful Stranger, Ray Of Light, Frozen, Nobodys Perfect, Sky Fits Heaven, Mer Girl, I Deserve It, Don't Tell Me, Human Nature, The Funny Song, Secret, Gone, Human Nature, What It Feels Like For A Girl (in Spanish), La Isla Bonita, Holiday, Music. MADONNA once again pushes the limits of what a performer and a good show should be like, and once again she gives what could be just another concert a new life with a broadway show feel to it. Once you see this DVD you will see MADONNA is still on top of her game and way ahead of her time. If your looking for the MADONNA that was wild and about throwing sex in your face this is might not be for you. MADONNA continues to grow as an artist and a performer. MADONNA has a family now and this is the next chapter in MADONNA's life. Buy This DVD you will not regret it. MADONNA rocked my world and she sure wil rock yours! This DVD has pictures taken by her pal Rosie."

Amazing to watch, fails to connect.

JCG | Los Angeles, CA | 08/07/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Much has been said of Maddy's last tour, Drowned World 2001. Eight long years passed between this tour and her prior tour ('93's The Girlie Show). Was it worth the wait? Yes, and no.Madonna has become so incredibly self-conscious in recent years, that she doesn't allow herself to be spontaneous at times. Madonna's shows have always been precise and cohesive. That doesn't necessarily equate a show that connects with its audience, although it may entertain and wow the senses. Madonna's lack of spontaneity performing live weakens her shows at times since it's the same production night after night. After a certain amount of shows, the performer (this case being Madonna) becomes bored with the show...wouldn't you after doing the same thing over, and over, and over again?Before, Madonna rose above such calculation because she seemed to genuinely enjoy performing. This was most evident on '93's Girlie Show tour. Although Blond Ambition will forever remain Maddy's classic tour, The Girlie Show came after a Madonna backlash by the media and public. The only thing Madonna had supporting her was herself, her close friends/family, and lastly her fans. She gave her all to her fans during her '93 tour, as was captured on film and for anyone who saw her live that year. Madonna connected to her audience because she *wanted* to connect.Drowned World, unfortunately, suffers a lot from Madonna's newfound spirituality, children/husband, and self-consciousness. Madonna no longer needs to connect to her audience because she, in a way, no longer needs them. The show is strictly there for Madonna alone, not for her fans. This is why most of the tracks played during Drowned World are new tracks off her last two albums. Out of a 22 set-list, she only includes two old/classic tracks...the rest are mostly tracks she had never performed live before. This might be exciting for the artist performing, but it's not very enjoyable for the fans. Madonna is distant in Drowned World, and somewhat cold. Again, due to the fact that she doesn't truly involve the audience in the show. The only time she speaks to the audience is during "The Funny Song" and for anyone who has seen multiple shows from the Drowned World tour (myself being one of them), they know it's the same song/dance routine for every city she hit.On Madonna's most recent promotional tour for her "American Life" album all she had was her voice, her guitar player, and small audiences of 300 or less people. It's during these small shows that Madonna seemed happy, and seemed to genuinely connect with her fans (or at least pretended to). During a show of 20,000 + people every night in front of you, it's not so important for them to see what you emote vs. simply getting through the show, singing the songs, and hitting your dance steps.Not to say that Drowned World is not amazing to watch, it absolutely is. The show is an incredible combination of lights, music, and theatrics. The coreography for Madonna's troupe of dancers is forward, and agressive...it works for the show since Drowned World is very much about agressiveness, and power. The show is solid, and it doesn't stop for anything, not even audience applause. The show is like a beautiful art/masterpiece in a museum...you look at it in awe, but you never connect to it.Maybe Madonna should consider this the next time she goes on tour. The audience reactions when she performed "Like A Virgin" and "Like A Prayer" during the promo tour for her latest album was overwhelming. It was during these songs that you saw the audience smile, and Madonna smile with them. Obviously, Drowned World shouldn't have *only* included the oldies, but she should have split it up like she did during '93's Girlie Show (half of the tracks performed were new, while the remaining half were the classics).Hopefully the next time Maddy tours she will remember that concerts are there for the audience as much as the artist. It is where the performer's audience finally gets to connect past their CD player. During Drowned World, you never see Madonna smile. It's sad, she used to really enjoy performing for us. Ahh well..."