Madonna gets Sweet and Sticky on tour

Although I will be broke for the next two years, I recently had the pleasure of seeing Madonna and her Sweet and Sticky Tour in Toronto. But I guess that's the price you pay for seeing an icon.

The Air Canada Centre was a full house, with an audience made up of woman mostly ages 28 and over. The dress code seemed to be black, although I saw quite a few men dressed as women. I also saw a couple of people dressed up in the style evolutions of Madonna, particularly highlighting the Material Girl's ‘Vogue' days.

The ticket said that the show was going to start at 8 pm, although there was no opening act, she didn't appear on stage until 8:45 pm, which is pretty darn good compared to a three hour wait the audience in London, England had to endure.

And yes, it's 100 per cent true that Madonna is in the best shape I've ever seen. From my seat I could definitely see the legend's arm muscle and leg definition. We, the audience stood for the whole two-and-a-half hours and were marveled by how Madonna did not stop moving. Just standing there and watching her made me tired and my feet hurt.

I've read that Madonna insisted the air be shut off in all venues because it apparently completes the ‘dance club' vibe she wants to create.

The videos and circular screens that she had added to the show were the best I've ever seen. Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams and Britney Spears sang and danced with Madonna on the video screens. Spears had recorded a video to one of Madonna's songs while Madonna stood and sang while playing the guitar.

Madonna's costume changes consisted of mostly different colour shorts, tall boots, one dress with bright oriental necklaces and black athlete pants. Every other piece had a hint of sparkle to them.

For her Sticky and Sweet Tour, there were a lot of older songs mixed with songs off her new album, Hard Candy. My favourite song of the night was ‘She's not me,' in which she had four versions of her past self and she went around and ripped off accessories and fabric from the look-a-likes.

At one point she asked for requests from the crowd, but refused to sing “Like A Virgin' because it gives her ‘retarded tingles.'

Fans in the front row by the catwalk, got a chance to sing with for her as she ran around and gave people a chance to sing into take the mic.

There was no encore to the show, but Madonna made sure she told us that, “Canada was alright in her books” and she is definitely alright in ours!!