The MDNA Tour


The MDNA Tour was the ninth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It showcased material from her twelfth studio album, MDNA. Comprising 88 shows, the tour visited the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. This marked the singer's first performances in the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Scotland, and Colombia. The tour was initially planned to reach Australia in January 2013 but was canceled; Madonna apologized through a video letter on her official YouTube account.
Madonna described the tour as "the journey of a soul from darkness to light". It was divided into four sections: Transgression, where guns and violence was the main theme, Prophecy, where a mix of joyful songs that bring people together are performed, Masculine/Feminine, a combination of sensuality and fashion with a few of Madonna's classic songs performed in a French Cabaret-style, and Redemption, which Madonna labeled as "a big party and celebration".
Despite being generally positive reviews from critics, the tour courted many controversial subjects such as violence, firearms, human rights, nudity, and politics; lawsuits threatened against Madonna have also been engaged from the tour. The MDNA Tour created immense success at the box office and many venues were instantly sold out. It was dubbed as the highest-grossing tour of 2012 by Billboard. The tour grossed $305.2 million from 88 sold-out shows, becoming the tenth highest-grossing tour of all time and surpassing Celine Dion's Taking Chances World Tour as the second highest-grossing tour among female artists, behind Madonna's own Sticky & Sweet Tour. Madonna broke the record for occupying the top two highest-grossing female tours of all time. Madonna accepted the Top Touring Artist of the year at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.
A concert special titled Madonna: The MDNA Tour aired on Epix in the United States on June 22, 2013 at 8:00 pm ET. The television special documented the November 19 and 20 shows at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, but also included footage from other concert dates. A live album, MDNA World Tour, was released on September 9, 2013.

Background

After performing at, MTV News, stated the singer will feature the cast of Glee on the forthcoming tour. The gesture was a show of appreciation for the episode featuring Madonna's hits. This information was later followed by fansite DrownedMadonna releasing a proposed tour itinerary from Live Nation. The report showed the singer playing a stadium-exclusive tour beginning in New Zealand. It also showed dates in Australia, China, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Days later, many media outlets around the world posted the itinerary, causing Live Nation to respond to the report's authenticity.
While promoting her first feature film, W.E., Madonna partnered with Smirnoff to produce a global dance contest. Called the "Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project", the contest asked for dancers to submit footage to becoming a dancer on the singer's forthcoming tour. Eleven finalists performed for Madonna and fans at the Roseland Ballroom in November 2011, where Madonna also debuted her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'". The winner of the contest was Charles Riley.
Amongst the promotion, many outlets reported news of the tour. Israeli news site Ynetnews announced that Madonna was in negotiations to perform in Tel Aviv in May 2012. Additionally, the Evening Standard confirmed a show at Hyde Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics. Reports from Turkish newspaper Radikal showed the singer was in negotiations to perform in Abu Dhabi. Madonna's manager, Guy Oseary confirmed the tour on his Twitter account in December 2011. He also stated South Africa was a possibility following the success of the U2 concerts.
The tour was officially announced on February 7, 2012, following the singer's performance at the Super Bowl XLVI Bridgestone Halftime Show. The tour is expected to have 90 performances, becoming Madonna's longest tour to date. In March 2012, the singer used social networks to promote the forthcoming tour and album. On Twitter, the official title of the tour was announced. The concert tickets range in price from around $45 to more than $350. The average ticket price was $138. Some premium-priced ticket packages run $600 per person. Receiving complaints that her live shows are too expensive, Madonna told Newsweek: "Start saving your pennies now. People spend $300 on crazy things all the time, things like handbags. So work all year, scrape the money together and come to my show. I'm worth it."
The tour was also set to see Madonna perform in Australia for the first time in 20 years in January 2013 as confirmed by head of Live Nation Touring, Arthur Fogel. Stadium dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth were planned, ready to be announced in July 2012, but were cancelled for reasons unspecified which lead to a huge backlash from fans in Australia after Madonna skipped the country for her fifth consecutive tour in a row, causing Madonna on August 26, 2012, to release an audio video on YouTube apologizing to her Australian fans and revealed that she could not spend more time away from her children and plans to perform in Australia in the near future.

Development

The first rehearsals began in February 2012 in New York City. The rehearsals on a real stage began May 1, 2012 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The triangle-shaped stage of the tour consists of two walkways for Madonna to wade into the crowd and an enclosed area where selected fans can get close to the stage. There is also a huge, three-part video screen that promoters have called the largest in the world. The tour was initially planned to start in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 29, 2012, but was rescheduled to May 31 due to production delays. During a Facebook chat with Jimmy Fallon, Madonna announced the first section of the show is "pretty violent" and she would utilize slacklining in one performance. Madonna reunites with her long-time designer Jean-Paul Gaultier to create the costumes for the tour. She stated, " kind of godfathering the costumes for a section of my show, with all my dancers. I'm really happy he's doing it, because he's such a genius." Madonna also works with designers Arianne Phillips and Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci.

Concert synopsis

Madonna described the central theme of the show as a journey from darkness to light. The show was divided into four sections: Transgression, Prophecy, Masculine/Feminine and Redemption. It began with a cathedral setting, with the Kalakan trio doing religious chanting that morphs into Madonna's name. The dancers dressed in red robes are seen pulling a rope that rings a bell and are seen pushing a giant thurible. The middle screen splits into two, revealing a silhouette of Madonna in a "glass confession box" praying. She stands up holding a rifle and "breaks" the glass, revealing herself dressed in a tight black suit and starts singing "Girl Gone Wild". She is accompanied by her dancers who are wearing outfits similar to that in the music video while interiors of the Cologne Cathedral are displayed in the background. The show continues with "Revolver" with Madonna's female dancers accompanying her with automatic rifles and Lil' Wayne being featured in the video backdrops. After the song, "Gang Bang" is performed in a motel setting where Madonna is seen shooting the male dancers who infiltrate her room with blood being splattered on the backdrops. A minimal version of "Papa Don't Preach" follows in which her dancers dressed in army pants, boots and masks tie her up, leading into "Hung Up" where Madonna utilizes slacklining while her dancers slide under the ropes. Madonna closes the first section performing "I Don't Give A" on guitar while Nicki Minaj is seen in the backdrops sitting on a throne. The first video interlude features various tombstones and a man walking through a cemetery while a mashup of "Best Friend" and "Heartbeat" is performed. The next section kicks off with Madonna dressed as a majorette while performing "Express Yourself" with a baton. The song, which features lyrical interpolations from Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and "She's Not Me" from Madonna's 2008 album Hard Candy, breaks down with the Just Blaze Remix of "Give Me All Your Luvin'" with a marching band that is suspended from the air while Madonna and her female dancers dance with pompoms are dressed as cheerleaders. A short video interlude follows featuring Madonna's previous hits which then leads into "Turn Up the Radio" with Madonna on guitar wearing a leather dress and a black beret. "Open Your Heart" is performed next with the Kalakan trio being formally introduced to the audience with "Sagarra Jo" intertwined with the song. The segment ends with "Masterpiece" with clips from W.E. displayed on the screens.
The second video interlude is a new remixed version of "Justify My Love" by William Orbit featuring a film noir of Madonna locking herself in a room after being chased by masked dancers and indulging in her sexual fantasies. The third section begins with "Vogue" in which Madonna donned a reinvented cone bra designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier along with her dancers wearing black avant-garde dresses. A sensual version of "Candy Shop" is performed next with snippets of "Erotica" integrated into the number. After the song, Madonna moves into "Human Nature" while removing articles of clothing as shifting mirrors move around the stage. "Like a Virgin" is performed next with a pianist playing "Evgeni's Waltz" while a shirtless dancer puts a corset on Madonna and pulls the strings while she feigns she is out of breath. The segment ends with an acoustic version of "Love Spent", after being added to the setlist on September 20. In this song, Madonna is seen picking up and throwing money before descending underneath the stage with the pianist. The final video interlude features a remixed version of "Nobody Knows Me", in a collage-like political and economic film with Madonna singing. The video gives tribute to teens who took their lives after being bullied and harassed. "I'm Addicted" opens the final section with Madonna dressed in a Joan d'Arc-inspired outfit, along with her dancers dressed in shaolin-inspired clothing. The following song, "I'm a Sinner", features Madonna on guitar and wearing garlands of flowers while the backdrops feature a train travelling through India, along with elements of "Cyber-Raga". A modernized version of "Like a Prayer", with an introduction of "De Treville-n azken hitzak" performed by the Kalakan trio, follows with her dancers as a church choir, with Hebrew writings displayed in the backdrops. Madonna returns to the stage for the final song, "Celebration", with her and her dancers wearing Beats by Dre and acting as disc jockeys, with colored 3D cubes falling in the backdrops and laser lights illuminating the stage. Excerpts of "Give It 2 Me" were interpolated into the song from the St. Paul show on November 3 onwards.

Critical reception

The MDNA Tour has received positive reviews. A journalist from The Jerusalem Post described the show in Tel Aviv as an "assault on the senses". He further comments, "Despite the confused ideas underlying the performance, it's difficult to imagine somebody not enjoying a Madonna concert. Say what you will about the Kabbalah-studying, gun-toting, fashionista of pop music – and everyone has something to say – but the woman knows how to put on a good show". Jon Parales from The New York Times wrote that "the concert is a display of energy and nutty inventiveness, with Madonna costumed as everything from baton twirler to folk dancer", adding that it "is less a story than an excellent excuse for extravagant, perpetually surprising production numbers involving more than three dozen performers, while it turns some of Madonna's past hits inside out." New York Daily News called the show "an idea-intensive, message-packed riddle wrapped in an enigma that must be seen to be believed", arguing that the show's risky artistry "deserves praise." German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost wrote: "Madonna live in 2012 is still magical and unmatched", Newspaper El País said "Madonna shows her intelligence, femininity and elegance in a danceable and spectacular show," Shirley Halperin from The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "With three decades of superstardom under her belt, Madonna has pretty much perfected the art of mass entertainment with a hint of scandal. So it should come as no surprise, even in the Holy Land, that her show would open with a giant cross, the clang of a church bell and cloaked clergymen"; while the show was given a positive review, the fact that the tour contains many songs from the MDNA album was criticized. Saeed Saeed from The National states the performance in Abu Dhabi saw Madonna "bearing her soul". He says, "While her previous Sticky and Sweet tour saw her lightly poking fun at herself and her various musical guises throughout the years, this concert was at times brutally dark and suffocating and as much an emotional exorcism as a performance".
Ingo Schmidt from WDR 2 gave a positive review of the show in Cologne, Germany. Calling Madonna "provocative and sexy", he writes: "Madonna has substantiated her claim to the title of "Queen of Pop" and that "she surprised her enthusiastic audience erotically and provocatively." He also noted that "she dominates even after 30 years on stage." Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph assessed the concert, assigning it 4 out of 5 stars, and wrote, "he real highlight of this show was a stripped back version of 'Like a Virgin'... Madonna proved herself more than equal to be challenge of all her young pretenders". Kat Keogh from Birmingham Mail gave a positive review at the performance in Birmingham. Giving the performance 4 out of 5 stars, she reveals: "Thousands of fans gave a regal welcome as her Madgesty took the stage", that "the pure theatre of her performance was enough to sustain the 11,000 strong audience" and "the feel good classics proved why the 53 year old is the original and the best." Madonna's performance in Edinburgh also received generally positive reviews. Beverley Lyons from Daily Record stated: "Madonna's still in Vogue with fans" and "this was a remarkable show – and a night when we saw a softer side to the Queen of Pop."
Madonna's sold-out performance in Zurich, Switzerland also received positive reviews. Critics praised the show stating: "Madonna makes Swiss fans happy again four years after the Sticky & Sweet Tour. They also noted how "the pop-giantess delivered a perfectly choreographed show, leaving space for political messages" and "Madonna's achievements in the music industry not negotiable." Madonna's performances in the United States have been met with critical acclaim. During her performance in Philadelphia, Glenn Gamboa from Newsday wrote that "her latest reinvention might be her most revealing yet" because "her wild, nearly two-hour show is closest to reflecting her current state of mind, while building yet another artistic, well-choreographed slacklining spectacle." Marc-André Lemieux from Le Journal de Montréal gave a positive view of her performance in Montreal, writing: "the indestructible icon has proposed a concert sometimes dark, sometimes light, but always entertaining and challenging" and commenting that the show is "a fascinating exercise that reflects the journey of a pop singer who has reached her full artistic maturity." Ottawa Citizen named her "n entertainer who, admittedly, outdoes all her imitators and progeny when it comes to dancefloor pop – a point made clear when she slyly incorporated Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" into "Express Yourself". And such hits as "Like a Prayer", sung near the end of the set, might even have been a religious experience for some 16,000 adoring fans" in Montreal.
Sarah Rodman from Boston Globe praised her performance in Boston at the TD Garden writing: "the truly, remarkably indefatigable pop superstar powered her way through a performance just shy of two hours and heavy on the razzle dazzle but light on hits" also noting how Madonna "remains impressively fleet of foot, dancing nearly non-stop, and when she sang live, perfectly competent of voice, even if the mix didn’t always do her favors and her crew was impressive." Hardeep Phull from the New York Post acclaimed her performance in Yankee Stadium, writing: "the shock-and-awe tactics have been a staple of her 30-year career, but right now they seem to be an especially savvy move" and that the show "remains a master class in performance and spectacle." Chris Cobb from Ottawa Citizen called the performance in Ottawa: "a Broadway show on wheels" and writing: "in a sense it doesn’t really matter what songs Madonna chooses to sing because the spectacle, with all its bells and whistles, is all." Stephanie IP from The Province commented on her performance in Vancouver, writing: "the Queen of Pop continued to reign supreme on the Vancouver stop of her worldwide tour" and "the effect Madge has had on paving the way for female artists and fans is incomparable." Madonna's performance in Seattle was met again with critical acclaim. Andrew Matson and Sharon Pian Chan from The Seattle Times both praised her performance with Matson writing: "The middle-aged Queen of Pop kicked off her concert by simulating a killing spree, complete with audiovisual effects. And it was some show: Two hours of hits from a remarkable career, with high-budget sets and intricate choreography" and Chan writing: "There is only one word to say after Madonna's extravaganza, spectacle and concert Tuesday night: Respect. Madonna tore it up on the dance floor at the age of 54."
Mario Tarradell from The Dallas Morning News gave a positive review for her performance in Dallas writing: "The Material Girl then proceeded to take us through a song cycle that examined sex, liberation, sin, empowerment, love, addiction, rebellion and finally redemption, and she did it all in classic Madonna style – controversial and eye-popping." Mark Kemp from Creative Loafing gave a positive review for her performance in Atlanta writing: "Madonna has continued to grow, not just as a musical performer but as a musical stage actor, deconstructionist and reconstructionist. Her MDNA Tour is not a concert — it's a theater event, complete with concepts and routines that range from well-thought-out to somewhat abstruse. The singer is as committed as ever to making statements and being provocative — that's her stock-in-trade, after all — and her non-hit material is every bit as adventurous and challenging as any of her hits. More so, in many cases."
Jordan Levin from Miami.com wrote: "Madonna's sold-out concert at the American Airlines Arena Monday night was a jaw-dropping sequence of stunningly designed set pieces; including an aerial drum corps, a battalion of dazzling dancers, an explosively bloody gangster fantasy and a surreal spiritual voyage. But the tireless woman at its center, taut and confident as ever at 54, was just as riveting stripped down to lingerie and singing alone with a pianist." The performances in Mexico City also received positive reaction. Ricardo Hernández from El Occidental wrote: "Madonna returned to Foro Sol in Mexico City, managing to gather 50,000 fans approximately where she gave a performance that captivated her fans."
Madonna's performances in Medellín were met with overwhelmingly positive reception. Many dubbed the events as both "historic" and "unprecedented." Medellín's second largest newspaper El Mundo said the two-hour concert "fulfilled all expectations."
Dean Piper writing for Daily Mirror gave the show four out of five stars, criticizing the choice of venue and sound quality, but praising the general concert. Warren Manger for Coventry Telegraph reported "technical difficulties" at her show at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham but called it "both compelling and spectacular". Fiona Shepherd writing for The Scotsman gave her performance in the Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 4 out of 5 stars, pointing out that the show was "cynically choreographed to revisit key Madonna themes and imagery." Vogue Italias Giulia Blasi reviewed the show as "huge, spectacular, often slightly tacky, obviously expensive" and blamed "the poor quality of the sound for anyone not standing directly in front of the stage", noting "suspiciously pristine vocals in the middle of very choreography-heavy songs."
The performance in Hyde Park received some lukewarm reviews by some major British papers. John Aizlewood from Evening Standard wrote that Madonna left "Hyde Park crowds confused and bored by dreary set and low volume" and several reviewers noted the spotty and cursory treatment of her older hits. The Independent wrote that the tour "goes off with a whimper, not a bang". Natalie Shaw writing for The Arts Desk wrote that the "MDNA tour finds Madge disastrously sapping the joy out of even her most triumphant choruses." Michael Hubbard from musicOMH rated the concert 2.5 out of five stars, noting that "the vocals are unremarkable at best and auto-tuned to oblivion at worst", calling it "a gig that lacked oomph throughout." Amy Smith from Heineken Music rated her performance at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin 2/5 commenting that Madonna appeared "so visibly half-hearted about it at certain periods of this two-hour set."
Madonna's performance at Paris's Stade de France received mixed to negative reviews. French critics and fans harshly criticised the singer's perceived lack of spontaneity. Assma Maad from Le Figaro wrote that the show was "spectacular but disappointing" and that "the staging tends to overshadow the music." Meanwhile, Valentin Spitz called the show "mechanical and soulless". Monica Heck of Hot Press gave a mixed review of her Dublin show, criticising Madonna's "couple of attempts to fool the public into thinking she is a guitar playing rock chick were brazenly fake" but praising her "steely determination and her commanding presence."

Commercial response

Following the tickets sale opening, The MDNA Tour attained a huge demand from public and many venues were instantly sold out. Six weeks before the premiere, Arthur Fogel, chairman of Live Nation Global Touring, had already made an estimate that the tour was on track to be among the top-ten tours of all time. He announced that more than 1.4 million tickets had been already sold up to that point, banking about US$214 million for an average US$2.7 million per show in a mix of stadiums and arenas. Madonna's first ever show in Abu Dhabi had fans lined up in front of the Virgin Megastore for tickets of 24 hours before they went on general sale, according to local newspaper The National. All initial 22,000 tickets sold out in record-breaking one hour, prompting the promoter to add the second date there. All tickets for Madonna's concert in Istanbul sold out in four days. German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that both of Madonna's shows in Berlin sold out only in few hours after tickets went on sale. All available tickets for Madonna's first date in Amsterdam sold out in 30 minutes.
In the United States, 60,000 tickets for the first show in Yankee Stadium, New York City sold out in 20 minutes, resulting an additional date in the venue. Tickets for the show in Kansas City sold out in 12 minutes, while the show in Houston sold out in less than an hour. In Canada, the concert at the Bell Centre sold 16,000 tickets in 20 minutes, along with the show at the Plains of Abraham, selling 65,000 tickets in one hour. In Ottawa, 15,000 tickets for the show in Scotiabank Place sold out in 21 minutes, becoming the fastest-selling concert in the arena's 16-year history, beating out previous record holder AC/DC in 2009. In Mexico, the most expensive tickets for her show sold out within two hours and fifteen minutes during the pre-sales, prompting the promoter to announce the second date for Mexico City. In Colombia, her first concert in Medellin sold 38,000 tickets immediately during the pre-sale, and the remaining 2,000 tickets for the public sale sold out in three hours. Madonna also sold more than 100,000 tickets within two days in Brazil.
After its completion, The MDNA Tour became the tenth highest-grossing tour of all time, grossing $305.2 million from 88 sold-out shows. It also surpassed Celine Dion's Taking Chances World Tour as the second highest-grossing tour among female artists, only behind Madonna's own Sticky & Sweet Tour. By the end of the year, Billboard declared the tour as the highest-grossing tour of 2012, making it Madonna's third time closing a year at the top of the box office heap, the others being 2009 and 2004. Madonna joined The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead and Bon Jovi as the only acts to be Billboard's highest-grossing tour twice in a three-year span. At the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards, The MDNA Tour was nominated in three categories—Top Tour, Concert Marketing & Promotion Award and Top Manager for Guy Oseary—however not winning any of the nominations. Madonna ultimately received Top Touring Artist trophy at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.

Controversies

The show was met with plenty of controversies, from the depiction of the swastika superimposed on the forehead of French politician Marine Le Pen in the "Nobody Knows Me" video interlude to the use of firearms during the first section. Many lawsuits have also been threatened against Madonna for defending LGBT rights in Russia and for supporting the female punk rock band Pussy Riot. Concerning the issue in Tel Aviv, Le Pen's far-right political party, Front national, threatened to sue Madonna should she not remove the Nazi symbol from the image's forehead during the third and final video interlude. While performing "Human Nature" in Istanbul, Madonna briefly exposed her right breast before covering it up again. The gesture was mostly criticized, but many accepted the stance as a form of feminism and empowerment.
During the performance in Edinburgh, Madonna was urged to remove the use of firearms from the show due to the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting. Although threatened, Scottish police did not interrupt the show. The singer's camp responded saying, "Madonna would rather cancel her show than censor her art. Her entire career, she has fought against people telling her what she can and cannot do. She's not about to start listening to them now". The show in Paris at L'Olympia was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from fans and critics, with most of the criticism centering on the fact that the concert lasted only 45 minutes, even though the tickets had been sold at the same price as for the other MDNA Tour shows and fans hadn't been alerted of the abbreviated format of the show. Responding to the criticism, Madonna's publicist declared that her past club shows "were never more than 45 minutes", adding that the concert was "planned as a heartfelt thank you to France which she expressed at the start of the show" and also, the show cost Madonna nearly $1 million to produce and keeping the prices at $100 involved a "tremendous effort". Madonna's concert in Warsaw was met with criticism from local religious conservatives who demanded her concert to be cancelled on the basis that the singer is against the church, desecrates religious iconography, promotes homosexuality, transsexuality and transvestism and generally displays abnormal and offensive behavior. Organizers ended up showing a brief film on the topic of the Uprising before the concert and only a handful of protesters were seen outside of the venue.
Madonna's Russian shows in Moscow and Saint Petersburg were met with great controversy. Asked her stance on the arrest of feminist punk-rock band Pussy Riot, Madonna responded: "I'm against censorship, and my whole career I've always promoted freedom of expression and freedom of speech so I think what's happening to them is unfair. And I hope that they don't have to serve 7 years in jail; that would be a tragedy. I think art should be political, that art, historically speaking, always reflects what's going on socially. So for me it's hard to separate being an artist and being political." During her Moscow show, Madonna gave a speech in support of the band, saying...My dream, and my prayer, is that everyone in the world has the right to express their opinions and still be treated as human beings. I know there are many sides to every story, and I mean no disrespect to the Church, or the government, but I think that these three girls – Nadezhda, Yekaterina, and Maria – have done something courageous. I think that they have paid the price for this act. And I pray for their freedom." The response was largely positive. Many media outlets lauded Madonna's efforts, and other artists joined her in support of the band, among them Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, however, wrote an expletive-ridden Twitter post lambasting Madonna for backing the band: "With age, every ex-slut tends to lecture everybody on morality. Especially during world tours and concerts." Madonna's second Russian date in Saint Petersburg was consequently met with terrorist threats, prompting the U.S. Embassy to issue a warning to those in attendance. Madonna's spokesperson Liz Rosenberg responded that the concert would go on as scheduled and that Russian authorities would step up security for the date. Following threats of arrest by Russian officials if she spoke in support of gay rights and opposed the recent anti-gay law which prohibits "public actions aimed at propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism among minors", Madonna responded, on March 21, in a letter on her website saying she was a "freedom fighter" and would defend LGBT rights. Before the show, Madonna released pink wristbands to audience members in support of the LGBT community. In addition, hundreds brought rainbow flags to the show and waved them throughout.
, New York City.
Though her speech was met with much praise from the media, on August 17, it was announced that anti-gay Russian campaigners would sue Madonna for $10.4 million, arguing that she was promoting "homosexual propaganda" which was against the law, and allegedly "insulted their feelings when she spoke out for gay rights" at the concert. According to one of the 10 activists who filed the lawsuit, "She had been warned with words that she should behave in line with the law and she ignored it. So we will speak in the language of money… maybe someone does not see the link but after Madonna's concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders — for me it causes moral suffering."
At the performance in Nice, Madonna removed the swastika from the video of "Nobody Knows Me" and replaced it with a question mark due to backlash from Marine Le Pen's supporters. A local party supporter Gael Nofri welcomed the change stating: "As far as I know, Madonna has never changed a video clip. This is proof that our arguments were valid. This is excellent news."
Madonna also met controversy while performing in the United States. Madonna created controversy at her performance in Washington, D.C. when she urged fans to vote for President Barack Obama and claimed that he is a "Black Muslim" which was largely seen as offensive since President Obama is a Christian and has discussed about his faith in the past. Madonna clarified her statements by saying that she merely being ironic and said "Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim — though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were? The point I was making is that a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don’t care what religion Obama is — nor should anyone else in America." In her Los Angeles performance, Madonna dedicated her performance to Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for speaking out on her right to have an education. Madonna responded in the concert by saying "This made me cry. The 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot on a school bus for writing a blog… who wrote a blog about how important education was to her. The Taliban stopped her bus and shot her… Do you understand the sickness and absurdity of this?" Madonna went on to shout, "Support education! Support the people who support women!" Madonna showed the audience a written tattoo on her back with Malala's name on it.

Broadcasts and recordings

Initially, the filming of the concert was planned for the shows in Colombia, but due to conflicts with the directors' schedule, those shows were not filmed. Instead, Madonna announced on her Facebook page that the November 19 and 20 shows in Miami, at the American Airlines Arena, will be filmed for the upcoming tour DVD and Blu-ray release. The concert film was directed by Stéphane Sennour and Danny Tull, who also directed the YouTube broadcast of the Olympia show MDNA à l'Olympia and Inside the DNA of MDNA tour documentary. For the Miami shows, Madonna partnered with Vyclone.com for the MDNA Film Project and asked those attending to film "Give Me All Your Luvin'" with their phones from their perspective and upload it to the Vyclone website using their app. In return they would receive a muilti-angle film of the song. On May 9, 2013, Madonna's official website announced that the concert special Madonna: The MDNA Tour will premiere on Epix on June 22, 2013. In June, it was announced that a video album, MDNA World Tour, would be released on DVD and Blu-ray in September 2013.

Other recordings

The performance on July 26, 2012 at L'Olympia in Paris was streamed online via LoveLive's YouTube channel, directed by Stéphane Sennour and Danny Tull. Toby L, Creative Director of the channel commented that they were "beyond elated to be hosting a global stream of one of the world's most iconic artists in such a unique and intimate circumstance which will bring our audience closer than ever to Madonna". A post stream of the show was also available to watch. The show consisted of nine songs, including the official tour setlist from "Turn Up the Radio" to "Human Nature" with two other songs, "Beautiful Killer" with elements from "Die Another Day", and "Je t'aime... moi non plus", a cover of the song by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. On August 6, a Director's Cut version of the show was available to watch via LoveLive's YouTube channel.
It was reported that talk-show host Conan O'Brien and his show, Conan would film a documentary special for the opening concert in Tel Aviv. The special would feature backstage interviews along with four performances from the show. However, the aired segment featured comedian Billy Eichner asking random people in New York City, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem about their excitement for Madonna's performance. Snippets of the opening monologue, "Girl Gone Wild", "Express Yourself", "Give Me All Your Luvin'", and "Turn Up the Radio" were shown. An additional segment aired in July 2012. It featured Eichner asking people Madonna-related facts, followed by him interrupting the soundcheck at Yankee Stadium. After Madonna kicked him offstage, he returned during the soundcheck of "Celebration", only to be taunted by Madonna.

Set list

The following set list is from the November 19 performance in Miami, Florida. It is not intended to represent all shows throughout the tour.
  1. "Virgin Mary"
  2. "Girl Gone Wild"
  3. "Revolver"
  4. "Gang Bang"
  5. "Papa Don't Preach"
  6. "Hung Up"
  7. "I Don't Give A"
  8. "Best Friend"
  9. "Express Yourself"
  10. "Give Me All Your Luvin'"
  11. "Radio Dial Static Medley"
  12. "Turn Up the Radio"
  13. "Open Your Heart"
  14. "Masterpiece"
  15. "Justify My Love"
  16. "Vogue"
  17. "Candy Shop"
  18. "Human Nature"
  19. "Like a Virgin"
  20. "Love Spent"
  21. "Nobody Knows Me"
  22. "I'm Addicted"
  23. "I'm a Sinner"
  24. "Like a Prayer"
;Encore
  2. "Celebration"

    Shows

DateCityCountryVenueOpening actAttendance
Revenue
August 28, 2012PhiladelphiaUnited StatesWells Fargo CenterLaidback Luke15,741 / 15,741$2,651,855
August 30, 2012MontrealCanadaBell CentreMartin Solveig16,918 / 16,918$3,457,482
September 1, 2012Quebec CityCanadaPlains of AbrahamPaul Oakenfold70,569 / 70,569$8,098,292
September 4, 2012BostonUnited StatesTD Gardenn/a13,995 / 13,995$2,450,720
September 6, 2012BronxUnited StatesYankee StadiumAvicii79,775 / 79,775$12,599,540
September 8, 2012BronxUnited StatesYankee StadiumAvicii79,775 / 79,775$12,599,540
September 10, 2012OttawaCanadaScotiabank PlacePaul Oakenfold14,422 / 14,422$2,371,994
September 12, 2012TorontoCanadaAir Canada CentrePaul Oakenfold32,557 / 32,557$7,458,188
September 13, 2012TorontoCanadaAir Canada CentrePaul Oakenfold32,557 / 32,557$7,458,188
September 15, 2012Atlantic CityUnited StatesBoardwalk HallPaul Oakenfold12,207 / 12,207$2,891,340
September 19, 2012ChicagoUnited StatesUnited CenterPaul Oakenfold28,143 / 28,143$5,102,880
September 20, 2012ChicagoUnited StatesUnited CenterPaul Oakenfold28,143 / 28,143$5,102,880
September 23, 2012Washington, D.C.United StatesVerizon CenterBenny Benassi27,944 / 27,944$4,860,428
September 24, 2012Washington, D.C.United StatesVerizon CenterBenny Benassi27,944 / 27,944$4,860,428
September 29, 2012VancouverCanadaRogers ArenaMartin Solveig28,500 / 28,500$4,758,994
September 30, 2012VancouverCanadaRogers ArenaMartin Solveig28,500 / 28,500$4,758,994
October 2, 2012SeattleUnited StatesKeyArenaMartin Solveig23,651 / 23,651$3,723,405
October 3, 2012SeattleUnited StatesKeyArenaMartin Solveig23,651 / 23,651$3,723,405
October 6, 2012San JoseUnited StatesHP PavilionMiSha Skye
Martin Solveig		25,907 / 25,907$4,791,285
October 7, 2012San JoseUnited StatesHP PavilionMiSha Skye
Martin Solveig		25,907 / 25,907$4,791,285
October 10, 2012Los AngelesUnited StatesStaples CenterMartin Solveig29,015 / 29,015$6,162,835
October 11, 2012Los AngelesUnited StatesStaples CenterMartin Solveig29,015 / 29,015$6,162,835
October 13, 2012Las VegasUnited StatesMGM Grand Garden ArenaMartin Solveig24,991 / 24,991$7,188,879
October 14, 2012Las VegasUnited StatesMGM Grand Garden ArenaMartin Solveig24,991 / 24,991$7,188,879
October 16, 2012PhoenixUnited StatesUS Airways CenterMiSha Skye13,239 / 13,239$2,389,060
October 18, 2012DenverUnited StatesPepsi CenterMiSha Skye13,280 / 13,280$2,135,835
October 21, 2012DallasUnited StatesAmerican Airlines CenterBenny Benassi14,360 / 14,360$2,329,690
October 24, 2012HoustonUnited StatesToyota CenterMartin Solveig24,797 / 24,797$4,390,355
October 25, 2012HoustonUnited StatesToyota CenterMartin Solveig24,797 / 24,797$4,390,355
October 27, 2012New OrleansUnited StatesNew Orleans ArenaPaul Oakenfold14,498 / 14,498$2,261,515
October 30, 2012Kansas CityUnited StatesSprint CenterPaul Oakenfold14,108 / 14,108$2,366,220
November 1, 2012St. LouisUnited StatesScottrade CenterPaul Oakenfold16,022 / 16,022$2,449,110
November 3, 2012Saint PaulUnited StatesXcel Energy CenterPaul Oakenfold26,084 / 26,084$4,229,005
November 4, 2012Saint PaulUnited StatesXcel Energy CenterPaul Oakenfold26,084 / 26,084$4,229,005
November 6, 2012PittsburghUnited StatesConsol Energy CenterPaul Oakenfold14,120 / 14,120$2,358,670
November 8, 2012DetroitUnited StatesJoe Louis ArenaPaul Oakenfold13,716 / 13,716$1,833,154
November 10, 2012ClevelandUnited StatesQuicken Loans ArenaPaul Oakenfold16,487 / 16,487$2,546,780
November 12, 2012New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square GardenMartin Solveig24,790 / 24,790$4,846,665
November 13, 2012New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square GardenMartin Solveig24,790 / 24,790$4,846,665
November 15, 2012CharlotteUnited StatesTime Warner Cable ArenaMartin Solveig13,817 / 13,817$2,208,180
November 17, 2012AtlantaUnited StatesPhilips ArenaPaul Oakenfold13,504 / 13,504$2,379,792
November 19, 2012MiamiUnited StatesAmerican Airlines ArenaPaul Oakenfold27,976 / 27,976$5,241,125
November 20, 2012MiamiUnited StatesAmerican Airlines ArenaPaul Oakenfold27,976 / 27,976$5,241,125
November 24, 2012Mexico CityMexicoForo SolPaul Oakenfold84,382 / 84,382$11,586,745
November 25, 2012Mexico CityMexicoForo SolPaul Oakenfold84,382 / 84,382$11,586,745

DateCityCountryVenueReason
June 11, 2012ZagrebCroatiaStadion MaksimirScheduling conflict
October 20, 2012DallasUnited StatesAmerican Airlines CenterSevere laryngitis

Personnel

Main

Sources: