“I think the most controversial thing I’ve ever done is to stick around,” the iconic Material Girl’s video stated to a packed crowd at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Tuesday night. On a night to celebrate a legendary career that first took off in the early ’80s, Madonna drew a strong crowd of multigenerational fans. They were dressed to the nines in many of her signature looks: long strands of fake pearls, big bows, high ponytails, crimped hair, layers of fluffy tulle skirts, fingerless lace gloves, and even a pointy gold bustier.

A few drag queens were present, and the queer community that Madonna has lovingly championed was out in full force. On all the Celebration Tour stops, she worked with local LGBTQ organizations. Here, she partnered with TC Pride’s Rainbow Wardrobe program that collects gender-affirming clothing and hygiene items for queer community members in need.

Proudly queer DJ Mary Mac hyped up the crowd first. Wearing leather pants, an oversized Prince symbol shirt, and a dapper hat, she spun disco, house, and pop music with a lot of Madonna and the Purple One mixed in. It was a good blend, but her mic cut out a few times and Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U” would’ve been better without her interjections to encourage crowd participation with cell phone lights.

Next, Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’’' started, and RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight winner Bob the Drag queen’s voice boomed throughout the arena. He emerged to give a Madonna history rundown in a Marie Antoinette-esque outfit with a large feather tucked into a tall beehive of cotton-candy pink hair. Side hoops exaggerated his hips and created an over-the-top silhouette that was just a small taste of the curated fashion, theatrics, and camp to come.

About 10 minutes early, Madonna hit a stage featuring three catwalks and a round spinning platform and launched into “Nothing Really Matters.” She wore a black kimono-style dress with a halo headpiece and fingerless gloves with ohm symbols on the palms. Lithe dancers in late-’70s New York fashion punk getups joined her for “Everybody.” She then removed her kimono to reveal a teal bodysuit with mesh covering her breasts, a tattered skirt, and fishnets.

The costuming was captivating. During her almost two-and-a-half-hour set, we’d see Western gear, fishnets, shining bodysuits, ballroom drag couture, and fetish wear like slick latex, leather, and lace gimp masks. There was also lots of draping from fabric to the bodies onstage.

Different acts represented the sentimental, sensual, and whimsical eras of Madonna’s career. All the while, lingerie-clad dancers gave her lap dances during “Open Your Heart,” simulated orgies to “Justify My Love,” and did acro-yoga. Of course, “Like a Prayer” was particularly libidinous.

A true maverick, she displayed softer moments, too. “Live to Tell” featured a slideshow of black-and-white photos featuring fellow artists, musicians, and associates who’ve since passed away. It was a night filled with family cameos. As her daughter, Mercy James, played live piano during “Bad Girl,” Madonna put a hand on her shoulder and sang “You’ll always be my baby.” Daughter Estere added an impressive dance routine, complete with death drops, during “Vogue,” and her twin sister Stella was line dancing during “Don’t Tell Me.” Her son, David Banda, added vocals to “Mother and Father” while screens displayed Madonna and Banda’s mothers. Other tributes included a mashup of “Like a Virgin” with her late, dear friend Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” A special treat for the St. Paul crowd was a few bars of Prince’s “Kiss” at the end of an acoustic version of “Express Yourself.”

The 25-song set was replete with chart-topping hits, but included a few songs that felt unnecessary. Vocoder-laden “Die Another Day” dragged and was greeted by a lull. The futuristic “Bedtime Story” felt out of place both sonically and visually as it transitioned to “Ray of Light” and featured a cyberpunk rave onstage while she jerkily danced in a box suspended over the crowd. The beautiful, but lower-energy, ballad “Take a Bow” felt risky to be placed at the end of the set. 

Over the years, Madonna’s vocal register has dropped, and she seemed a little winded on her first few songs. When she launched into “Into the Groove” — with lyrics changed to be more gender-inclusive — her vocals were softer, huskier, and she avoided the high notes. On “Holiday,” it appeared that she was lip-syncing, but the crowd didn’t seem to care. Unfortunately there were a few off-key moments during “Crazy for You,” an acoustic version of “Express Yourself,” and the last few notes of “Take a Bow.” Four decades of performing are not kind to the body, and there was a compression brace on her knee for portions of the night. For some songs she let her dancers take over the choreography while she swayed and partook in less complicated footwork. (Also, it’s worth remembering she was hospitalized with a serious bacterial infection last year.) 

Despite any shortcomings, Tuesday night lived up to its billing as a celebration of the many lives of Madonna. Although she is starting to show her age, the queen of pop has established that she’s unwilling to relinquish her throne. Fortunately for her, the tired grins on the faces of her fervent fans prove they don’t want her to, either. 

Madonna

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Setlist

Act I 

Nothing Really Matters

Everybody

Into the Groove

Burning Up

Open Your Heart

Holiday

Act II

Live to Tell

[The Ritual]

Like a Prayer

Act III

Erotica 

Justify My Love

Hung Up

Bad Girl

Act IV

Vogue

Human Nature (short)

Crazy for You (short)

Act V

Die Another Day

Don’t Tell Me

Mother and Father

Express Yourself (acoustic, with Prince’s “Kiss” at end) 

La Isla Bonita (short)

Don’t Cry for Me Argentina (short)

Act VI

Bedtime Story

Ray of Light 

Take a Bow

Act VII 

Billie Jean/Like a Virgin mashup

Bitch I’m Madonna