Madonna booed at music festival

[buttmunch]

If you ever wondered whether or not Madonna would have been a welcome performer at Woodstock, here’s the answer: No.

Madonna performed over the weekend at the Coachella Valley Music Festival in California, a famously Sixties-like music event where fans and performers mingle and everyone has a good time. Does this even sound like something our Madonna should have gotten herself involved in? Madonna? With the Brit accent, the facelifts and the servants?

And so it was that Madonna was roundly booed by the Coachella audience after showing up late on stage in a small tent. She then performed only six songs really that no one has much affection for-- "Hung Up," "Get Together," "I Love New York," "Ray Of Light (2006 Version)," "Let It Will Be (Paper Faces Mix)," and "Everybody (2005 Version)." She slagged George Bush in one of them, but that’s to be expected. Don’t forget, she tossed him a live grenade in a video a couple of years ago.

Funny: Madonna doesn’t like Bush, but she could learn a few things from him about working a crowd. For one thing, I’m told that Madonna’s team – unlike the other acts—printed special name tags for security and kept everyone away from her tent. The private backstage passes “ruined the communal feeling of the event,” says a source.

How Madonna got into Coachella is an interesting story considering that on the day she appeared—Sunday—the other main acts were cutting edge types like Tool, Massive Attack, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. On Saturday, the acts included Devendra Barnhart, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Sigur Ros. In other words, this ain’t no foolin’ around.

But one observer claims that Paul Tollett from Golden Voice, which books the shows, turned down previous offers from Madonna’s team for her to play there. “It was only after a personal call from Madonna that Paul decided to put her on,” says the insider. “She pleaded with him, and pulled out the dance music card, telling him how much it would mean to her.”

And the impact has been felt on the Coachella message board, where Madonna’s reviews from the fans have been decidedly negative. As one wrote: “Anyone that shows up wearing $10,000 fake eyelashes to an arts festival, you know is mocking you already. But on the brightside, I was gonna decide on buying tix to her tour based on her performance sunday. Thanx Madonna for saving me cash.”

411/Roger Friedman

God I would have loved to be there. Love the comment about the eyelashes.

[bella]

I would have joined in the booing too.

[UndercoverGator]

Love it! Way to go Madge! Now scuttle back across the Big Pond and fall off another horse or two.

[buttmunch]

Is she trying to be 'alternative' now? Has she used up every other idea she or her handlers have ferreted out?

[darksithbunny]

I know I shouldn't be laughing when someone doesn't know when to call it quits but its Madonna. haha.*laughs like Nelson from The Simpsons*

[britlitgal]

what i find hilarious is how a lot of gossip blogs (perezhilton.com; pinkisthenewblog.com, among others) were practically creaming their pants over madge showing up at coachella. i wonder what they have to say about her not-so-warm reception today...

[buttmunch]

I read some of those as well...boy, did they get it wrong.

[Butterfly]

I would have been throwing tomatoes with my boos. Why oh why does anyone spend money on her?

[qazq]

Lol this must be nuts. Madonna was acclaimed by fans and not fans there. I have like 10 friends who were there both days and all agree.

Well.. Other reports:

Long Beach Press-Telegram

Sahara Tent: This quickly became the "sauna tent" as several thousand Madonna fans arrived early during remix extraordinaire Paul Oakenfold's high energy, 90-minute set and quickly filled the place to capacity. People were packed in like sardines and the place was chaotic.

Following an extended break, Madonna emerged amid mirrorballs for a taster of her upcoming tour. The dance-pop icon was as playful and sexually suggestive as ever, teasing everyone about taking all her clothes off and writhing on the floor at one point.

The 35-minute set featured some hot dance numbers with her male dancers and perfect sound. "Hung Up" sizzled, "I Love New York" saw Madonna play a bit of impressive electric guitar and ad lib a slam against President Bush, while "Ray of Light" was both vibrant and exciting. Finally, Madonna pulled out a revamped version of 80s fave "Everybody."

Most of the audience were fans... this was confirmed by my friends... can fans boo Madonna? I don't think so

[Mel1973]

They can boo her and they should! Madge, Madonna, Esther - whoever the hell she wants to be this week - SUCKS!

[qazq]

This is not only a review of Madonna but the festival in full. Here is the link http://www.dailynews.com/music/ci_3773203

See were nothing like Boos in madonna performance

"She puts on quite a performance. At least she's not Madonna,'' said Benson, 31.

That kind of Madonna bashing was going on the all over the Empire Polo Field stage prior to and during the Material Girl's performance. I felt like a hypocrite for leaving the Tool fans, but it became clear to me you were either with Madonna or against her, and I had a female trilogy of sorts to complete.

I was set on trying to catch a glimpse of her in the Sahara Dance Tent (with approximately 40,000 other hopeful viewers, way over half of the day's festivalgoers), so I bolted.

At this point, my fear of heat exhaustion subsided unreasonably, and since I wasn't about to climb onto Port-A-Potties like many desperate individuals, I went for the tent.

My dangerous Converse sneakers and boxy messenger bag enabled me to push my way over halfway into the room. I was amazed, but the crowd was accommodating or at least too faint to fight back.

Madonna went on around 8:50 p.m., nearly 40 minutes after she was scheduled, and she opened with "Hung Up.'' For lack of a better cliche phrase, the crowd went wild and didn't stop throughout her set.

She sounded great, looked great and she knew it. She asked the crowd how her butt looked and took her pants off, revealing her legs and leotard. Some seemed surprised, but I expected no less from her.

Her unabashed attitude inspired my own confidence, I guess. Though in a pretty good location audibly, I couldn't see a thing unless I repeatedly jumped, and my legs already felt like Jell-O.

I got a 6'2'' audience neighbor to hoist me on his shoulders around 9 p.m. Props to that nice guy and luckily he didn't pass out, or I'd have fallen and broken my neck.

Miss Madonna performed several songs from her current "Confessions on a Dance Floor'' album, including some classics: "Ray of Light'' and her first-ever single, the dance song "Everybody.''

And then she was done. It was short, way too short, but all female performers considered, I saw a highly satisfying stretch of music.

[Grimmlok]

Sorry, I'll take the word of someone who was there who was neutral, over some frothing Madonna fantards ejaculating all over their laptop keyboards.

[ang]

^^ewww, grimmy....i'm picturing perezhilton doing just that. i couldn't believe how he (among other celeb bloggers) been going on and on about her. yes, people she was cool. in 1986. now, she just looks desperate.

[Grimmlok]

She looks like a tired prostitute who's been ridden too hard for too many years.

[darksithbunny]

I heard she got water thrown on her and said "Don't throw water on my stage, motherfucker." PLEASE someone find that video!!!!!!!