The Confessions Tour (album)

The Confessions Tour
Madonna's face with her mouth a little open as if she is saying something. Above her the name the word "The Confessions Tour" appear.
Live album by Madonna
Released January 26, 2007 (2007-01-26)
Recorded August 16, 2006
Length 73:14 (CD)
122:38 (DVD)
Label
Director Jonas Åkerlund
Madonna chronology
I'm Going to Tell You a Secret
(2006)		 The Confessions Tour
(2007)		 Hard Candy
(2008)
Madonna video chronology
I'm Going to Tell You a Secret
(2006)		 The Confessions Tour
(2007)		 Celebration: The Video Collection
(2009)

The Confessions Tour is the second live album by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released on January 26, 2007 by Warner Bros. Records. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the album chronicles Madonna's 2006 Confessions Tour. It was recorded at Wembley Arena during the London dates of the tour, and was released in both CD and DVD format. The DVD contains the entire concert and the CD includes thirteen live songs only. The album became the first release from Semtex Films, a production company founded by Madonna in 2006.

The Confessions Tour received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics and won the Best Long Form Music Video category at the 50th Grammy Awards. After its release, the release reached number one on the official charts in Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain. It received moderate success in her native country, peaking at number fifteen on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. The Confessions Tour has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.

Background

Following the 2006 live release I'm Going to Tell You a Secret, Madonna released her second live album,The Confessions Tour. The album was recorded at Wembley Arena on August 15 and 16, 2006, during the London stop of her 2006 Confessions Tour, which was promoting her 2005 studio album Confessions on a Dance Floor.[1] It was the first release from her new production company, Semtex Films[2][3] and was released in both DVD and CD formats, capturing the tour as directed by Jonas Åkerlund. The DVD release consists of the full twenty-one song set list of the tour, while the CD captures thirteen highlights from the same.[1] The tour was first shown on NBC during the Thanksgiving of 2006. This broadcast was edited, cutting the likes of "Paradise (Not For Me)".[4] Madonna's performance of "Live to Tell", while hanging from a glass embellished crucifix, faced strong reaction from the media and religious groups. "Live to Tell" was followed by the performance of "Forbidden Love" from the Confessions on a Dance Floor album, where Madonna took off a crown made of thorns from her head. Asian media and services company Fridae reported that the album was banned in Singapore, Malaysia and parts of East Asia, because of the inclusion of the performances in the DVD.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
BBC MusicB[6]
The Hindu(Positive)[7]
Pitchfork Media(4.2/10)[8]
Slant Magazine[9]
Stylus MagazineA−[4]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic felt that the CD version of the album was "not all that much fun to hear, even if the reinterpretations of the 20-year-old hits are interesting. The DVD doesn't feel as cold thanks entirely to the pizzazz of the visuals and the determined efficiency of the show, but even so, this is primarily of interest to the diehards who don't mind purchasing another live CD/DVD set just a year after the first."[1] Ed Gonzalez from Slant Magazine felt that the concert finale in the album "is a reminder that Madonna's music need not be motivated by sex or politics to be good as long as it displays a smidgen of heart and soul."[9] Thomas Inskeep from Stylus Magazine also complimented the finale of the tour. According to him, "[The Confessions Tour] is almost exclusively up-tempo, staged within an inch of its life yet more vivacious than anything she's done in years. Its CD companion is a pared-down 13 tracks taken from the live show, and good God it smokes." However, he felt that the disc loses its momentum during the "Confessions" part, which demonstrates a trio of individuals confessing about their sufferings in life.[4]

Tom Young from BBC Music said that he did not see the actual performances on the tour and felt that "some of the magnitude of the performance is lost and the track/scene changes appear needlessly long-winded. [...] As far as live albums go, this is a job well done."[6] Stephen M. Deusner from Pitchfork Media gave a negative review for the album, stating "Madonna herself is mostly to blame. On stage, she draws from a deep well of amazing pop songs and has the money and power to reinvent this sort of traveling circus. So why not try to break down the wall between performance and audience and hold a gigantic rave? [...] Åkerlund gives you everything you don't want from a concert film: incessant quick cuts that you give you no sense of space or stage, overdubbed music and vocals that give you no sense of performance, and only a few shots of the audience to gauge their excitement."[8] Mini Anthikad-Chhibber The Hindu commented that "Madonna pulls out all stops in this effort turn the world into a dance floor and one just has to doff one's hat to her energy."[7] At the 50th Grammy Awards held on February 10, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, The Confessions Tour won in the category of Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.[10]

Commercial performance

Madonna standing on a blue crystal cross, wearing a red shirt and dark brown pants. Her hands are spread apart along the cross's breadth as if she has been crucified. Behind the cross, a backdrop is centrally illuminated
The performance of "Live to Tell" on the Confessions Tour, where Madonna hanged from a mirrored cross to sing the song, was met with strong reaction from religious groups who deemed it anti-Christian.

In the United States, the album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 40,000 according to Nielsen Soundscan.[11] In Canada, it debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart.[12] The Confessions Tour was not able to enter the official ARIA Albums Chart, but debuted at number-one on the Australian Top 40 DVD chart, on the issue dated February 12, 2007.[13] At the year end Australian chart for 2007, The Confessions Tour became the 27th best selling DVD in Australia.[14] The album was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipment of 10,000 copies in DVD units.[15]

In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.[16] In Japan, the album reached a peak of number ten on the Oricon weekly albums chart and was present on the chart for twelve weeks.[17] In Hong Kong, it was awarded a Gold Disc Award by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry for becoming one of ten biggest-selling international album for 2007.[18]

Across Europe The Confessions Tour reached the top of the charts in Belgium (Wallonia), Italy, Portugal and Spain, while reaching the top ten of the rest of the European nations. In Mexico, New Zealand and Norway, the album just missed the top ten of the charts.[19] The commercial success in Europe enabled the album to debut at position two on Billboard's European Top 100 Albums chart, behind Norah Jones' studio album Not Too Late.[20] The DVD of The Confessions Tour has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.[21]

Track listing

The Confessions Tour – DVD track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Future Lovers" / "I Feel Love"  Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzaï / Donna Summer, Peter Bellotte, Giorgio Moroder8:04
2."Get Together"  Madonna, Stuart Price, Anders Bagge, Peer Astrom5:19
3."Like a Virgin"  Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg4:08
4."Jump"  Madonna, Price, Joe Henry4:56
5."Confessions"  Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Daniel "Cloud" Campos, Sofia Boutella, Leroy "Hypnosis" Barnes3:55
6."Live to Tell"  Madonna, Leonard5:10
7."Forbidden Love"  Madonna, Price4:24
8."Isaac"  Madonna, Price6:45
9."Sorry"  Madonna, Price5:02
10."Like It or Not"  Madonna, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback4:51
11."Sorry" (Remix)Madonna, Price3:37
12."I Love New York"  Madonna, Price5:43
13."Ray of Light"  Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtis, Christine Leach6:26
14."Let It Will Be"  Madonna, Ahmadzaï, Price7:32
15."Drowned World/Substitute for Love"  Madonna, Orbit, Rod McKuen, Anita Kerr, David Collins5:00
16."Paradise (Not for Me)"  Madonna, Ahmadzaï5:05
17."Music Inferno"  Madonna, Ahmadzaï / Leroy Green, Tyrone Kersey7:49
18."Erotica"  Madonna, Shep Pettibone, Anthony Shimkin4:47
19."La Isla Bonita"  Madonna, Leonard, Bruce Gaitsch5:02
20."Lucky Star"  Madonna4:36
21."Hung Up"  Madonna, Price, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus9:24
22."Credits"   3:31

Formats

Personnel

Credits adapted from The Confessions Tour CD liner notes:[22]

Charts

Album

Chart (2007) Peak
Position
Argentine Albums (CAPIF)[23] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19] 3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 1
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] 2
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[25] 1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[26] 5
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[27] 2
European Top 100 Albums (Billboard)[20] 2
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[28] 5
French Albums (SNEP)[29] 2
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 2
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[31] 1
Irish Albums (IRMA)[32] 10
Italian Albums (FIMI)[33] 1
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] 10
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[34] 16
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[35] 23
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[36] 15
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[37] 5
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[38] 1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[39] 1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[42] 7
US Billboard 200[43] 15

DVD

Chart (2007) Peak
Position
Australian Music DVD (ARIA)[13] 1
Austrian Music DVD (Ö3 Austria)[44] 1
Belgian Music DVD (Ultratop Flanders)[45] 2
Belgian Music DVD (Ultratop Wallonia)[46] 1
Dutch Music DVD (MegaCharts)[47] 1
Italian Music DVD (FIMI)[48] 1
Spanish Music DVD (PROMUSICAE)[49] 1
US Music Video DVD (Billboard)[50] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2007) Position
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[51] 74
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[52] 86
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[53] 7

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Album
Argentina (CAPIF)[54] Platinum 40,000*
Belgium (BEA)[55] Gold 15,000*
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[18] Gold 7,500*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[56] Gold 50,000^
Portugal (AFP)[57] Platinum 8,000^
Russia (NFPF)[58] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Silver 60,000^
DVD
Australia (ARIA)[15] Gold 17,500^
Brazil (ABPD)[60] Gold 15,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[61] Gold 6,291[61]
Germany (BVMI)[62] 2× Platinum 100,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[63] Platinum 10,000*
Summaries
Worldwide 1,200,000[21]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Confessions Tour > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ Madonna The Confessions Tour (liner notes) 2007
  3. ↑ "Madonna sets up Semtex Girls". Contactmusic.com. February 19, 2006. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 Inskeep, Thomas (February 23, 2007). "Madonna – The Confessions Tour – Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  5. ↑ Editor, News (February 6, 2007). "Singapore bans Madonna's Confessions Tour DVD for mock-crucifixion scene". Fridae. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Young, Tom (February 21, 2007). "Review of Madonna – The Confessions Tour". BBC. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  7. 1 2 Anthikad-Chhibber, Mini (May 28, 2007). "Madonna – The Confessions Tour". The Hindu. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Deusner, Stephen M. (February 23, 2007). "Album Review: The Confessions Tour". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Gonzalez, Ed (December 23, 2006). "Madonna: The Confessions Tour". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Amy Winehouse dominates with 5 awards, Kanye West takes 4". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. MSNBC. Associated Press. February 10, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  11. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (February 7, 2007). "Better 'Late' Than Never: Jones Debuts At No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Madonna – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Madonna. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Top 40 DVD Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  14. ↑ "ARIA 2007 year-end chart" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Pandora.nla. 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  15. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 DVDs". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  16. ↑ Sexton, Paul (February 8, 2007). "Mika, Norah Jones Rule U.K. Charts". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  17. 1 2 "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2007-03-19" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  18. 1 2 "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 2007". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  20. 1 2 Sexton, Paul (February 15, 2007). "Norah Continues Euro Chart Supremacy". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  21. 1 2 Live Nation (October 16, 2007). "Madonna Joins Forces With Live Nation in Revolutionary Global Music Partnership". PR Newswire. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  22. ↑ Mert, Marcus (2006). Confessions Tour Book: Official Program. Boy Toy Inc., Live Nation Merchandise. p. 18.
  23. ↑ "Argentina's Top 20 albums, Segunda Quincena de Enero". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. March 14, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 200706 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Madonna: The Confessions Tour" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2007. 5. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  32. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 5, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Mexicancharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Madonna | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Madonna – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Madonna. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Musik-DVDs Top 10: 20070209" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (In Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (In French). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (In Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Italian). Top 20 DVD Musicali. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  49. ↑ "Top 20 DVD Musical: Week 5, 2007" (in Spanish). Top 20 DVD Musical. PROMUSICAE. Select Year: 2007, Week as Semana: 5, Then click on "Search Charts". Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Top Music Video Sales: 2007-02-17". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2016. (subscription required)
  51. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2007 Alben". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  52. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Los mas Vendidos – 2007ALBUMS)" (PDF). AMPROFON. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Argentinian album certifications – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  55. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2007". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Certificaciones – Madonna" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Portuguese album certifications – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Russian album certifications – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF). Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  59. ↑ "British album certifications – Madonna – The Confessions Tour". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 2, 2016. Enter The Confessions Tour in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  60. ↑ "Brazilian video certifications – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  61. 1 2 "Madonna" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Madonna; 'The Confessions Tour')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  63. ↑ "Polish video certifications – Madonna – The Confessions Tour" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
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