Madonna Blesses Brazil: Queen Of Pop Gives Iconic Free Concert On Copacabana Beach
Rio de Janeiro is no stranger to icons. They’ve got Christ The Redeemer watching over them, for heaven’s sake! But this weekend, the city got a different kind of blessing when Madonna descended on Copacabana Beach for a free concert that turned the sand into a legendary dance floor. We’re talking a record-breaking 1.6 million people
This was the epic finale of Madonna’s Celebration world tour, and fans were not messing around. The beach and surrounding boulevards were packed for blocks! People camped out for days to get a prime spot. Meanwhile, those with deeper pockets enjoyed the show from yachts and packed the balconies of beachfront apartments.
“This place is magic,” The Queen Of Pop declared to the roaring crowd, and with those ocean views and mountains, who could disagree? The buzz leading up to the show was electric. Fans camped outside her hotel, and the airport was working overtime as Madonna lovers from around the world flocked to the party.
“This is what living looks like!”
The concert was a dazzling extravaganza. Madonna served up classics like Like A Virgin and Like A Prayer and did not skimp on the sets and costumes – dozens of them! Giant screens, drones, helicopters… It was a spectacle worthy of a queen. She started with her 1998 hit Nothing Really Matters, and the crowd was ready!
Things got emotional when the legendary diva paid tribute to “all the bright lights” lost to AIDS while singing Live To Tell. A backdrop of black-and-white photos honouring those who’ve passed was a powerful moment shared by the whole crowd.
Brazilian pop stars Anitta and Pabllo Vittar joined the party, along with some talented up-and-comers from local samba schools. This show, which Madonna’s website called the biggest of her four-decade career, was the epic finale of her Celebration tour.
Fans were living their best lives. “This is what living looks like!” one ecstatic attendee gushed to the BBC. “There’s no concert better than Madonna’s.”
With huge crowds, safety was a priority. The city had firefighters spraying water on the crowd to beat the heat and free water stations to keep everyone hydrated. Over 3,000 police officers secured the area.
“Welcome, Queen!” signs were everywhere, bars served Like A Virgin cocktails, Madonna merch flew off shelves, and hotels were at near capacity. The concert is estimated to have pumped millions into the local economy.
