Holds Free Concert, Madonna "Shakes" Copacabana Beach

AP PHOTO/SILVIA IZQUIERDO

Madonna performed in the final concert of The Celebration Tour at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 4, 2024.

RIO DE JANEIRO, SUNDAY — Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, roaring with cheers as pop diva Madonna (65) appeared on stage. Dressed in all black, Madonna immediately sang the song from her 1998 hit, "Nothing Really Matters".

This is Madonna's final stage in The Celebration Tour which starts in October 2023 in London, England. ”We are here in the most beautiful place on earth. "This place is magical," said Madonna, Saturday (4/5/2024) evening local time or Sunday (5/5/2024) afternoon Indonesian time.

He pointed to the view of the ocean, mountains, and the Christ the Redeemer statue facing the city. The wide expanse of sand on Copacabana Beach is transformed into a dance floor. At least 18 loudspeaker towers are scattered along the beach to ensure that all attendees can hear the songs performed by Madonna.

Concert in Rio de Janeiro caps a tour celebrating 40 years at the top of the world pop charts. This free concert is estimated to attract up to 1.5 million fans from all over Brazil. This number is more than 10 times the record number of visitors to Madonna's concert of 130,000 people at the Parc des Sceaux, Paris, France, in 1987.

Also read: Madonna and the Delayed Tour

AP PHOTO/BRUNA PRADO

Pop singer Madonna's concert at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 4, 2024.

In the concert, Madonna performed her classic songs, including "Like A Virgin", "Hung Up", and "Like A Prayer". With full of emotion, she paid tribute to those who died from HIV/AIDS by singing "Live to Tell". Black and white photos of them were displayed in the background of the stage. Brazilian artists, Anitta and Pabllo Vittar, joined the diva on stage.

After 80 performances across Europe and North America, the concert in Rio seemed to be the "crown" for the tour. Since the release of the album Like a Virgin in 1984, Madonna has released one album every two or three years. His concerts are always spectacular. He set high standards for world musicians.

I was a mess, I didn't sleep, just listened to Madonna all week.

It also sparked many provocative things and triggered controversies, including its relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. At that time, Pope John Paul II called for fans to boycott the music video "Like a Prayer" in 1989, which was deemed as blasphemy.

However, despite all of that, fans still packed Madonna's concert. "I was a mess, I didn't sleep, just listening to Madonna's songs all week," said Ina Odara (29), a Madonna fan who is also a sociologist.

AP PHOTO/BRUNA PRADO

A fan is waiting for the start of Madonna's concert in The Celebration Tour at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 4, 2024.

A few hours before Madonna's performance, fans were already dancing to Madonna's songs played over the loudspeakers on the stage. Thousands of police were deployed and patrolling almost every corner to minimize mass pickpocketing incidents that often occur during concerts.

A few days before the concert, the city is filled with Madonna vibes. Flags with Madonna's portrait printed on a background of Copacabana's street patterns are hung on various balconies. The area around the beach is filled with street vendors and fans wearing Madonna-themed T-shirts.

Also read: Madonna Cancels Two Concerts in London

"Since Madonna arrived here, I've been coming every day in this outfit to greet my idol, my diva, my pop queen," said Rosemary de Oliviera Bohrer (69), a retired civil servant.

In April, the city government estimated that the concert would inject revenues of up to 57 million US dollars into the local economy. Hotel occupancy rates are estimated to reach 98 percent in Copacabana. The Rio de Janeiro International Airport also expects an additional 170 flights during the period of May 1-6, 2024, originating from 27 destinations.

AP PHOTO/SILVIA IZQUIERDO

Madonna performed in the final concert of The Celebration Tour at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 4, 2024.

For this concert, at least 3,200 military personnel and 1,500 police officers were deployed. Prior to the concert, the Brazilian Navy inspected the ships that docked to watch Madonna's performance.

Large concerts are often held at Copacabana Beach. One of them is the New Year's Eve concert of singer Rod Stewart in 1994, which was attended by over 4 million spectators. This was recorded as the largest free rock concert in history according to the Guinness World Records. In 2006, the Rolling Stones held a concert that was attended by 1.2 million people.

One fan, Ana Beatriz Soares, who attended Copacabana on Saturday night, said that Madonna had created her own standard. "Madonna must perform so that current pop artists can perform. That's why she is very important because she is an inspiration for current pop divas. That's been happening for 40 years. Not 40 days, 40 months. It's been 40 years," she said. (AP/AFP)