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| Sticky & Sweet Tour | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sticky & Sweet Tour |
| Artist | Madonna |
| Album | Confessions on a Dance Floor, American Life, Music |
| Start date | 2008-08-23 |
| End date | 2009-12-21 |
| Shows | 85 |
| Attendance | 3.5 million |
| Gross | $408 million |
Sticky & Sweet Tour The Sticky & Sweet Tour was a worldwide concert tour headlined by Madonna in support of her albums Confessions on a Dance Floor, American Life, and Hard Candy. Announced after Madonna's appearances at events such as the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, the tour visited venues across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia, featuring choreography influenced by collaborators from the worlds of Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Michael Jackson productions.
Madonna announced the tour following her work with producers like Mirwais Ahmadzaï, William Orbit, Stuart Price, Timbaland, and Pharrell Williams. Early planning involved creative directors and choreographers known for partnerships with Cirque du Soleil, Bob Fosse alumni, and directors from music video projects for Guy Ritchie and David Fincher. Production design drew on stagecraft used in U2 and Pink Floyd touring history, integrating lighting systems from Rosco Laboratories and set engineering by teams that previously worked with Rolling Stones and Madonna's own past tours. Rehearsals took place in studios associated with Los Angeles and New York City, with wardrobe crafted by designers connected to Jean-Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and costume houses used by Metropolitan Opera productions.
The show was divided into thematic acts, incorporating visual references to productions like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals, Fritz Lang cinema, and nightclub culture tied to venues such as Studio 54 and Harlem's Apollo Theater. Staging employed LED screens similar to systems used by Madonna and cinematic sequences reminiscent of work by Baz Luhrmann and Christopher Nolan collaborators. Dancers included performers who had worked with Cirque du Soleil, The Rockettes, and Michael Flatley. Choreography referenced moves popularized by Bob Fosse, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and elements from Capoeira stylists connected to the Brazilian scene. The production used costuming that echoed designs from Jean-Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and featured props reflecting imagery from Andy Warhol and fashion shoots in Vogue.
The core set list combined classics from Like a Virgin, Vogue, Music, and newer tracks from Confessions on a Dance Floor. Variations included performances of songs associated with collaborators such as Sting, Justin Timberlake, and covers linked to artists like Eurythmics, The Rolling Stones, and Kylie Minogue. Special guest appearances occurred sporadically by artists connected to tours by Jay-Z, Madonna, and Britney Spears, while festival dates aligned with events comparable to Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, and Rock in Rio. Regional set changes referenced local hits and collaborators from markets including Japan, Brazil, and Mexico.
Portions of the tour were filmed for broadcast and commercial release, using multi-camera crews with directors who had worked on projects for MTV, HBO, and BBC. The concert film and live album releases mirrored distribution strategies used by U2 and Bruce Springsteen, and were marketed through partnerships with retailers similar to Walmart, HMV, and streaming services akin to Apple Music and Spotify. Broadcast premieres were timed with network specials on NBC, VH1, and Channel 4, including documentary-style behind-the-scenes features produced by companies associated with A24 and BBC Studios.
Critics compared the tour's spectacle to landmark tours by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna's contemporaries. Reviews appeared in publications such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, and Billboard. The tour set box office records in arenas and stadiums similar to those held by U2, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Bon Jovi. Pollstar and Guinness World Records noted attendance and gross figures that placed the tour among the highest-grossing in concert tour history.
The tour generated controversies tied to content and imagery that referenced figures and events such as debates around Pope Benedict XVI, reactions from conservative groups like organizations similar to Parents Television Council, and political imagery compared to controversies involving Sinead O'Connor and Eminem. Security incidents at venues prompted responses involving local authorities in cities including Lisbon, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, and Paris, with logistical disputes echoing past incidents at tours by Michael Jackson and The Who. Legal challenges emerged in select markets over licensing and performance rights, involving entities akin to national performing rights organizations.
The tour influenced subsequent large-scale productions by artists such as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Madonna's contemporaries, shaping staging, choreography, and fashion trends seen at events like Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Super Bowl halftime show. Its integration of theatrical storytelling, fashion collaborations, and multimedia prefigured elements in tours by Katy Perry, Adele, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran. Archive materials and design elements were later referenced in exhibitions at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Museum of Pop Culture.
Category:Concert tours