On Friday night, Madonna and a dedicated legion of her fans descended upon the iconic Beacon Theater on Manhattan’s Upper West Side for the premiere of “Confessions II – The Film.” The screening was followed by a Q&A with the queen of pop herself, alongside directing duo TORSO, otherwise known as David Toro and Solomon Chase.
Moderated by Anderson Cooper (who stepped in to replace Jimmy Fallon at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict), the conversation between the quartet touched on everything from the film itself to the creative process on set, before landing on Madonna’s fame and how it — and she — have evolved. Cooper used the topic of time to segue into audience evolution, noting that every single phone in the crowd had been locked away in a Yondr pouch, not to be accessed until after the event had ended. Madonna explained that everyone has a newfound and “persistent need” to document everything, and that it’s changed the way we live. While she acknowledges that’s just the way things are now, her personal sentiment hasn’t changed: “I came to this earth to be a doer, not a watcher.”
Coachella, where Madonna performed alongside Sabrina Carpenter, was her case study. As much as she said she enjoyed the experience, she also detailed just how jarring it was to look out into a sea of people, only to be met with screens instead of faces. As she puts it, dancing, in any form and among any group of people, is a “deep tribal experience” that connects us to the universe and others. But this truth is now tainted by everyone’s inability to enjoy the moment while they’re still in it.
When asked if she had any parting words, she cut to the chase: “Put your fucking phones down and connect.”
“Confessions II – The Film” officially premieres on June 8 via YouTube, and Madonna’s upcoming studio album, “Confessions II,” will be released on July 3 via Warner Records. As for what’s next, the singer teased a few surprise appearances in the coming months, but remained mum on any potential tour plans. For now, her next confirmed performance is the FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, taking place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Leave a Reply