Over two decades into each of their respective careers, Madonna and Kylie Minogue are in the midst of their most elaborate, successful tours yet, breaking down box office records and industry expectations every step of the way. Kylie Minogue's X album didn't go down as well as hoped for, but its supporting tour, KYLIEX2008, has been a remarkable success across the board. Selling out multiple nights at massive arenas in all its European stops, including many the pop princess has never before visited, its been a record tour for Kylie. Featuring enormous movable video screen curtains and even video-lined stage floors, it's as much a technological marvel as it is an all-out celebration of pop music. At over two hours, it's a jam-packed show featuring all the best classic Kylie singles reworked alongside many tracks and outtakes from the heavily electronic X, bringing many of the album's lesser moments triumphantly to life with the immense setup. As always, the show is bathed in avant-garde outfits and elaborate choreography, with several costume changes and theme switches throughout. I'm clearly very excited for the DVD, as I've been previewing some tracks from the TV broadcast over the past two weeks. Par for the course, the show is a total sensory experience, with the songs more lively than on any of her past tours. 
New track "Ruffle My Feathers" fits in perfectly with the electro vibe of show openers "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" and "Speakerphone," while "Heart Beat Rock" is given a cheer-squad makeover as a precursor for a lively "Wow." "In My Arms" is destined to be a longtime fan favorite, much like "Love At First Sight" has become. "Step Back In Time" also gets one of the better treatments on a half-singalong-half-techno remix.From the KYLIEX2008 tour:
Kylie Minogue, "Ruffle My Feathers" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "Heart Beat Rock" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "In My Arms" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "Step Back In Time" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Madonna, on the other hand, has perhaps not been getting the same level of universal praise with her just-launched Sticky & Sweet tour. Coming soon after her record-smashing and critically-applauded Confessions tour, it is in support of her most recent album Hard Candy, which hasn't received the same warm reception from fans and critics as the Confessions On A Dance Floor album and is paling in commercial comparison. 
The Sticky & Sweet tour, despite some great reviews and overall fan satisfaction with the setlist, has been plagued at several stops by sound and technical problems, often a result of Madonna's choice of venue. This time around, following the multiple arena sellouts in each city, she's opted to perform in stadiums instead on several of her stops. In theory, upgrading from the O2 to Wembley (as in London) doesn't seem like a huge switch, but for the added thousands it's a big difference. Instead of multiple nights in an already huge arena, now the biggest markets have just one concert in an enormous stadium, leaving many fans in the dark. Regardless, if I had the extra money I'd definitely be spending it on a seat right near the stage. Listening to the studio-recorded tour versions (like the four included here) just makes me wish I could see her again! As always, she has reinvented her past hits for the new show, turning "Vogue" into a mash-up with "4 Minutes" and giving "Into The Groove" a saucy makeover surpassing its bagpipe-led reincarnation from her Reinvention tour. "Borderline" is given a rock edge and samples several of past hits in the process, much like "Impressive Instant" is turned into a lively segue into "Burning Up." Ultimately, this last one actually wasn't used in the setlist, but it's great to see that she spent a lot of time and creativity hammering out the show's inclusions.
The Sticky & Sweet tour, despite some great reviews and overall fan satisfaction with the setlist, has been plagued at several stops by sound and technical problems, often a result of Madonna's choice of venue. This time around, following the multiple arena sellouts in each city, she's opted to perform in stadiums instead on several of her stops. In theory, upgrading from the O2 to Wembley (as in London) doesn't seem like a huge switch, but for the added thousands it's a big difference. Instead of multiple nights in an already huge arena, now the biggest markets have just one concert in an enormous stadium, leaving many fans in the dark. Regardless, if I had the extra money I'd definitely be spending it on a seat right near the stage. Listening to the studio-recorded tour versions (like the four included here) just makes me wish I could see her again! As always, she has reinvented her past hits for the new show, turning "Vogue" into a mash-up with "4 Minutes" and giving "Into The Groove" a saucy makeover surpassing its bagpipe-led reincarnation from her Reinvention tour. "Borderline" is given a rock edge and samples several of past hits in the process, much like "Impressive Instant" is turned into a lively segue into "Burning Up." Ultimately, this last one actually wasn't used in the setlist, but it's great to see that she spent a lot of time and creativity hammering out the show's inclusions.From the Sticky & Sweet tour:
Madonna, "4 Minutes/Vogue" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
Madonna, "Into The Groove" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
Madonna, "Borderline" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
Madonna, "Impressive Instant/Burning Up" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
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