21.2001
Who's that girl?
aPé
Madonna concert virgin didn’t think
he had, like, a prayer of seeing
the icon in person, but he lives to tell
by
M
ic h a e l
W
ayne
K
eck
|&ra£pps
EVERY SINGLE BOOK OF GAY EROTICA
ALWAYS Vi STOCK!
he’s a headline-grabbing, con-
Most of the songs are from her last
troversy-making sex symbol
two albums with a few exceptions. The
and superstar. Not to sound
obvious crowd favorite comes toward
like a total fag, but 1 really
the end of the show when she sings
think Madonna is one of the most
“Holiday.” The entire audience leaps to
revolutionary and influential artists
their feet and goes collectively nuts.
of the 20th century— and maybe
(Myself included— I literally screamed
this one, too. (OK, so 1 sound like a
like a little girl!)
fag. Who cares?)
During the concert Madonna is
Seeing Madonna in concert is
witty, charming, brash and rude—
everything I expected and more. The
something I’ve dreamed about for
as long as 1 can remember. I sup
concert lasts about two hours, but it
pose 1 just always figured it was one
feels like five minutes.
of those things you fantasize about
I am enthralled and engrossed the
hut never really happens.
entire time. Whether she’s flying
So 1 was in complete shock last
around the set like a ninja, shakin’ her
May when 1 ended up getting tickets
ass to “Ray of Light” or just sitting at
to the show. I kept thinking I must
the end of the stage singing “G one” in
he the luckiest hitch in the world—
a single spotlight, I love every second.
not only was I going to he seeing
Madonna, hut I was going to he see
t’s amazing to think about the impact
ing her in, of all places, Sin City!
Madonna has had on so many peo
Never having been to Las Vegas
ple. She certainly influenced me as a
before, 1 was pretty pumped up to go.
young gay man.
1 wasn’t sure what to expect beyond
There is something inspiring about
gambling and drinking (which, after
a woman who really doesn’t give a fuck
being there, is pretty much all I have
what people think. That’s part of why 1
to say about Vegas— lots of gambling
like her so much; she just says and does
and drinking).
whatever she wants— no excuses, no
apologies.
1 brought along my ex-boyfriend Madonna displays her biceptuality
Mark, who is as big a Madonna
I think gays are drawn to her because
freak as I am. (Considering we had just broken
Everywhere I look, sorority girls are trying to
she’s such a rebel and fighter as well as some
one who has no problem defying convention.
up, maybe he’s the luckiest hitch in the world?)
impersonate Madonna’s latest look with rhine
All I’d been talking about for the past few
stone T-shirts, cowboy hats and studded jeans.
We understand how it feels to be hated for sim
It’s fun to see them, and I can’t help hut wonder
months was Madonna. Anytime I was in my
ply being ourselves.
car or at home I was listening to Madonna, and
how many days they fasted to paint those tight
As Mark puts it: “She relates to gays
pants on. A few older fans even pay tribute to
I’d been reading every article I could find on
because our lifestyle is not the norm, and nei
the old-schcxil Madonna with
ther is hers. Instead
her. I don’t think I was quite at the stalker
wedding veils, crucifixes and
of fitting into a mold
stage, hut I was pretty damn close.
of what society
fake moles.
thinks we should be,
As the magic hour of
hen I wake up the day of the concert I’m
she has broken it.
8 p.m. arrives, my anxiety
immediately tense. As the day drags on my
Gays are attracted to
peaks. I am repeatedly
anxiety level increases by the hour with
that strength.”
reminded to breathe. Mark is
the anticipation of seeing her Materialness. I can
Mark even admits
equally in shtxrk, and we
hardly eat, and by about 6 p.m. I think I’m going
she helped push him
to start breaking out in hives or convulsing.
exchange only a few words as
we sit there fidgeting.
out of the closet.
We arrive at the MGM Grand early, and
“When I watched
I’m happy to discover the arena is much small
Finally at 8:45 (hey, she’s
Truth or Dare and saw
Madonna, she can do what
er than I had imagined. Our seats are toward
her interact with and
the hack hut still decent.
ever the hell she wants) the
mother the most fem
concert begins.
As people fkxxJ in I see all types of fans,
inine of gay hoys, it
It’s difficult to describe
most in their 20s and 30s. Not surprisingly,
made me realize that I
how amazing and surreal it is
homos are everywhere.
was OK. I had always
to see her perform live. The
Some people’s outfits are pure entertain
been afraid of such
show is pure spectacle, danc
ment. One flamer is in a big white fluffy fur
femme guys, because I
ing and theatrics.
coat resembling my grandma’s shag carpet— the
thought it would draw
only other things he’s wearing are some flashy
Madonna definitely
attention to my own
knows how to entertain. The
boots and his boxers.
homosexuality. But
set is stellar and features
Crouching tigress, hidden dragon
after seeing her accep
her very own mechanical
tance of them, it helped me to accept myself."
hull— which she rides like the naughty
There really is no doubt she has helped
cowgirl she is.
change
the way our society looks at sexuality.
At one point in the concert some of her
hot male dancers chid in nothing hut G-strings Good looking, full of attitude, talented, driven,
controversial and smart— Madonna is the
(with asses so tight you could bounce quarters
package deal.
off them) dangle from their ankles upside
And not to mb it in— but I got to see
down. It was actually a little trippy.
her live!
Her costumes are numerous and flaw
less, and her dancing is off the hook. She
MADONNA trivia huffs, express yourself: In what
flaunts some kick-ass creations by Jean-
year and what city did she perform her first-ever
Paul Gaultier, including an incredible
live concert! The first correct answer e-mailed to
geisha dress with a 52-foot wingspan.
But what surprises me most is how great jusuntt@justout.com urns a pizza.
she sounds. I was nervous she wouldn’t
M ichael W ayne K ecx is a Portland free-lance
sound very good in person, hut let me tell
writer. E-mail him at michaelwaynekecl<@hotmail.com.
you: That girl can sing!
“
in
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