Madonna Reconnects With Detroit Hometown Fans At Joe Louis Arena Concert

Madonna may have grown up in different areas around Detroit, Michigan, but she has never really made a connection with the town. In fact, she hinted in several interviews that she doesn’t miss her hometown at all. However, Madonna’s real feelings were on display Thursday night as, according to The Detroit News, she declared, “Motor City, are you ready to party? The hometown girl is back!”

The news outlet was just one of the sources who gave Madonna’s homecoming show an outstanding review. Music critic Adam Graham described Madonna’s concert as a “pure wowser of a show.” Graham praised Madonna for bringing back underappreciated fan favorites such as “True Blue,” “Burning Up,” and “Who’s That Girl.” Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press was just as impressed with the Rebel Heart Tour.

“Thursday brought a lean-and-lithe Madonna who balanced seriously intense performances with a lighthearted, sometimes mischievous spirit. For all the sizzle — the dazzling set pieces, the splashy visuals, the eye-popping interludes by her supremely skilled dance crew — it was a show that planted some genuine heart in the proceedings.”

McCollum also added that despite being accused of ignoring her Midwestern roots, Madonna gave pep talks about Detroit’s resilience, celebrations of the city’s comeback, and even a shout-out to developer Dan Gilbert, who is helping Madonna with some projects there. It appears that Madonna is investing a lot of time into helping Detroit’s comeback after the city has become the symbol of an economic collapse.

The Oakland Press, like just about every other source, also thought the Rebel Heart Tour was a winner.

“So it was a happy homecoming, and Madonna certainly pleased her fans with her usual dazzling blend of intricate group dance routines, cutting edge fashions (six costume changes and about a dozen different looks), unrepentant bad-girl attitude and provocative physical and video imagery.”

Madonna’s hometown was filled with love after the show on Twitter.

Madonna put on a fantastic show last night. I haven't even listened to the new album for real but I will later day.

— Diego,San (@diegoXsandy) October 2, 2015

Seeing @Madonna was an amazing experience!! pic.twitter.com/Euzcyz1svV

— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) October 2, 2015

Madonna’s father, Silvio Ciccone, was in the Detroit audience last night and many thought she would bring him up on stage during the performance of “Unapologetic B***h,” where she usually brings an audience member up, but that didn’t happen. One wonders how Madonna’s strict Catholic father reacted when she performed the song “Holy Water,” complete with stripper nuns poll dancing, with Madonna singing about the type of moisture that you certainly aren’t baptized with. Perhaps, Madonna’s father is used to his daughter’s shocking performances by now.

Also in the audience was Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes, who is a second-year student at the University of Michigan. Madonna dedicated the song “La Vie En Rose” to her daughter, who not only turned her onto the song, but inspired her to play the ukulele while singing it. Madonna has been playing the French classic by Edith Piaf every night on the tour and many fans and critics have said it’s the vocal highlight of the show.

After Detroit, Madonna will continue with her mega-successful Rebel Heart Tour in Atlantic City on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall before moving to Toronto to play back-to-back shows at the Air Canada Center. The first half of 2015 might have been a low point in Madonna’s career, but the Rebel Heart Tour has not only brought her back to commercial relevance, it has reconnected her with longtime fans who thought she was “losing it” as well.

[Feature photo by Keven Mazur / Getty Images Entertainment]