Madonna returns to scene of Brits fall

Madonna has put the painful memory of the Brit Awards behind her with a triumphant return to London’s O2 arena.

The pop star accidentally stole the show at February’s awards when she was pulled backwards down the stairs by a malfunctioning matador cape.
A huge cheer rang around the arena on Tuesday when she performed the same routine without a hitch.
The show also included a surprise appearance from Graham Norton, who gyrated with the star on stage.
And, in a break from her tour’s standard setlist, she played Like A Prayer to highlight World Aids Day.
“The entire family of my adopted son died of Aids,” said Madonna, whose youngest son, David, was born in Malawi.
“It is not a disease that had gone away. We need to remember that. Let’s acknowledge all the people who have passed, and those who have fought to raise awareness. We shall overcome one day.”
The Rebel Heart tour launched in Canada three months ago and has already become one of the highest-grossing shows of the year, taking $46m (£30.5m) at the box office, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Over two-and-a-half hours, the visual spectacular addresses themes of love, loss, revolution, sin, salvation,power, corruption and Madonna… But mainly Madonna.
“Even I have to admit that I outdo myself,” she deadpans half-way through the set.
The concert is split into roughly four sections, the first of which has a pan-Asian theme, with Madonna descending from the sky in a kimono-like robe and performing martial arts moves with her dancers.
Elsewhere, there is an x-rated re-enactment of The Last Supper, a Day of the Dead themed street party and a balletic tussle with a back-up dancer during Heartbreak City.
But Madonna is charismatic enough to command the entire arena on her own and the show’s strongest moments come when she’s solo on stage, shaking her hair to Like A Virgin or leading a singalong to Who’s That Girl?
The star is in an 80s mood throughout, resurrecting overlooked gems like True Blue (performed on a ukulele) and Burning Up, one of her earliest songs, which still sounds like a mission statement: “I’ll do anything, I’m not the same, I have no shame, I’m on fire.”
Credit: BBC