Many singers with similar record sales cannot compare to Madonna when it comes to concerts. On one hand, most of Madonna's songs are very suitable for live performance; on the other hand, Queen Madonna puts real effort into the rehearsal and preparation of her concerts.
One point is that Madonna works out crazily to physically support the high intensity of her world tours, almost training herself into a Muscle Barbie, which is something many singers of the same level cannot reach.
Therefore, no one's success comes easily.
Thus, when the concert officially began, although many audience members tonight came for Simon, they still shouted and screamed crazily along with the upbeat songs and hot dances under the drive of the fiery atmosphere on site.
After a full half-hour, when Madonna finished singing 'Holiday', she didn't immediately start the next song. The lights on stage dimmed, and the audience inside, outside, and in front of countless televisions immediately realized that Simon Westeros was about to appear.
Sure enough.
Against the backdrop of the dim surrounding light, a figure slowly rose from beneath the stage. He seemed to be wearing black, and the silhouette was a bit blurry, but a very eye-catching double-necked guitar could be faintly seen.
Madonna appeared at the edge of the stage again, a beam of light hitting her. Holding a microphone, she asked loudly, "Next, who's coming out?"
Mixed with shouts of "Simon," "Westeros," and the like, more were just screams.
Tens of thousands of people in the venue.
Deafening screams.
Madonna waited for the screams to slow down, raised her hand to point at the stage, and said with a bit of mystery in her tone, "Look, Fire!"
A startling chord rang out, tearing through the surrounding air.
Flames really burst out.
Many audience members even thought they were hallucinating.
But their attention was instantly drawn over.
The second chord.
The third.
Along with this sound, a light hit the figure in the centre of the stage. It wasn't very bright, but it was enough for everyone to see the figure clearly.
A black outfit full of punk vibes.
Also an amazing guitar that had never appeared on stage before, obviously much larger than a regular electric guitar. It had a steampunk-styled white body, orange double necks, and a metal pipe running through the centre of the body, extending above the headstock. The last section was like the silver exhaust pipe of a motorcycle, yet almost like a sharp long blade.
If there were a second transmigrator on site who had also seen George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road, they would definitely be able to recognize this flashy Flame Guitar at a glance.
The fact was, of course, there wasn't.
However, this didn't affect the sense of amazement of the countless audience members when they saw this guitar.
On stage.
After three sharp sounds, the strings began to hum.
Rapid and low-pitched.
Like a swarm of bees surrounding them, but it wasn't the Flight of the Bumblebee that many expected.
It was more like...
A kind of aggression and spreading.
Many people also remembered Madonna's last sentence just now. She didn't use the usual "Welcome Simon Westeros," but instead, "Look, Fire!"
It really was Fire.
It was indeed Fire.
The entrance is very important. This slightly playful sentence is actually a maxim. Whether it's Michael Jackson, Madonna, or many other superstars, they all insist on practicing this point.
Since he decided to appear, Simon did the same.
Ever since that meeting before Madonna's concert tour started in April, Simon had been considering this issue, and had many discussions with Madonna's team during that period.
Occasionally remembering Mad Max: Fury Road, which had amazed many movie fans and filmmakers in his memory, and that flashy Flame Guitar, Simon gathered some of Hollywood's best prop masters and professional guitar craftsmen to discuss the feasibility.
Regardless of cost, it was indeed made.
Next was the opening solo.
Flight of the Bumblebee was naturally considered first, but after trying it, the stage effect wasn't actually that good.
Simon also tried to play freely.
Many experiences in his memory made Simon understand that as long as there's a fast and passionate prelude, it can firmly attract the audience's attention.
However, because of the inspiration brought by the Flame Guitar and the early practice, he eventually created a complete piece.
"Fire"
On stage, with a strongly aggressive melody that was sometimes rapid, sometimes violent, sometimes humming, and sometimes exploding, more and more audience members felt as if a burning sensation of spreading Fire was generated in their hearts.
And.
When the tune occasionally reached its peak, the metal pipe at the top of the double-necked guitar indeed burst with flames again.
So, it wasn't an illusion just now.
There really was Fire.
Then, the atmosphere ignited, and crazy screams rang out on site again.
At the backstage exit, looking at the man performing freely on stage, Janette's gaze was full of admiration. She certainly wouldn't miss her beloved man's concert.
Below the stage, Lisa Collins screamed crazily without hiding her emotions like many people around her, but subconsciously, she would always look at the petite girl named Jennifer beside her, worried that the little girl holding the sign with a flushed face and intense emotional state reaching a peak would suddenly faint.
Outside the Brendan Byrne Arena, looking at the performance of a certain figure on the giant screen, over a hundred thousand people also began to shout and scream crazily.
In front of televisions in thousands of households, feeling the fiery atmosphere of the concert site that was almost about to burn up, countless people regretted that they hadn't flown to New York regardless of everything.
Although the guitar solo named "Fire" was only a short 2 minutes and 20 seconds, after tonight, it was destined to become a classic that countless guitar lovers must learn.
When the tune reached its final climax, the flames from the ejector were no longer intermittent, rushing wildly into the sky, as if to burn everything to ashes.
The background music and lighting on site became increasingly chaotic.
Then, when the prosperity faded, there was darkness.
2 minutes and 20 seconds.
As if God snapped his fingers, everything came to an abrupt halt, and the stage returned to darkness.
"Ahhh!!!"
"Ahhhhh!!!"
The screams on site became even more crazy. Countless fans looked at the dark stage and shouted a certain name loudly.
The darkness lasted for a full three minutes, and the shouting also lasted for three minutes.
They had originally worried that their idol would be suppressed by Madonna, the female protagonist tonight, whether he would fail to meet their expectations, or even whether he was actually just a pretty face as some gossip media said.
Now, all worries, concerns, and doubts vanished.
The figure just now was a god.
Their God.
This night, even if there were only those 2 minutes and 20 seconds just now, the trip was worth it.
Below the stage in the inner field, because of the crying of the petite girl beside her, Lisa Collins's emotions were the first to recover. She wanted to go over and comfort the girl, but in the end, she didn't move.
But she was making up her mind to find another chance to see that guy recently.
She really wanted to touch him again!
When the lights on the stage lit up again, the steampunk vibe had disappeared, and the stage tone turned bright.
The accompaniment sounded, and Madonna's fans below immediately heard that it was her Latin-style dance song 'La Isla Bonita'. Then, Simon and Madonna appeared on stage together.
Simon had changed out of the black outfit from just now into a casual white suit, and the guitar in his hand had also been replaced with an acoustic one.
Madonna was in a colourful dress with a fringe style.
When Madonna began to sing, Simon was both the guitarist and the backup dancer.
Performing with ease and perfect coordination, it was impossible to imagine that this was a super-rich man with billions of dollars. It seemed he should be that guitarist on the stage, that backup dancer, the one who could easily steal the spotlight from the female protagonist.
When the song ended, although it didn't have the amazement of "Fire" just now, the applause and cheers in the venue were still passionate.
After Simon left the stage, the next half hour became Madonna's home ground again.
Although the applause and cheers continued, everyone in the venue inevitably looked forward to the appearance of a certain figure again.
Speaking of which, Madonna had long considered that this situation might occur, but she didn't care.
Simon Westeros's position in this concert was destined to be the icing on the cake. Although this "flower" suppressed the glory of the "brocade," it was destined to be an embellishment.
And in any case, it was impossible for Simon to take her job.
After this concert, there were still tours in several states in the southern United States and Europe. Madonna believed that because of tonight, the attendance rate for the remaining tours would definitely be much higher than expected.
The duration of the concert was 120 minutes.
Simon would appear three times, so they were arranged at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes respectively.
Of course, for the final curtain call, he would definitely be pulled out to greet the audience. Counting the "Fire" just now, a certain guy was actually pulled onto the stage by Queen Madonna four times.
The audience below roughly judged Simon's appearance rhythm from his first appearance half an hour ago.
Sure enough, one hour into the concert, Simon Westeros appeared on stage again.
The accompaniment was a strange ticking sound.
Everyone remembered again that there would be two new songs tonight.
Or, including 'Fire', it should obviously be three.
On stage, this time it was a later song by Madonna that was also very suitable for guitar performance, called 'Hung Up'.
Simon and Madonna were on the left and right sides of the stage this time, each holding an electric guitar.
Moreover, the flirtatious interaction between the two singers across the stage made countless audience members excited, while many fans felt a pang of jealousy.
Hey, Westeros (Madonna) is mine!
Even, because of this flirtatious interaction, some audience members were even guessing if something had happened between them.
In occasional shots, the ring on Simon Westeros's left ring finger was still very obvious.
Many people also knew that Madonna was currently dating Warren Beatty. To help promote Warren Beatty's new film 'Dick Tracy', Madonna had previously specially performed the theme song for 'Dick Tracy'.
However.
Even with such speculation, apart from many possessive die-hard fans, many audience members were actually faintly looking forward to something happening between them.
When 'Hung Up' ended, it was naturally another half-hour wait.
90 minutes.
When Simon appeared on stage again, this time he was sitting on two bar stools near the front of the stage with Madonna.
Madonna was holding a microphone, Simon was also wearing a headset, and he had switched to another acoustic guitar in his hand.
Noticing these details, many fans in the audience realized something and quickly quieted down.
Madonna didn't disappoint everyone. She didn't start singing immediately, but picked up the microphone and asked the man beside her, "Simon, how are you feeling tonight?"
Simon nodded with a gentle smile and said, "It's great".
His first time speaking tonight, a very casual sentence, triggered another round of screams.
Madonna waited a moment, showing a bit of a boastful expression, and said, "Seeing so many audience members here, are you envious?"
Simon still had a smile on his face and said, "I am".
"Ah!!!"
"Simon!"
"Simon, I love you".
Another wave of small screams.
Madonna paused again, as if suddenly thinking of a question, and asked, "Simon, tell me, how many audience members are here on site?"
Simon looked around seriously, accompanied by the shouts wherever his gaze fell, and said, "Probably about a hundred thousand".
Madonna pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "Although I'd love to have that many, this is only a forty-thousand-person stadium. How could there be a hundred thousand?"
Simon scanned the area seriously again and said, "It really is a hundred thousand".
"Are you sure?"
Simon nodded firmly, glanced at the other side of Madonna, and said with a hint of eerie matter-of-factness, "There are two standing right next to you".
Madonna followed Simon's gaze to her right side, of course, there was nothing there, and suddenly remembering something, she leaned against the man beside her: "Hey, Simon, don't scare me".
Inside and outside the venue, many people realized what was happening at this moment.
A hundred thousand.
It seems, perhaps, it should be, more than just people!
Everyone remembered a rumour that had been circulating since last Summer Box Office Season.
Simon Westeros is a Psychic.
Thinking that besides themselves, there were 60,000 other 'audience members' in the venue, many people on site felt a creepy sensation even if they knew it might be a joke.
On stage, Madonna knew she needed to stop while she was ahead and quickly sat up straight again, saying, "Okay, that was just a joke. Now, here's the next song, 'Ghosttown', for everyone".
'Ghosttown'.
Ghosttown.
The clear sound of a guitar rang out.
This was still a Madonna song, but the original version wasn't released until 2015.
The reason Simon chose this song was precisely because he had seen a video of Taylor Swift accompanying Queen Madonna in a live performance. At that time, the two of them sitting close together on stage was exactly the scene in Simon's memory.
This song wasn't as explosive as Madonna's other songs, but it was still very suitable for moving the audience's emotions.
Unconsciously, the crowd began to clap along with the rhythm of the song.
As the song reached its final climax, the two left their bar stools together and walked toward the T-shaped stage camera.
Amidst the accompanying applause of everyone, Simon's last song for tonight was about to end.
Below the stage, Lisa Collins was a bit excited because Simon had clearly noticed her just now and even nodded and smiled at her, and she had waved back at him.
Just as she was thinking about how to find an excuse to meet him, a sudden sound erupted beside her.
The petite girl named Jennifer beside her saw Simon not far away and, with unknown strength and courage, suddenly climbed onto the stage and rushed toward the man.
Fans rushing the stage is actually not uncommon at concerts.
To prevent such sudden situations, there are usually specialized security personnel guarding the perimeter of the stage, and Madonna's concert was naturally no exception.
In fact, during the past hour and a half of the performance, some fans had already tried to rush the stage, but they were all successfully stopped.
The section of the stage where Lisa Collins was also had security personnel. Seeing Simon Westeros and Madonna approaching, those security guards had raised their vigilance. However, no one expected that the petite girl, who seemingly couldn't climb a stage over 1.5 meters high, would suddenly burst with such potential.
By the time several burly men pounced onto the stage, the petite girl was already clinging tightly to Simon.
Fortunately, the last song had already ended, and Simon and Madonna were planning to return anyway, so there was no awkwardness of the rhythm being disrupted.
Feeling the girl in his arms crying and shouting his name, two security guards tried several times but couldn't pull her away. Just as they were about to get rougher, Simon quickly raised his hand to stop them, and Madonna also waved her hand, signalling for those on stage to go down and make sure no one else rushed up.
After a brief commotion in the venue, it quieted down, everyone watching the scene on stage.
Many of Simon's fans looked at the girl clinging to their idol with envious eyes, some regretting that they hadn't been bolder just now.
Now, there was certainly no chance.
The security personnel guarding the stage had raised their vigilance to the highest level, and several other audience members who tried to rush the stage were stopped.
On stage, Madonna quietly withdrew. Simon patted the girl who was still holding him and crying, saying softly, "Please don't cry, okay? Seeing a girl cry makes me feel very guilty".
The girl felt that no one was pulling her anymore and finally calmed down. Still clinging tightly to the man in front of her, she nodded obediently and said, still sobbing slightly, "Mhm, mhm... I won't cry. Simon, I like you".
"Thank you", Simon said, taking one of the girl's hands. "Let's go over there".
The girl hesitated for a moment, then obediently let go of Simon, allowing the man to lead her by her small hand to the two bar stools from earlier.
Until she sat down and felt the countless gazes from below the stage, the girl seemed to realize what she had just done. Overwhelmed with shyness, she lowered her head and leaned gently against the man beside her, one small hand still gripping a corner of Simon's clothes tightly.
Simon asked the girl beside him softly, "What's your name?"
"Jenny."
"That's a nice name," Simon smiled and lightly tuned the guitar strings. "Well then, let me sing a song for you. What would you like to hear?"
"An-anything is fine".
Watching the warm interaction on stage, many people, whether inside or outside the venue or in front of the TV, felt their hearts melting.
Simon thought for a moment and said, "Then, a song, 'Rocket Man', for Jenny, and for everyone. I wish you all happiness".
After saying that, the guitar music began.
Elton John's 'Rocket Man' would be more associated with the Rockets many years later.
However, this song actually has nothing to do with basketball.
It is more about family, about longing, about wandering, about loneliness, and about love.
*...*She packed my bags last night pre-flight.
*Zero hour.
*9 AM.
*And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then.
*And then I'll start to miss it.
*My homeland, and my lover.