Rio de Janeiro – Madonna performed a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, transforming Rio de Janeiro’s long stretch of sand into a gigantic dance floor packed with her followers.

It was the final performance of The Celebration Tour, her first retrospective, which began in October in London.

The “Queen of Pop” opened the event with her 1998 song, “Nothing Matters.” Huge cheers erupted from the humming, dense crowd against the barriers. Others had house parties in brightly lit flats and hotels overlooking the ocean. Helicopters and drones hovered overhead as motorboats and sailboats anchored off the beach crowded the bay.

Madonna’s Biggest-Ever Concert Transforms Rio’s Copacabana Beach Into A Massive Dance Floor

“Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna, 65, addressed the audience. She pointed out the ocean view, the mountains, and the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city, “This place is magic.”

Madonna performed her iconic classics, such as “Like A Virgin” and “Hung Up.” For the opening to “Like A Prayer,” her head was entirely covered in a black cape, and she held a rosary in her hands.

The diva paid an emotional homage to “all the bright lights” lost to AIDS while singing “Live to Tell,” with black and white photographs of those who perished from the illness flashing behind her.

Later, she was joined on stage by Brazilian musicians Anitta and Pabllo Vittar.

Rio spent the last few days preparing for the performance.

According to G1, an estimated 1.6 million people attended the show, which Rio City Hall’s tourism department organized. This is more than ten times Madonna’s record attendance of 130,000 at Paris’ Parc des Sceaux in 1987. Madonna’s official website promoted the event as the largest of her four-decade career.

In recent days, the excitement was evident. Fans gathered outside the grand, beachside Copacabana Palace hotel, where Madonna is staying, hoping to glimpse the music icon. During the sound check on the stage set up in front of the hotel, they danced on the beach.

By lunchtime Saturday, people had gathered in front of the hotel. A white-bearded man carried a banner that read, “Welcome Madonna, you are the best. I love you.”

Flags with “Madonna” printed over a background of Copacabana’s famous black and white waved sidewalk pattern were strung from balconies. The area was packed with street vendors and concertgoers dressed in themed T-shirts, sweating beneath the hot heat.

“Since Madonna arrived here, I’ve been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen,” said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, wearing a gold-colored cone bra and a black cap.

Madonna’s Biggest-Ever Concert Transforms Rio’s Copacabana Beach Into A Massive Dance Floor

“It’s going to be an unforgettable show here in Copacabana,” said Oliveira Bohrer, a retired civil servant who lives nearby.

Eighteen sound towers were positioned around the beach to ensure all attendees could hear the music. Her two-hour presentation began at 10:37 p.m. local time, about 50 minutes behind schedule.

City Hall issued a report in April indicating that the event would contribute 293 million reals ($57 million) to the local economy. The Hotel Association of Rio predicted that hotel capacity in Copacabana will reach 98%. According to the platform, fans across Brazil, Argentina, and France booked Airbnb for the weekend. According to a City Hall statement, Rio’s international airport expected 170 flights from 27 locations between May 1 and May 6.

“It’s a unique opportunity to see Madonna, who knows if she’ll ever come back,” said Alessandro Augusto, 53, who flew in from Brazil’s Ceara state, almost 2,500 kilometers (1,555 miles) from Rio.

“Welcome Queen!” ran Heineken advertisements all across the city, the words above an image of an upturned bottle cap simulating a crown.

Heineken was one of many firms hoping to profit from the frenzy. Bars and restaurants made “Like a Virgin” cocktails. A downtown boutique famous for selling Carnival garb has entirely remade itself, loading its shelves with Madonna-themed costumes, fans, fanny packs, and lingerie.

According to local authorities, the mega-event was organized similarly to New Year’s Eve, when millions of people congregate on Copacabana for a fireworks display. That yearly festival is notorious for numerous thefts and muggings, and there were concerns that Madonna’s appearance would be no exception.

Rio’s security strategy comprised 3,200 military men and 1,500 civilian police officers on standby. In the run-up to the event, Brazil’s navy inspected yachts that wanted to position themselves offshore to see the performance.

Madonna’s Biggest-Ever Concert Transforms Rio’s Copacabana Beach Into A Massive Dance Floor

Several massive concerts have previously taken place on Copacabana beach, including Rod Stewart’s 1994 New Year’s Eve show, which drew more than 4 million people and was the largest free rock concert in history, according to Guinness World Records. Many of those spectators also came to witness Rio’s fireworks spectacular, so a more fitting comparison could be to the Rolling Stones in 2006, when 1.2 million people flocked to the sand, according to Rio’s military police, the daily Folha de Sao Paulo said at the time.

Ana Beatriz Soares, a fan who attended Copacabana on Saturday, said Madonna had left an indelible mark over the years.

“Madonna had to sprint so that modern pop musicians could walk. That’s why she’s significant, since she acts as an influence to today’s pop divas,” Soares explained.

“And that was forty years ago, not in 40 days, but in 40 months. “It’s been 40 years,” she said.

SOURCE – (AP)

LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears have reached a compromise to resolve the ongoing concerns in the judicial conservatorship that has governed her life and financial choices for almost 14 years. This settlement will prevent a potentially lengthy, unpleasant, and revealing trial.

A scheduled hearing regarding these matters, which included Jamie Spears’ request for a comprehensive ruling to dismiss them, was removed from the court calendar after the judge authorized the settlement on Friday.

Britney And Jamie Spears Settlement Avoids Long, Potentially Ugly And Revealing Trial

Britney Spears was emancipated from the conservatorship in November 2021, following two speeches she delivered to a judge that effectively shifted the prevailing public opinion against it, ultimately becoming a prominent movement identified by the hashtag #FreeBritney.

However, several components persisted and prolonged the legal proceedings, including the ultimate disbursements to the lawyers who assisted in managing the conservatorship. Attorney Mathew Rosengart, representing Spears, also aimed to publicly address the alleged financial misconduct by Jamie Spears and the claims of extensive surveillance of Spears.

All of those matters will now be eliminated in the settlement, the details of which were not revealed in a series of legal documents filed last week. One of the files stated that Jamie Spears has been completely and permanently relieved of his duties as the Former Conservator of the Estate.

Britney And Jamie Spears Settlement Avoids Long, Potentially Ugly And Revealing Trial

“While the conservatorship was officially ended in November 2021, her desire for liberation is now fully realized,” stated Rosengart. As per her wishes, her independence now includes the fact that she will no longer be required to appear, participate in court, or be caught up in legal actions related to this issue. We have had the esteemed opportunity to represent, safeguard, and advocate for Britney Spears.

The trial was scheduled to commence next month.

The attorney representing Jamie Spears, Alex Weingarten, stated that the settlement was kept quiet at her lawyer’s insistence.

“Jamie is completely transparent and willing to reveal all details regarding every aspect of the conservatorship in order to provide the public with the genuine truth,” stated Weingarten to The Associated Press on Monday. “Jamie harbors deep affection for his daughter and has consistently exerted maximum effort to safeguard her.”

In her recently published memoir, “The Woman in Me,” Britney Spears candidly expressed her belief that her father consistently prioritized financial gain over all else.

Britney And Jamie Spears Settlement Avoids Long, Potentially Ugly And Revealing Trial

After the conservatorship ended, she married her long-term lover, Sam Asghari. However, Asghari initiated divorce proceedings slightly more than a year later. The divorce is still pending, and the two individuals are legally married.

Although she has experimented with music, including a duet with Elton John in 2022, she firmly denied reports of a new album in January and solemnly committed to never reenter the music industry.

SOURCE – (AP)

The following information is from a news article published by the Associated Press: Dua Lipa is levitating above the water, with the sun just starting to descend in the background. She appears robust and calm, except for the imminent danger posed by a colossal shark, whose fin barely breaks the surface just a few feet from her.

The picture is the front cover of her upcoming third album, titled “Radical Optimism,” which will be released on Friday. The album is a fitting visual depiction of seeking and safeguarding inner tranquility in difficult circumstances. This is a thematic evolution for the acclaimed pop artist, who has consistently characterized her music as a fusion of dance and emotional expression.

The word “cheeky” accurately represents the lively and celebratory nature of her most popular pop songs, but “Radical Optimism,” with its blend of psychedelic and electro-pop elements, adds complexity to this characterization.

She recently told The Associated Press, “There is undoubtedly a more cathartic element that accompanies the third album.”

Dua Lipa Is All About ‘Radical Optimism,’ In Her Music And Other Pursuits

“‘Future Nostalgia’ provided me with the opportunity to create a meticulously crafted pop-dance-disco album,” she explains, referring to her second release in 2020. “Radical Optimism,” on the other hand, was shaped by the knowledge she has acquired from her global tours in recent years. It incorporates elements from trip hop and Britpop, as well as a fresh fascination with live instruments.

“The creative process for her latest album was characterized by a greater sense of freedom and fluidity,” she remarks. Although it lacked a specific formula, I consistently kept a pop sensibility in my subconscious.” My intention was solely to engage in experimentation and endeavor to generate something innovative. This record has always been the exact album I have desired to create.

From multiple perspectives: Regarding her initial album, Lipa expressed her desire to collaborate with Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, particularly on her third album. The manifestation was successful, resulting in his being an essential participant in the project “Radical Optimism.”

“It felt as if an innate intuition within me was indicating that it was a result of my efforts,” she states. “I envisioned the opportunity to collaborate with a highly inspiring creative individual and gain valuable knowledge from him over a period of time.”

Regarding the title of the album, she describes it as being ecstatic and representing a sense of unity.

“Dance music has a rich history of establishing a secure and protected environment.” “And I simply want to personify that,” she continues.

She has exerted significant effort to reach that point. Lipa, currently 28 years old, commenced her professional journey at 15. She successfully persuaded her family to let her relocate from Kosovo, her birthplace, to London to pursue a career in the pop music industry. She attended school and worked as a model. In 2017, she published her self-titled first album, which included the highly successful dance-pop songs “New Rules” and “One Kiss.” Next, the nu-disco electropop of “Future Nostalgia” in 2020 established her as one of the most prominent figures in pop music. Impressive for a distinctive vocal style in the age of streaming, where attracting and maintaining the interest of a large audience has become increasingly difficult.

Dua Lipa Is All About ‘Radical Optimism,’ In Her Music And Other Pursuits

In 2024, her pop songs exhibit a form of acquired flexibility. Lipa incorporates unconventional synth sounds, layers melodies, showcases an expanded vocal range (especially evident in the track “Falling Forever”), and draws inspiration from U.K. rave culture and genre-defying artists like Primal Scream and Massive Attack. These are all aspects that Lipa admits she would have needed more audacity to explore on her previous album. That collaboration involved Parker, producer Danny L Harle, songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. (noted for his work with Harry Styles and Adele), and Lipa’s frequent collaborator Caroline Ailin.

“She possesses the ability to effectively manage a multitude of viewpoints in the room, including her own,” Jesso informs the AP. “She does not prioritize her own values over others’, but rather selects the ones that are most effective in accomplishing her goals.”

“We were a musical ensemble,” Lipa states of the collective. On the initial day, they penned the word “Illusion.” On the second day, the song’s title is “Happy for You.” “I had never composed a song of that nature previously,” she highlights. “I cherished that particular manifestation of my identity.” On the third day, the music genre known as post-disco pop is included in the song “Whatcha Doing.” They meticulously perfected Lipa’s most ambitious and euphoric-sounding record in bright and spacious facilities in London and Malibu.

Lipa’s many activities also demonstrate a consistent use of experimentation. She has taken on more juvenile roles, as she describes with a smile, following her portrayal of Mermaid Barbie in the highly successful film “Barbie” (where she also provided the widely recognized, Grammy-nominated song “Dance the Night” for the soundtrack) and her portrayal of LaGrange, a seductive spy, in “Argylle” (a brief performance that AP film critic Jake Coyle praised as the movie’s standout few minutes).

In 2022, she established a newsletter called Service95, which she considers an expansion of her childhood blog, to share stories from other global perspectives rather than just a Western viewpoint. It has evolved into a website, podcast, and book club: “It is simply another one of my hobbies that I have successfully transformed into a profession, which is truly wonderful,” she says, beaming.

My passion for the music profession requires me to constantly connect online due to my day job. “Currently, I am no longer engaging in doomscrolling on Twitter,” she states, referring to her media enterprise. “By engaging in this activity, I am acquiring fresh knowledge about the world.” I enjoy experiencing such contradictions in my life.

Dua Lipa Is All About ‘Radical Optimism,’ In Her Music And Other Pursuits

It is a dichotomy driven by curiosity, exemplified by Lipa’s act of confronting Apple CEO Tim Cook during an interview on her podcast over allegations of child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo mining cobalt for iPhones, which garnered significant media attention.

“That was both frightening and highly exhilarating,” she states. “The outcome of an interview is always uncertain.”

Shortly after she visits the AP’s New York headquarters, Lipa attends a public high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to engage in a talk with kids. Drew Barrymore chairs the discussion.

Shortly after her arrival, Lipa departs with equal swiftness. An enduring sense of optimism fills the atmosphere. She previously mentioned to the AP that she aims to be intensely pleased in her personal life and pursuits.

“Occasionally, one must compel oneself to experience that sensation,” she remarks. Maintaining gratitude is undoubtedly a skill that requires regular practice.

She has composed the exercise soundtrack for “Radical Optimism.”

SOURCE – (AP)