Madonna unveils ‘Confessions II’ with extravagant launch party in London

Madonna launched her latest album, Confessions II, in London last night with an extravagant soiree attended by fans and friends alike.

Confessions II – a sequel to 2005’s dance-pop landmark Confessions on a Dancefloor – has been lauded by critics as the singer’s best album since the original record’s release.

Teaming up with producer Stuart Price once more, it’s an album which sees the Queen of Pop charging back into the studio to inject new life into dance music.

The crowd at South London’s Magazine venue last night was as indulgent, extravagant, and juicily maximalist as her album. Like a Berghain-themed summit of some of the country’s best dressed people. Industry insiders, regular fans and recognisable faces alike swanned around the club space, boogieing to Horse Meat Disco, throwing it back for Jodie Marsh’s follow-up set.

Some album launch parties feel overly curated, or scene-y to the point of gauche. Madonna’s Confessions II launch, however, was exactly the kind of dark and stylish debauchery befitting the decades-reigning doyen of disco.

This wasn’t because of the open bar that flanked both sides of the room; but that definitely helped. Custom-made cocktails, courtesy of Absolut; wine and tinned beers, too; in fact, the only suspect drink for the night was water, which was eyed with suspicion when sporadically spotted on the dance floor. Hedonists mingled, they danced, they laughed and they smoked, with the building anticipation of Madonna herself.

Jodie Harsh’s set was electrifying. But when the clock struck midnight – and the day of the album launch was officially upon us – all anyone could think about was Madonna. No one was sure when she’d come out. But at some point, after a lengthy build-up of flashing black and pink graphics flooding the screen, necks were craning; hands were gripped; and of course, phones were out. It was Madonna time.

She strutted casually from the side of the room to take her place upon the stage to an ocean of outstretched arms and phones, a sound of excitable hysteria. Clad in raver shades and a vivid pink dress, the matching gloves and glitzy jewellery were a gorgeous homage to her outfit in the ‘Material Girl’ video.

“Hey London,” she purred, slinking beside Stuart Price, DJ for the night.

She started with the first track of Confessions II, ‘I Feel So Free’, the Donna Summer-facing single that gave the world a taste of what to expect for the album when it was released in April. Madonna wasn’t performing a full concert; more thrillingly, she was happy to pivot her microphone towards the audience, telling us to sing along, dancing with Price. It felt more like a party hosted by Madonna, and by the time the novelty wore off – and the sea of phones had mildly subsided – it was time to get down.

Most of the songs were from Confessions II, obviously. But a real moment of ecstasy – it feels wrong to say highlight – was an unexpected rendition of ‘Hung Up’, and Confessions’ ‘Get Together’. She introduced her daughter Lourdes Leon for ‘The Test’; she even vogued when Price spun some excerpt of ‘Vogue’.

It wasn’t a full album recital, nor was it a gig. Instead, Madonna held court on exactly what she, and her fans, know best: the dancefloor. For one starry night, in one sweaty space, we partied with Madonna, to Madonna.