Customer Reviews

MADONNA Blond Ambition Japan Tour '90

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Firstly i agree with all the reviews here, The Japan version of the
Blond Ambition Tour is the only one to have, The regular "rest of the world version" was ok, but sonically the Yokahama concert was so much better ,those Japanese audio engineers knew their stuff!
I was lucky enough to get this on Laser Disc (remember those??), from an associate who picked it up in Japan whilst on business, he loaned it to me , later i convinced him to sell it to me which he agreed to. I know that a lot of audio guys like me swear that the sound on Laser Disc was far better than DVD, but in this instance we are talking about the VHS version above, and providing your VCR is up to the job the soundtrack on this tape should be almost as good, and if you have a DVD Recorder you might be able to transfer it ! ( people don't do things like that do they?)
Anyhow one day it may be released on DVD, but there is a danger that by that time Madonna may be well and truly "off the boil"
and the "now generation" will say "who was that" The Laser Disc version crops up from time to time on Ebay, but i have found anyone advertising this on DVD is probably selling a DVD-r copy!
not the real thing! Get it whilst you can, you will never let it go!

Though this is not the same Blonde Ambition concert that was featured on HBO in 1990, this one is absolutely amazing! It still captures the show in it's entirety and brings the material girl's theatrics to new hights!

My only complaint is that "Now I'm Following You" is lip-synched, and it's obvious that she just wanted to give herself a dance break in the show. Not too classy, but I still think that this show is AMAZING!!!

I thought it was a little unusual that the crowd didn't seem enthusiastic, but then I remembered that this concert was filmed in Japan. When Madonna talks to the audience, they just kind of sit there quietly and don't cheer or anything. It took me ahile to remember that these people probably didn't know English. Any other audience in the world would have been screaming their heads off if Madonna stopped the show to talk!

SET LIST:

Express Yourself
Open Your Heart
Causing A Commotion
Where's The Party
Like A Virgin
Like A Prayer
Live To Tell
Oh Father
Papa Don't Preach
Sooner Or Later
Hanky Panky
Now I'm Following You (Part One)
Now I'm Following You (Part Two)
Material Girl
Cherish
Into The Groove
Vogue
Holiday
Keep It Together

Buy this concert. It could be a while before it's finally available on DVD, so get out your VHS player and enjoy!

It's simple her BEST tour! Her best show! I just don't understand WHY this have not became a DVD. I am sure it would be a great seller for the most famous material girl in the world!

This show is unlike any other. The setlist is divided into themes as to give the stage a little more Broadway-like and to let the songs blend in.
Part I: The Factory Theme
1. Intro- Dancers emerge from the machines as lights strobe and steam sprays. This represents the fact that Madonna can make things get crazy.
2. Express Yourself- This performance is much like the video. When Madonna enters, they perform the scene that's halfway thru the video. Plus, the outfit is also similar. A good opener choice.
3. Open Your Heart- Madonna performs on a chair as a Michael Jackson like dancer performs around her. From what I've read, the Who's That Girl version is way better.
4. Causing A Commotion- Madonna and her backup singers portray a wrestling match. If you're a Madonna fan below 18, you'll have to skip this song.
5. Where's The Party- Now, they portray a cheerleading competition. I rate this much higher than the previous song
Part II: Cleopatra's Bedroom Theme
6. Like A Virgin- This is a Middle Eastern/Justify My Love staging of the performance. The remix sounds very cool.
Part III: Church Theme
7. Like A Prayer- Madonna and her dancers are dressed in choir robes and basically portray a Gospel choir. If you have the Remixed Prayers cd, you might find this remix a little familliar.
8. Live To Tell/Oh Father- Madonna performs on a kneeler while a dancer sprays her with inscense. A fantastic combination of songs.
9. Papa Don't Preach- Similar to CAC, but not as violent
Part IV: Broadway Theme
10. Sooner Or Later- Madonna lies on a piano and sings. It sounds very similar to the soundtrack version.
11. Hanky Panky- Live and very high energy.
Note: If you saw the concert in France, this two numbers were performed behind a curtain. I'd say the setting there was better than in Japan.
12. Now I'm Following You- Madonna lip-synchs with Dick Tracy (played by a male dancer) behind a chorus line of detectives.
13. Material Girl- Madonna and her backup singers are in a beauty salon getting dolled up. This is sung with a Brooklyn accent.
14. Cherish- A remake of the video.
15. Into The Groove- A jazzy remix backs up this performances. The back-up vocals are way better in France.
16. Vogue- Madonna and her dancers are dressed as mimes, yet her part is pratically lip-synched too.
Part V: Finale
17. Holiday-Madonna performs a disco remix of the song. The staging and music are superb. This is probably the best tour rendition yet.
18. Keep It Together- Fantastic chair movements! Sung with a British accent.

Madonna was at the top of her career in 1990, and she just added more to the hype when she went on her "Blond Ambition" tour. Everything in the show, the lighting, the dancing, the costumes, the music and settings especially, it was all perfection and pure spectacle. The show starts off with the factory setting, and its as if the factory constructs itself onstage. The lights flash slowly as the backup dancers walk onto stage. Suddenly, steam explodes and the lights go wild, the music starts and the dancers start doing syncronized dancing. Then, Madonna comes out in an elevator and screams "Hello Tokyo (in Japenese)!" Then she says in English- "Do you believe in love? Cause I got something to sing about it, and it goes something like this"- and launches into her huge hit "Express Yourself."
The Blonde Ambition tour takes you on a journey- from the factory, to the bedroom, and then a church with giant pillars and chandeliers. It was an energetic performance that was somewhat sexual and very exciting. Madonna was at her best on "The Blonde Ambition" tour.
However, this video did not do the tour justice. The high quality footage shot in "Truth or Dare" was a milestone compared to the Japan tour. It looked as if my father taped it with a hand held- 60 dollar camera. Another thing, none of the lighting was captured. You couldn't even tell there was lighting! I watched truth or dare after this- and truth or dare was way better.
But, if you're a Madonna fan, this is a must have, because its a rare chance to see the entire full-length, two hour tour.

in 1990 , maddy launched her "blond ambition tour". she documented the same show in her 1991 tour film , "madonna : truth or dare?" and intercut it with performances from the show. but this VHS shows the full , live , uncut version of the controversial show. it was aired on HBO , but the laser disc\VHS release has been out of print for a very long time. even this VHS is out of print and very hard to find. i stronglly reccomend this for any hardcore madonna fan!!!

Wow to think that back in 2005 I purchased this video here for only 19.99 brand new vhs and now they want $ 159.99 it's just crazy I love this video it's really from Japan. I just read on mad-eyes.net that their is a rumour we might get this tour finally on dvd late 2011 hopefully it's true.

was looking for original item...not a copy which I recieved and I am very dissapointed cause Item statement said it was not a copy. Would not recommend not unless you know co. or person to be true to their word!

The only digital copy for this concert is on the LD, which I own one fortunately. I would think that the original mint copy of the VHS will be fantastic as, if I have not mistaken, the resolution is better on the VHS compared to LD. I totally agree that the audio and video quality on the Yokohama leg of the Blond Ambition is a lot better (almost perfect for a live performance) compared to the Nice concert, which was released internationally; also only on the LD. The windy condition made some of the scene even more dramatic, especially during Papa Don't Preach and Like A Prayer . Yes, it is possible to transfer the LD to DVD, which I did. It is only an analogue transfer, as digital transfer is not possible. I had no choice because LD machines are no longer available, if mine breaks down, it will be impossible to enjoy again one of the best concert in the history of pop music. It is almost 20 years now since the Blond Ambition Tour; Madonna has just released all (well... almost all ) her music videos on the new double DVD collection, I hope Madonna and Warner will also look into the Blond Ambition Tour and Re-invention Tour as In Bed With Madonna cannot be a substitute for the actual tour, nor can I Am Going To Tell You A Secret be for the Re-invention Tour. Perhaps we may never see the Yokohama Blond Ambition on DVD (also on blu-ray would be nice) as Madonna is slowly forgotten by the new generation in Japan, unless Warner Japan decides to release it worldwide. The time is right now as with the release of Celebration, the world is again brought to attention Madonna's body of work.

This is simply her best tour EVER !! I got the chance to see it live during her Los Angeles stop ( my mom took me hahahah ) She was on top of the world at the time and every song was a complete hit. I still think that the France version is much better due to lighting factors. Madonna herself did complain of horrible rainy weather during her Japan stop, so you can kind of see it on this particular show ( its windy in some numbers, the red curtain not coming down during LKE A VIRGIN, the lighting over all is better in FRANCE ), so some things are not flowing as they should due. But it does not matter because over all the show is a stunner !! Plus the advantage of this show over the France version is that she has her blond pony tail which she took off during the European leg of the tour. I cannot belive that to this date it has not been released on DVD, considering the fact that it would most likely sell like crazy. Every Madonna fan prays this gets wide release sometime in this lifetime. There is just no other show like it !! I mean her other tours are good will never quite match to BLOND AMBITION THE GREAT !!!!