VOA文化艺术2024--Madonna Draws 1.6 Million to Free Concert on Brazil's Copacabana Beach

 

Madonna Draws 1.6 Million to Free Concert on Brazil's Copacabana Beach

American pop music star Madonna performed before an estimated 1.6 million people on Saturday at Brazil's famous Copacabana Beach.

The outdoor show in Rio de Janeiro was free to attend.

The fans turned a long stretch of the coast into a huge dance floor for the last show of Madonna's Celebration Tour. The series began last October in London.

The so-called "Queen of Pop" began Saturday's show with her 1998 song Nothing Really Matters. Huge cheers rose from the crowd pressed up against the barriers. Other attendees held parties in houses and hotels overlooking¹ the beach. Helicopters and drones flew overhead, and boats floated on the water nearby.

"Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world," the 65-year-old Madonna told the crowd. Pointing out the ocean, the mountains and the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city, she added: "This place is magic."

Madonna performed her popular songs, including Like A Virgin² and Hung Up. For the introduction to another, Like A Prayer, Madonna covered her head in black cloth and held a rosary.

The star honored those who died of AIDS with the song Live to Tell. Large black and white images of the disease's victims appeared behind her as she sang. Later, she was joined on stage by Brazilian artists Anitta and Pabllo Vittar.

Rio city officials estimated that 1.6 million people attended the show. Madonna's official website called the show the biggest ever in her 40-year career.

"Since Madonna arrived here, I've been coming every day with this outfit³ to welcome my idol⁴, my diva, my pop queen," said 69-year-old retiree Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer. She wore a gold-colored top and a black cap in a style that Madonna made popular.

Eighteen sound towers were spread along the beach to ensure that all attendees could hear the performance.

Fan Alessandro Augusto flew about 2,500 kilometers, from Brazil's Ceara state to Rio, to attend the show. Augusto said, "It's a unique opportunity to see Madonna, who knows if she'll ever come back."

"Welcome Queen!" a drink company announced with advertising⁵ around the city. Bars and restaurants prepared special alcoholic⁶ drinks named after Madonna songs. A shop known for selling Carnival⁷ clothing temporarily became a "Madonna" clothing store.

Several huge concerts have taken place on Copacabana beach before, including musician Rod Stewart's 1994 show. It took place on New Year's Eve as part of the city's holiday celebration. About 4 million people attended. However, not all necessarily took in the music show.

And, in 2006, a Rolling Stones concert drew 1.2 million people onto the famed beach, the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported at the time.

Madonna fan Ana Beatriz Soares attended the show Saturday. She said Madonna has made her mark across the years.

"Madonna had to run so that today's pop artists could walk. That's why she's important, because she serves as an inspiration⁸ for today's pop divas," she said. "And that's 40 years ago. Not 40 days, 40 months. It's 40 years," she added.

Words in This Story

introduction - n. the act of bringing something out for the first time

rosary - n. string of beads⁹ used by Catholics for prayers

idol - n. greatly admired person

diva - n. an attractive and successful female perfoMadonna Draws 1.6 Million to Free Concert at Copacabana Beach rmer

style - n. a way of doing something

tower - n. tall, narrow structure

unique - adj. very special

opportunity - n. chance

inspiration - n. a force or influence that makes someone want to do something

1 overlooking   

v.忽视( overlook的现在分词 )；监督；俯视；（对不良现象等）不予理会

参考例句：

• The house is in an elevated position, overlooking the town. 这栋房子地势较高，可以俯瞰全城。
• The house sits high on a hill overlooking a lake. 房子高高地坐落在可以俯瞰湖水的小山上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

3 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

4 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

5 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

6 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

7 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

8 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

9 beads   

n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链

参考例句：

• a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
• Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。