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My Who’s That Girl Tour in Rotterdam 1987 experience (28 years ago today) by Caroline Walta

Who’s that girl tour 26 Aug 1987 – The Netherlands, Rotterdam De Kuip stadium (by Caroline Walta)

The lights go off, the spotlight is switched on… the first notes of Open Your Heart. When I think about it, it still gives me goose bumps. This is my very first concert. I’m in the seated area and the stage is far away, but what an amazing experience. My idol Madonna in real life. Without a radio or tv-screen in between. There she IS!

She starts in the famous black corset, basic costume for the first part of the show. For True blue it is covered with a sweet light-blue dress and for Papa don’t preach – one of my favorites in the show- a tough black leather jacket. White heat is pure theatre in a golden jacket with black detective hat. Causing a commotion has a choreography with the three backing vocals singers and fades into the ballad Look of Love. Dress you up and Material girl is mainly humor. Both as outfit, with pink toy dress, as show. This sessions ends with Like a virgin. Then there’s a bridge with the Four Tips song I can’t help myself, which shows how all round Madonna is. After celebrating with Where’s the party, the stadium is filled with lights for Live to tell. I am impressed by her voice. After a short break, the party is on with Into the groove. The letters on the outfits of Madonna and dancers form the word ‘dance’. The concert finishes with a Spanish part, that to my joy would return in many future tours. La isla bonita in a beautiful red dress, followed by Who’s that girl and a mind-blowing final with Holiday.

Despite the distance and 30.000 + crowd in the sold out stadium, it feels like the performance was just for me. My mother was with me, because she wouldn’t let me go to the concert alone. After that, I visited many shows by myself. That is how I met many wonderful fans, who I all hope to meet at the Rebel heart tour 2015. And my mum? We will be at the final show in Amsterdam together!