It Makes No Difference If You're...

Easy ride...last in line, still got a wristband. And I look like a scalper!

So I spent all week calling contacts to try to get into Madonna's Roseland show tonight. I started with a friend whose artist is signed to Timbaland, put feelers out to others in the record biz and eventually asked my parent company, all to no avail. Liz Rosenberg had been kind enough to get me into Madonna's 2000 Roseland gig, a far more important event—it's now all but forgotten, but at the time, she hadn't toured in seven years—and did try to get me in this time, but was unable to help. Finally, a friend of a dear friend had me on a mysterious list that guaranteed entry, a privilege for which I was willing to pay through the nose (one nostril only—the scalpers were charging the two-nostril rates), but she was only "95% sure" I was in as of last night. (She also claimed Danity Kane was "opening" for Madonna...?)

And I was too congested to risk standing in the bitter cold all night.

Flaunting their rubber bracelets—I mean, wristbands.

I woke up around 7:15 as usual to two texts and calls from two of my Madonna pals, who'd braved the line for 10 and four hours respectively, saying the line was moving well and there were no more than 700 people in it. I cabbed over and hopped in at the end of the line and got my free wristband without incident. Well, almost.

Even though I was in line less than an hour, a group of thuggish people were right behind me. Stereotypes are sometimes useful; these were clearly not Madonna fans, and that meant they were in it for the money...they were the partners of the kinds of scalpers I'd been communicating with all week (who were asking $2,000+ per ticket, wanted to meet you the day-of to "escort" you into the building and make sure the wristband-switch worked, etc.). Ironically, these agents of the scalpers were behind the near-mess I got into.

One guy, in a green jacket, kept boldly inching ahead of us in the line. Finally, he was at least six ahead when we got to the final checkpoint, where security stood. I tapped him and said, "Excuse me, you were behind me." He did get back in line, but not without saying, "Yo, why people gotta TOUCH me. Where I come from, you TOUCH somebody and get smacked in the FACE." He then continued to loudly talk to his friends about how I wouldn't have said anything if a white or Puerto Rican person had done it, how homos love Madonna, how he was once stabbed by a guy who he then stabbed and beat in a fight. As we were getting out actual wristbands a moment later, the security detail recognized him and his crew—they'd been through the line once—and refused to give them any. "Why? I don't look Puerto Rican enough?" I got my 'band and took off, so grateful to be saving $1,000 and to not have to contribute to the bank account of a person like that.

And not because he didn't look Puerto Rican enough.

Last night, I was walking home quickly and turned a corner on my street, coming face to face with a guy going in my direction. This happens a million times a day and is easily resolved. Instead, he stomped his foot hard right in front of me. "You like that, huh?" I turned as he moved away, and was almost laughing—he looked like a buffed-out Arsenio Hall, vaguely familiar, non-threatening...I was confused about if I may know him. "What was that?" I asked. He came up to me close and seethed, "THAT was because you need to slow down and get some yielding power or you're gonna get your ASS KICKED." I laughed at him and said "weird..." and kept going. Maybe I will get my ass kicked someday, but it won't be anything I personally deserved.

These kinds of encounters are so depressing...it reminds you that there is a ongoing fight in this country (in this world?) that is racial at heart. Both guys were black and there's no doubt in my mind their overreactions were not fueled by my being white. It's scary to be reminded that you can be a part of an argument you didn't know, or perhaps temporarily forgot, you were in.I agree with Barack Obama that it's no good to ignore it and act like it has no roots, like it's all in the other person's head, but it's no good to turn it into a violent confrontation either.

I don't know what any of that has to do with Madonna, but she did work with Timbaland...that has to count for something. (Note: Yes, this is sarcasm.)

Comments

[angel love]

It's rough living in NYC! Gotta love it though. Where else do you get free Madonna shows every few years? Roseland (2000), American Life (2003), Roseland (2008).

Take the money you saved today and get some kickboxing lessons or something. Pretty soon the white folk are gonna grow a chip on their shoulders too.

Weeeee!!!! Have a great time tonight. Hope to stalk you there too!

[Ben]

Sadly, that kind of incident can happen anywhere. It's happened to me in Cincinnati and other parts. This country is just too mired in it's racial/sexual issues/divisions for its own good.

[Tomi Luka]

Jeez. When I moved to the US a few years ago I knew there was racism in the country, as in many others, but I didn't know to what extent. It's insane. Black people are pretty much kept in a different country altogether (to the point that they're referred to as 'African-American.') A black person is not a singer, they're a 'black singer,' or a 'black model.' And it's so normal. But I do agree that black people don't always have the smartest reaction to this so it only becomes a vicious circle.

[Blah!]

Ok, maybe this is a whole different issue altogether, but I am biracial and even I get racist comments and incidents . . . . from black people. I can't tell you how many times I have gone into a barbershop and had the barbers ignore me while I sat, waiting for an open chair. Or how I am "not black" because I look hispanic. Or being challenged to a fight because I am not perceived as "black enough" (I am fairly light in the complexion department). I am biracial, not African-American, and I identify myself as biracial when I am asked. To me, some people project these ideas of racism based on what they perceive to be the cause of their problems.

[Aaron Morrow]

hhmmm.... interesting post. I have mixed emotions on this topic. I am a biracial gay man, and I do not hide behind my "biracialism" by any means. While outsiders may be confused about my ethnicity (when people approach me on the street they often ask me if I speak English because of my dark features), I fully embrace my black blood.

I think a few things are going on in the story you tell. These guys are thugs. They are thugs on the street. They seem themselves as overtly powerful and masculine. They find it easy to use that to intimidate people they perceive as weaker than them. And I imagine they would perceive a non-minority gay male as weaker then them. It doesn't justify the action, I'm merely sharing some observations I've made on racial/sexual cultural tensions over the years.

On the other hand I think it's important to acknowledge that this intimidation isn't just limited to the streets. It happens in reverse in the corporate world. As a man of color working in 9 to 5 America, I've observed (even witnessed/and been victim of) intimidation by my white male counterparts. To put it bluntly, straight white men in the corporate environment hold a self-perception of being far more superior than ANYONE else.

So my point here, is thank you for this post. I think openly expressing our concerns surrounding racial/sexual tensions in a respectful manner is a good exercise in moving us forward to understanding who we are, and hopefully will lead to helping us understand each other better.

[David]

What venue or place did Madonna perform for free in NYC for American Life in 2003? Was it the Tower Records store?

[Matthew Rettenmund]

Well, the Madonna-line guy was a THUG4LIFE, lol, the other guy was like Mr. Neighbor. Weirded me out. But I agree; I can picture packs of white dudes in suits and how they behave. It's impossible to deny they're pushing women and gays and people of color away, either on purpose or unintentionally/intentionally. My new niece will be biracial, so I will have long chats with her about it in a decade or so.

Yes, she did Tower Records in 2003. Which I deliberately missed. So far, I've gone to all her gigs and such (counting Roxy NYC but not, for example, hitting England and Japan, too!), missing only...The Virgin Tour (I KNOW!) and American Life at Tower. I think? I still think my fave of the small-time ones had to be Roxy 1998. It was so insanely unbelievable.

[David]

What were the 3 songs Madonna performed at the Roxy in 98 for the surprise appearance to promote "Ray of Light"? Was this a free show with first come first serve? Are there any video footage of it on Youtube? If not could describe that show and post any pictures. Thanks Matthew for answering the last question.
P.S. I remember the photographer was Fred Seidman who shot Madonna as a model for a fashion spread on thrift/vintage clothing for the Village newspaper during the time Madonna was in Emmy in late 80 or anytime in 81. The photo that you posted with her wearing large sunglasses and featured in your book was from the same session. Where and how did you get those photos?

[ian]

coming from another country - i'm not sure that these things are exclusive to race or sexual identity.. more like a slow disintegration of people's manners and tolerance... i run a 4 floor bookstore in scotland's capital city, so you'd think no problems eh? not so.. over the last 2 yrs i've watched people become more and more unreasonable.. virtually spoiling for a fight.. sadly i think it's where we're headed as a society

[kenneth]

Fab Five Freddy told me everybody's fly. Guess not.

[Tomi Luka]

I think the world is ruled (at least until now) by straight white dudes, so a lot of its paradigms are design to screw anyone who's not in the club. The term 'ethnicity' is one of them. No other country, no matter how racially diverse, uses that word as often as the US. And if you think about it, it doesn't make sense using it, since it never actually addresses any ethnic traits. When people ask what's your ethnicity? the possible answers could be Hispanic (which refers to a language spoken by people of very diverse phenotypes), African-American or Asian (which refer to geographic points which are also racially diverse) and sometimes even throw religious categories like Jewish or Muslim. As if they were mutually exclusive, when they're not (i.e. there's blond, Jewish Mexicans and white Africans.) I think it boils down to how divisive this country can be and how a lot of people they need a pre-compartimentalized label (Gay! Latino! Democrat!) to tell them who they are and what their choices should be.

[Matthew Rettenmund]

Democrat/Republican doesn't count, Tomi, because that is about deliberate choices and is fair game for debate, though not for foot-stomping. (Well...if it's a Republican, I'll allow it.)

Kenneth: That quote is weirdly accurate; I wonder if an entire speech on race in America a la Barack could be stitched together from pop lyrics? If I had the time...

David: Roxy 98 was magical because it'd been nearly five years since she'd performed and it was truly unbelievable that a star of her magnitude would be on a small stage like that. I didn't believe it was real until it happened. Plus she had her "Frozen"-style dress on and sort of came out from under the blackness of the wrap. Superwitchy in a cool, spooky way. I have to check my diary for notes, but I recall only three—"Sky Fits Heaven" (which blew me away), "Shanti/Ashtangi" and "Ray Of Light." In those days, forget about digital cameras and tiny video cameras—they were STRICT about cameras and threatened to take them away and not give them back, so I didn't risk it and I don't know anyone around me who did. However, there were a couple of photos from it that surfaced, definitely disposable-camera quality. I hope Madonna's people filmed it somehow.

Fred, I met and paid to use his pix. The entire shoots is amazing. If I do an updated EMadonnica (proposal circulating, tell any friends who work in publishing 'cuz I don't want a lot of money to do it), I'll make it much, much more photographic.

[heph]

Enjoyed reading the really interesting posts on this thread.

Matt I´ve been waiting for that update. Since 94 so much has happened - I don´t know how you are going to cram it all in lol. Should keep you very busy if you could snag a deal.

I remember MTV Europe totally ripped the EMadonnica for their Madonnathon programmes back in the mid 90´s.

There was a photo of Madonna at the Roxy in one of the Icon´s. Wasn´t Boy George in the audience, I think he praised her - wow shock horror.