Courtesy Photo – Madonna performs at the 2018 Met Gala.
Back in May, Madonna took to the stage at the annual Met Gala and performed a religious-themed set to coincide with the event’s “Heavenly Bodies” theme. Among the songs performed were a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” her smash hit “Like a Prayer,” and one brand-new song called “Beautiful Game.”
While fans scoured the internet to find a full video of her performance, only clips could be found online. Now, Madonna has released a full recording of her performance from this year’s Met Gala in honor of her 60th birthday (August 16).
Clearly sparing no expense, Madonna’s performance begins with a group of singers dressed as Gregorian monks singing a haunting chant, while the Material Girl marches onstage with them, dressed in brown robes as well. The singer then launches into a slowed-down, choral rendition of “Like a Prayer.”
After a seamless costume change into a Joan of Arc-esque dress and armor, the singer performs a snippet of her new song “Beautiful Game,” as a group of dancers in similar outfits control and restrain each of her movements. The lyrics and the performance send a clear message about society’s treatment of women. “People tell me to shut my mouth/ That I might get burned,” she sings. “Keep your beautiful lies/ ‘Cause I’m not concerned.”
Following a dance break which sees the singer thrown to the ground, Madonna sits on the steps of the Met and sings a heart-wrenching rendition of “Hallelujah,” backed up by her chorus of Gregorian monks. The video then switches to a series of clips filmed from the audience of Madonna walking through the crowd of attendees with a few priests and monks at her back, finishing the song.
With her vocal cameo in the music video for Ariana Grande’s “God Is a Woman” and now this new track, Madonna’s fans have been speculating that a new album from the pop goddess is coming soon. Madonna herself confirmed that she would have a new album out before the end of 2018 in her recent cover story for Vogue Italia.
Watch the full video of Madonna’s Met Gala performance below:
