About the Tour Proclaiming after her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour that she would "never go on tour again", it only took her three years until she hit the road again. After that, she said that if "you ever hear me say again 'I'm never going on tour again', don't believe me."
The Girlie Show was mounted in support of Madonna's 1992 album, Erotica. The show had a central visual theme, Burlesque Circus. She said it was "a mixture of a rock concert, a fashion show, a circus performance, a cabaret act and a burlesque show". The show had a more complex stage than those from Madonna's previous tours. It had a runway/catwalk that led from the center of the main stage to a minor stage at the end, a number of elevators, three elevated platforms behind the stage and a revolving platform in the middle of the main stage.
The stage took 24 hours to be mounted properly and was directed by Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone.
Madonna played an uncharacteristically spare five dates in the U.S. and another three in Canada. It was speculated that this may have been related to the Erotica album's particularly low sales in that country and the backlash surrounding Madonna's book, Sex.
The tour grossed $70.3 million.
[edit] The show
The show begins with a circus fanfare, which merges into "Erotica". A clown appears from the curtain at the foot of a fireman pole, a topless female dancer moves down it provocatively. Madonna then elevates from a revolving circular lift with white spotlights surrounding the edge, she is dressed as a dominatrix with black mask, whip and long black boots. When the song finishes, Madonna moves down the long central catwalk removing her waistcoat and mask, she then performs "Fever" with two male dancers using sexually provocative choreography. They end the song with huge flames merging from the main stage.
India is the influence for the next song, "Vogue", with Madonna wearing a head dress and performing indu dance. The next song, "Rain", contains a medley with "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", ending with a dancers performance using elements from "Singin' in the Rain", during this the clown appears again.
The next section to the show is 1970s disco with Madonna appearing from the roof on a large glitter ball wearing a blonde afro wig. She performs "Express Yourself", "Deeper and Deeper" and simulates an orgy scene which merges into "Why's It So Hard". She then performs "In This Life", a song about friends who have died from AIDS. The clown watches her as she performs.
"The Beast Within" is used as an interlude with an energetic and aggressive performance from the dancers wearing army fatigue. Madonna then appears dressed in top hat and tails as Marlene Dietrich to sing "Like a Virgin" and uses elements from her song "Falling In Love Again". The clown once again appears, trying to hide from Madonna on stage. During "Bye Bye Baby", the back-up singers appear and they perform with three female dancers dressed in burlesque basques.
The next section is influenced by Latin America with Madonna performing "I'm Going Bananas" in a mock Mexican accent and "La Isla Bonita". She then changes into a long military jacket performing "Holiday" with a marching band and a 1970s funk ending.
For the encore, "Justify My Love", Madonna gives a decadent performance dressed in elaborate, Victorian tailored costumes. For the finalé "Everybody", an "Everybody Is a Star" introduction is used along with elements of "Dance to the Music" and "After the Dance". The circus fanfare then ends the show with the clown appearing for the last time, taking off his mask, revealing it to actually being Madonna all along
