Live performances Live to Tell

madonna performing live tell during 2006 confessions tour while wearing crown of thorns , orange blouse.

madonna premiered song @ benefit concert @ madison square garden raise money medical research aids. dedicated song memory of friend, artist martin burgoyne. madonna has since performed song on 3 of world tours. in 1987, during s girl world tour, performed song standing motionless in single spotlight, wearing black ensemble tassels, golden tips , ribbing, designed marlene stewart. 2 different performances of song on tour can found on videos: s girl: live in japan, filmed in tokyo, japan, on june 22, 1987, , ciao italia: live italy, filmed in turin, italy, on september 4, 1987.

three years later on blond ambition world tour, madonna evoked catholic images during performance. wore black kaftan , neon crucifix, while singing on confession bench, roman columns , platform full of votive candles in background. 2 different performances taped , released on video, blond ambition japan tour 90, taped in yokohama, japan, on april 27, 1990, , blond ambition world tour live, taped in nice, france, on august 5, 1990.

madonna s performance of song during 2006 confessions tour controversial. raised floor hanging on mirrored cross wearing red blouse , velvet pants, crown of thorns on head. during performance, number 12 million flashed above on stage s backdrop screens, along images of african children. intended detail estimated number of children have been orphaned aids pandemic in africa.

german prosecutors in düsseldorf threatened sue blasphemy, , protestant bishop margot käßmann said maybe way aging superstar can attract attention offend people s religious sentiments. russian orthodox church , federation of jewish communities of russia (fjcr) described madonna s performance amoral, , urged members boycott upcoming concert in moscow. performance @ rome s olympic stadium—located near vatican—was condemned act of hostility toward roman catholic church religious leaders. italian cardinal ersilio tonini called concert blasphemous challenge faith , profanation of cross , calling madonna excommunicated. reverend manfredo leone described disrespectful, in bad taste , provocative .

muslim , jewish leaders criticized performance. mario scialoja, head of italy s muslim league commented think idea in worst taste , d better go home. riccardo pacifici, spokesman rome s jewish community said s disrespectful act, , in rome worse. madonna released statement controversy:

i grateful show received on world. there seems many misinterpretations appearance on cross , wanted explain myself once , all.

there segment in show 3 of dancers confess or share harrowing experiences childhood overcame. confession follows , takes place on crucifix come down from. not mocking of church. no different person wearing cross or taking cross says in bible. performance neither anti-christian, sacrilegious or blasphemous. rather, plea audience encourage mankind 1 , see world unified whole. believe in heart if jesus alive today doing same thing.

my specific intent bring attention millions of children in africa dying every day, , living without care, without medicine , without hope. asking people open hearts , minds involved in whatever way can. song ends quote bible s book of matthew: hungry , gave me food. naked , gave me clothing. sick , took care of me , god replied, whatever did least of brothers... did me.

please not pass judgement without seeing show.