Texas, US (BBN)-Madonna paid an emotional on-stage tribute to an inspiration of hers on Tuesday night.
She sang out David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel to audience goers on her Rebel Heart tour in Houston, Texas before collapsing in a heap, overwhelmed by her sadness at his passing on Sunday, reports the Daily Mail.
The 57-year-old remembered the musician, 69, after saying she’d been ‘devastated’ by the news that he had lost his secret battle with cancer this weekend.
The infectious tune once again rang out to a packed concert hall, but this time performed by Like A Prayer singer Madonna.
Though she bopped along to the well-loved lyrics – which were repeated back to her by the revelers that night – Madonna was clearly overwhelmed by emotion fell to the floor as soon as the song finished.
She was wearing a suitably flamboyant ensemble in fishnets and a basque; something fashion-loving Bowie would have no doubt adored.
His lyrics were some of the musician’s most poignant and served as the perfect tribute to an icon.
‘Rebel Rebel, you’ve torn your dress,’ she sang. ‘Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess, Rebel Rebel, how could they know? Hot tramp, I love you so!’
Madonna admitted in a tribute on the day Bowie’s death was announced via Twitter that his had been one of the first live music gigs she’d ever attended and it had changed the course of her life.
‘So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So!,’ she told her 1.1M followers as she posted a retro picture of them together.
She continued in a longer post to Facebook, saying: ‘I’m devastated. David Bowie changed the course of my life forever.
‘I never felt like I fit in growing up in Michigan. Like an oddball or a freak. I went to see him in concert at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
‘I already had many of his records and was so inspired by the way he played with gender confusion. Was both masculine and feminine. Funny and serious. Clever and wise. His lyrics were witty ironic and mysterious.’
She went on to say: ‘I found him so inspiring and innovative. Unique and provocative. A real genius. Thank you David Bowie. I owe you a lot. The world will miss you.’
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