Critical Reception
The drowned world tour received positive reviews and critical acclaim. Cory Moss from MTV wrote that "music might make the world go round, but costumes and theatrics make it more fun. Nobody knows this better than the Material Girl." Michael Hubbard from MusicOMH commented that "you'd struggle to find a better show than Drowned World and you'd find it difficult to find a mainstream artist who can command near-universal respect for anything like as long as this fine lady. One could almost judge the artist by what was left out she displayed that temptress quality which has beguiled us for nearly two decades and that, combined with her exquisite music, is why Madonna is so special." Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine wrote: "Though her Cowgirl image is easily her least significant incarnation to date, Drowned World proves that Madonna is still unmatched in her ability to lift cultural iconography into the mainstream. Those who thought Madonna hung up her handcuffs along with the notorious Sex book should look again closely. With its themes of chaos, dominance, and, ultimately, celebration, Madonna's Drowned World explores her ever-fervid intrigue with both imposed and pious restraint."
Simon Price from The Independent said that the tour "is a triumph of hydraulics, bungee rope acrobatics and cutting-edge choreography." However, he felt that the setlist consisting of mainly current songs implied that Madonna was doing "a paranoid attempt to frame herself as part of the present and not the past? The irony here is that, given the ever-decreasing spirals of pop revivalism, in order to be truly contemporary, rather than eschewing her past, Madonna would need to be ripping herself off circa 1984." John McAlley from Entertainment Weekly commented that the music was "loud, energetic, well-sung, and perhaps a little too often beside the point" and that " struggle to rise above its theatrics." He added that one will be "awed by Madonna's palpable life force and intelligence. There are plenty of reasons to bow at this artist's feat." Jon Pareles of The New York Times said that "through the concert, Madonna made a display of arrogance, tossing off profanities, striking tough postures and glaring more often than she smiled. She represents self-love backed by plenty of gym time and a whole troupe of devoted flunkies, all laboring to delight an audience she only seems to disdain. Music makes the people come together, she sang in the finale – together, that is, if Madonna is clearly in charge." Alexis Petridis of The Guardian felt that "with its perfect dance routines, special effects, devoted audience and hint of bullish arrogance, the Drowned World show befits the world's most famous woman."
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