April 30 2006 // Madonna is the queen of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. No doubt about it.

Madonna helped Coachella set a two-day attendance record Saturday and Sunday when at least 60,000 people a day crammed into the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
The demand was so great for Madonna, it took the crowd 30 minutes to inch their way across the field after her performance. Coincidentally, that was just how long her performance was.

The Queen of Pop started 25 minutes after her scheduled start time, emerging out of a disco ball with her ensemble of spacemen-like dancers in a black outfit and shades. After opening with her recent dance hit, Hung Up, which she sang to open that year's Academy Grammy Awards, she told the audience this was her first festival and 'give me some love.'
Madonna, 47, then sang songs from her most recent album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, with a throbbing, enhanced electronica beat. She played guitar on I Love New York. Then she asked the fans - perhaps 30,000 people including beer garden patrons and indie rock fans for The Editors at the next tent over - if they wanted her to do an old song.
Then she asked if she should take her pants off. "It's too hot to wear clothes," she teased. Then, stripping to her tights, she asked, "Does my ass look good?" knowing she is incredibly buff.

Then she sang an old song, One song. Everybody. She writhed around the floor a bit and then the concert was over.
There were people who didn't want to see Madonna at the alternative-oriented festival.
Fonzie Hernandez of Coachella wore a T-shirt he designed that said, 'Madonna killed Coachella.'
"She doesn't belong here," he said. "She's pop."
But even fans stuck in the glacial-like retreat from the Madonna set said it was worth it to see Madonna.

"I think it's awesome and incredible," said Kymberly Whitaker of La Quinta. "She'll probably never be here again in our little Coachella Valley."
Paul Tollett, founder of the Los Angeles-based Goldenvoice promoters, said the increase in attendance presented few challenges. Madonna was as easy to work with, he said, as the management for Tool and Depeche Mode.
"From the beginning," he said. "They wanted to fit it and not overpower the show."
Tool was the Coachella Stage headliner. Other top performers included the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Matisyahu and Paul Oakenfold. (source: The Desert Sun)