Two generations, one mould: Madonna at Coachella with Sabrina Carpenter [VIDEO]

Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage at the 67th annual Grammy Awards Pre-Grammy Gala and Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honouring Jody Gerson on 1 February 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy. Two generations but a singular mould.

Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter surprised festival goers at Coachella this weekend when the pair appeared on stage for what was, by all accounts, a breathtaking experience. Madonna, 67, performedVogueandLike A Prayerwith Carpenter along with a new tune calledBring Your Lovethat’s a precursor for a new album by theLike A Virginpioneer calledConfessions II. In many ways, Sabrina Carpenter is the Madonna of the Twenty-First Century.

While her music is dressed somewhat differently, Carpenter’s sensual undertones and liberal image take Madonna’s eighties conservatism-gut-punching to a new level. Yet they seem universes apart, much because of the passage of time. There’s nearly five decades between their heydays.

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Madonna was the queen of reinvention and the goddess of shape-shifting. She controlled her image throughout from the days ofLike A VirginandMaterial Girlthrough toEroticaand the more spiritualRay of Lightin between.True BlueandWho’s That Girlwere Madonna’s answer to a changing consciousness. Her photobook,Sex, did the trick to keep her relevant and was appropriately banned and widely criticised.

Yet, today, it would be considered somewhat mild. Carpenter’s muscle comes from the same shape-shifting foundation. From sweet girl through to her now confident, sexually aware image.

Simply watch her new music video,House Tour, to see Madonna’s influence and the progression of her artistic edginess. Listen toEmails I Can’t Sent Anymorealso indicated a shrewd reconfiguration of her public image. Coupled, of course, with the cover ofMan’s Best Friend, an album cover laced with innuendo.

OnInstagram, Carpenter wrote: “Madonna …..I’ve got something I wanna talk about! 💋💋💋 Thank you for coming out, bringing your love, and gracing the audience with everything you are + astrology knowledge + the greatest songs of all time.

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