Madonna kicked off Pride Month with a surprise performance in New York’s iconic Times Square, treating fans to a preview of her forthcoming album, Confessions II. The event, announced just a day prior, was streamed live on YouTube, building anticipation for the sequel to her acclaimed 2005 record, Confessions on a Dance Floor.During the six-song set, the 67-year-old pop icon performed hits from her Grammy-winning 2005 album alongside new tracks. Addressing the crowd, she declared, "Hi, gays," before launching into the show. The performance was a vibrant spectacle, featuring flashing rainbow lights and screens displaying images of LGBT+ trailblazers, including activist Marsha P Johnson, artist Keith Haring, and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.The setlist included fan favourites such as Hung Up, Get Together, and I Love New York, alongside new material like I Feel So Free, Bring Your Love, and Love Sensation from Confessions II. Bring Your Love, which features Sabrina Carpenter, was released following Madonna’s surprise appearance at Carpenter’s Coachella set in April. True to form, the performance included several steamy moments, with Madonna straddling a speaker on a rotating stage and draping a leg over a safety barricade.This event is part of Madonna’s ongoing partnership with LGBT+ dating app Grindr, which began in April and has included exclusive merchandise. Last month, Madonna described her upcoming album as a "love letter to dance music and to all the spaces and communities that create it or enjoy it." She added on Instagram: "The dance floor isn’t about a specific space or building, it’s wherever we gather to dance, celebrate and connect. Thank you for being a part of this moment and for supporting my music. See you on the Dance Floor." Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon MusicSign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon MusicSign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Teasing her new album in April, Madonna said that it’s best summed up with the first few lines of her song, “One Step Away”, adding: “People think that dance music is superficial, but they’ve got it all wrong. The dance floor is not just a place, it’s a threshold: A ritualistic space where movement replaces language.”She continued: “When Stuart Price and I first started working on this record, this was our manifesto: ‘We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies. These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect.“’With your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It's about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people.’”Confessions II is set for release on 3