Critical reception for the 2009 extension ranged from positive to mixed. On his review of the concert at London's O2 Arena, The Guardians Alex Macpherson highlighted the Michael Jackson tribute during "Holiday", but criticized the "mundanity" of performances such as "She's Not Me", and the cameos of Kanye West, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake; "trying to prove her youthfulness, trendiness and good heart are goals which should be beneath Madonna. She has a back catalogue like no other, and it serve[d] her well enough to redeem tonight's show". From La Vanguardia, Lourdes López dismissed the Barcelona concert as a "low intensity live show from which more was expected", and criticized Madonna's "irregular" vocals. Lisa Verrico, writing for The Times, opined that the concert "delivered in spades from start to finish. Madonna was magnificent [...] remaining the primary focus of a show that had more props and moving parts than a magicians' convention could muster". However, the review noted that the singer relied heavily on pre-recorded vocals, and the music was "frequently driven by synthesised beats than her smartly-attired, five-piece band". The author concluded that "to criticize Madonna for placing style over substance is missing the point of the Queen Of Pop [...] The music may have come second, but the highest-earning tour of 2008 still sparkles".
