Photo of the Biltmore Hotel, minutes after the Madonna's new CD launch party was declared a "train wreck."

Madonna's Vancouver "Hard Candy" CD release party on Saturday night at the Biltmore Hotel left many participants and onlookers longing for just that, a CD release party. Instead many were left to witness a train wreck whose casualties included the organizers, the record company, and the many disappointed Madonna fans.

Listed on the Madonnalicious website as an official launch event, I was invited to partake in the festivities for Madonna's much anticipated new CD. After arriving, I noticed the crowd move quickly from anticipation to resignation, to "what the f**k?"

Leading the crowd cheering efforts was the MC, a 3rd rate drag queen and Madonna impersonator, along with her/his twinky ("look at me, Im gonna be a star...") back-up dancers gyrating (out of sync) on a stage that looked aptly (and badly) decorated for a community hall wedding in 100 Mile House. Several times during the set (no one knew exactly when it began or ended, or whether it was even going on), the drag queen had to shriek at the crowd to regain their lost attention, even while she was handing out valuable limited edition Madonna prize giveaways.

Speaking to some participants afterwards, many shared the disappointment in the evening, although all still professed their undying love of Madonna (the real one). All was not lost for me either. I'd pony up to see a drag queen face-plant any day.