09 July 2009

''Celabrate'' confirmed





Madonna's first single from her upcoming greatest hits album will be Oakenfold track ''Celebrate'' and will go to radio on July 28. The greatest hits album will be called ''Celebration'' and should be out in September.

There are still no real news about the promotion of the single or the album; some sources say that the single will be available for digital download only and no video is supposed to promote it (same old story). We'll have to wait and see but ''Celebration'' should be great.

08 July 2009

''Sticky and Sweet 2009'': Manchester - hard exercise and hard work, if not hard candy

It was fitting for the Queen of Pop to pay tribute to the King. Not just because it was the day of his funeral but because pop's biggest stars were born weeks apart. She said: "Manchester, give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known."

When you're in the same arena as Madonna, you can't fail to appreciate her success at defying the ravages of time, even if she does turn up an hour late on stage. But once she starts dancing all grumbles are forgotten.

Her rippling thighs could crack walnuts and the flexibility of this nearly 51-year-old is enough to give you sympathetic back ache. The singing isn't great, never has been. But she isn't a diehard lip syncher like Britney Spears and belts out a few tunes.

Madonna also needs her microphone more than Britney to push seductively around her body during the slickest of stage shows. The one constant for the mother of reinvention over 26 years has been the overt sexuality of her act. And yet while seeing a middle-aged mum-of-four pose raunchily in those Louis Vuitton ads seemed in bad taste it works when she enters, legs akimbo, to sing ''Candy Shop'' from ''Hard Candy'' - the album this ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' is supposed to promote. But the material girl sees the big picture. In an age where downloads have cheapened music recording the concert experience is a far more attractive financial proposition.

And watching the concert DVD or a grainy recording of Madonna's tribute to Michael Jackson on youtube doesn't compare to seeing the live version. That's why fans are prepared to fork out between £65 to £175 for a ticket.

Luckily for us oldies many songs from the back catalogue, like ''Into the Groove'', ''Holiday'' and ''Vogue'', make it on to the set-list, albeit updated versions. As with Michael Jackson, aspects of the pop icon are unsettling, not least her penchant for imposing her will on third world countries. But you don't have to approve of the woman to admire the performer. And while she may not have Jacko's natural born talent Her Madge has earned her regal status in pop music by dint of hard exercise and hard work, if not hard candy.

Source: Manchester Evening News

06 July 2009

''Sticky and Sweet 2009'': Emphasising strength and power above all else

Midway through her set, Madonna inserts a mini-tribute to Michael Jackson into her rendition of ''Holiday''. It's appropriate, but not just because of Jackson's recent demise. Born just 13 days apart, the careers of pop's two biggest megastars have always seemed to exist in parallel to each other. But while the last 15 years of Jackson's life saw him slowly waste away, Madonna has spent the same period intent on solidifying her own immortality. This scrappy hunger has been the one constant in a career marked by endless reinvention, a quality which has always been beneficial to her, but having reaffirmed her place at the head of the table several times over, a sense of purposelessness is beginning to creep into it.

Tonight's show finds her emphasising her strength and power above all else. Madonna comes across not so much as the Queen of Pop, but its Iron Lady, intent on bending it to her will. She summons up specially recorded video images of younger superstars – Kanye West, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake – with a snap of her fingers. The choreography is designed to display how limber she is. It is undoubtedly impressive on occasion: during the show's centrepiece, ''She's Not Me'', Madonna abuses four immobile dancer mannequins – ripping wedding veils from their heads, French kissing them, finally strangling one – in a compelling display of alpha female superiority.

But this also has an increasing tendency to manifest itself in tiresome ways. There's no reason why a 50-year-old shouldn't flaunt her gym-sculpted body or express her sexuality; what disappoints is the mundanity of how she does it. Cutesy cheerleader skirts, vague S&M signifiers and choreographed pole-dancing are far from transgressive, especially from a woman who has been genuinely bold in pushing sexual boundaries. Elsewhere, a montage of senselessly arranged "humanitarian" images, from Iranian rebels to Mother Teresa, elicits groans from the audience.

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 serves her well enough to redeem tonight's show. A rave version of ''Like a Prayer'', mixed into Felix's ''Don't You Want Me'', is electrifying, the kind of thrilling live moment that few others could match; there's a brilliant perversity in reimagining the bubblegum ''Dress You Up'' as a metal guitar-fest.

These are reminders that Madonna is not a woman to be written off, but they also highlight the paucity of interesting ideas elsewhere. Madonna's undisguised questing for immortality comes off as an empty pursuit because she has already achieved it – a fact that her own Jackson tribute should have made clear to her.

Source: The Guardian

05 July 2009

''Sticky and Sweet 2009'': Live at O2

Madonna thrilled fans in London on Saturday night by performing a medley of Michael Jackson's hits at the O2 Arena - just a week before the late legend was due to grace the same stage. The pop superstar restarted her ''Sticky & Sweet'' world tour in the British capital but stopped the show to give her own personal tribute to Jackson, who passed away in Los Angeles last week.

The Material Girl recently confirmed that she planned to perform with Jackson at one of his 50 comeback concerts, which were due to kick off on July 13. Madonna halted the gig halfway through while iconic images of the tragic star flashed up on screens behind her.

As the beat to Jackson's classic hit "Billie Jean" was pumped into the arena, one of her dancers, dressed in the King of Pop's trademark black and white with a wide-brimmed hat and white gloves, began performing Jackson's most famous moves - including moonwalking across the stage.

The song turned into a medley with another classic Jackson hit, "Wanna Be Startin' Something", much to the delight of the London crowd. Madonna told the audience, "Let's give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known - Michael Jackson!"

Later in the gig, the lyrics to Jackson's hit track "Man in the Mirror" were flashed up on screen as Madonna took to the stage wearing a black armband and a single white glove - in honor of the late music legend. In an interview before the concert, the star expressed her shock over the sudden passing of her friend - and explained her onstage tribute.

She says, "I am so terribly sad about Michael Jackson's death. I don't know what artist wasn't inspired by him. "I chose 'Billie Jean' (to perform at the O2) because it's instantly recognizable. "Kento, my dancer, was obsessed with Michael all his life. And when Michael was having auditions for his tour, Kento really wanted to go but he'd already made a commitment to me. So now he's about to have his moment and be Michael at my show."

A final tribute to the late Michael Jackson came in the show's final number - "Give It 2 Me".

Source: hollywood.com

02 July 2009

Forbidden ''Frozen'' live in Belgium soon

Madonna has put the song ''Frozen'' on her setlist, due to be performed next week in Werchter, Belgium. She was convicted of plagiarism in Belgium for this song. ''Frozen'' wasn't on the setlist last year, she's being provocative as usual. In 2005 the song was judged being plagiarism and was no longer to be sold or played in Belgium. Warner Music was forced to withdraw all material that contained the song.

Salvatore Acquaviva from Moeskroen sued the star as he was of opinion that ''Frozen'' resembled a song of his titled ''Ma vie fout le camp'', a song he composed at the end of the 70's, and he won. Madonna has always denied the accusation of plagiarism. "Frozen" was a chart topper in Belgium and widely popular. Many radio and tv-stations and their audience stated that "Frozen" was loved, while the supposedly plagiarized song was unknown and disliked.

By performing the track on the upcoming tour Madonna could face a large penalty to pay, a judge could even stop the entire show if she will be performing it.

Source: De Standaard

01 July 2009

Louis Vuitton and Madonna - part deux

Marc Jacobs was so pleased with this spring’s Louis Vuitton campaign featuring Madonna that he was eager to do an encore. “But very quickly Marc said, ‘I want something completely different,’ related Antoine Arnault, Vuitton’s communication director. The new ingredients included a dash of Tamara de Lempicka and a soupçon of Man Ray for color-drenched images by Steven Meisel with a surreal edge, thanks to generous use of solarization, a technique of overexposure first perfected by Ray. “It gives something very graphic, more edgy” than the first Madonna campaign, also by Meisel, which depicted her as a French coquette in a Parisian bistro setting, Arnault said.

The new spots, which break in a range of August titles, feature a variety of runway looks and leather goods, many in the house’s signature monogram.

Asked about the impact of the first Madonna campaign, Arnault said, snapping his fingers for emphasis, “Everything she was wearing in the first campaign was sold within a few months. People came into the store saying, ‘I want the Madonna bag, the Madonna shoes.”

Source: WWD

29 June 2009

Timecapsule: ''True Blue'' celebrates 23 years today

''True Blue'' is the third studio album by Madonna, released on June 30, 1986, 23 years ago. Madonna worked with Stephen Bray and Patrick Leonard as a song-writer and producer. Deemed as Madonna's most girlish album, ''True Blue'' deals with her visions of love, work, dreams as well as disappointments and was inspired by her then husband Sean Penn, to whom Madonna dedicated the album.

Singing better than ever, Madonna stakes her claim as the pop poet of lower-middle-class America. On "Where's the Party", she presents a concise manifesto for the straphanging classes: "Couldn't wait to get older/Thought I'd have so much fun/Guess I'm one of the grown-ups/Now I have to get the job done." But Madonna isn't sad about her responsibilities. Full of immigrant-stock hustle, she's going to "find a way to make the good times last." On "Jimmy Jimmy", she laughs at her breathless boyfriend: "You say you're gonna be the king of Las Vegas.... You're just a boy who comes from bad places." But it's a loving laugh – and, surprise, Jimmy really does leave to make a better life. The story ends sadly, but the song is so happy that we can't doubt Madonna's pride in her guy or that she'll find a way to follow.

In "Love Makes the World Go Round", the happiest anthem for this age of uplift, Madonna scores at least as many points as "We Are the World" with lines like "It's easy to forget/If you don't hear the sound/Of pain and prejudice/Love makes the world go round" and "We're all so quick to look away/'Cause it's the easy thing to do."

Armed with the success of "Into the Groove" (an unretouched eight-track demo by Bray and Madonna that epitomizes dance-pop perfection), M. resisted any temptation to reach for the kind of tour de force production Nile Rodgers achieved on ''Like a Virgin''. Instead, we have a clean, accessible record assembled by a singer and songwriters to showcase material and performances. And (excepting the "Both Sides Now" rewrite "Live to Tell") it's true blue to Madonna's disco roots.

If there is a problem with Madonna's proke-rock testament, it's the lack of outstanding songs. Only the magnificent "Papa Don't Preach" – Madonna's "Billie Jean" – has the high-profile hook to match "Like a Virgin," "Dress You Up" and "Material Girl." Not coincidentally, all of the above were written by outside contributors. "White Heat", "Jimmy Jimmy" and "World Go Round" are excellent within their aspirations and easily comparable to "Angel" and "Holiday" (though not quite up to "Into the Groove" or "Lucky Star"). But none has the feel of a pop event. "Party" starts well but doesn't ignite, and "True Blue", a cross between "Heaven Must Have Sent You" and "Chapel of Love," squanders a classic beat and an immensely promising title.

What's brilliant about ''True Blue'' is that she does both here, using the music to hook in critics just as she's baiting a mass audience with such masterstrokes as "Papa Don't Preach," where she defiantly states she's keeping her baby. It's easy to position anti-abortionism as feminism, but what's tricky is to transcend your status as a dance-pop diva by consciously recalling classic girl-group pop ("True Blue", "Jimmy Jimmy") to snag the critics, while deepening the dance grooves ("Open Your Heart", "Where's the Party"), touching on Latin rhythms ("La Isla Bonita"), making a plea for world peace ("Love Makes the World Go Round"), and delivering a tremendous ballad that rewrites the rules of adult contemporary crossover ("Live to Tell"). It's even harder to have the entire album play as an organic, cohesive work.

Certainly, there's some calculation behind the entire thing, but what matters is the end result, one of the great dance-pop albums, a record that demonstrates Madonna's true skills as a songwriter, record-maker, provocateur, and entertainer through its wide reach, accomplishment, and sheer sense of fun.

''True Blue'' was the album where Madonna truly became Madonna the Superstar.


26 June 2009

Madonna's statement about Michael Jackson's death








"I can't stop crying over the sad news.
I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever!

My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."


Madonna

24 June 2009

Madonna tops Forbes list of top-earning acts

Even in today's economy, musicians - at least top acts - are making more money than ever. According to Forbes earnings estimates Madonna, who tops their list, has hovered between $40 million and $50 million dollars in annual earnings since 2002. In the last year, a sold-out worldwide tour, impressive international sales of her latest album, Hard Candy, and lucrative endorsement deals put her earnings at $110 million.

Céline Dion almost beat her, however. The chest-beating French-Canadian songbird raked in a cool $100 mil herself last year. Beyoncé landed in third, with $87 million.

The list was compiled by assessing earnings from album sales, touring, publising and endorsement deals, with Billboard, Pollstar and Nielsen SoundScan cited as sources.

1. Madonna, $110 million; 2. Céline Dion, $100 million; 3. Beyoncé, $87 million; 4. Bruce Springsteen, $70 million; 5. Kenny Chesney, $65 million; 6. Rascal Flatts, $60 million; 6. Coldplay, $60 million; 6. AC/DC, $60 million; 9. Eagles, $55 million; 10. Toby Keith, $52 million.

13 June 2009

Madonna and Mercy

Early yesterday morning, Madonna was granted the legal right to adopt a child from Malawi after being denied by a lower court in April, People reports. The lower court initially ruled that the singer had not spent enough time in the African country. Preparations are now underway for Madonna to bring Chifundo "Mercy" James, 3, home from Malawi to join fellow adoptee David, also 3. Madonna is not expected to fly to Africa from New York, but the director of her Raising Malawi charity is arranging a private jet for the child.

Madonna's rep released a statement on the singer's behalf: "I am extremely grateful for the Supreme Court's ruling on my application to adopt Mercy James. I am ecstatic... My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her."

Source: EW.com

10 June 2009

"Miles Away" - Offical Unreleased Video

01 June 2009

"Sticky and Sweet" in Israel

Madonna will perform in Israel as part of her world "Sticky and Sweet Tour", it was officially announced on Monday. The Queen of Pop will give a single show on September 1 at Tel Aviv's Ganei Yehoshua to promote her latest album "Hard Candy".

Tickets will go on sale on the Netvision Web site (www.013netvision.net.il) on June 3. Regular tickets will be priced at NIS 490, while tickets in two special VIP sections will be NIS 1,500-2,500.

A special stage will be built at the 66,000 capacity venue for Madonna and her 17 dancers, while British record producer and DJ Paul Oakenfold will be performing as a special guest. The tour began in August 2008 in Wales and was meant to end in Bulgaria on August 28, 2009. However, Madonna received an offer by promoter Shuki Weiss and Live Nation to extend her tour for a performance in Israel, her 86th and final leg of the tour. It will mark Madonna's second performance in Israel following her 1993 show in Tel Aviv.

The entertainer's last trip to Israel came two years ago when she was hosted by the Kaballah Center along with then-husband Guy Ritchie.

"I'm very excited to return to Israel for my last show," said Madonna at a press conference Monday. "I know that it will be unforgettable."

Source: The Jerusalem Post

22 May 2009

Timecapsule: ''I'm Breathless'' released 19 years ago

''I'm Breathless - Music from and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy'' is the second soundtrack album by Madonna (''Who's That Girl'' being the first), released on May 22, 1990, by Sire Records. It was recorded to promote and accompany the motion picture, released in the summer of 1990. The RIAA certified it Gold, Platinum & 2x Platinum on July 30, 1990, denoting two million shipments in the United States & worldwide has sold more than 5 million copies.

There are four songs from the film on the album: "Sooner or Later", "More'', "What Can You Lose?" and "Now I'm Following You'', although the latter song appears here in a version different from the one in the film (the film version was not performed by Madonna, but by the composer, Andy Paley).

The success of the single "Vogue" (originally intened to be the B-side of "Keep It Together"), which was released prior to the album, combined with the publicity of ''Dick Tracy'' and Madonna's ''Blond Ambition Tour'' gave ''I'm Breathless'' a significant sales boost. ''I'm Breathless'' reached number two on the Billboard 200, reaching platinum status in three months. The second hit, "Hanky Panky" kept the album in the charts for several months, although it was eventually overtaken by "Immaculate Collection'', released at the end of the year. As a consequence of this, two more planned single releases from the album, "Now I'm Following You," and "Sooner Or Later," were canceled in favour of ''Justify My Love'' and ''Rescue Me''. Madonna performed "Sooner Or Later," "Hanky Panky," "Now I'm Following You," and "Vogue" on her 1990 ''Blond Ambition Tour''.

''Sooner or Later'' won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1991, where she performed it live. The song "Something to Remember" was included in Madonna's ballad compilation album of the same name.

20 May 2009

''Sticky and Sweet'' DVD promotion has started

The ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' gets an exclusive preview with DVDBlackBerry and AT&T.

For a limited time, only owners of a new BlackBerry Bold smartphone from AT&T have access to stream exclusive Madonna live performances from the ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' before they’re available in stores! The songs are: Candy Shop, Beat Goes On, Vogue, Die Another Day, Music, Spanish Lesson, Miles Away, La Isla Bonita, Get Stupid and 4 Minutes.

For more information visit: www.blackberry.com/select/madonna


12 May 2009

Why Madonna wore antlers to the Met Costume Gala

Written by Liz Smith

Sorry to oppress you about our friend Madonna but she seems to me to be one of rare ones making any news these days. (Falling off horses, trying to adopt impoverished children; it’s still front-page fodder.)

So I just had to ask a member of her inner circle: What was up with Madonna’s wacky outfit at the Metropolitan Museum Costume Gala last week? (Were those antlers on her head, or antennae to contact aliens?) Especially since she attended with her friend, young Jesus Luz, who looked sensational and was wearing a traditional black-tie tuxedo. The answer came: “Liz, she is never going to be what some of her fans want – a woman in classic glamour couture, all the time. She is on the edge, fashionwise, and every other way. Look, she was having fun that night. She wasn’t taking herself or her clothes seriously. Given her workload and a personality that never lets her rest, we’re always happy when she just has fun!”

Source: http://www.wowowow.com