Madonna in 2008

Every year in December, when we're about to go into the new year, there are usual Recap Lists. This year has been rich with happenings. In January Madonna and her family visited India, in February she was the host of Night to benefit Raising Malawi, co-hosted by Gucci, ''The Confessions Tour'' DVD won a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video, on February 13th ''Filth and Visdom'' premiered at Berlin Film Festival, and on February 27th we learned that Madonna's new album (and the last for Warner Bors.) will be named ''Hard Candy''.

March of 2008 begun with Madonna's induction in the Rock'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Later that month, ''Hard Candy'' cover has been revealed and on March 25th the first single from ''Hard Candy'', a duet with Justin Timberlake named ''4 Minutes'', appeared on iTunes.

One week later, on April 2nd, ''4 Minutes'' is at No.1 at iTunes download chart. Just three days before ''Hard Candy'' was released, ''4 Minutes'' bacame Madonna's 13th No.1 single in UK. ''I Am Because We Are'' premiered at the same time at New York's Tribeca Film Festival. And finally, on April 25th ''Hard Candy'' was released and topped at No.1 in 37 countries around the world. Five days later we could see Madonna performing live at NYC Roseland Ballroom, the first of three free shows she put to promote ''Hard Candy'' release.

On May 5th the first official dates for ''Stcky & Sweet Tour'' has been issued to the press and later that month the tickets for shows in Europe went on sale. Madonna visited Cannes Film Festival promoting ''I Am Because We Are'' documentary. on May 29th, Malawian Court aproved Madonna adoption of David Banda, the child she met when she visited Malawi last year. On June 4th, the video for second single from the album ''Hard Candy'', ''Give It 2 Me'' debuted on Yahoo music site. The begining of July started with Madonna issuing a statement about the status of her marrige with Guy Ritchie. ''4 Minutes'' passed the 2 million mark in sales that month.

The Queen celebrated her 50th birthday on August 16th and the 23rd of August marked the first show of the ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'', which became the Number One Largest Grossing Tour in history by a solo artist, in Cardiff. The tour covered Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. By the middle of September we learned that ''Miles Away'' will be the third single from ''Hard Candy'' album and ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' ended its European leg in Athens on September 27th.

The first commercial results came out in the beginning of October proving that ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' will be one of the biggest tours not only in 2008 but a record breaker. The 17 European concerts have contributed an astonishing 116 million dollars. And right in the middle of the month the news broke that Madonna and Guy Ritchie are divorcing.

On November 5th, Americans elected their new president - Barrack Obama. In L.A. show, Madonna invited Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake to join her on the stage. At The World Music Awards, Madonna won an award for the best selling American artist worldwide in 2008. A few days later Madonna announced begining of a project: Raising Malawi Academy for Girls. She also managed to get to work with Marc Jacobs and become a new face for Louis Vuitton spring campagne. Five days later she appeared at Gucci UNICEF dinner party. By the end of November the American leg of ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' ended in Miami. That earned Madonna the title as only artist (male or female) who managed to gross more than 200 million dollars with one tour. But the number is still growing because she had even more shows to do on her South American leg of the tour.

On December 4th the Grammy nominations has been revealed and Madonna has been nominated in two categories: Best Pop Vocal Collaboration with Vocals and Best Dance Recording. And finally, on December 21st ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' ended with a show in Sao Paulo. Her 58 shows in Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico and South America played for a staggering 2,350,282 million fans and sold over (USD)280,000,000 in tickets.

It was a good year! Congratulations to Madonna and to all of you who stopped by and visited this blog. I wish you all the best in the new year! See you in 2009!

With love, Vjeko

Madonna official videos taken off YouTube

Warner Music Group's videos will no longer be available on YouTube due to a contract dispute between the music company and the popular video-sharing website, US media reported. Talks between the two firms over licensing agreements for Warner's music videos collapsed last week, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the negotiations.

YouTube warned users on its website that "you may notice videos that contain music owned by Warner Music Group being blocked from the site" and said sometimes licensing agreements with other companies could not be secured.

"Every day we work with the music community to license your favorite music for you to use on YouTube. But music licensing is very complicated," the Google-owned video-sharing website said. "Sometimes, if we can't reach acceptable business terms, we must part ways with successful partners," it said.

Warner reportedly said it was hoping to resolve the impasse with YouTube. "We are working actively to find a resolution with YouTube that would enable the return of our artists' content to the site," Warner said in a statement, quoted by US media. "Until then, we simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide."

From a report by the AFP.

The show is over...

With the completion of Madonna's final show in Sao Paulo Brazil last evening - one of eleven record-breaking performances in South America - the 'Material Girl's' ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' reigns supreme by becoming the Number One Largest Grossing Tour in history by a solo artist, it was confirmed today by Live Nation, the tour's international producer. Her 58 shows in Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico and South America played for a staggering 2,350,282 million fans and sold over (USD)280,000,000 in tickets.

"Madonna has yet again demonstrated her true global appeal as a live performer whether in stadiums or arenas. Not only will this tour be the top selling tour of all time for a solo artist and a female artist (eclipsing her own record), but it will position her as one of the top selling touring artists of all time" said Arthur Fogel, Live Nation's Chairman of Global Music and CEO of Global Touring.

Along with record breaking ticket sales in South America with a total 650,000 tickets sold, the ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' sold 72,000 tickets at Zurich's Military Airfield Dubendorf - the largest audience ever assembled for a show in Switzerland. In London, where she performed in front of 74,000 fans with over 12 million dollars in ticket sales, Madonna surpassed all previous records at both the old and new Wembley Stadiums. In New York City, Madonna's four sell-outs at Madison Square Garden shows added up to a record breaking 23 sold out performances since 2001 at that venue - a record for most appearances for a single artist in this decade.

Madonna's multi Grammy-nominated CD "Hard Candy" debuted at number one early this year in over 37 countries.

Source: madonna.com

''Candy Shop'' in Sao Paulo

Dance superstar

Madonna’s "Miles Away" takes the lead on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay, giving the superstar her seventh No. 1 song in a row on this chart.

This survey has only been around for five years, so seven No. 1's is good enough to give Madonna more chart-toppers than any other artist. She was previously tied with Rihanna, who now slips to second place with her six No. 1's.

Justin Timberlake is in third place with four and Beyonce ranks fourth with three. Madonna also has the highest amount of No. 1 hits on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, where her 39 chart-toppers are more than double the 18 No. 1's accumulated by second-place Janet Jackson.

From Billboard.com

Madonna denies the $75 million divorce-settlement figure

So like most of us you were wondering why Madonna's rep came out firing brazenly the other day with a "payout" figure to the AP.

Turns out it was wrong, at least according to Madge and Guy. They say in a joint statement this morning out of the UK, "A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued to AP this week. The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and well being of our children."

We contacted Liz Rosenberg to ask her what the hell happened, but haven't heard back.

Source: tmz.com

On the photo: Liz Rosenberg, Madonna, Guy Oseary

Liz Rosenberg sets the record straight

Madonna has settled her divorce with ex-husband Guy Ritchie for at least 50 million pounds ($76 million), the singer's spokeswoman said Monday. Liz Rosenberg told ''The Associated Press'' the settlement was in the range of 50 million to 60 million pounds ($76 million to $92 million) as part of their divorce agreement, a figure she said included the value of the couple's country home, Ashcombe House in western England.

Rosenberg said the couple's west London pub - the Punchbowl - would also remain with Ritchie. A representative for the British filmmaker declined comment.

The couple were reportedly worth some $525 million, the vast majority of which belonged to Madonna. Ritchie had an estimated $35 million fortune.

Their multimillion pound (dollar) settlement is about twice the size paid out in Britain's latest high-profile celebrity divorce, that of former Beatle Paul McCartney and model Heather Mills.

"I'd assume it's one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement," Rosenberg said. She also said that while the financial component of the settlement had been worked out, custodial arrangements for the couple's children have yet to be finalized. As for reports that the couple plan to spend Christmas together, Madonna's rep told ''People'' that is not true.

Rainy & slippery in Rio

It was a night to remember in Rio de Janeiro for the first Brazilian concert of the ''Sticky & Sweet Tour''. Special guest, uninvited, was a pouring rain that lasted throughout the entire show and ironically stopped when the concert ended.

Madonna and her dancers had to adjust their outfit and wear special shoes to remain safe on the wet stage, with several accidental slipping occurring here and there. Madonna also performed some of her "on guitar" numbers with the help of a crew member protecting her with an umbrella.

The request song was ''Express Yourself''. The show was also meant to be filmed last night but the recording was cancelled because of the rain.

More luck tonight, Madonna!

''This Delicate Film We've Made''

Why Darren Hayes is not a global megastar is completely and utterly beyond me. On the other hand, I'm so glad that this innovative, forward thinking popstar makes brilliant music and projects not all people can appreciate.

From the extraordinary double album to it's packaging to the music, the visuals, the live ''Time Machine'' show, the live DVD and now this - ''This Delicate Film We've Made'', it all shows that Darren is a desperately intelligent man who is way ahead of his time, giving his fans perhaps even more than they can handle.

I got Deluxe DVD today and I was blown away the moment I laid my hands (and eyes) on it. Morever, when I put the DVD in my DVD player and ''A Fear of Falling Under'' started in all of it's 5.1 Surround glory I was glad I was sitting down. Otherwise, I think I would probably ended on the floor, strucked by instant visual delight.

I know that this DVD won't be nominated in any major award category and this speaks for itself - the music business is not made up for geniuses like Darren Hayes. This superficially music market is made up for chew up and spit out attitude and his music has never been made for those kind of consumption. This DVD takes Darren's music in a completely surreal direction, with surround sound and animation to complement 13 featured tracks. One of the animations is even presented in 3D. The deluxe edition features a set of 3D glasses, exclusive packaging and artwork and a 48 page booklet, with a standard version (losing the 3D film, glasses and booklet) available in-stores in February 2009.

I'm so lucky to be one of only 2.000 people in the world lucky enough to own the limited edition version.

Lustful Madonna offends God, says Chilean clergyman

Santiago (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna's antics are lustful, a stain on humanity and offensive to God, a retired Roman Catholic cardinal said on Wednesday during a mass for the late Chilean military dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

Madonna performed in Santiago on the Latin American leg of her ''Sticky and Sweet Tour'' to promote her album "Hard Candy."

"The atmosphere in our city is pretty agitated because this woman is visiting and with incredibly shameful behavior provokes a wild and lustful enthusiasm," Cardinal Jorge Medina told the congregation. "Thoughts of lust, impure thoughts, impure acts, are an offense to God and a dirty stain on our heart," Medina said in his homily marking the second anniversary of Pinochet's death.

The conservative prelate is reviled by some Chileans for his close ties to Pinochet, who died in 2006 without facing trial for the fate of 3,000 people who died or disappeared during his 1973-1990 rule.

Miles away from topping charts

Warner Bros has managed to do it again and earn Madonna once more the title of ''the worst selling single in her career''.

In Great Britain ''Miles Away'' CD peaked at No. 39 in its first weeks on chart with only 5.643 sold copies. Now it is at No. 68.

In Germany it spent five weeks at No. 1 of Airplay charts but because of great delay in its release (and no marketing what-so-ever) it peaked at No. 11 on the best selling chart.

Here are others, not so flattering, chart positions: Canada No. 23, The Netherlands No. 9, Italy No. 34, Euro Hot 100 No. 23, World Tracks No. 31, Japan No. 5, Billboard Hot Singles Sales No. 2 and Billboard Hot Dance Club Play No. 20.

Madonna sues British tabloid

A British court ruled Monday in favour of pop superstar Madonna, who is seeking five million pounds (7.4m dollars, 5.7m euros) over the publication of private photos of her wedding to her ex-husband.

London's High Court is expected to determine the amount to be paid in damages next year over the photos of her 2000 nuptials with British film director Guy Ritchie, whom she divorced last month.

Judge David Eady found in favour of the artist, whose legal team had argued that the ceremony was "wholly private," and that an interior designer doing work at her Beverly Hills home had copied them.

Madonna, 50, and Ritchie were granted their divorce last month, having announced it in October. The couple were married on December 22, 2000 at a lavish ceremony at a Scottish castle, attended by stars including Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting.

The only photographs taken of the wedding were by photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who presented them to Madonna as a personal gift. Madonna assembled them into an album and kept them in her home.

One of her interior designers, Robert Joseph Wilber, copied at least 26 photographs from that album, by taking photographs of them. They were then handed over to the Mail on Sunday weekly newspaper by another woman, Bonnie Robinson, on the day Madonna and Ritchie announced their split.

Robinson, who lives in Los Angeles, was paid 5,000 pounds for the pictures, 11 of which were published by the Mail on Sunday on October 19, and were reduced in size so that readers would not know that they were photographs of photographs.

Madonna's lawyer, Matthew Nicklin, said the singer was given no warning, and added that she was seeking "in excess of five million pounds, being the estimated value of the photographs."

She is regarded as the world's highest-earning female singer - Forbes.com put her at the top of its latest "cash queens of music" list with earnings of 72 million dollars between June 2006 and June 2007.

Grammy nominations revealed

The nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards have been announced, and here's how Madonna made the list.

"4 Minutes" was nominated in the Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, thanks to the participation of Justin Timberlake & Timbaland. Other nominees in this category are: Alicia Keys & John Mayer, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Rihanna & Maroon 5 and Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown.

"Give It 2 Me", co-produced by The Neptunes, was nominated in the Best Dance Recording category. The rest of the list contains: Daft Punk, Hot Chip, Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis, Rihanna and Sam Sparro.

"4 Minutes (Junkie XL Remix)" was also nominated in the Best Remixed Recording category, a remixer's award.

Good luck on February 8, 2009!

Vuitton photos first look

The campaign marks the end of Vuitton’s six-year collaboration with photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, with the parting characterized as amicable, and another reunion for long-time collaborators Madonna and Meisel. Marc Jacobs last worked with Meisel in his Perry Ellis days. (Arnault noted it’s “very probable” Vuitton’s association with Meisel will continue.)

The campaign takes the very Parisian theme of Jacobs’ hit spring Vuitton collection, with a smoky French bistro the setting, and the sepia-toned images evoking a Brassai atmosphere. “As cliché as they are, I love all these French references,” the designer said. (Although the restaurant, Figaro, is on North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles).

“I still feel it looks like beautiful, gorgeous Madonna,” Jacobs said about the images. “Excepting the references and excepting the clichés, this still feels very today. And it didn’t feel so much like a fashion shoot, it feels like portraits.”

The shoot wrapped up in less than a day and without incident, although Jacobs said hordes of paparazzi literally “appeared out of the bushes” the moment Madonna arrived. “It went from a quiet street to complete chaos,” he said.

The designer also marveled at the singer’s incredible fitness that allowed her to recline, her back arched, on bentwood chairs, or shoot a leg straight up in the air, no sweat. “She’s so sure of herself as an icon and as a woman. It was her idea to do the fishnets,” Jacobs said. “What fascinates me the most about her is her never-ending energy, and the idea of becoming and changing. She’s an artist who’s unafraid to use her voice.”

Arnault said the fashion campaign would appear “very strongly” in February and March issues and with few changes in media placements. “We’re staying on target,” he stressed.

The first visuals will spotlight slouchy bags in monogram canvas and monogram-embossed leather, along with ethnic-inspired sandals, bangles and sexy ready-to-wear. In tandem, Vuitton will continue to run its “core values” campaign, with spots featuring Sean Connery, the latest celebrity spokesman, continuing into next year. Analysts have estimated Vuitton spends more than $250 million annually on advertising, most of it print-driven.

Buenos Aires shows posponed

T4F has announced that tonight's engagement of Madonna on December 3 at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires has been postponed due to unforeseen technical difficulties. However, in order not to disappoint any of her fans, Madonna has moved around her schedule so that all four shows in Buenos Aires will be performed.

The new schedule will be as follows: Madonna will perform at River Plate Stadium on December 4, 5, 7 and 8. Please note that tickets for tonight's performance, December 3, will be honored on Friday, December 5. In addition, please note that tickets for Saturday, December 6 will be honored on Monday, December 8.

With this revised schedule, Madonna is happy to accommodate her many fans. The shows will continue to be filmed for later broadcast. The support and understanding of the many fans of Madonna is most greatly appreciated. She looks forward to performing all four shows on this historic run at the famous River Plate Stadium.

Madonna in Buenos Aires

Madonna has returned to Argentina twelve years after playing the country’s former first lady Eva Peron. The singer arrived in Buenos Aires for the Latin America leg of her world tour with her three children and a huge entourage including 200 dancers, technicians and crew members. She will give the first of four concerts on Wednesday.

The 50-year-old met with President Cristina Fernandez and former guerrilla-held hostage Ingrid Betancourt at Argentina's presidential palace, where she filmed Evita 12 years ago.

Then-President Carlos Menem permitted her to film one of the movie's most famous scenes on the balcony of the palace, where she sang ''Don't Cry For Me Argentina''. Her role in the movie marked an emotional time for Madonna who discovered she was pregnant with her first child Lourdes halfway through filming. She spoke of her admiration for Eva Peron who rose from poverty to the president's wife before dieing of cervical cancer at the age of 33.

"What drew me to the role from the beginning was the story of this remarkable woman," she said at the time. "Where she came from, how she came up in the world, the incredible amount of influence she had over an entire country and the impact she had on the whole world... truth really is stranger than fiction."

Madonna was visiting Argentina to thank its government for working to free hundreds of other hostages left behind. Ms Fernandez brought Madonna and Ms Betancourt together for a brief meeting that was closed to the press. Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was freed in July after being held more than six years in jungle camps by leftist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Source: Daily Mail

''Miles Away''

Since there is no offical video for ''Miles Away'', we have to be contented with this ''Sticky & Sweet Tour'' backdrop. If you still don't have a copy of the CD single, go and get it!