Vjeko's A'dam diary, Madonna and other stuff

Madonna radio interviews with Carson Daly and Ryan Seacrest

2012-02-10T20:33:00.001+01:00

Madonna was quite talkative today as she did not only speak to Ryan Seacreast by also got on the phone with Carson Daly.

Click on the links below to listen to the interviews.

Carson Daly interview

Ryan Seacrest interview

"The Madonna 2012 World Tour" itinerary (so far...)

2012-02-07T14:13:00.000+01:00

EUROPE

29 May - Tel Aviv, Israel - Ramat Gam Stadium - On Sale Feb. 10

03 Jun - Abu Dhabi - Yas Arena - On Sale Feb. 27

07 Jun - Istanbul, Turkey - Turk Telecom Arena - On sale soon

11 Jun - Zagreb, Croatia - Maksimir Stadium - On Sale Feb. 17

14 Jun - Milan, Italy - Stadio San Siro - On Sale Feb. 13

16 Jun - Florence, Italy - Stadio Franchi - On Sale Feb. 13

20 Jun - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi - On Sale Feb. 16

24 Jun - Coimbra, Portugal - Estadio Cidade de Coimbra - On Sale Feb. 11

28 Jun - Berlin, Germany - O2 Arena - On Sale Feb. 13

02 Jul - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium - On Sale Feb. 13

04 Jul - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium - On Sale Feb. 17

07 Jul - Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ziggo Dome - On Sale Feb. 11

12 Jul - Brussels, Belgium - Stade Roi-Baudouin - On Sale Feb. 17

14 Jul - Paris, France - Stade De France - On Sale Feb. 14

17 Jul - London, UK - Hyde Park - On Sale Feb. 10

21 Jul - Edinburgh, UK - Murrayfield Stadium - On Sale Feb. 10

24 Jul - Dublin, Ireland - Aviva Stadium - On Sale Feb. 17

29 Jul - Vienna, Austria - Ernst-Happel-Stadion - On Sale Feb. 24

01 Aug - Warsaw, Poland - National Stadium - On Sale Feb. 17

07 Aug - Moscow, Russia - Olimpiski Arena - On sale soon.

08 Aug - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Arena - On sale soon

12 Aug - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium - On Sale Feb. 14

15 Aug - Oslo, Norway - Telenor Arena - On Sale Feb. 20

18 Aug - Zurich, Switzerland - Stadion Letzigrund - On Sale Feb. 24

21 Aug - Nice, France - Stade Charles-Erhmann - On Sale Feb. 14

NORTH AMERICA

28 Aug - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center - On Sale Feb. 13
30 Aug - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre - On Sale Feb. 18

01 Sep - Quebec City, QC - Plains of Abraham Site - On Sale Feb. 17
04 Sep - Boston, MA - TD Garden - On Sale Feb. 13
06 Sep - New York, NY - Yankee Stadium - On Sale Feb. 13
10 Sep - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place - On Sale Feb. 13
12 Sep - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre - On Sale Feb. 13
15 Sep - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall - On Sale Feb. 27
19 Sep - Chicago, IL - United Center - On Sale Feb. 13
23 Sep - Washington, D.C. - Verizon Center - On Sale Feb. 13
29 Sep - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena - On Sale Feb. 13

02 Oct - Seattle, WA - Key Arena - On Sale Feb. 13
06 Oct - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion - On Sale Feb. 13
10 Oct - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center - On Sale Feb. 13
13 Oct - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand - On Sale Feb. 27
16 Oct - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Center - On Sale Feb. 27
20 Oct - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center - On Sale Feb. 27
24 Oct - Houston, TX - Toyota Center - On Sale Feb. 27
27 Oct - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena - On Sale Mar. 5
30 Oct - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center - On Sale Mar. 5

01 Nov - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center - On Sale Mar. 5
03 Nov - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center - On Sale Feb. 27
10 Nov - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena - On Sale Mar. 5
15 Nov - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena - On Sale Mar. 5
17 Nov - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena - On Sale Mar. 5
TBC - Miami, FL - To Be Confirmed - On Sale Soon

The tour will also visit South American and Australia. Additional cities and venues to be announced. Itinerary subject to change.

"The Madonna 2012 World Tour" - official press release

2012-02-07T14:01:00.000+01:00

Madonna is having a huge party and everyone's invited. The Madonna 2012 World Tour begins May 29th 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel it was officially announced by Live Nation Entertainment, the tour's international promoter. The shows will include arenas, stadiums and special outdoor sights including the Plains of Abraham in Quebec and a return visit to South America as well as Australia where she has not performed in 20 years. The tour will stop in 26 European cities including London, Paris, Milan and Berlin.

The first of 26 North American shows is scheduled for August 28th in Philadelphia and includes a September 6th show in NY's Yankee Stadium and an October l0th performance at LA's Staples Center. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale beginning February 10th in Tel Aviv and the United Kingdom, with North American tickets going on sale beginning February 13th. Tickets for North America are available at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com. A complete itinerary of Madonna 2012 follows this release.

The announcement of Madonna's 2012 World Tour follows an extraordinary week which included a monumental extravaganza of a performance at the Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime which was seen in over 200 countries by over a billion people. Last week also saw the release of Madonna's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'" from her highly anticipated new album MDNA on Live Nation Entertainment/Interscope Records - scheduled to be released on March 26th. Pre orders have already catapulted MDNA to No. 1 on iTunes in 51 countries including the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands. The single's video directed by Megaforce which also stars Nicki Minaj and MIA previewed on American Idol. Additionally, the Madonna directed Golden Globe Award winning film "W.E." opened in NY and LA with other markets to follow later in the month. "Madonna's track record as a world class entertainer and touring artist speaks for itself. Her artistry, talent and creative productions get bigger and better with each tour and Madonna 2012 will be no exception. We are thrilled to have her back on the road and know her fans feel the same," commented Arthur Fogel, CEO Live Nation Entertainment Global Touring and Madonna tour promoter.

US residents ordering tickets online to a US performance will receive their choice of a digital or physical copy of Madonna's new MDNA album with every ticket purchased.

Breaking records again...

2012-02-06T23:34:00.000+01:00

Not only did Madonna achieve 114 million viewers for her show yesterday - the most ever for a Super Bowl half-time performance - but the Queen also shattered the Twitter record for a live performance!

Madonna's half-time show peaked with 10,245 tweets per second flying during halftime. The Nielsen company said Sunday's Super Bowl TV audience on the NBC network was the most-watched television program in U.S history.

Sunday's figure topped the 111.0 million who watched the Super Bowl a year ago. It was the 7th straight year of increases in the TV audience for the annual NFL championship.

Twitter reports the flurry of real time response was an all-time record for live entertainment.

Madonna's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'", which she performed at the halftime festivities of last night's Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, blasts onto multiple radio format charts. soaring onto Billboard's Nielsen BDS-based Pop Songs chart at No. 24 as the format's Greatest Gainer (2,766 opening-week plays).

Madonna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show reviews

2012-02-06T15:40:00.000+01:00

From the "LA Times":

To label the selection of Madonna as a halftime performer at the Super Bowl as curious is to neglect the surreal history of what has become one of the year’s most discussed 10 minutes of music on American television. From the high-water mark Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake nip slip to the weird nonsequitur Rolling Stones gig to a children’s choir singing “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” the Super Bowl has never been short on ridiculousness.

But all different kinds of musical craziness had nothing on this year’s Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show performance. Madonna was defiantly unconcerned with the more conservative red state wing of the football fan base who’d never be caught dead singing along to one of her songs, and her halftime show was pure spectacle by the Cleopatra of the game.

Think about it. In less than 10 minutes, America watched marching warriors pulling a massive chariot; faux trumpeters announcing the arrival of Madonna; a man name Redfoo with a ridiculously large afro fronting a duo called LMFAO; a polyglot British-Sri Lankan rapper slyly flipping the bird at the camera; a cartoonish multiple-personality Nicki Minaj; and a charismatic Buddha of a singer with a golden voice in one of the best bandleader outfits ever created, to say nothing of his stunning black choir robe.

At the center of it all was Madonna in her element, vogueing with a break-dancing lyre player, riding a bejeweled human serpent, slipping into her best single of the ’00s, “Music”, dancing near a tightrope walker who did a back flip as she passed, and sitting on Redfoo’s shoulders during a mash-up with LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem.” We saw Madonna looking absolutely silly as a 53-year-old cheerleader with equally noncheerleaders M.I.A. and rapper Minaj, and, perhaps most improbable of all, Madonna in front of a church choir pretending to be chaste.

In fact, if you break down the show, produced by Stuart Price (known to dance fans under his moniker Les Rhythmes Digitales), the whole thing was arguably more outrageous than the notorious Jackson nipple shot. Madonna’s new album, “MDNA”, is a sly reference to the drug Ecstasy; M.I.A.’s father was part of a Sri Lankan rebel group called the Tamil Tigers (once listed as a terrorist group by the State Department); LMFAO is an acronym in text slang for “laughing my … ass off;” and singer Cee Lo Green hit the big time with a song about a middle-finger kiss-off. In this company, Minaj looked positively PG.

But despite its success AND extravagance, this whole halftime package most of all was little more than an ingeniously well planned - and shockingly transparent - advertisement for “MDNA”, and not much more. The rollout for the album began with the announcement that she’d be performing at the Super Bowl and was teased by a music video released Friday for her new single, “Give Me All You’re Luvin’”, featuring Minaj and with a remix also featuring LMFAO, which, of course, she performed. Talk about marketing to a lot of eyeballs.

But then Madonna is Madonna for a reason. And we saw it firsthand Sunday.

From "Billboard":

It’s Madonna Louise Ciccone’s world, we’re just living in it. The pop icon took to the world’s biggest stage to rock three-and-a-half older tracks and a playful new song during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Entering on a golden throne pushed by an army of dancing Roman gladiators, the 53-year-old singer started things off with her 1990 classic “Vogue.” Around ten backup dancers kept the pace as she sauntered the scene in a head piece and black thigh-high boots.

Across the field flashed an impressive digital collage of Vogue magazines, in a nice touch of corporate scenery.

By the time “Music” revved up, she was down to four very acrobatic backup dancers on a bandstand. To the side of the stage - playing the parts of “Hey Mr. DJ” - were those party rocking dudes of LMFAO at which point “Music” began getting an infusion of the SoCal duo’s biggest hits, “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy And I Know It.”

Those with sharp eyes may have noticed Madonna slipping a bit while she was atop the bandstand, but she quickly recovered with a smile.

Then came the new song “Give Me All Your Luvin.’” The track’s two guest stars - Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. - made the trip to Indy and got wrapped up in the Rome/Cleopatra-esque concept. The cheerleader-themed track was a perfect pick for halftime show, no doubt.

M.I.A. may have caused a bit of controversy when at the end of her rapping bit, she flipped the bird at the camera while saying the lyrics, “I’mma say this once, yeah, I don’t give a s–t.”

As her new single wound down, a marching band made its way to center stage for a quick interlude of “Open Your Heart” with the big-voiced Cee-Lo adding soul. Backing tracks seemed to be dispatched of at this point and the two sang live until the end of the show, it appeared.

For the finale, Madonna pulled out all the stops with the perfectly picked “Like a Prayer.” Her voice, strong and clear, was aided by Cee-Lo and a massive choir of backup singers in robes for the 1989 gem.

When the spectacle was over, the singer was released down an escape hatch of sorts and the words “World Peace” were blazoned across the field.

According to the AP, around 110 million people were expected to watch the Super Bowl this year.

It was Madonna’s first time in the halftime spotlight for the Super Bowl and comes right as she debuts her single, “Give Me All Your Luvin.’” The track is off “M.D.N.A.,” Madonna’s 12th studio album and first for Interscope, which will be released March 26.

Before kickoff, country couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sang a rousing version of “America the Beautiful” and Kelly Clarkson took on national anthem duties. It was a performance clear of mistakes, unlike last year when Christina Aguilera flubbed her lines.

From "People":

Eli Manning and Tom Brady may know their way around the football field, but Sunday night, New England Patriots and New York Giants fans could take a break from taking sides to root for the queen of the (ever intricate) stage: Go Madonna!

The Super Bowl halftime show kicked off with a royal welcome as an army of gladiators escorted the veteran performer onto Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium stage. With a diamond-studded gold crown, Madonna, 53, launched into her hit “Vogue” as the stage flashed covers of the iconic fashion magazine.

Next on the set list: her 2000 dance jam “Music.” Joining her on the stage were the guys behind LMFAO - Stefan (Redfoo) and Skyler (SkyBlu) Gordy – who teamed with Madonna to sing samples from their hits, “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It.”

With a stage that was as flashy and glittering as her dance moves, Madonna then performed her new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin,” with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. - in full-on cheerleading uniforms - who are also featured on the song. (M.I.A. also gave the finger during her solo, an act that eluded the NBC censors.)

But the finale of the 12-minute performance was classic Madonna. With a hand from Cee Lo Green, she swapped her gladiator queen assemble for a glittering black robe to sing her 1989 hit, “Like a Prayer” (which she opened with samplings of “Open Your Heart” and “Express Yourself.”).

Backed by a gospel choir, the fiery performance ended with a true sizzle: The stage burst into a cloud of smoke as the singer belted out the final note out of sight. The final message of the show - “World Peace” - was illuminated on the stage.

“I’m going to come in halfway between the church experience, and I’m going to have to deliver a sermon that’s going to have to be very impactful,” she previously said of her nerves leading up to game day. “I have to put on the greatest show on earth in the middle of the greatest show on earth”.

From "ABC news":

Madonna went over the top with the Super Bowl halftime show as only the Queen of Pop could, doing a sequin and gold-studded medley of some of her greatest hits - “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer” - and a couple of her newer songs.

The Material Girl pledged not to repeat the sins of her past pop star predecessor, Janet Jackson, and expose herself on stage. She succeeded in that, but there was one glaring wardrobe malfunction - she zipped a curly blonde lock of hair into the coat she wore for her final song, making it look like she had a mane of lustrous chest hair underneath all those sequins. M.I.A., the U.K.-born rapper/pop star who joined Madonna for “Give Me All Your Luvin,” did worse, though, and gave the entire Super Bowl viewing audience the middle finger, presumably causing the second-long freeze frame that happened midway through “Give Me All Your Luvin.”

The show began with a Cleopatra-like Madonna rising up from an army of gladiator dancers. Wearing what appeared to be 5-inch stiletto boots, she performed complicated dance routines without a flaw, most memorably when she did the “Party Rock” shuffle with the crazy kids from LMFAO.

M.I.A and Nicki Minaj guest starred, joining Madonna in a pep rally-esque performance of her latest single. Cee Lo stole the show at the end, donning a silver marching band helmet and a glimmering black robe to duet “Like a Prayer” with Madonna. But the back up dancers deserve the most praise — whether leaping over bleachers or jumping on a tightrope, they nailed it.

From "EW":

Madonna was careful, in interviews before the Super Bowl, to say how nervous she was, how no one had to worry about her plotting to incite controversy. But instead of resulting in a cautious, tedious performance, Madonna gave a joyous, unironic, open-hearted one. She deployed guest stars including Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, and M.I.A., but they never stole her glowing spotlight. From her entrance hoisted aloft by Roman-soldier dancers to the massed choir that sent her off, she was both in full command and full of generosity toward her massive audience.

Commencing with a rendition of “Vogue” that used the magazine’s logo as part of the stage set, Madonna offered full-throated vocals coupled with tight choreography. If the visual transitions didn’t have any flow (Roman togas to pulsating stadium-seating steps to space for a tight-rope walker), the songs did. After the cool warm-up of “Vogue,” Madonna moved smoothly into “Music.” There was certain mashing-up of music with LMFAO that didn’t add much to the proceedings. She led into her current single, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” as a sweet piece of Katy Perry-style pop. It’s not among her best songs, but Madonna rendered the tune with a playful vigor, shaking gold pom-poms with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Toward the end of the song, a marching band trooped onstage, led by Cee Lo Green as drum major.

Aiming to end on a note of uplift, Madonna and Green donned choir robes and brought forth a large choir for “Like A Prayer.” Singing from a raised platform, Madonna and Green’s voices soared, and just when I thought she was going to ascend to the heavens, she instead descended into… well, not hell - that would have been out of keeping with the mood of this show - but she dropped away in a puff of smoke.

Now the carping will begin in living rooms and throughout the internet: Was she lip-synching? Did she make a few wobbly moves? Was M.I.A. being a naughty girl?

Me, I don’t care. I was happy to see Madonna smiling so much, giving it her all, plugging her product with such gleeful abandon. It wasn’t a thrillingly innovative performance, but that’s not what the Super Bowl half-time show is about anyway: It’s a time to hear some hits well-played, with more imagination and energy than, say, the Black-Eyed Peas provided last year. By this measure, Madonna’s Super Bowl performance was a bright delight.

Halftime Super Bowl XLVI

2012-02-06T15:16:00.000+01:00

"Give Me All Your Luvin’" video reviews

2012-02-04T11:16:00.000+01:00

Spin: "Her attempt to find a bridge between sports, love, and fame falls a bit flat… but in the end, the football players and cheerleaders in the video are all literally faceless passersby. They, like the two high-profile MC's, are all here in service of the Queen of Pop - they are shouting ‘M, A, D, Madonna’ and taking bullets for her, after all."

Rolling Stone: "It’s a goofy and fun clip, though the faceless cheerleaders in the background are more creepy than amusing."

Chart Rigger: "What seems to be just below the surface is a big F-U to all the pop hoes who have tried to snatch away Madonna’s crown without giving proper credit. Those faceless cheerleaders in the background? That’s you, Gaga, Ke$ha, Jessie J, etc. ‘Maybe you’ll do fine as long as you don’t lie to me, and pretend to be what you’re not.’"

MTV Buzzworthy: "‘Give Me All Your Luvin” harks back to the sound that made Madonna stick - solid bubblegum pop with a healthy dose of camp and fun. And while we’re sure the football theme might have something to do with that little halftime show she’s planning at the Super Bowl this weekend, it also speaks to a larger idea: Madonna’s never been the cute and innocent homecoming queen, but those wholesome, all-American football players still wanna kick it with her."

PopDust: "Each featured performer delivers her lines as you might expect: Nicki employs heavy physical accessories, bending and stretching facial muscles while leaving her derriere available for momentary gawking; M.I.A. slouches back in a chair to rattle off what’s on her mind, seemingly so relaxed you’d dare not to interrupt her."

Vulture: "Because Madonna is Madonna, there is still some attempted weirdness tucked into the corners of this video - like, say, the babydoll nursing, or the cracked-out, triple-Marilyns dream sequence. At one point, the football players start taking bullets for Madonna, because that is the natural order of things: Madonna & sports, and everything else."

Arjan Writes: "After building a reputation for being controversial and pushing the envelope once in a while, it’s surprising to see that Madonna decided to let the aesthetic of this video be guided by a mainstream, All-American sporting event. But then again, she’s a savvy businesswoman and with the eyes of all of America on her half-time performance this Sunday, it only makes sense to fully leverage that opportunity to promote this new single."

The Wall Street Journal: "First off, the 53-year-old pop star appears to be in better shape than many college students, which is crazy. She also gets points for picking two of the coolest collaborators around–M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj–and getting them to literally serve as cheerleaders for the Madonna brand."

Record breaking start

2012-02-04T10:50:00.000+01:00

Madonna's upcoming album "MDNA" (to be released on March 26th) has already broken records: it is currently No.1 in 52 countries and it sold already 2 million copies (on pre-orders alone).

Give Me All Your Luvin' (Feat. M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj)

2012-02-03T15:45:00.000+01:00

Madonna at the Super Bowl press conference

2012-02-02T23:29:00.000+01:00

It's not even Sunday, and already Madonna has people leaping to their feet in applause.

At a Thursday afternoon presser in downtown Indianapolis, the Material Girl said that she's been checking out the moves of New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.

The accomplished entertainer - she's performing at halftime of Super Bowl XLVI, a gig she says is every Midwestern girl's dream - said she appreciates Cruz's end-zone salsa moves.

"I have absolutely no criticism of his moves. In fact, he's inspired me. I'm going to show 'em to you and you tell me what you think", she said before stepping away from the podium and doing an impromptu quick salsa. "You think he'd approve?"

Judging by the applause, and hooting and hollering from the media, the answer is yes.

As far as her show on Sunday, she's being mostly tight-lipped. She revealed that she's performing four songs -- three vintage Madonna tunes and a new one, "Give Me All Your Luvin'", that drops on iTunes Friday.

"The envelope I'm pushing is just for a spectacular show which I think will entertain all age groups and hopefully will be a feast for the eyes and the ears", she said.

She also - when asked - swore there would be no pop star repeat of a halftime show gone wrong.

"Great attention to detail has been paid to my wardrobe. There will be no wardrobe malfunctions. Promise", she said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

And Madonna, who pretty much intimated that she's rooting for the Giants - come on, she lives in New York now - even had some advice for ailing New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

"A lot of people would say I'm a bit of a masochist. I would tape my ankle and say prayers", she said. "Take an anti-inflammatory and go out there".

Source: ESPN

"Madonna - The Complete Studio Albums (1983 - 2008)"

2012-02-01T09:35:00.000+01:00

The official Warner Music Press Release:

RELEASE DATE - MARCH 9, 2012

CLAMSHELL BOX, 11CDS IN PAPER SLEEVES

As the world’s top selling female artist of all time Madonna is not only the Queen of Pop but one of the most influential artists on modern music. Since her debut album, released in 1983, she has worked tirelessly to reinvent herself and her music through three decades and has built a huge and dedicated fan base worldwide.

On March 9th 2012 Rhino UK will release "Madonna - The Complete Studio Albums (1983 - 2008)", an amazing 11CD collection of all of Madonna’s studio albums from the first 25 years of her legendary career.

Housed in a clamshell box with albums in paper sleeves this is a brilliantly compact, value set and a perfect way to own Madonna’s amazing catalogue.

The box set contains the following albums:

Madonna (remastered)
Like a Virgin (remastered)
True Blue (remastered)
Like a Prayer
Erotica
Bedtime Stories
Ray of Light
Music
American Life
Confessions On a Dance Floor
Hard Candy

"MDNA" album cover

2012-01-31T09:35:00.000+01:00

"MDNA" album cover revealed!

In stores on Monday, March 26, 2012!

Pre-order it on iTunes on February 3rd and get "Give Me All Your Luvin'" exclusively!

The "W.E." soundtrack available from today

2012-01-30T10:06:00.000+01:00

Support Madonna's movie "W.E." and legally buy the soundtrack, written and produced by Abel Korzeniowski (contains The Golden Globe winning song "Masterpiece", performed by Madonna) on Amazon.co.uk today or on Amazon.com from tomorrow!

"Give Me All Your Luvin'" single art work released

2012-01-29T19:16:00.000+01:00

Official press release:

Madonna will be releasing her new single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" featuring Nicki Minaj & M.I.A. on February 3rd, three days before her highly anticipated Bridgestone Super Bowl halftime performance, it was officially confirmed by Interscope Records. "Give Me All Your Luvin'" is the first single from Madonna’s upcoming album "MDNA", her 12th studio album and follow up to 2008′s "Hard Candy" which debuted at No. 1 in 37 countries. The song was written by Madonna, Martin Solveig, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A, composed by Martin Solveig and Michael Tordjman and produced by Madonna and Martin Solveig.

iTunes will offer an exclusive global pre-order of an 18 track Deluxe Edition of "MDNA" including one exclusive remix from Madonna’s new album. The bonus remix will be available from Friday, February 3rd through Monday, February 6th only. During this time period the album will be available for $9.99 and fans will also receive the digital single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" immediately. This single is also exclusive to iTunes during this limited time.

The video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'", directed by Megaforce, is football and cheerleader themed – inspired by her upcoming Super Bowl appearance. In an AMERICAN IDOL exclusive, Madonna will world preview the video for her new single, during IDOL Thursday, Feb. 2 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The full video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'" will premiere on Madonna’s YouTube channel on February 3rd.

"MDNA", recorded in New York and LA, reunites Madonna with former collaborator William Orbit who co-wrote and co-produced several cuts on the new album. Other co producers include Martin Solveig, The Demolition Crew, Marco "Benny" Benassi and Alessandro "Alle" Benassi, Hardy "Indiigo" Muanza, Michael Malih and Madonna.

The Golden Globe Award winning song "Masterpiece" from the Madonna directed Weinstein Company film "W.E." which opens in February is also included on "MDNA" as well as on "W.E. – Music From the Soundtrack" which is scheduled to be released on January 31st at digital retailers on Interscope as well. The Compact Disc version of the soundtrack is scheduled to be released exclusively at Amazon.com on February 14th. The score was composed, orchestrated and produced by Abel Korzeniowski.

Madonna is scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno show on January 30th.

"W.E." receives it's Oscar nomination

2012-01-24T15:53:00.000+01:00

Congratulations Arianne Phillips! She has just received an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design for Madonna's movie.

Madonna in Marchesa - "W.E." New York premiere

2012-01-24T15:45:00.000+01:00

The "W.E." promo tour finally hit New York City last night, as Madonna took to the red carpet at the Ziegfeld Theater in the Big Apple.

Madonna commanded everyone’s attention in this dramatic Marchesa Fall 2011 gown.

This is a lot of gown to contend with, but this is Madonna we’re talking about, so we always expect her to go big and bold.

Her velvet dress with an embroidered bodice also has voluminous tulle sleeves. So that her hair didn’t compete with the gown, she styled it into a faux bob. Neutral makeup with kohl-rimmed eyes and her "W.E." necklace completed her look.

I have to say this is one of my favourite looks from Madonna so far. Sometimes I felt she has deliberately dressed down as she’s the director rather than the star of this movie, but this is more like it for me. She is bewitching and enchanting.

Source: Red Carpet Fashion Awards

The official press release for "W.E." soundtrack

2012-01-24T15:28:00.000+01:00

The official press release:

The Golden Globe nominated music from Madonna’s upcoming film "W.E." composed, orchestrated and produced by Abel Korzeniowski, which also includes Madonna’s Golden Globe award winning song "Masterpiece", is scheduled to be released digitally on Interscope Records on January 31st, it was announced today. "W.E.", which was directed, co-written and produced by Madonna and distributed by The Weinstein Company is scheduled to be released in February.

The score was recorded in April 2011 at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London with a 60-piece orchestra conducted by Terry Davies including piano, violin and viola solos.

The Polish born Los Angeles based Korzeniowski previously wrote the original score for the Tom Ford film "A Single Man" for which he also received a Golden Globe nomination.

"The prevailing sense of obsession was what inspired me in "W.E." - the irrational compulsion to sacrifice everything and anything for love - a love that could easily be just an illusion. In my music, I wanted to reflect those powerful and conflicting emotions through a web of melodic themes, which relentlessly repeat and constantly swing between despair and sorrow, and hope and joy", commented Korzeniowski.

"W.E." tells the story of American divorcee Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and England’s King Edward (James D’Arcy) who abdicated his thrown to be with the woman he loved. It is considered one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century. The story is told through the eyes of a modern day New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abby Cornish). Composer Korzeniowski masterfully and seamlessly bridged the two unique worlds of Europe in the 30′s and 40′s and the contemporary Manhattan environment of a woman lost in her dreams of the perfect love.

In addition to Korzeniowski’s magnificent score, the soundtrack includes the original song "Masterpiece" composed by Madonna, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry and sung by Madonna which is played during the end credits of the film. It will also be included on Madonna’s upcoming solo album for Interscope, "M.D.N.A.", which is scheduled for release this spring.

Liz Smith: Lady Gaga - Born That Way, or merely “Reductive?” (Let’s ask Miss Ciccone)

2012-01-19T23:50:00.000+01:00

Here's a new column by Liz Smith from wowowow:

"IT'S REDUCTIVE."

Those two words, uttered by Madonna, in response to ABC-TV’s Cynthia McFadden’s question about a Lady Gaga song, has "gone viral", as they say.

Even better, when McFadden, who certainly knows what the word means, asked Madonna to define it, M coyly said, "Look it up"!

Apparently, a lot of people have. Now, I keep hearing the word, generally accompanied with a laugh and a reference to the pop icon. Madonna has taught us much over the years, now she’s revived a word rarely used. (Well, I’ve always said if Madonna hadn’t gone into music, she would have stayed in Michigan and become Miss Ciccone, the stern English teacher.)

It was this benign answer about Gaga that became part of the Elton John/David Furnish’s attack on Madonna, after she won a Golden Globe for best original song on Sunday night. The song is titled "Masterpiece" from her coming film, "W.E." (Elton’s effort was "Hello, Hello" from the flop animated movie "Gnomeo and Juliet".) Aside from ripping Madonna’s song, the pair declared - on Twitter and Facebook - that Madonna’s "attack" on Gaga "shows how desperate she is".

Goodness, I didn’t get that at all. Madonna has no inclination to trash Gaga. But she is certainly within her rights to imply, gently, that Lady G. has appropriated some aspects of her image, sound and message. Music critics were the first, in fact, to point out the similarities between Gaga’s "Born This Way" and M’s "Express Yourself".

Elton John, who has been a star since 1970, feels he has earned the right to be perennially cranky and opinionated. Fine. And he does wonderful charity work.

But I think Madonna, who has been a star since 1983, has earned the right to answer a question honestly, from her point of view. Or to accept an award, if she wins one.

Elton has had a bee in his bonnet about Madonna for years. At various times he has criticized her singing, dancing, her right to be a star, even. She has rarely responded.

In this case, however, it is Elton who appears to be "desperate". Back in the day, Madonna could be ungracious and careless in her remarks, but I never recall her attacking another performer in this manner, or publicly declaring she should have won an award instead of somebody else. (Perhaps she learned her lesson when, in the midst of a wave of positive reviews and publicity for "Evita" - and a Golden Globe win - she said she thought she deserved to be nominated for an Oscar, too. The Academy was not amused.)

The truth is, most of the public has never heard either Elton or Madonna’s song. Why carry on so?

Oh, "reductive"? It means something is the same, only less.

"Masterpiece" won a Golden Globe

2012-01-16T10:23:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Madonna for winning a Golden Globe for the Best Original Song with "Masterpiece", a theme from "W.E.".

The song "Masterpiece" was written by Madonna, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry, produced by Madonna and William Orbit.

Preview of Madonna on The Graham Norton Show

2012-01-13T22:43:00.000+01:00

One of the previews you can find on BBC's YouTube channel (Madonna on Graham Norton Show):

Madonna dazzles at UK premiere of "W.E."

2012-01-11T23:21:00.000+01:00

Arriving for the UK premiere of her directorial work, Madonna was spotted on the red carpet for "W.E." at The Odeon Kensington in London, England on Wednesday evening (January 11).

Madonna donned a black Jean Paul Gaultier frock and a Dolce & Gabbana cape accessorized with a pair of red leather gloves.

As one of the director/writers for the upcoming drama/romance flick, Madonna recently told press that she became obsessed with making the film, which involves an affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

"If you’re a romantic like me everyone wants to be swept away by a night knight in shining armour but we keep getting disappointed. If you have half a brain you know that doesn’t exist", she told.

The title of Madonna’s upcoming album revealed

2012-01-11T16:38:00.000+01:00

Just a short update:

Madonna just officially announced the name of her upcoming studio album, which is "M.D.N.A"!

Source: Madonna's Facebook page

"Truth or Dare by Madonna" fragrance

2011-12-19T18:55:00.000+01:00

There is something primal and mystical about the sense of smell. It connects us to memory, nostalgia and the ability to dream and fantasize.

I have always been obsessed by fragrance and for years wanted to create something personal that was an expression of me, but that other people could relate to as well. Something classical and timeless and yet modern.

My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume. I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like Gardenias and Tuberose. An intoxicating mixture. Feminine and mysterious.

I wanted to recreate this scent but with something fresh and new about it as well. Something honest and yet daring. Hence the name Truth or Dare.

We can be tricked by what we see and what we hear but not by what we smell.

Truth:

Duality. Sin is my twin. Contradictions push and pull.

Dare:

To expose what lies beneath. Infinite possibility.

In this tension, we find our true selves.

Truth or Dare by Madonna

Release date and first single officially confirmed

2011-12-15T15:33:00.000+01:00

Madonna will have a new album out in late March, it was officially confirmed today by Interscope Records. In one component of a very broad plan developed by long time manager Guy Oseary and Live Nation Entertainment, the Material Girl has signed a three album deal with Interscope Records. The new album, her first in five years, has been completed. "Gimme All Your Luvin", the first single from the album will be released the last week in January prior to her upcoming Bridgestone Halftime Superbowl appearance on February 5th.

In 2007, Madonna signed a multi faceted deal with Live Nation that includes new studio albums, touring, merchandising, fan club/website, DVD’s, music-related television and film projects and associated sponsorship agreements. "We look forward to a great partnership", commented Live Nation Entertainment’s Chairman of Global Music & CEO, Global Touring Arthur Fogel. Oseary was equally enthusiastic: "We couldn’t be happier to work with Jimmy Iovine, Lucian Grainge (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group) and the entire Interscope team. We anticipate a very bright future at our new home". Added Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M. "Very rarely does an opportunity like this come around. We would like to thank Madonna, Guy and Live Nation for their belief in us".

In other Madonna news, her upcoming film, "W.E." which she directed and co-wrote is scheduled for a wide release on February 3rd.

Over the course of her extraordinary three decade career, Madonna has sold over 300 million albums and holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. She is a nine time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, producer and is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last CD "Hard Candy" debuted at No. 1 in 27 countries including the US, UK, Canada, France and Australia.

Madonna’s Interscope deal

2011-12-14T14:23:00.000+01:00

From New York Post:

So Madonna is back in the studio. After performing for nearly five years without a new record, her Madgesty has a three-album deal with Universal Music Group’s Interscope. Madonna broke off her relationship with Warner Music Group in 2007 following a disagreement with Edgar Bronfman and signed with Live Nation for a megabucks “360 deal” that covers touring and merchandise. She’ll l continue to tour with Live Nation but has the deal with Interscope at a base of $1 million per album. "It’s just about keeping relevance so that she can tour", a source said, adding, "She is still in the demo phase, but the idea is to get the first album out early next year".

Ask Madonna a question!

2011-12-13T20:02:00.000+01:00

"Nightline" anchor Cynthia McFadden has an upcoming exclusive interview with Madonna, which will air on "Good Morning America," "Nightline" and "20/20" in the coming weeks.

Go to ABC website clicking here, fill out the form and ask anything you want to know.

Photo: Herb Ritts

Shooting a video and a brand new photo shoot

2011-12-08T09:26:00.000+01:00

From: madonna.com

Fresh news from the Madonna Team: Madonna is currently filming the video to her brand new single with M.I.A & Nicki Minaj, which is directed by Megaforce.

Later this week, she will create her new album's photoshoot with Mert & Marcus! Get ready for a brand new Madonna era and stay tuned for more exclusive updates...

The score for "W.E."

2011-12-06T11:39:00.000+01:00

Click here and visit The Weinstein Company website to listen to the Abel Korzeniowski score for "W.E.".

Super Bowl's Halftime Show confirmation

2011-12-05T12:16:00.000+01:00

From: madonna.com

We are happy to confirm that Madonna will perform in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, 2012 as announced during tonight's game on NBC! The Material Girl has partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory, to create a signature performance for the Super Bowl's Halftime Show, which will be broadcast worldwide.

Photo:
Madonna, accompanied by Andrea Riseborough, attended the Cinema Society & Piaget screening of her movie "W.E." at the Museum of Modern Art, yesterday in New York.

Madonna to appear on The Graham Norton Show

2011-12-01T23:23:00.000+01:00

Expressing his delight at finally welcoming Madonna to the show, Graham Norton said: "I couldn’t be more excited! This is my real Christmas present. I may have to retire, but that’s not a promise".

Madonna will make a rare talk show appearance and her first on BBC's The Graham Norton Show on Friday, January 13, 2012. She will join her two lead actors Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy to chat to Graham about "W.E.".

During the past years Graham Norton mentioned multiple times that he’d really like Madonna to appear on his show.

While this appearance is confirmed both by BBC and BBC America, there is a rumor that Madonna will be a guest on Italian festival in San Remo on February 16. 2011. Note that this news still needs a confirmation!

Official trailer for "W.E." revealed

2011-11-18T23:32:00.000+01:00

Official W.E. website revealed

2011-11-18T23:23:00.003+01:00

Click here to go to the W.E. website

Madonna attended the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project

2011-11-13T21:47:00.000+01:00

At the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project’s Global Dance Search which took place at Roseland in New York last night Madonna chose the winner of a global dance contest awarding one lucky dancer the opportunity to join her official dance crew. With art direction and choreography by Shay Normann, the 11 finalists battled it out in front of over one thousand guests. Beating hundreds of online hopefuls and then competing against finalists live at the event, Lil’ Buck from Memphis, TN was the announced winner of the coveted, life-changing prize.

Madonna, who watched the performances with choreographers Rich & Tone Talauega, handpicked DJ and producer Martin Solveig to headline the event. Solveig has been collaborating with Madonna on her upcoming album. Hardy “Indigo” Muanza and Vikter Duplaix were also at the event spinning custom mixes.

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, including the exclusive dance competition to join Madonna’s dance crew, is the first component of a multi-faceted agreement between Madonna and her partner Live Nation and Diageo, the parent company of The Smirnoff Co.

New Madonna interview & photoshoot for "Harper's Bazaar"

2011-11-09T20:59:00.000+01:00

Madonna and actress Andrea Riseborough appear on the cover of "Harper's Bazaar", December issue.

As part of an exclusive interview, Madonna discusses her new movie "W.E." and her work as a director. Click here to read the full interview.

Here are some experts from the interview:

At 53 years old, I find, Madonna is scrappy, really smart, and young in the way that people who have had a childhood trauma — she lost her mother when she was five years old — often seem to be. She is very guarded at times and then, as we speak, more open, even vulnerable.

"For some reason, I feel like I never left high school, because I still feel that if you don't fit in, you're going to get your ass kicked," she says. "That hasn't really changed for me. I've always been acutely aware of differences and the way you are supposed to act if you want to be popular."

"I believe sometimes we aren't always in charge of everything that we do creatively. We submit to things as we're going on our own journey," Madonna says. "Wally was learning about herself, and so was I — on my own journey and the journey of all women. I don't work any other way."

"I think my behavior and my lifestyle threaten a lot of social norms, like the movie does," she observes. "I think there are a lot of parallels and connections." For her star, Andrea Riseborough, it was liberating to work with such a powerful woman on a female-centric film. "I was interested in the strong, interesting person apart from the public persona, and I was not disappointed," she says of Madonna. "I found it hugely fulfilling."

Madonna is frank about the impact her celebrity has on her kids: "The other day, I was out on the street with Lourdes. She wasn't feeling well and had a fever," she says. "She was wearing her tracksuit bottoms and her T-shirt, and she turned around and was like, 'Ugh, there's a paparazzi, and I look like shit!' I felt for her because, you know, I thought, this is an extra layer. It's already a challenge to have a teenager, then to have a teenager in New York City, and on top of that, she's the daughter of someone famous. It's a lot. I'm aware of it, and I constantly find myself apologizing for it. But it also provokes many discussions with us about what's real and what isn't real."

Madonna points out that her own age is always a focus. "I find whenever someone writes anything about me, my age is right after my name," she says. "It's almost like they're saying, 'Here she is, but remember she's this age, so she's not that relevant anymore.' Or 'Let's punish her by reminding her and everyone else.' When you put someone's age down, you're limiting them."

She says, "To have fun, that's the main issue. To continue to be a provocateur, to do what we perceive as the realm of young people, to provoke, to be rebellious, to start a revolution."

Also included in the issue is a special fashion photoshoot by Tom Munro. Check it out now!

Source: Harper's Bazaar
Photos: Tom Munro

"W.E." Q&A at the 55th BFI London Film Festival

2011-11-03T23:38:00.001+01:00

Off-topic: Will people understand the irony or will Madonna's skit be taken seriously?

2011-10-28T22:22:00.000+02:00

Will people understand the irony or will Madonna's skit be taken seriously? Again! Just watch and see that she's making fun of all "serious analysts" of her work in the past years. Once again she's proving that critics takes her far too literary.

I'm misunderstood like Wallis, says Madonna

2011-10-23T23:39:00.000+02:00

From Sky News:

The singer turned director was on the red carpet as the film, "W.E.", was screened as part of the 55th BFI London Film Festival. It is about the woman King Edward VIII abdicated his throne to marry, entwined with the story of a modern day woman obsessed with the Duchess.

Madonna said: "I do know what it's like to be misunderstood on a global scale. She lived at a time when women didn't have opportunities like we do now. She didn't have the chance to defend herself so I'm taking that opportunity now."

The film is the Madonna's second feature as a director following 2008's "Filth and Wisdom". The latest offering divided the critics when it was first screened at the Venice Film Festival, despite Madonna admitting that she took directing advice from her ex-husbands Guy Ritchie and Sean Penn.

Having worked in the spotlight for three decades, the Queen of Pop says that she no longer takes notice of the critics. "Even when I try something old and try music I come up against the critics. I cope by not reading anything," she said.

The star spent three years researching the Duke and Duchess of Windsor before starting filming the project and says she was intrigued by their story. "I just think it's really fascinating to try to understand the nature of their romance. And why a man of that power would give up his throne for her."

Asked if she had any plans to return to acting or do more directing, Madonna told Sky she is returning to music and is already planning a new record.

"W.E." is scheduled for release in the UK in January.

Source: Skynews.com

List of currently known release dates for "W.E."

2011-10-23T19:03:00.000+02:00

On Sunday evening Madonna, Abbie Cornish and James D’Arcy will attend the "W.E." premiere at the 55th BFI London Film Festival.

Here’s an overview of the currenly known release dates and distributors:

Dec 09, 2011 – USA by The Weinstein Company

Dec 21, 2011 – Belgium by Kinepolis Film Distribution

Dec 22, 2011 – Netherlands by Dutch Film Works

Jan 20, 2012 – UK & Ireland by Studiocanal

Jan 25, 2012 – Norway by SF Norge

Feb 16, 2012 – Germany by Senator Film Verleih

During the first trimester 2012 – France by Pretty Pictures

Excerpts from Madonna's press conference in Tornto

2011-09-13T23:23:00.000+02:00

On the choice to use parallel storylines:

"I was never interested in making a straight-forward biopic, so I created the modern-day story and the modern-day character of Wally Winthrop, so that I could have a point of view in which to tell this story. Because I think in the end truth is subjective and we can all read the same history book and have a different point of view and get something different from it. It was important for me to not present the story and say this is the one and only story but rather this is the story that moved me and inspired me. That’s how the two love stories were created."

On cinematic approach:

"First of all it was important to me to underline and express the world of luxury that these characters came from, the Royal Family, the world that Wallis Simpson lived in. She was very much a presentational character that cared deeply about the rooms that she was in, the lighting, the flowers, her dress. And then of course Wally’s character, she lives on Park Avenue she also lived in a world of good taste, refinement and luxury. So I wanted to express that in the film. Also, the Sotheby’s auction aspect of the film was very much about objects and objects being used as a device to go back and forth in time, objects with a very tactile sensibility about them, so you needed to see that shiny gleaming-ness of the martini shaker or the pillbox or the linen, the tactile quality of touching a linen tablecloth. So it was important to pick up on those details and nuances."

On the overall cinematic style:

"A lot of the movies that I referenced or that inspired me were movies where there was a lot of tracking shots or Steadicam — I like a lot of movement with cameras, not locked-on shots. I like the magic that is created, I like the lyricism and the dance that the movie becomes with the camera moving and following. It’s like a living breathing creature that has to be choreographed and I equate a dolly tracking shot and a woman walking down the street as something extremely feminine and mysterious. That was some of the millions ideas that I had."

On whether she cares what film critics think:

"Well I do when I think that it’s a fair criticism. I can tell when people are reviewing my film and when they are reviewing me personally. I welcome criticisms of my film when it’s viewed as an artistic form and not when people are mentioning things about my personal life or my achievements in any other field. They’re irrelevant to the film. So when they stick to the film, I do care. I pay attention to it."

On portraying Simpson sympathetically:

"But also what I was interested in was the idea or the concept of the cult of celebrity, which we are all consumed with, now and then. And the idea is that there are so many rumours that are now believed to be true about Wallis Simpson and when I investigated her story, there were so many of them yet I could find no empirical evidence stating that they were true. I realized that we have always – since the time of Chris or Cleopatra or you can go back through story and name any iconic or historical figure — we hear … it’s like Chinese whispers. It starts off as one story and by the time it gets to us, it’s something different and we believe it to be true. And we often reduce our historical figures, or our iconic figures, to a soundbite. And it’s tremendously unfair. We forget that they are human beings. So what was important to me was to portray Wallis Simpson as a human being."

Madonna premieres "W.E." at Toronto International Film Festival

2011-09-12T19:51:00.000+02:00

Last week Madonna attended the premiere of her latest directorial effort "W.E." in Venice, today the film will make it’s North America debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Madonna showed up on Monday to fight for her new film, "W.E." at the Toronto International Film Festival. But nobody called her out. At a noon news conference, the toughest question from the reporters who managed to ask one ran something like this: "Since you have not had the same acclaim for making movies as in your music career, do you feel pressure?"

"Of course, I do, because it’s new and I had the same kind of pressure when I began my music career."

Another reporter asked, gently, whether Madonna the filmmaker cares about critics. "I do when I think that it’s a fair criticism," Madonna answered. "I can tell when people are reviewing my film and whey they’re reviewing me personally."

As fireworks go, it didn’t add up to much, given the harsh reaction to "W.E." at the Venice Film Festival just over a week ago. Critics came down hard on the movie, a back-and-forth pair of love stories about a contemporary woman who is preoccupied with the affair between Wallis Simpson and King Edward III. In fact, some were calling the encounter "Death in Venice". But in Toronto, an accommodating reporter just wanted to know if Madonna had Oscar hopes.

"My legs and my fingers are crossed", said Madonna.

Source: The New York Times

Madonna puts an end to a so-called "hydrangeas-scandal"

2011-09-12T18:52:00.000+02:00

The video is a funny reply to the hydrangeas-scandal. I read a lot of negative comments about this video and all I can say to the naysayers: if you don't get this as a joke, you are not a true Madonna fan!

First reviews of "W.E." are in

2011-09-01T20:52:00.000+02:00

As expected, British critics are destroying and slashing Madonna's movie that debuted today at Venice Film Festival.

Guardian gave it one star while Daily Mail and The Telegraph gave it three stars.

There's no denying that Madonna is completely talented in all that she does and goes after whatever she chooses to achieve. We will have more reviews tomorrow, since the movie premiers for a wide audience tonight.

Here are some highlights from The Daily Mail review:

"A lot of people will loathe it, simply because it’s been made by Madonna. But if they were to watch it with no knowledge of who directed, they would be pleasantly surprised. They might even find much of it enjoyable, although the odd moment may have them wondering if Madge has committed treason."

"We all know that the affair cost the King his kingdom, and an empire. But Madonna the film-maker, who wrote the screenplay with her old friend Alek Keshishian, raises the question of what it cost Mrs Simpson. To be sure, she became the Duchess of Windsor and lived a life of luxury but, as Mrs Simpson (played beautifully by Andrea Riseborough) points out, the King ‘used me to escape his prison, only to incarcerate me in my own’. Poor old Mrs Simpson would have been happier if she could have shaken cocktails for His majesty while remaining married to second husband Ernest Simpson."

"There’s a scene where the Prince of Wales and Mrs Simpson are with friends, dozing in comfy chairs. The Prince, portrayed superbly as a blonde, blue-eyed boy by James D’Arcy, screams that he’s going to wake the party up by popping Benzedrine into the champagne. Mrs Simpson hitches up her designer gown and dances the Charleston to the Sex Pistols. ‘We’re so pretty, we’re so pretty vacant’ the song goes, and it’s a sizzling moment that encapsulates the life of deluxe hedonism the couple led."

"All this interior design porn, the sumptuous sofas, the castles, the Mayfair apartments, the south of France villas is fascinating, of course, but it also symbolises a life beyond the reach of all but a handful of us. Madonna has lived such a life herself and knows it is meaningless unless you have someone you love to share it with."

Madonna at the 68th Venice Film Festival

2011-09-01T17:07:00.002+02:00

Madonna at the 68th Venice Film Festival attended the press conference with the cast of "W.E.", Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough, Oscar Isaac and James D’Arcy.

More updates soon!

The official 2012 calendar - disappointed at first look

2011-08-29T23:22:00.000+02:00

They say: Madonna fans! We’re happy to share the cover art of Madonna’s official 2012 calendar with you. The 12 month calendar will soon be available for pre-order from Madonna’s official online store as well as from most online retailers. Stay tuned for more info!

I say: What the f*#k?! Is this "throw the fans anything, they will swallow it" attitude? I remember those times when Madonna and her team did care what they put as an official calendar. Last few years it's just been recycling of old photos (and most of those are not the best Madonna photo archives has to offer).

I hope soon Madonna will do a new photo shot! Because this sucks! (I'm gonna buy the calendar anyway but I officially object!)

Madonna partners with Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, tour in 2012

2011-08-18T18:06:00.000+02:00

This year Madonna joins the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project to find the best dancer to join her next world tour.

Revellers worldwide are invited to co-create and participate in the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project by contributing ideas on what makes their local nightlife distinct in the categories of drinks, dance, fashion, music, places, and more creating a nightlife cocktail of unique events. The most inspiring suggestions from each region will be captured online and then exchanged with another country in November.

One of the consistent aspects in nightlife culture around the world is the importance of dance. As well as submitting ideas on what makes their country’s nightlife special, fans can enter an exclusive dance competition online. Madonna will attend one of the selected Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project experiences where finalists will compete in front of her for the winning spot. The winner may get the opportunity to join Madonna on her next tour as one of her dancers.

For details on the dance submission process and terms and conditions, visit www.smirnoff.com or www.madonna.com.

The ten Finalists will be contacted via email by 17 October 2011 to confirm that they have at least twelve months validity on their passport from March 2012, are willing and available to take part in Madonna’s next world tour and are eligible to travel to the countries forming part of the Tour.

Rehearsals for the Tour are provisionally due to commence in the first quarter of 2012 and the Tour is provisionally scheduled to run throughout 2012 and possibly beyond. Entrants must also be aware that dates for the Tour are provisional only and are subject to change.

Countries/continents which may be included in the Tour are USA, South America, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Entrants must however be aware that the destination countries for the Tour are not yet confirmed and are subject to change at any time.

Surce: madonna.com, smirnoff.com

Madonna on the covers of "Interview" magazine

2011-08-17T22:02:00.000+02:00

Madonna has always been one of "Interview" magazine favorite cover girls. They celebrated her 53rd birthday by taking a trip down memory lane, in which they highlight each of her "Interview" covers from 1985 to 2010.

"She's the hottest, shrewdest be-bop darling on the pop charts—a crossover dream with a powerful, girlie-sweet voice and the best dancer/performer since Michael Jackson." Those were the first words ever printed in "Interview" about a young singer named Madonna Louise Ciccone, whose self-titled debut album had been released one year before her debut in the magazine. Since that initial article—which ran in "Interview"'s April 1984 edition - Madonna has appeared on no fewer than eight covers of the magazine, including one she shared with Magic Johnson and Chuck Close in 1992.

Yesterday, the Queen of Pop celebrated her 53rd birthday. In honor of the occasion, we present a look back at every cover of "Interview" Madonna has graced - each presented with a representative quote that encapsulates the singer at that point in her career. From that famous crotch-grabbing shot, photographed by Herb Ritts in 1990, to last year's red cross-emblazoned closeup, the Material Girl has remained an icon to be reckoned with. Click through our slideshow, and you'll understand why.

Go to slideshow: here.

Written by Hilary Busis

Source: "Interview" magazine

All the best to the Queen of Pop!

2011-08-16T09:17:00.000+02:00

Windsor dressing

2011-08-12T23:49:00.000+02:00

Vanity Fair, September 2011

"W.E.", directed by Madonna and co-written with her friend Alek Keshishian (who directed "Truth or Dare"), focuses on two love stories: that of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and Britain’s King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy), who gave up the throne to marry the twice-divorced American, and that of a contemporary New Yorker named Wally (Abbie Cornish), who falls for a security guard at Sotheby’s and who identifies with that other, most sensational love affair of the 20th century. After Edward abdicated, in 1936, he became the Duke of Windsor. As his wife, Wallis automatically became a duchess, but she was denied the title Her Royal Highness. It’s not surprising that Madonna chose this topic for her first feature film as a director; for 50 years the Windsors were known for their rebelliousness, their extravagance, and their impeccable taste.

"It was easy to get swept up in the historical relevance and epic romance of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII," she says. "The fact that they were also the fashion icons of their day added to their allure for me. Wallis was the epitome of style and grace, and Andrea Riseborough captured this and so much more." The fashions, modeled here by Riseborough and D’Arcy, were the special domain of Madonna's longtime collaborator Arianne Phillips. The Oscar-nominated costume designer worked with such labels as Cartier, Dior, and Dunhill for the 60 or so wardrobe changes in the film. "Wallis and the Duke both made a lifestyle out of presentation. . . . It was a beautiful façade," says Phillips. "He said that because she never got a title he gave her jewelry to make her feel royal."

Written by Krista Smith
More photos by Tom Munro find here

Madonna and Orbit work together again

2011-08-05T19:48:00.001+02:00

After revealing one of the producers of Madonna's forthcoming album being Martin Solveig, a French electronic music DJ and producer, today the news broke (after so many rumors) that William Orbit is indeed working with Madonna again!

High expectations for this album are getting even higher!

North American premiere of "W.E." announced

2011-07-31T17:04:00.000+02:00

More details about Madonna's movie "W.E.":

"W.E." World Premiere - Venice Film Festival, Thursday, September 1 at 21:30, Lido – Palazzo del Cinema – Sala Grande

"W.E." North American Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival, Monday, September 12th, Roy Thomson Hall

Here are more details about the movie:

Runtime: 115 minutes; Directed: Madonna; Producer: Madonna, Kris Thykier; Production Company: Semtex Films; Principal Cast: Abblie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough, James D’Arcy, Oscar Issac; Writer: Madonna, Alek Keshishian; Cinematographer: Hagen Bogdanski; Editor: Danny B. Tull; Sound: Rodney Berling; Music: Abel Korzeniowski; Production designer: Martin Childs

Venice Film Festival includes Madonna’s "W.E."

2011-07-28T15:06:00.000+02:00

The official list has been released and Madonna’s film will premiere out of competition at the 68th Venice Film Festival, which will run 31st August to 10th September 2011. Marco Müller is the Director the 68th edition. He has been heading the Venice Biennale's Cinema section since 2004.

The film will hit theaters in the U.S. on December 9, in the midst of awards season. Starring Abbie Cornish, the film follows a young, married New York City woman who becomes obsessed with the controversial affair between Wallis Simpson and the British monarch King Edward VII, who famously abdicated the throne for his lover.

First ever TV performance of "Everybody"

2011-07-16T17:56:00.000+02:00

Some say this is Madonna's first ever TV performance. The show was "Dancin' On Air'' and the song was "Everybody". Effortless and beautiful!

Rolling Stone readers poll: The Queen of Pop

2011-07-07T16:14:00.000+02:00

Last week we did some serious number crunching and created the Rolling Stone Queen of Pop Index – a ranking of the current top 16 female pop recording artists. To be as up-to-date as possible, we only examined data from the last two years – which excluded all artists that hadn't work in that time period. Needless to say, this pissed off some fan communities. Madonna fans were particularly enraged, even though her last album was released in early 2008 and she's been off the road since the summer of 2009. One particularly nutty critic even accused of taking bribes from Lady GaGa.

With all the fan feedback, we decided to poll our readers so they could name their own queen of pop. Here are the results.

10. Mariah Carey

9. Elton John

8. Cher

7. Katy Perry

6. Aretha Franklin

5. Beyoncé
4. Tina Turner
3. Britney Spears
2. Lady GaGa

1. Madonna

To say that Madonna won this poll in a landslide would be like saying that she was a kind of popular pop singer in the 1980s. It wouldn't even begin to explain the scope of the situation. She received five times as many votes as Lady GaGa, who landed in second place by a very comfortable margin. The only persistent criticism that GaGa has dealt with in recent years is that she's too much like Madonna. It's a hard shadow to escape. Madonna is a musical icon without peer. Her run of hits over the past 30 years is simply astounding, and when she hits the road, tickets sell like it's a Led Zeppelin reunion tour. Sure, her last few albums didn't match up to the classics. Nobody cares. She's Madonna. Lady GaGa has accomplished more in recent years than any artist of her era, but she's still got a long climb until she reaches Madonna level. It's very likely that no other artist will ever reach it though. Her manager Guy Oseary recently tweeted that she's started recording her 12th studio album, so clearly she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

Source: Rolling Stone

"True Blue" anniversary contest

2011-07-05T22:02:00.000+02:00

Rumor has it...

2011-07-04T22:21:00.000+02:00

While Madonna's manager Guy Oseary officially confirmed that Madonna is indeed in the studio, recording her 12th studio album, the list of the people she choose to work with is still under wraps and speculation.

One certain name is Martin Solveig, a French electronic music DJ and producer from Paris. Solveig was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French Minister of Culture to recognise significant contribution to the arts, literature or the propagation of these fields in France. Solveig has also received the Artiste de Musiques Electroniques de l’Annee at the French Victoires de la Musique. His 5th studio album is "Smash", which spawned "Boys & Girls" featuring Canadian electro-pop group "Dragonette".

Hopefully, Madonna's French connection will be successful as the one with Mirwais Ahmadzaï!

Celebrating 25 years of "True Blue" album: La Isla Bonita

2011-07-03T18:13:00.000+02:00

Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch

Produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard

Video directed by Mary Lambert

Video produced by David Naylor and Sharon Oreck

Celebrating 25 years of "True Blue" album: Open Your Heart

2011-07-03T11:28:00.000+02:00

Written by Madonna, Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson

Produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard

Video directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Video produced by David Naylor

Celebrating 25 years of "True Blue" album: True Blue

2011-07-02T20:37:00.000+02:00

Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray

Video directed by James Foley

Video produced by David Naylor and Sharon Orcek

Celebrating 25 years of "True Blue" album: Papa Don't Preach

2011-07-02T10:32:00.000+02:00

Written by Brian Elliot, additional lyrics by Madonna
Produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray
Video directed by James Foley
Video produced by David Naylor and Sharon Oreck

Celebrating 25 years of "True Blue" album: Live to Tell

2011-07-01T19:44:00.001+02:00

Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard

Video directed by James Foley

Video produced by David Naylor and Sharon Oreck

Liz Smith: How Madonna’s baby bump gave my career a bump

2011-06-30T10:54:00.000+02:00

"I am my own creation. I am my own work of art.”

That was Madonna, way back before Lady Gaga began saying things like that.

I’ve been reminding you (and myself!) of some of my "great scoops" over the decades — breaking the Woodward/Bernstein book "The Final Days" … The Donald and Ivana Trump divorce … Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding to Larry Fortensky.

Inevitably we arrive at Madonna. Aside from Miss Taylor, Madonna has surely taken up the most space in my column. I didn’t "get her" at first, but eventually I was charmed by her brash attitude, her supreme confidence, her various tributes to great stars of the past, her brilliant videos and quite a lot of her music, even. And, she was a marketing genius. She spoke openly about issues of homophobia, violence against women and being true to one’s nature - "Express Yourself" was her anthem.

By the time I finally clapped eyes on her, in 1991, at the premiere of "Truth or Dare", she was very much aware of the extensive support I’d given her. She was brunette and heavily painted and wearing something revealing. I thought she seemed like a little girl dressed up, trying to be a big girl. I was there being interviewed for "Primetime Live". The producers wondered if Madonna would give them a moment of her time and speak about me? As this was her premiere, I doubted it. I was wrong. "I love Liz Smith because she has big balls like me!" she said, laughing. Although it didn’t make the final cut, on air, of course. (I have her compliment embroidered on a pillow given to me by Diane Sawyer and Mike Nichols.) A few years later, I was interviewing her for real. As we prepared, she looked me straight in the eye and said, "You’re not afraid of me. I like that".

Over the years I found her warmer, nicer, much more vulnerable than she ever let on, publicly. She had (and still does) a wonderful press rep, Liz Rosenberg, with whom I am also friends. My column had the best access to her, first dibs on her latest videos and albums. I was in her corner, especially when such press pleasure was taken at her mistakes or failures. She was always supposed to be "over", but somehow never was.

I had championed Madonna to star in the film version of "Evita" way before anybody else thought of it. When she finally captured the role, I felt I was a part of that triumph. Two weeks into filming "Evita" in Argentina, I received a call late Friday from Liz R. "Liz", she said "I have some news". Pause. "Madonna is pregnant". "What?!" I shouted. "How far along?" "Two months". I was sputtering in shock. The world had been waiting for "Madonna and Child" for years. Now it was happening. (The father was trainer/actor Carlos Leon, who was desperately in love with her, and one of the nicest men she ever loved.) "But filming has just begun. How can she hide it? And all the strain…" Suddenly, Madonna herself got on the line - "Liz, I’m pregnant, and I’m having my baby, now write!"

I sure did. Only one teeny problem. I had to hold the story for 78 hours! Even in 1996, this was almost impossible. I had to wait till the very last moment to send my column Monday morning. The syndicate was going crazy. Then I had to alert my papers, so they could clear the front page. I was sure I was going to lose the scoop. But I didn’t. It held. And as with Donald and Ivana and Elizabeth’s wedding, the day the story broke news crews awaited me in the lobby of my building and the phone rang nonstop. Yes, that is always kind of absurdly thrilling.

Madonna paid me back for all my support by giving me what I needed most - a great big juicy exclusive. And she was grateful in other ways. Once, at the height of her "unpopularity" - the duel release of her "Body of Evidence" movie and her "Sex" book - she called me. "It’s Madonna. I just want to thank for all you’ve written. I know you take a lot of shit for it".

I was charmed. It was almost - but not quite - as good as a scoop.

Source: wowowow.com

The Weinstein Company acquires Madonna's "W.E." for U.S. release

2011-06-13T23:58:00.000+02:00

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to "W.E.", Madonna's directorial debut of a feature film. "W.E." is a romantic drama co-written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian, produced by Madonna and Kris Thykier and executive produced by Scott Franklin ("Black Swan"). It stars Abbie Cornish, Oscar Isaac, James D'Arcy, Andrea Riseborough, Natalie Dormer, Richard Coyle, James Fox and Laurence Fox .

Spanning six decades, "W.E." juxtaposes a contemporary love story with that of King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

"W.E." is about the nature of true love, and the sacrifices and compromises that are often made. I've wanted to tell this story for a very long time, and bringing it to life has been a great adventure for me. I'm looking forward to working with Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company on this film," commented Madonna.

"Madonna has really come into her own as a filmmaker with W.E.," said Weinstein. "She's taken one of the most famous romances of the 20th Century and brought it to life in a smart, sexy and thoroughly modern way. It's a terrific addition to our US release slate."

Commented TWC's President of production Donna Gigliotti, "The advance footage for W.E. was some of the most impressive I've ever seen. I can't wait for American audiences to have the opportunity to see this film".

Source: Madonna.com

Just so we don't forget who is The Queen: Madonna facts (part 1)

2011-05-22T17:13:00.000+02:00

- Madonna is the only artist in the ''Top 5 Best Selling Artists'' worldwide that is still making new music. All other musicians above her have either stopped making music (The Beatles, ABBA) or have unfortunately passed away (Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson). She is also the only solo female musician in the Top 5 and the highest in the Top 10 (Mariah Carey being 9th and Celine Dion being 10th).

- Madonna has achieved multiple Guinness World Records, including world's top-selling female recording artist and the most successful female recording artist of all time. On March 10, 2008, Madonna was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in her first year of eligibility. "Billboard" magazine ranked her as the most successful solo artist (second overall, behind only The Beatles) on the "Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists". She has also scored many hits on major international charts, including 13 number one singles in the United Kingdom, 11 in Australia, and 23 in Canada - more than any other female artist.

- Madonna is the world's best selling female recording artist of all time. Since her debut in 1982, Madonna has released many chart-topping albums and singles, and has sold an estimated 270 million albums and 160 million singles worldwide. With "4 Minutes" and "Give It 2 Me", Madonna has now sold more than 17 million singles in the UK.

- "Hard Candy" (Madonna's 11th studio album) has debuted #1 in 27 countries worldwide while "Hung Up" from her 10th studio album "Confessions On a Dancefloor" reached #1 in a record breaking 45 countries!

- Madonna's "Sticky and Sweet Tour 2008" is the best selling concert by a female (with ticket sales that reached 300 million dollars in 6 months across Europe, South and North America).

- Madonna is ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century, and the second top-selling female artist in the United States (behind Barbra Streisand), with 64 million certified albums sold. Despite her high record sales, Madonna has become the most-pirated artist worldwide according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

Madonna wishes farewell to Oprah

2011-05-18T09:52:00.000+02:00

Madonna was one among A-list celebrities who descended on Chicago to wish Oprah Winfrey farewell at a taping of the talk show last episodes ever of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Madonna told the crowd that she is among the millions of people who are inspired by Winfrey, who announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years. She explained…

"It’s no secret millions of people are inspired by Oprah. I am one of those people. She’s a self made woman who has been at the top of her game for 25 years and she is still kicking ass, encouraging people to dream big, work hard, to read a book, get an education, ask questions – no matter who you are or where you come from. She fights for things she believes in, even if it makes her unpopular. She has balls and a wealth of compassion. I’ve learned so much from her. I hope to have that same thrill in the years to come, to see that I, too, have made a difference.

Oprah, may the next chapters be even better. I stand before you on behalf of the many you have helped and vow to be more courageous and never give up. Never. Thank you for inspiring me."

Madonna makes it a very starry night for Met Gala

2011-05-03T10:14:00.001+02:00

Madonna has often been one of the Met Gala's wildest-dressed stars (remember the Marc Jacobs bunny ears?), but yesterday night Madonna played it sexy in a demure, star-covered Stella McCartney dress for Met Gala in NYC. She had her longtime manager and close friend Guy Oseary as her date for the evening, and he posed with her on the red carpet. Madonna's loose curls and bright red lips completed the classic look and she was careful not to get her stiletto heels stuck in her gown as she made her way up the stairs. Stella McCartney had a big night dressing her celebrity friends, with Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hailee Steinfeld, and Rihanna also decked out in the designer.

Liz Smith: Lady… Madonna?! Is GaGa using old tricks to scandalize?

2011-04-20T19:38:00.000+02:00

Excerpt from Liz Smith's column on wowowow.com

Speaking of religion, Madonna is at it again, releasing a ''sacrilegious'' song and video, challenging Catholic doctrines. Oh, no wait … I mean Lady GaGa and her new single "Judas" is the event raising a ruckus.

The Catholic League (essentially one guy, Bill Donohue) condemns the Lady and her music and winds up with: "Maybe if she had more talent we’d be more offended". I feel pretty sure this is a leftover from criticism of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer".

GaGa, honey! You do realize that as talented as you are, the Big M did all this way back in the 1980's? This, and speaking out for sexual freedom, supporting the gays, etc? I guess everything old is always new again to a new generation. But come on, GaGa - you are a smart cookie. Get a fresh idea.

Speaking of Madonna, the former provocateur has been so deeply involved in putting the final touches to her film, "W.E.", that she has hardly seen the light of day. She spends hour after hour in the editing room, mixing the music, getting it "just right". This is typical Madonna. Even on her concert tours, she is always looking for ways to improve the show, and herself - right up to the last performance.

There is some talk that La Ciccone will return to the recording studio later this year. And just as I presumptuously gave GaGa advice, I’ll do the same for my old friend Madonna. Another album? Great. But please, no more techno-infused dance music. Just sing. Some of us remember the old songs, and soundtracks to movies like "Dick Tracy" and "Evita".

Source: wowowow.com

A statement from Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's press agent

2011-04-05T18:47:00.001+02:00

"In recent days a number of wild and totally false rumors about Madonna's philanthropy--spread by bloggers and tabloids--have begun appearing on the internet. As we have said previously, Raising Malawi is currently undergoing a series of positive changes in an effort to serve more children. Neither Madonna nor Raising Malawi is being investigated by the FBI or the IRS. It is unfortunate that people have chosen to say things about Raising Malawi and Madonna that are not true. Madonna remains commited and focused on what matters helping the children of Malawi."

Source: madonna.com

"Miles Away (Live)" featured on "Songs for Japan"

2011-03-27T12:55:00.000+02:00

The live version of Madonna’s "Miles Away" is included on the "Songs for Japan" album which has just been released on iTunes.

Taken from her 2008 "Sticky & Sweet Tour", “Miles Away” is featured along with songs by REM, U2, Sting, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Beyonce and many more…

All of the monies earned from "Songs for Japan" will be directed to the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) to support its disaster relief efforts. The society will use the funds for the ongoing provision of immediate relief and for eventual recovery support to the affected population.

The artists participating on "Songs for Japan", the major music labels – EMI Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group – and music publishers have waived their royalties and proceeds from the worldwide sales of the album to ensure that the JRCS receives as much support as possible from this global initiative.

In addition, iTunes will donate all proceeds from the album’s worldwide sales to the benefit of the JRCS. Visit your local iTunes Store now to download.

The physical release of the "Songs for Japan" album will be released on April 4, 2011.

Madonna statement following Elizabeth Taylor’s death

2011-03-24T18:29:00.000+01:00

Madonna statement following Elizabeth Taylor’s death:

"I am so sorry to hear that this great legend has passed. I admired and respected her not only as an actress but for her amazing and inspiring work as an AIDS activist. She was one of a kind."

"Express Yourself" International Download Day

2011-03-17T15:44:00.001+01:00

Have you already downloaded Madonna's smash hit "Express Yourself" from iTunes?

If not, what are you waiting for?! Be a good fan and do it!

Previously unseen photos of Madonna in new issue of "Out" magazine

2011-03-14T19:12:00.000+01:00

Have a look at an amazing story and some fantastic images by Richard Corman here!

My mother was Cis Corman, a renowned casting director in New York City. In the summer of 1982 she was casting The Last Temptation of Christ for Martin Scorsese and called me to say they had just tested a girl for the part of the Virgin Mary. She said, “You must meet this girl — she’s an original.” I was 28 and had just finished an apprenticeship with Richard Avedon and was looking for interesting people to shoot. So I got this girl’s number and called. It was Madonna. At the time she was living in Alphabet City, and she suggested I go to her apartment and chat about what I wanted to do. I had to call her from a phone booth across the street, because the neighborhood was full of drug dealers, and they didn’t let people just walk in and out. There was a group of kids outside the building, on the stoop, in the hallways, and when I said I was there for Madonna the seas parted.

I looked up the staircase, and I saw this girl leaning over the edge of the banister, and even from three stories below I could see these catlike eyes just looking down. I knew at that moment that she had something special — I really did. She had her best friend and neighbor, Martin, with her — he later died of AIDS—and we sat and talked. She served me a cup of coffee on a silver tray with three pieces of Bazooka bubblegum. There was no pretense to it. When I came back a few days later to shoot her, she said, “You know, we should go up to the roof because I go up there with all the kids from the building.” She was like the Pied Piper of the neighborhood — they loved her. They followed her, they danced with her, they sang with her. It was something they did on a daily basis, and it was remarkable. We just walked up and they gathered around. She put the boom box on — it was her music, though I don’t remember which song — and they just started dancing and singing. She was so alive and unpretentious. She was fierce, determined. Nothing was going to stop her.

After we came down from the rooftop, we walked through the neighborhood, laughing and chatting, stopping in front of a storefront that you see in one of the shots, stopping in front of a senior citizen’s home and hanging out with the old folks. For me, like her, when I do a shoot now, I’ve got eight people around me — but that day it was just the two of us. I would shoot her a couple more times, once for the campaign for Vision Quest, with Matthew Modine and Linda Fiorentino. It was a hot coming-of-age film about wrestling in the Northwest, and she was the singer in the little bar that some of these teenagers would hang out in. By then Madonna was becoming hot and big, and — in the nicest way — she would go to whoever would help her and move her ahead. I was that person to begin with because of the connection to my mother. But as soon as she had that rocket to fame she was off to the next stage. That’s when Herb Ritts started photographing her exclusively, but that early period of the ’80s was amazing. I was photographing Basquiat and Keith Haring, and just to be part of all that took your breath away. People were truly taking chances. It was just a different energy, and Madonna was the focal point for a lot of that.

Source: Out.com

Madonna's grandmother died, 99 years old

2011-03-10T11:22:00.000+01:00

Just three months shy of her 100th birthday, Elsie Mae Fortin has passed away at her home on N. Dean Street in Bay City, Michigan, surrounded by friends and family on this very fitting Ash Wednesday.

From the age of 19 into her forties she gave birth to eight children. Elsie was widowed at age 48 and endured much loss throughout her long life, including the deaths of three sons and a daughter (Madonna's mother).

Elsie Mae Fortin

June 19, 1911 – March 9, 2011

Looking great, M!

2011-02-28T19:05:00.000+01:00

Madonna and Lourdes at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Los Angeles. Madonna was wearing Francesco Scognamiglio.

Madonna daily quotes 20

2011-02-25T08:30:00.000+01:00

"Which is better? That I found out about an issue and instantly wanted to take action, or that it took me years to get my shit together? Look, I could have joined the U.N. and become an ambassador and visited various countries and just kind of showed up and smiled and looked concerned. But that’s not getting to the root of the problem – and by the way, neither is building orphan care centers and giving people food and medicine. But it’s a start. I’m saving people’s lives. And whether I have earned the right to do it, or the respect of people who think I may not have the right to do it, is completely and utterly irrelevant. And in any event, no, I’m not interested in going in there like a dilettante and being an idiot and going ‘Ok, I’m going to build 10 orphanages and I’ll see you guys later!’"

Madonna daily quotes 19

2011-02-24T10:25:00.001+01:00

"I’m such a sponge; and I love so many different kinds of music, and I’ve listened to so many different kinds of music all my life, it’s really… You know how you just keep memories in the back of your head all the time? I’m sure it’s everything that I’ve ever heard. And then it comes out in my own bastardized fashion. What I am is what I’ve digested throughout my life. What comes out of me. I don’t think it’s beyond, I just think it’s all stored up."

Madonna daily quotes 18

2011-02-23T08:30:00.001+01:00

"I keep a pillow book, I jot things down – dreams or poems or things I’ve read in books. Or kind of diary-like entries, or I’ll cut out articles from newspapers, anything that I want to remember. So, I keep this scrapbook, and a lot of times I’ll go back and draw from an idea that I’ve kept for a song. But generally, it’s music that kicks me into thinking a certain way or feeling a certain thing, and I rely heavily on the people that I collaborate with to inspire me lyrically. Believe it or not, I’m at my most creative when I’m standing at a microphone and the pressure’s on."

Madonna daily quotes 17

2011-02-22T08:27:00.001+01:00

"I think people are just strangely suspicious of people who want to do something good."

Madonna daily quotes 16

2011-02-21T08:43:00.001+01:00

"I have to listen to the criticism that I get when it’s dealing with my work. It’s beneficial. I guess I don’t take criticism very well but it’s getting better. If I do something and there’s a hundred people in the room and 99 people say they liked it, I only remember the person who didn’t like it."

Madonna daily quotes 15

2011-02-20T10:47:00.001+01:00

"The search is to find the true stuff, but also to find how to put it, because a lot of times when you find the true stuff it’s not very attractive. It doesn’t come out in a very digestible way. And if you’re trying to illuminate people, or inspire people, or wake people up to something, you know – and, believe me, I’ve learned this from other things I’ve done – you’re not going to get very far if you attack people or rub their noses in it."

Madonna daily quotes 14

2011-02-19T10:42:00.001+01:00

"I was guilty of buying into this culture that thrives on ripping other people up, and I regret that, I truly do. People always think that they have to humiliate and denigrate others in order to make themselves appear stronger or better or smarter or cooler, but in the end it has the opposite effect. I’m much more aware now, and when you’re aware you have a responsibility."

Madonna Malawi project leader lays out plans

2011-02-18T18:17:00.000+01:00

Logistical problems and other concerns have led Madonna to abandon her plan to build a girls-only school in Malawi, but the new leader of her effort says the superstar instead plans many more schools with educational groups already working toward that goal.

"Basically, what we'd be doing is expanding the ability for a group of nonprofits to provide education to more kids," said Trevor Neilson in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. Neilson, a former executive with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, joins the Raising Malawi project as a partner of the Global Philanthropy Group, a leading international organization that works with organizations and governments around the globe. He and several other experienced philanthropy experts became part of Raising Malawi's revamped team in November.

"Madonna increasingly began to have concerns about the effectiveness of the existing strategy and management team, and as a result has made sweeping changes in order to better serve more children in Malawi", he said. The Kabbalah Centre, once a part of the project, is no longer involved, Neilson noted. Madonna has practiced Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, for years.

The bigger changes involve the scope of Madonna's educational plans in the impoverished African country. The superstar, who has adopted a boy and a girl from Malawi, had initially planned to build a school for girls, most of whom don't get the opportunity to go to school. The school was to be on an approximately 117-acre plot of government land near the capital, Lilongwe. But soon after the location was announced, several local villagers claimed they owned the land and the government was forcing them off of it.

"Obviously, Raising Malawi didn't know anything about this, and was surprised, yet Raising Malawi paid those people over $130,000, which in Malawi is a lot of money", Neilson said. Even after that, however, he said, Raising Malawi never got title to the land. In addition, Neilson said the school was being built in an area where there were not many children, and too much effort was being paid to the design of the building.

"Madonna was shocked to find out how much time and money had been spent on architecture," he said, though declining to give an exact estimate, simply saying, "too much!"

Instead of creating a Raising Malawi school, the new plan is to use Raising Malawi's resources to partner with other NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, already working to provide a better education in Malawi.

"Working in consultation with a series of non-profits and education efforts, we're looking at a new strategy that builds more schools, but embeds them in communities of Malawi where the students are", he said. "Basically what we'd be doing is expanding the ability for a group of non-profits to provide education to more kids," he added.

Neilson said Raising Malawi has contacted its key donors and informed them of the change in strategy: "All of the major donors we've talked to are really excited about the strategy." Neilson also added that contrary to reports, the charity is still working very closely with the government, and that Madonna called the president's office and explained her new plans.

New schools could be built by the end of this year, and the educational efforts, while geared toward girls, will not exclude boys, he said. "The need is so broad that you don't want to come into a community and say, 'Sorry boys, you can't go to school'", he said.

Neilson said Madonna would go to the region "soon" and stressed that she was still fiercely committed to the country: He said Raising Malawi has dispersed $13 million toward charitable efforts over the last few years.

"She's very frustrated that the project has not moved faster and has not reached children with these services in a faster way," he said. "Ultimately, that's all that matters, is that children go to school."

He said Madonna has also denounced Malawi's anti-gay measures, but said she would still work with the country to help the children. "I don't think that that is core to this project in any way."

Source: madonna.com

Madonna daily quotes 13

2011-02-18T08:35:00.001+01:00

"I don’t sit around waiting for other people to give me work to do. I honestly don’t think I could just announce to Hollywood, “Okay, now I want to be an actress,” and then wait for people to give me movies. I also couldn’t be just a recording artist who puts out a record once a year. I have to keep finding things for myself to do."

New Madonna album coming this year

2011-02-17T16:37:00.000+01:00

Madonna is preparing to enter the studio to record a new album, the first under her $100 million multi-rights deal with Live Nation, which another lucrative tour seems likely as well.

"They tell me Madonna is about to record, so there could be another Madonna cycle coming," Live Nation Entertainment Chairman Irving Azoff told Billboard.biz during an interview earlier this week.

Asked if the Madonna album would come through Live Nation, Azoff responded, "Yes," meaning Madonna's album could be the first recorded content overseen by Live Nation. Azoff's news was echoed by Madonna manager Guy Oseary this week via Twitter: "The update is that Madonna can't wait to get into the recording studio. This will happen as soon as she finishes the movie she directed."

Live Nation signed a 10-year multi-rights deal with Madonna in 2007 said to be worth as much as $100 million, including her touring, merchandising and recording rights. Madonna left Warner Bros., her label home of 25 years, after the release of her 2008 album "Hard Candy".

"Live Nation, prior to the merger, entered into some of these all-rights deals, so there are certain artists, Madonna being one of them, that there is a recorded music strategy," Azoff saod. "Once she gets the album recorded, we'll sit down with her and her manager Guy Oseary and figure out what's best for the record. It has to start with the music."

Source: Billboard

Photo: Steven Klein

Madonna daily quotes 12

2011-02-17T09:29:00.001+01:00

"People always have a problem with celebrities doing things for charity and so on. There’s a perception that celebrities do everything for publicity. I don’t understand that. Listen, you know some people think I fell of my horse as a publicity stunt. If you’re a celebrity, everything you do is perceived as a way to get attention."

Madonna daily qoutes 11

2011-02-16T08:37:00.000+01:00

"When you live in the world that we live in, and you have luxuries that we have and the privileges that that we have, you don’t have to worry about basic needs and you can start thinking about, What am I slave to? What am I trapped by? Am I really free? Just because I can get on a jet an fly wherever I want and I can afford this and I can afford that – is that real freedom?"

Madonna daily qoutes 10

2011-02-15T08:26:00.000+01:00

"I was raised a Catholic and was never encouraged to ask questions, or understand the deeper meanings or mystical implications of the New Testament or the history of Jesus, or the fact that he was Jewish, or anything, you know? So I rejected that, because who wants to go through life being told you do things because you do things?"

Madonna daily qoutes 09

2011-02-14T08:25:00.000+01:00

"Obviously, if you spend a couple of years wearing lots of layers of clothes and tons of jewelry and it just takes you forever to get dressed and your hair is long and crazy, then you get the urge to take it all off and strip yourself down and cut your hair all off just for a relief. Everybody does that, you know?"

Madonna wows Berlin buyers

2011-02-13T15:43:00.001+01:00

Berlinale buyers were in a frenzy on Saturday night after Stuart Ford’s IM Global screened footage of Madonna’s second directorial effort, “W.E.” to a limited amount of industryites.

IM Global brought the thrush-turned-helmer to the European Film Market to screen a promo reel of the pic, a parallel love story about the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard.

Foreign buyers queued up outside the Cine Star in hopes to nab a seat to the exclusive screening, which saw Madonna provide an intimate Q&A after the footage. Sources say that buyers were told they couldn't bid for the pic unless they saw the footage, which had buyers scrambling to save seats for the event. Strictly no press were allowed and attendees were not permitted to use mobile phones throughout the event.

After Madonna welcomed her guests with a “Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming”, the one minute long trailer for “W. E.” was shown to the audience. Then a scene is shown, an act of adultery. The audience applauds. After every scene, she was discussing with her guests the scenes and the evolutionary history of the movie. She was holding prompt cards/a speech manuscript in her hands. But she was actually not using them and was chatting with her guests in a very charming but also punchy way.

“It is about understanding men in their quest for power and how they become creatures, which even kill themselves. But this man gave up the throne because he loved a woman. I have read everything that exists about this topic. I am really well prepared. I am really looking forward to completing this movie and to show it to the world. For three years I put everything into this film”, Madonna said.

During the Q&A, Madonna revealed that she was willing to travel to promote the pic for distribs, which apparently hit the switch for interested parties.

Bids were fielded almost immediately after the event with several international territories already expected to have closed.

Pic toplines Andrea Riseborough, Abbie Cornish, James D'Arcy and Richard Coyle.

Source: Variety.com

Madonna daily qoutes 08

2011-02-13T11:13:00.000+01:00

"I’m not going to sit here and say, Oh God, being famous is the worst thing that ever happened to me, but on the other hand it’s a real cross to bear, the real thorn in my side. I wouldn’t trade my life for anything – I’ve been blessed with so much. I’ve had so many privileges – but, being famous, it’s like agony and the ecstacy. You get to meet people and have experiences that no-one else gets to have. On the other hand, you don’t have any anonymity. What I am very clear about is the place it’s had in my life certainly, at the beginning of my career, what it sort of took the place of. At the end of the day, though, I’m not gonna stomp all over it and say, This is shit, but I think I have much better perspective on it all than I’ve ever had."

Madonna daily qoutes 07

2011-02-12T11:44:00.000+01:00

"Generally I do interviews because I have something to talk about in terms of my work, and I try to keep it in that area. I mean, it’s kind of an insult that they want to know those other things. It seems the most important thing to them is to find out… stuff I’d rather not talk about, things that don’t have anything to do with my work. And it’s nobody’s business. But people always want to know what’s not their business."

Madonna daily qoutes 06

2011-02-11T08:35:00.000+01:00

"I don’t say to anyone, Are you intimidated by me? Obviously, if you feel comfortable with me I can feel it. We can have a chat and a laugh, but I’ve never sat down with someone I wanted to work with and not got along with them. William Orbit was very nervous when I met him, dropping things all over the place, but I found that really endearing. I don’t dwell on it."

Madonna daily quotes 05

2011-02-10T09:52:00.000+01:00

"Then there are guys who say 'I have never fantasized about being with a man.' They are lying. And the least offensive men I've been with in terms of their sexual politics and how they view me as a woman, have been men who have either slept with men, or at least kissed or held a man once. It opens up your thinking. You don't think that women are less-than you are."

Madonna daily quotes 04

2011-02-09T08:36:00.000+01:00

"I think that life is a paradox and you have to embrace that in your work and your belief systems... you can't be a literalist, and that's the trouble that people always find themselves in. That's why people always hit a wall with any of my stuff, because you can't take it literally."

Madonna daily qoutes 03

2011-02-08T08:35:00.000+01:00

"Not only does society suffer from racism and sexism but it also suffers from ageism. Once you reach a certain age you're not allowed to be adventurous, you're not allowed to be sexual. I mean, is there a rule? Are you supposed to just die?"

Warning: a highly contagious rumor!

2011-02-07T20:25:00.001+01:00

Three Madonna tour concerts might be released on home discs in the near future.

"The Blond Ambition Tour" on both DVD and Blu-Ray but also the whole "Virgin Tour" concert (including the missing songs from the previous release) and a remastered "Girlie Show"!

Still nothing is planned at this point for a future release of the "Reinvention Tour". But be aware: there are still no offical confirmations.

Madonna daily qoutes 02

2011-02-07T08:32:00.000+01:00

"I just like the idea of pills. I like to collect them but not actually take them. When I fell off my horse, I got tons of stuff: Demerol and Vicodin and Xanax and Valium and Oxycontin, which is supposed to be like heroin. And I'm quite scared to take them. I'm a control freak."

Madonna daily quotes 01

2011-02-06T13:26:00.000+01:00

"Fame is a by-product. Fame is something that should happen because you do work that speaks to people and people want to know about your work. Unfortunately the personality of people has taken over from the work and the artistry and it's this thing now that stands on its own. I don't think one should ever aspire to being famous."

Kelly Osbourne is the new face of Madonna's fashion brand

2011-01-23T10:21:00.000+01:00

Kelly Osbourne is the new face of the Material Girl clothing line.

According to Brithish newspaper, the Mirror: "Kelly Osbourne has been chosen by Madonna to front her junior fashion brand Material Girl.

A close friend of the star said: “Kelly’s always been a massive fan of Madonna and recently heard Lourdes idolised her, which she was very flattered by. It’s a huge coup.”

Source: The Mirror

Exclusive preview of "W.E." at the Berlin Film Festival

2011-01-21T22:30:00.000+01:00

Madonna is "very likely" to present extracts of her new film “W.E” in a private screening on the sidelines of the Berlin film festival next month, organisers said on Friday.

"It is very likely that she will come to Berlin, but it has nothing to do with the festival. As far as we know, she is presenting her latest film on the sidelines of the festival", said a Berlinale spokesman. "She has rented a cinema for a private screening at the European Film Market (EFM)", running in parallel to the Berlinale, which runs from February 10 to 20, added the spokesman.

An EFM spokeswoman was unable to confirm the superstar’s appearance but said she understood that excerpts would be shown in Berlin to a select audience. Berlin daily newspaper Tagesspiegel reported that the screening would take place during the first week of the Berlinale. According to another Berlin newspaper, BZ, the official premiere of the film is planned for the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Source: AFP

Madonna discusses the future of "Raising Malawi"

2011-01-11T16:43:00.000+01:00

Madonna, whose Raising Malawi charity has made substantial inroads helping over a million children orphaned from the AIDS epidemic in that African nation, is stepping up the pace considerably on all fronts – especially in regard to her plans for building the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.

Madonna issued the following statement this morning to the Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com)

“I remain deeply committed and am more passionate than ever about helping the children of Malawi - especially the girls. In a country where only 33% of Malawian girls attend secondary school, I realize that the plans we had in place for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls simply would not serve enough children. My original vision is now on a much bigger scale. I want to reach thousands not hundreds of girls. I want to do more and I want to do it better. While I am grateful to all the people who have given me guidance and support up until now, we are in the process of implementing several changes and additions to the management of Raising Malawi in both the US and Malawi. I am also working with Trevor Neilson and his team at Global Philanthropy Group to shift the strategies that we had in place so that we can accomplish our goals with more efficiency as we continue to consult with our government partners in Malawi. This is a larger challenge than I thought, but I welcome it. We are focused on an approach which builds schools within communities across the country. We are currently determining the size, location, staffing and curriculum of the schools. I will continue to monitor the process of reaching these goals here and through my ongoing visits to Malawi.”

Neilson, whose company Global Philanthropy Group advises some of the world's leading philanthropists, was positive about the shift in strategy. "Raising Malawi's new community-based approach will provide the opportunity for many more girls to receive a quality education. We are focused on ensuring the most efficient implementation of this new strategy in collaboration with Raising Malawi's partners on the ground." Neilson also noted the many achievements of Raising Malawi including the construction of a model orphan care center in partnership with Malawi's largest community-based organization as well as assistance to thousands of HIV+ children and caregivers through life saving medical treatments and daily nutritious meals and nutrition supplements. Additional programming has also provided thousands of children and caregivers in the south of the country with access to clean water through the implementation of piped safe water and the construction of new boreholes.

Source: madonna.com