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Madonna news - June 2003
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Billboard on Hollywood chart chances
Source: Billboard's Q&A - 30 June 2003Dear Fred,
I just returned from London and was surprised how I heard Madonna's Hollywood and American Life about every two minutes on the radio. I can't ask about American Life's future performance, as it has already peaked at No. 37.
However, Hollywood has yet to make an appearance on any Billboard chart. Why is radio turning its back on Madonna and do you think Hollywood has any future potential of hitting at least the top-40?
Thank you,
Eduardo Sanchez
Brooklyn, N.Y.
***
Dear Eduardo,
At this point, I'm not even sure that Hollywood will debut on the Hot 100, although remixes of the Madonna track have just gone out to radio and the video premiered on June 23. We'll have to see if that helps improve the airplay picture on this second release from the American Life album.
Checking the latest airplay figures as reported in Billboard's sister magazine, Airplay Monitor, Hollywood isn't even close to appearing on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. Another bad sign is that KIIS-FM in Los Angeles played the song 19 times last week, down from 35 the week before.
On the Adult Top 40 chart, Hollywood declines 35-38, with 240 spins this week, compared to 272 last week. With American Life considered a disappointment in chart terms, radio is not rushing to play the follow-up.
M in the hat parade
Source: Manchester Online - 30 June 2003Hollywood style and glitz have come to town. Hats and costumes worn by film stars are on show in Stockport's Hat Works Museum. One of the star exhibits is the Chinese headdress worn by Madonna in Shanghai Surprise.
It was painstakingly created using turquoise feathers and red pom poms with long beaded tassles. Among the beautiful costumes on display is the one worn by Kate Winslet in the film Sense and Sensibility. The pale silk green dress is complemented by a stunning swirled straw bonnet and black net veil.
The museum - recently voted silver award winners of Best Small Visitor Attraction in England - also includes a hat worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Toscani. For this film the Hollywood icon wore a dark green silk hat trimmed with beads. Lisa Hill, the museum's publicity and events officer, said: "This exhibition is one not to be missed. The attention to detail which has gone in to making the hats and costumes is really amazing.
"We are delighted to be able to house this tremendous selection of hats and costumes worn by some of the finest actors." The costumes and hats have all been made by the London-based company Cosprop. They are on display to the public until September 22
.
AL album in European charts
Source: Madonna.com - 30 June 2003Nine weeks after its worldwide release Madonna's American Life album is still doing well in Europe! The album spent 3 weeks at #1 of the Eurochart Albums chart late April and early May and still remains at #11 of this same chart this week!
Here is its full chart history in Europe to date :
1-1-1-2-3-7-13-11-11
Even better, American Life seems to be as successful in Europe as was Madonna's previous album Music after 9 weeks of sales:
47-1-1-1-1-3-4-7-10
More Hollywood sketches and Guy Bourdin info
30 June 2003Check fansite Madonnapower for more pre-production drawings from the Hollywood video and more information on the Guy Bourdin connection.
Madonna in brow fight
Source: IOL - 27 June 2003Pop icon Madonna is locked in a bitter battle - with an eyebrow specialist. The 44-year-old Material Girl is reportedly angry with Damone Roberts who is accused of "capitalizing on her fame and exaggerating" that he sculpts her eyebrows when "he only did them once three years ago".
A source close to Madonna tells American magazine Us Weekly that the Beverly Hills-based star-plucker continues to publicly declare Madonna as his client - even though her lawyer has reportedly told him to stop. And the June issue of Allure magazine even states, "For Madonna, Roberts will make house calls."
The source notes, "If Roberts keeps saying he does her brows, some action will have to be taken." Madonna's actual eyebrow plucker is Anastacia of Beverly Hills, who also plucks Jennifer Lopez.
Access Hollywood on Hollywood
Source: Access Hollywood - 27 June 2003Hollywood's "40 and fabulous" ladies are still taking charge and holding their own on-screen opposite their younger co-stars. Now Madonna pokes fun at Hollywood's obsession with looking good in her latest music video.
"Everybody comes to Hollywood. They want to make it in the neighborhood. They like the smell of it in Hollywood. How could it hurt you when it looks so good," sings Madonna on her new single.
Bearing the pain all in the name of 'Hollywood Beauty', Madonna took a Botox injection while dripping in $20 million worth of vintage jewels and wearing gorgeous gowns in the video for Hollywood.
"It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it," said Madonna.
VH1's Making the Video captured Madonna's every move while on set during filming. During the special, Madonna gives her advice for conquering Hollywood today. "Be multi-talented, be flexible and never take it personally."
While glorifying the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Madonna admitted fame and fortune does not always equate happiness.
"Is this something that you feel you learned yourself from the progress of becoming a celebrity, seeing all the material things that you can gain?" asked Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell.
"Yes, having all those material things that everybody wants and longs for, strives for, and dreams about and then realizing that none of those things bring you happiness. They don't solve the problems. They don't eliminate chaos in your life," said Madonna.
Madonna: Making the Video: Hollywood debuts June 23 on VH1.
Guy Bourdin influence
26 June 2003On several Madonna forums there's a discussion whether Madonna was inspired by photographer Guy Bourdin for the Hollywood video. Judge yourself. (thanx to Josh)
No Israel video for Nothing Fails
Source: Madonnalicious - 25 June 2003Madonna cleared up the Nothing Fails Israel rumour in an interview on San Francisco radio station Alice 97.3. Here are a few of the highlights of the interview (thanks to DerrickD):
Madonna is NOT going to Israel with Michael Douglas and is NOT shooting a video there. She has no idea where the rumour started but she would love to go to Israel anyway.
Rocco's favorite movie is The Wizard Of Oz. Lourdes' is The Secret Garden. She said that Rocco watches The Wizard Of Oz repeatedly... but then she clarified that she only allows them each one movie a week.
Madonna confirms that she is friends with Demi Moore... and they share the same Kabbalah teacher.
Madonna says that the Harry Potter books are 'good'.
Her favorite cocktail is a 'lemon drop'.
Her kids are the only ones in the house who play her records, and they usually play remixes up in their rooms and have mini dance parties... they are both dancers in the making.
Madonna says she had a blast touring with the Beastie Boys way back when!
They asked Madonna if she can think of any one who is a bigger star than her, and she said 'God'. They asked what she'll be doing to overtake him, and she said 'nothing... we're teaming up'.
Video pre-production
25 June 2003Click on the images to view pre-production styling images for the Hollywood video by Martin Grissen. Courtesy of MadonnaInter.net.
Hollywood on MTV
Source: Madonna.com - 25 June 2003MTV adds Hollywood into rotation with spins starting next week! The "Making the Video" of Hollywood debuts this Friday night at 7pm on MTV. Also look for Madonna on the Carson Daly roast airing early July!
Hollywood video
24 June 2003The Hollywood video has premiered online. Watch it on our Hollywood page.
More on ditched AL tracks
Source: Record Collector magazine, thanx to Felcon - 23 June 2003
"As it seems the highly anticipated American Life album turned out to be a bit disappointing for some of us, a true Madonna fan would love to hear about the missing tracks from it. Confirmed by 'Maverick', unreleased track titles includes: "Mind Trapper", "Bad Nature", "Ejector(or My Ejector)"," Adverse Youth" and much more.
Apparently more then 7(!) songs never made it and it seems like no one knows why.
Also the track Hollywood is an early track Madonna wrote and was never pleased with the work till its final version in her current album.
The song Nothing Fails from the last album has a couple versions as well as the tired, acoustic X-Static Process. When we questioned M's spokesmen all they could say is that the album could have been more dance then acoustic and those unpublished tracks were ditched for a reason.
Yet the balladic "Adverse Youth" track is not even close to dance when "My Ejector" reminds American Life.The real reason will probably never be known but there's a Madonna box set coming up and more singles to come so all of you addicted out there can calm down.
Even if the tracks won't be on a B-side nor on the box set they will eventually get online somehow & all fans will be pleased."
Madonna on the cover of Uitkomst
23 June 2003Belgian gay magazine 'Uitkomst' has put Madonna on the cover of their most recent issue. It's a theme number, giving an overview of Madonna's career and an article about the Belgian release party of American Life in the Atomium in Brussels. More info at Homoliga.be.
The magazine can be ordered by mail and is available in Belgian book stores as well.
Meanwhile, another Belgian gay magazine, GUS, features one page on Madonna's 'American File', illustrating her 20 year career in several phases. Their next issue will also contain a Madonna interview.
Hollywood in Belgian chart
22 June 2003Hollywood jumps from no. 22 to no. 13 in its second week in the Prima Donna Top 50. Based on airplay only, this is quite exceptional for a Belgian chart. American Life is on its way out, down from 28 to no. 49.
Mondino directed most M videos
Source: Zheng Wang, thanx to MIR - 22 June 2003With Hollywood, Jean-Baptiste Mondino moves ahead of Mary Lambert to become Madonna's most-used video director.
Jean-Baptiste Mondino: 6 (Open Your Heart, Justify My Love, Human Nature, Love Don't Live Here Anymore, Don't Tell Me, Hollywood)
Mary Lambert: 5 (Borderline, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, La Isla Bonita, Like A Prayer)
Other frequent collaborators (excluding movie and concert videos):
- David Fincher: 4 (Express Yourself, Oh Father, Vogue, Bad Girl)
- Jonas Akerlund: 3 (Ray Of Light, Music, American Life)
- James Foley: 3 (Live To Tell, Papa Don't Preach, True Blue)
UK & Australian tracklist for Hollywood
Source: Madonna Information Report - 22 June 2003UK HOLLYWOOD SINGLE - Released 7 July
Track Listing:
CD1
1. Hollywood [Radio Edit]
2. Hollywood [Oakenfold Full Remix]
3. Hollywood [Deepsky HSH Vocal Mix]
Catalogue Number: W614CD1
CD2
1. Hollywood [Radio Edit]
2. Hollywood [Jacques Lu Cont's This White Duck Mix]
3. Hollywood [Micronauts Remix] Catalogue Number: W614CD2
12"
1. Hollywood [Radio Edit]
2. Hollywood [Micronauts Remix]
3. Hollywood [Oakenfold Full Remix]
Catalogue Number: W614T
AUSTRALIAN HOLLYWOOD SINGLE - Released 11 July
Track Listing:
1. Hollywood (Album Edit)
2. Hollywood (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix)
3. Hollywood (Micronauts Remix)
4. Hollywood (Oakenfold 12" Full Remix)
5. Hollywood (Deepsky Home Sweet Home Vocal Mix)
6. Hollywood (Calderone & Quayle Glam Mix)
Hollywood video preview
21 June 2003Watch an 26 second preview of the Hollywood video from CD:UK. It doesn't just look like a glamourous video, but a fun one as well. (thanx to Darth Sidious). There's also the preview of Entertainment Tonight, which can be downloaded at MadonnaInter.net.
Immaculate is best Greatest Hits album
Source: NME, thanx to Madonna.com - 21 June 2003Ten Great Greatest Hits Albums 2003
1. The Immaculate Collection - Madonna
2. 30 Greatest Hits - Aretha Franklin
3. 1962-1966/1967-1970 - The Beatles
4. Decade - Neil Young
5. The Hits 1 & 2 - Prince
6. Discography: The Complete Singles Collection -Pet Shop Boys
7. Singles Going Steady - Buzzcocks
8. Good Boys When They're Asleep - The Faces
9. A Man Like Curtis - Curtis Mayfield
10. Snap - The Jam
Hollywood is no. 1 in European Radio Airplay
Source: Absolute Madonna - 20 June 2003Eurochart Radio Top 50
TW LW WO Title - Artist
01 05 03 Hollywood - Madonna
02 02 10 Rise & Fall - Craig David & Sting or Fallacy
03 01 10 Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake
04 07 07 Fighter - Christina Aguilera
05 03 15 Come Undone - Robbie Williams
06 04 13 American Life - Madonna
07 09 05 I'm Glad - Jennifer Lopez
08 15 03 Crazy In Love - Beyonce Knowles feat. Jay-Z
09 14 06 On The Horizon - Melanie C.
10 06 14 U Make Me Wanna - Blue
Madonna multimedia roundup
Source: Madonna.com - 20 June 2003Madonna on TV: tune in Monday, June 23rd at 11:00pm to VH1's Making Of The Video to watch behind-the-scenes footage from the set of her new video, Hollywood, then catch the world premiere immediately following. If you miss it, it re-airs on the following dates and times:
VH1:
June 24th at 3:30pm and 7:00pm
June 25th at 5:00pm, 11:30pm
June 26th at 5:30pm
MTV:
June 27th at 7:00pm
Madonna on the radio: This Thursday, June 19, Madonna will be giving radio interviews to a few lucky stations that will air in the immediate days following. Stay tuned!
WHYI - Miami
WPYM - Miami
WSTR - Atlanta
KLLC - San Francisco
KIIS - Los Angeles
Madonna on the Internet: Watch for the online debut of Hollywood on Launch/Yahoo! on Tuesday, June 24th. And head over to the Warner Bros. Records eBay store to get Madonna's albums including the limited edition of American Life.
Hollywood video premiere times
Source: Absolute Madonna - 19 June 2003Mon 23 11:00 PM Making the Video: Madonna VH1
Tue 24 12:00 PM Making the Video: Madonna VH1
Tue 24 7:00 PM Making the Video: Madonna VH1
Wed 25 5:00 PM Making the Video: Madonna VH1
Wed 25 11:30 PM Making the Video: Madonna VH1
Thu 26 5:30 PM Making the Video: Madonna VH1
Fri 27 6:30 PM Making the Video: Madonna MTV
It's rumoured that the video will also premiere on the German channel VIVA, at 5pm CET
Meanwhile, Warner has confirmed the single cover that we posted two days ago.
European Hollywood maxi singles
18 June 2003Release date July 7th
9362-42638-2
1. Hollywood (Album Edit)
2. Hollywood (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix)
3. Hollywood (Micronauts Remix)
4. Hollywood (Oakenfold 12" Full Remix)
5. Hollywood (Deepsky Home Sweet Home Vocal Mix)
6. Hollywood (Calderone + Quayle Glam Mix)
9362-42637-2
1. Hollywood (Album Edit)
2. Hollywood (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix)
3. Hollywood (Micronauts Remix)
5439-16578-2
1. Hollywood (Album Edit)
2. Hollywood (Micronauts Remix)
Pre-order The English Roses
18 June 2003You can now pre-order your copy of The English Roses at Amazon.
Hollywood remixes
18 June 2003Check Dotmusic to stream Hollywood remixes by Paul Oakenfold, Deep Sky and Jacques Lu Cont.
The article states: "Madonna's latest album American Life might have divided fans and critics alike, but there's no denying the quality of her next single. Listen here to remixes of Hollywood, out July 7. The A-List team of remixers drafted in this time include Paul Oakenfold, Deep Sky and Jacques Lu Cont.
Hollywood is the third single from American Life and was one of the few tracks that Madonna performed live during her in-store shows and recent TV appearances. Watch out for the single's glamorous video that reunites Madonna with director Jean Baptiste Mondino (Justify My Love, Don't Tell Me) which premieres in the US next week.
According to reports, Madonna wore over $20 million worth of antique jewellery including pieces owned by actress Mae West. American Life debuted at No. 1 in 14 countries, including the US and UK, and has already sold over 3 million copies."
~ Naturally, Hollywood is only the second album single, but they probably considered Die Another Day as the first single.
Madonna surprises left-out Tower Records fans
Source: Madonnalicious - 18 June 2003Fans who queued for over twenty hours to meet Madonna at New York's Tower Records but were then left disappointed when Madonna left early before they could meet her at the record signing have just received a surprise package in the post.
Fans who missed out were advised to contact Tower Records and leave their contact details - and those who did could never have expected what was to drop through their letterboxes today.
A personally dedicated autographed copy of the rare (and very pricy) Madonna Steven Klein X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS book was in the Maverick/Boy Toy care package.
Radio interviews
Source: Absolute Madonna - 18 June 2003If you live in one of the larger radio markets in the US and have a station that's currently supporting Hollywood, chances are good that Madonna will do a call-in interview with your local morning show next week on Tuesday the 24th, to coincide with the release of the Hollywood video. Call your local station to find out the exact time!
Hollywood preview on ET
Source: Absolute Madonna - 18 June 2003According to Rock on TV, Entertainment Tonight will show preview clips of the Hollywood video on the episode airing this Friday, June 20th.
Madonna agrees with Vasquez remix... for Donnatella
Source: British Vogue - 18 June 2003Madonna must really like Donatella Versace. The 42-year-old singer has allowed a sworn enemy to remix her latest single, Hollywood, just to make Donatella happy. Junior Vasquez was given the OK to carry out the remix, even though Madge has refused to speak to him since he recorded a song featuring her voice whining into his answering machine seven years ago.
According to New York magazine, she gave her blessing only when she realised Versace wanted it to accompany her spring/summer 2004 menswear show in Milan this month. But, says Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, this doesn't mean all is forgotten. "[She] did it as a personal favour," she said. "I can assure you that Madonna will never work with Junior again."
The Material Girl has revived the days of serious Hollywood glamour in the video for the song, meanwhile. Paying tribute to the likes of Ginger Rogers, Jean Harlow and Mae West, she is seen swathed in £13 million-worth of gems, including the original 25-carat ring and bracelet that was worn by West in the 1933 film, She Done Him Wrong.
The video is directed by French photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who also directed the controversial Justify My Love video and played official photographer at Madonna's wedding to Guy Ritchie.
Hollywood single cover
17 June 2003According to the Swiss shopping website cede.ch, this is the single cover for Hollywood. The picture is by Steven Klein, from the photo shoot for W Magazine and the X-Static Process exhibition. (thanx to Darth Sidious for directing our attention to this)
Madonna fans are vain ;-)
Source: De Standaard, translation by Mad-Eyes - 17 June 2003Do you sometimes put on one of Beethoven's symphonies? Then you're tolerable and you find yourself quite intelligent. Do you prefer a REM record? Then you like trying something new, but you have to watch out for a depression.
Psychologists at the Texas university want to know what our record collection tells us about our personality. So they interrogated 3.500 people about their musical taste and had them fill in a personality test.
And according to the researchers our musical choice is a reflection of our inner self. For example, fans of Jennifer Lopez seem to be very vain. For a good conversation you have to find a fan of Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones.
Our records also illustrate which image we like to show of ourselves. "Men who have loud heavy metal music playing with the car window open, want to look tough", report the researchers. In other words: show me your CD collection and I'll tell you who you are.
Madonna fans are extravert, progressive, friendly, accessible and conscious. Not too keen for new experiences, but they make good conversation. They consider themselves as the most attractive person of the gang.
Rolling Stones: friendly, hungry for new experiences. Sportsmanlike, intelligent and elocative. Often quite dominant in their relationships.
REM fans are curious, intelligent, sportsmanlike and not afraid of risks. But sensitive for depression. [...]
Jennifer Lopez: Fans of the Latin diva are a bit conventional, but happy, reliable and always ready to help someone out. At the same time they find themselves quite attractive.
Madonna supporting questionable animal organisation?
Source: MSNBC - 17 June 2003Will Madonna lock horns with PETA? The singer is either supporting a group whose past has been called into question or her name is being used without her permission. And if it's the former, the star can expect to come under fire from the group that makes life miserable for animal-unfriendly celebs.
Madonna is being billed as a host of a June 22 benefit for a Malibu animal reserve and children’s camp called Bony Pony. "You may be unaware that this operation is not an animal sanctuary — it is an exotic-animal rental business with several names and a troubling history," People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote to Madonna.
"Bony Pony has been trying to use a lot of big celebrities’ names, including Pamela Anderson," PETA spokesman Dan Mathews told The Scoop. "They invited her down, and she did some investigative work and sleuthing. She did not like what she was seeing."
PETA has yet to hear from Madonna's people, who also didn’t return The Scoop’s calls. A Bony Pony spokeswoman insists that Madonna has given the group her support, and says that Bony Pony's troubles are in its past. "The animals are well cared for,"says the spokeswoman. "[We're] distraught that a negative spin is being put on all this."
Another Hollywood video still
Source: Madonnalicious - 16 June 2003This latest picture from the Hollywood video was featured in tonight's Evening Standard. The paper claims this is Madonna portraying Ginger Rogers in this picture. Click on the image to enlarge.
Madonna defies the bombers
Source: Sunday Mirror, thanx to MIR - 16 June 2003Whatever Madonna wants, she must have. Even if it means putting her life at risk... The 44-year-old queen of pop is insisting her next video - Nothing Fails - is shot in Israel. The song makes references to the Kaballah - based on Jewish mysticism.
Despite concern from her record company, Warner's, Madge has put her foot down. My spies tell me: "Her record bosses are really worried about it. They are trying to talk her around, but she's having none of it. She has told them it makes sense to shoot it in Israel as the Kaballah originates from there.
"Madonna is not particularly bothered about her safety and potential risks. She doesn't think it's as bad as it seems." Her decision to shoot her video in Israel should come as no big surprise to her bosses. Madge is so fanatical about her faith that she's also planning to make a one-hour TV special on the joys of her Kaballah religious cult. Oh dear.
Madonna's style guru
Source: The Age - 16 June 2003Arianne Phillips is one of Madonna's best-kept secrets; the chic, personal stylist who for six years, has cooked up some of the star's most glamorous, trend-setting looks. These days, Phillips and her contemporaries, like Los Angeles-based stylist Philip Bloch and Sex and the City's Patricia Fields, are celebrities in their own right, and among a privileged few permitted to gather close in the court of movie stars and music artists, consulting on matters of fashion.
Phillips began styling in New York in the late '80s, originally as a cash job to get through college. But she became hooked, ditched college and took it on full-time. Now she divides her talents between costume design for film, editorial work for the world's fashion bibles (Italian Vogue, Dazed and Confused, V, The Face, et al), and styling for some of the world's biggest celebrities, such as Madonna.
She has influenced many of Lady M's most jaw-dropping outfits including, for her role in David Williamson's play Up for Grabs, a dazzling pair of tuxedo trousers by Clements Ribeiro. In a moment of spontaneity, it was also Phillips who used a delicate Hermes scarf, wrapped as a blouse, for Madonna's character in the film Swept Away, directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie. Predictably, sales of both the Clements Ribeiro and Hermes pieces skyrocketed.
Explaining her choice of outfits for one of the world's most photographed women, Phillips describes her role as that of an "editor".
"We conceptualise the photograph, video or CD cover, and then I gather clothes. I look for mood, story and character — what will photograph interestingly," she says.
Phillips met Madonna on a cover shoot for Rolling Stone. She was visiting with another client, Courtney Love. Since then, Madonna and Phillips have been inseparable partners in style. "Madonna is as modern a person as I have ever met. I would describe (her) style as ever-changing."
Phillips presents her clients with a range of suggestions and then discusses different combinations and ideas with Polaroid photographs and — often multiple — fittings before arriving at a final outfit. It's a flexible process. When something's not working, says Phillips, "It's important to be open to change."
She is a seasoned fashion expert, scouring the globe not only for Madonna, but for stars such as Justin Timberlake and Love. She sifts through flea markets and bargain bins, avant-garde designer shops and haute-couture salons. "I love shopping in London," she says, "The little boutiques around Portobello market, the Rose Bowl flea market in Los Angeles, the flea markets in Paris, the Corso Como in Milan ..."
Phillips has an encyclopaedic knowledge of fashion and tapping her list of favourite clothing outlets and brands around the world can be like a word association test: "Shoes?" "Diavolina and Sportie LA," she says without hesitation. "Casual wear? "H&M and the Gap." "Vintage?" "Decades in Los Angeles."
Her favourite brand is Rick Owens and, although many of her clients are dressed in true rock-star garb (read: extroverted from top to toe), Phillips's own style is whimsical; a quirky mix of rough edges and unexpected combinations. "I like to mix up and down, high and low," she says.
American Idol: 20 Years of Madonna
15 June 2003One of the most original and innovative artists of the modern era, Madonna has sold 150 million albums worldwide, topped the charts across two decades, created an enormously influential body of work in the music video medium (11 of her original clips are included in Slant Magazine's 100 Greatest Music Videos, more than any other artist) and has stood at the forefront of popular culture for 20 years.
This fall, Warner Bros. Records will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Madonna's debut album with a comprehensive box set. But that's not before the superstar releases her tenth studio album, American Life, due April 22nd. To celebrate its release, Slant Magazine has delved into Madonna's catalog and reevaluated her key releases.
Hollywood goes Top 5 on European radio
Source:s Madonna Information Report, Dotmusic, AbsoluteMadonna - 13 June 2003After scoring highest debut honors last week (at number 18), Hollywood leaps into the top five, giving Madonna two simultaneous top five smashes on European radio:
Eurochart Radio Top 50
01 - 05 - 09 Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake
02 - 03 - 09 Rise & Fall - Craig David & Sting or Fallacy
03 - 01 - 14 Come Undone - Robbie Williams
04 - 02 - 12 American Life - Madonna
05 - 18 - 02 Hollywood - Madonna
~ In the German airplay charts Hollywood climbs from #88 all the way up to #20.
'Sex' is best-selling second-hand book
Source: Sun-Sentinel - 13 June 2003It turns out those folks who told you to invest in Sex back in 1992 weren't wrong. This spring, Bookfinder.com, one of the Web's most extensive used-book search services, released its first best-seller lists, organized by subject matter, revealing just what odd, out-of-print volumes Americans are buying.
Not surprisingly, Madonna's limited-edition, aluminum-bound book of naughty photos -- the singer, circa Erotica, getting naked with Vanilla Ice, etc. -- tops Bookfinder's arts and music list; a pristine copy with mylar wrapping intact can set you back $500 or more.
Rare Stephen King editions such as Rage (1977), about a psychopathic teenager who holds a school hostage (written by King alter ego Richard Bachman), dominate science fiction, fantasy and horror.
In biography and autobiography, Hunter S. Thompson's The Curse of Lono leads a pack that includes memoirs by Hell's Angel George Wethern and ex-John F. Kennedy mistress Judith Exner, giving the list a decidedly '60s countercultural bent -- that is, until you stumble upon John Denver's Take Me Home.
Fiction and literature leans toward midcentury best sellers such as Hervey Allen's 1933 historical epic, Anthony Adverse, and Maritta Martin Wolff's 1941 potboiler, Whistle Stop.
But best of all might be crafts and hobbies, which features the 1973 The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking.
Recipes include 99 Step French Toast, Old Clock Ice Cream Pie and The Case of the Smothered Pork Chops. Why would a book with such tempting recipes go out of print? It's a mystery.
Reps deny fall-out between Madonna and Craig McDean
Source: NY Post - 13 June 2003Rumours swirled this week about a conflict between Madonna and Craig McDean, the cutting-edge fashion photographer she hired to shoot the cover of her latest album American Life.
Previous stories focused on the allegedly astronomical expense of the shoot, but the new scuttlebutt says McDean had paid all his own expenses for the privilege of working with the pop diva only to have her turn up her nose at the finished product; she supposedly ended up cobbling something together from the few passable images on her own.
However, both McDean's and Madonna's reps insist everything is A-OK. "For some reason a number of things are being said about the shoot, but it's absolutely not true," says Anne Kennedy, McDean's powerhouse agent at Art + Commerce. "We've worked with them a lot and never really had any major dramas."
Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, was more vocal: "This smells of an evil queen trying to trash Craig McDean and Madonna," she told Fashion Buzz."For one thing, the record company always pays the photographer's expenses," she insists.
"And Madonna loved the artwork. She had many meetings with Craig and he was her first choice. They worked together before on a Vanity Fair shoot and everything was completely harmonious and fine."
For the American Life session, Rosenberg notes, "There was kind of Patty Hearst/Che Guevara thing going on, reflecting Madonna's philosophy of being a rebel."
Now, however, the pop chameleon is about to switch gears and go glam for the release of her new video, Hollywood, shot by another fashion snapper, Jean-Baptiste Mondino. "She's in an ultra-glamour phase for Hollywood," Rosenberg says, noting with a laugh: "The transformations are coming very fast now."
Meanwhile, Rosenberg tells us reports that Madonna has signed a lucrative deal to be the new face of The Gap are a bit premature."The deal's not done," she insists. "They're in discussions, there are major negotiations going on and it's looking good, but it's not done yet."
If it does go down, Rosenberg has a tip on what Madonna's next phase will be for the Gap ads: "Back to the street, Avenue B, where she started," she says. Don't blink, you might miss it.
Madonna and Gwen Stefani in Rolling Stone *rumour*
Source: MadonnaMad - 13 June 2003Madonna and Gwen Stefani have both agreed to shoot a cover for the August issue of Rolling Stone's 'Women in Rock' issue. The photographer will be Jean-Baptiste Mondino.
DADay DVD sets new record
Source: Madonna.com - 12 June 2003Marking yet another Explosive entry by the celebrated James Bond franchise, MGM Home Entertainment expects a record-breaking shipment of more than 16 million units of the Die Another Day Special Edition DVD worldwide.
The movie, featuring a cameo performance by Madonna as a fencing instructor, is the most successful Bond film to date. The special edition 2-disc DVD includes Madonna's Die Another Day video as well as a behind the scenes "Making of the Music Video".
Die Another Day enters the record books as MGM's best-selling title of all time, further reinforcing the Bond series' position as the most successful franchise in motion picture history.
The 20th installment in the James Bond film series, Die Another Day is also the Studio's top-grossing theatrical film ever, garnering nearly $430 million at the worldwide box office.
First Hollywood video still
12 June 2003This is the first still from the upcoming Hollywood video (click to enlarge; thanx to MadGuy). Very glamourous indeed! Only 11 days till the video premiere! ;-)
Madonna to visit Israel for Nothing Fails? *rumour*
Source: Madonnalicious - 10 June 2003According to Maariv.co.il Madonna is due to visit Israel within the next three weeks. She would visit the Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv, The Western Wall and The Church of the Nativity. During this one week visit she would also be looking for locations for the Nothing Fails video shoot.
Liz Smith on Hollywood video
Source: NY Post - 9 June 2003OK, so we're all really happy that Madonna has found inner peace through marriage, motherhood and the Kabbalah. But as we don't live with M, and experience her glow, she is judged by her work. And her last video wasn't what we love. I just don't want to see Madonna toss grenades.
But hold on, the Big M is coming through in her next vid, Hollywood. This is directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who has done several brilliant Madonna mini-movies, including my favorite, her cowgirl homage, Don't Tell Me.
Madonna, wearing close to $20 million in vintage jewelry - including pieces once belonging to Mae West - and courtier threads, vamps like movie queens from the '20s through the '70s (designer hot pants for the '70s bit). First-peekers say it's "a cross between Vogue and Express Yourself." Luigi Murenu attends to Madam's hair, Pat McGrath her make-up. This spells glamour, big-time.
Hollywood debuts June 23 on VH1 accompanied by a "Behind the Scenes" special. Oh, ever perverse, Madonna insisted that the black and blue marks she sustained in a bicycle mishap recently, not ITAL be covered with make-up or zapped away via computer technology.
Hmmm... bruises and Hollywood. (Bruised by Hollywood?) Shall we analyze this Dr. Freud?
Madonna among stars at MTV bash
Source: Billboard - 9 June 2003Madonna, Britney Spears, and Nelly will join a host of artists and comedians June 28 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles for the first "MTV Bash." The evnet will serve as a comedy/concert roast of MTV personality and late-night TV host Carson Daly.
Comedians Andy Dick, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeffrey Ross, and Adam Carolla will join the festivities, as will Carmen Electra and Sarah Silverman. Other attendees will include Jessica Simpson, Papa Roach, 98 Degrees, Lit, Usher, and the Pussycat Dolls, with more to be announced. The Bash will be recorded for a July 13 broadcast.
Daly, who recently renewed his contract with MTV for two years, is the host of the network's popular "Total Request Live" daily countdown show as well as its executive producer. The guests and comedians, many of whom are friends of the host, are expected to ridicule and poke fun at Daly's public image, work, and love life.
M to snub MTV Awards because of hotel booking?
Source: Sunday Mail - 8 June 2003Madonna is threatening to snub the MTV awards bash in Edinburgh because her favourite hotel room has already been booked. The Material Girl was invited to Scotland in November for the Europe awards - the music industry Oscars - which will be watched by 110 million fans around the world.
Madge agreed to come if she and her entourage were installed on the top floor of the capital's exclusive five- star Sheraton Grand Hotel. The queen of pop is said to be impressed by the hotel and its spa and is keen to have the £750-a-night presidential suite.
But the hotel has been fully booked since 2001 for a diplomatic conference and top- flight delegates are refusing to vacate the suite. News that the MTV awards would be staged in Leith on November 6 sparked a scramble for hotel rooms with stars such as Eminem, Robbie Williams, and Christina Aguilera tipped to attend.
But The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), an offshoot of Nato, is hosting its 49th annual assembly in the city from November 4 to 7. Two years ago, ATA reserved 200 rooms on the luxury hotel's prestigious top floor for many of the expected 500 delegates - including Scots Nato Secretary General George Robertson.
Sources say the luxury penthouse, which boasts a dining room for 10 and views over Edinburgh Castle, will be used by a top foreign military commander. Now MTV chiefs are scrambling to come up with an alternative for Madonna.
A source said: "Some of the other suggestions put to her management include maybe renting a remote castle in the Scottish countryside. "MTV are even prepared to fly her in and out of the capital if necessary. All the stops are being pulled out to ensure this visit goes ahead."
Madonna in Viagra film?
Source: PeopleNews - 7 June 2003Madonna is in talks to make a film based on the town in Ireland which manufactures the member-straightening drug Viagra. Her company, Maverick Films, wants to make a film based on a true story of locals in the small town of Ringaskiddy, County Cork, made famous by Pfizer, the company that makes Viagra.
Provisionally entitled Something In The Air, the film will be about locals going sex mad after breathing in fumes from the factory. Madge plans to set the film in the US rather than Ireland, however a rival film company plans a similar film and are scouting for locations in the Emerald Isle as we speak.
Whether Guy Ritchie will be involved in the unlikely comedy is not yet known, although, given his previous films, it might appeal to his sense of humour.
Hollywood on Belgian radio
6 June 2003Like many radio stations worldwide, Studio Brussel has been playing Hollywood quite a while already.
Radio Donna is following now too and named the single 'Smaakmaker' (taste of the week) for next week, which means they'll be playing it several times a day.
Wherever you live, keep requesting the song on your local radio, and make this single a big summer hit!
Hollywood video premiere - not!
6 June 2003Earlier today we announced that the Hollywood video would premiere on VH1 on the 17th of June. But it turns out that the TV channel is only broadcasting the 'Making Of' special of the Die Another Day video...
Madonna and Missy promote Gap
Source: Popbitch, AbsoluteMadonna - 6 June 2003Madonna and Missy Elliott are teaming up for a new Gap ad, to promote corduroy jeans. Madonna's singing Hollywood, while Missy raps her own version of Into The Groove.
Hollywood maxi single update
Source: Madonna.com - 6 June 2003Below are the final tracklistings for the Hollywood Maxi single. Look for it in stores July 8th.
CD MAXI
Radio Edit 3:42
Stuart Price/ Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix 7:09
The Micronauts Remix 6:25
Oakenfold Full Remix 7:01
Deepsky Home Sweet Home Vocal Mix 7:55
Calderone Quayle Remix 9:22
Vinyl Maxi
Side A
The Micronauts Remix 6:25
Oakenfold Full Remix 7:01
Side B
Calderone Quayle Remix 9:22
Side C
Stuart Price/ Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix 7:09
Oakenfold 12" Dub 7:01 * (addition)
Side D
Deepsky Home Sweet Home Vocal Mix 7:55
More info on AL demos
6 June 2003Some more info on American Life demos from PeterM: "There are most definitely demos for them all, some are said to be radically different from the released versions, e.g. X-Static Process was similar in style to Impressive Instant in its first incarnation.
Intervention was a reworked track from the Music sessions - different in sound and lyrically rejigged.
'Mr Ejector' is another track that was recorded - I have this from a very good source.
'Forbidden Fruit' is rumoured to be a track that was meant for the album - this has since been re-recorded by Jessica Simpson. There are probably others and if I should hopefully be able to let u know if my sources come up with the goods"
Mirwais interview
5 June 2003If a producer received a call from Madonna, he would do anything to keep the Material Girl happy, right? Not so for Paris-based veteran Mirwais Ahmadzai. When Madonna called on his production skills for her 2000 release, Music (Warner Bros.), the admittedly underground artist Mirwais was relieved that his trademark hypnotic grooves and retro sounds didn't end up on the chopping block.
"I was happy when she called," Mirwais says, "not just for the fame and money, but because I knew we could do some really great music together. With Madonna, I didn't have any pressure, because she asked first about [my single] 'Disco Science,' which is an extreme track.
If she liked that, then I knew she would not change me. You don't call me if you want me to change."
Hollywood video is 'very glamorous'
Source: MTV - 5 June 2003Madonna shot a video for her next single, Hollywood, in - surprise, surprise - Hollywood. Her rep calls the clip, which was shot Monday and Tuesday (June 3), "very glamorous" and says that the singer has "lots of different looks."
~ According to the NY Daily News Madonna sported a red wig for (part of?) the video.
Interesting info on AL songs
3 June 2003PeterM, who wrote 'The Beats Within' series about Madonna's unreleased tracks, has given some interesting info on the American Life songs on the MadonnaMad forum:
"Dubstar is right that the supposed 12 min track is actually Nobody Knows Me - however 12 mins is a slight exageration. It was a few minutes longer than the album version though.
The other old rumour though is that there was a song called I Got You Under My Skin - this turned out to be a working title for Love Profusion.
Bet you guys don't know that Intervention was originally recorded for the Music album. It was significantly different though in style as well as lyrical content. The song the critics called her 'Little Star' for Rocco, was originally a song for Guy.
Other rumoured titles Rock Vanity and Trick (the supposed Air track) don't exist - the Air collaboration was gonna happen but didn't work out for some unknown reason.
There are many different versions of the songs that ended up on the album, because Madonna spent so long working on the album they went through many changes. The song you guys are talking about that sounded like Impressive Instant is supposedly X-Static Process. This was re-recorded in an acoustic style for the album.
When we look at her previous albums and the recording process involved in them, I would guess that she recorded with Stuart Price, Monte Pittman, Guy Sigsworth, etc. and that she turned these demos into the songs on the album by producing and possibly re-writing them with Mirwais.
The only other known rumoured song from American Life that I know of is Can't You See My Mind. This is copywrighted so it exists! Apparently (and this is only rumour) the song is a ballad, more traditional Bond style than Die Another Day. They used DAD because it used the films name in its title."
The English Roses art work
Source: Undercover, thanx to MadMax - 2 June 2003Roald Dahl books like the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are considered kids classic. Now Madonna is heading for that market. From September 15 Madonna will officially become an author. That is when her first book 'The English Roses' will be released.
Madonna has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Callaway Publishing to write five children's books, the first in the series being 'The English Rose'. The book will be released in Australia through Puffin. 'The English Rose' will be released in 100 countries and translated into 45 languages.
The book for young readers is about "friendship, jealousy, sleepover parties, and fairy godmothers". Publisher and Editor Nicholas Calloway says "The quality, beauty and timelessness of Madonna's stories evidently have struck a chord with some of the world's most expert children's publishers.
It's hardly news that Madonna knows how to communicate. Now thanks to this global network of publishing partners that have joined together, we will have a new generation throughout the world that will know Madonna as an inspiring storyteller."
Madonna's book deal places her alongside other renowned Puffin author like Roald Dahl and titles such as The Little Engine That Could and the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. The title of Madonna's second children's book will be announced on the day of release of The English Roses.
Of course, this isn't Madonna's first book per se. A decade ago she released 'Sex'. We can safely say this stint in publishing is targeting a totally different audience.
Copycat news
Sources: newindpress, Ananova - 2 June 2003From the sound of things, Britney Spears appears to be channeling Madonna on her fourth album. Accoring to a report by Mtv.com, the pop singer, who took a step toward womanhood on Britney, has taken the Material Girl's cue, seeming to address more adult themes and styles while retaining a sense of girlish fun on her upcoming disc.
Producers who have worked with the singer - including Rodney Jerkins, the Matrix and Fred Durst, have described the new material as having a trip-hop vibe, reminiscent of Madonna's Ray of Light. Parts of Spears' suggestive "Touch of My Hand", merit that comparison. With a Middle Eastern influence, the song is sleek and fluid, with Spears singing in a slightly lower register of her desire to be "out of control".
The son of George Best is launching a pop career. Calum Best has teamed up with Ben Ofeudu from Phats and Small, with a dance track due out later this year. They have been recording the as yet untitled song which borrows lyrics from Madonna's Vogue.
Hollywood maxi single lineups
Source: Madonna.com - 2 June 2003CD MAXI
Radio Edit 3:42
Stuart Price/ Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix 7:09
Micronauts Remix 6:25
Oakenfold Full Remix 7:01
Deepsky HSH Vocal Mix 7:55
Calderone Quayle Remix 9:22
Vinyl Maxi
Side A
Micronauts Remix 6:25
Oakenfold Full Remix 7:01
Side B
Calderone Quayle Remix 9:22
Side C
Stuart Price/ Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duck Mix 7:09
Side D
Deepsky HSH Vocal Mix 7:55