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Madonna news - July 2009
← June 2009 | Aug. 2009 →
Celebration already available as a digital download!
31 July 2009Without hesitation, Warner made Celebration available the single on digital stores iTunes and Amazon.com already. It seems they are not leaving any country out and you can easily find the single on your local iTunes. Since this is a very peculiar release date for a single, please keep in mind that this will cause a very low chart debut in most countries, where release dates normally are in the beginning of the week.
Many radio stations moved up the premiere date of Monday and are already spinning this summer track!
Budapest show: tour production statement
Source: Madonna.com - 31 July 2009Live Nation Hungary is surprised at the issues that have arisen concerning the Madonna concert taking place at the Puskas Ferenc Stadium on August 22nd, as it followed the normal procedure in booking the Stadium, and received a signed, written confirmation from the Stadium management on July 21st.
In an effort to find a solution to the issues, the Vice-President of Live Nation in the region, Mr. Tim Dowdall, has requested a meeting with the President of the Hungarian Football Association, Mr. Istvan Kisteleki. This meeting will take place next week, at a time to be agreed. As a result, we will not be exchanging tickets from tomorrow as planned, but we hope to be able to do so after the meeting.
In the meantime, we would ask all Madonna’s fans in Hungary to remain calm. It is absolutely sure that the show will take place. We are all looking forward to an amazing Madonna concert in Budapest on August 22nd.
Madonna shares spiritual awakening in Israel paper
Source: AP - 31 July 2009After a long career as a singer, dancer, new-age seeker and megacelebrity, Madonna added a new item to her resume Friday - Israeli newspaper correspondent.
An article in Friday's edition of Israel's biggest daily, Yediot Ahronot, bears the Material Girl's byline. It describes her spiritual awakening upon discovering Jewish mysticism, called Kabbalah, after which, she writes, "all the puzzle pieces started falling into place."
Madonna is bringing her Sticky & Sweet tour to Israel in September, which no doubt explains the timing of her journalism debut here. But she also has ties to Israel and Judaism through her involvement with the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center, whose new-age version of Judaism's ancient mystic tradition has become popular among members of Hollywood's A-list.
The 50-year-old pop icon has taken the Hebrew name Esther and came to Israel on private pilgrimages in 2004 and 2007 along with other Kabbalah devotees.
In the article, Madonna, who was raised Roman Catholic, describes hearing about Kabbalah for the first time at a dinner party in Los Angeles while pregnant with her daughter Lourdes, who is now 12. She had recently completed a star turn in the movie Evita, she writes, but "still felt like something was missing in my life."
She went to her first class, taught by a teacher named Eitan, after years of practicing yoga and reading about Buddhism, Taoism and early Christianity.
"I heard what he had to say and I knew at this moment my life would never be the same," she writes in the article, which the paper published both in Hebrew and in the original - and apparently unedited - English.
"Life no longer seemed like a series of Random events," she writes. "I also began to see that being Rich and Famous wasn't going to bring me lasting fulfillment and that it was not the end of the journey."
The Kabbalah Center's devotees have included other celebrities such as Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears. Many mainstream Jewish scholars see the Center's self-help teachings, its sale of Kabbalah-themed merchandise and its embrace by non-Jewish pop stars as a perversion of Judaism's ancient and secretive mystic tradition.
Some rabbis were particularly incensed by Madonna's song, Isaac, about the revered 16th-century Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria, which featured on her 2005 album, Confessions on a Dance Floor.
Jewish tradition has long held that Kabbalah is so complicated and so easily misunderstood that students may only begin to approach it with a strong background in Jewish law and only after age 40. The discipline's elements include the study of mystical texts, prayer and meditation in an attempt to draw closer to the divine.
The criticism appears to have had no effect on Madonna's popularity among Israelis. Originally scheduled to give one concert in Tel Aviv, Madonna added a second after the first show quickly sold out.
Madonna's last concert in Israel was in 1993, during her Girlie Show tour.
Celebration review: midsummer dance pop number
Source: LA Times - 31 July 2009Madonna's upcoming single was leaked online today, in advance of her fall hits collection Celebration. The latter won't be released until the end of September, but for now, fans can sample a club-ready song from the effort, one that feels and sounds like an effective reboot of Madonna's late '80s hits.
The title track was co-produced by Madonna and electronic artist and long-time Madonna pal remixer Paul Oakenfold. The cut pretty much delivers what the title implies. It's slightly less Euro than latter-day Madonna dance-cuts such as Hung Up, and a little less obsessed with tapping the producer-of-the-moment-styles of Hard Candy. The end result is a song that falls somewhere in between, focusing on highly energetic synth-pop groove, yet isn't as inventive as either of the referenced works.
As a throwaway, midsummer dance pop number, it works. It's definitely a cut that nods to Madonna's '80s disco roots, and would fit comfortably on a hits collection packed between Vogue and Ray of Light. A speak-sing bridge gives the song a little bit of an edge, and allows Madonna to flex some personality -- goofing that she doesn't recognize her dance partner without clothes on.
Celebration feels as if it has modest goals, at least by Madonna's standards. Even when it gets a bit risque (see above paragraph), silliness rules the day. She invites us "to the dance of life," and coasts over the chorus. Celebration the greatest-hits album will close the book on Madonna's Warner Bros. career, and Celebration the song is an effective look back, a gliding, reassuring number that she hasn't forgotten her beginning. But rather than instill a sense of nostalgia, everything feels a bit obligatory. The sound of an artist, hopefully, ready for the next chapter.
Celebration review: unapologetically dance-y
Source: EW blog - 31 July 2009Once upon a time, a budding dancefloor philosopher named Madonna released her very first single, Everybody, and commanded her minions thusly: "Come on, take a chance/ Get up and start the dance/ Let the D.J. shake you/ Let the music take you." Twenty-six years and over one billion crunches later, Ms. Ciccione is still pleading with the masses to shake their groove things with Celebration, the title track from her forthcoming greatest hits compilation that hit the Internet today.
Celebration is unapologetically dance-y, which means two things: I'm sitting here at my desk typing faster than usual and throwing in the occasional shoulder shimmy (fun!) while doing it. And secondly, the track is unlikely to make much headway at disco-phobic U.S. radio because apparently America does not like to get it percolatin' in this dancerie. Ah well.
No matter, Madge loyalists will be inevitably downloading this one and playing it on repeat in their cars, on the treadmill, even in their minds as they're sleeping. And the usual haters will take one listen (or not) and declare that Madonna is, as Lexi Featherston so memorably labeled New York City in an episode of Sex and the City, "Over: O-V-E-R, over!"
After a half dozen or so spins, I'm probably more inclined to join the former group, although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed that lyrically, Madonna seems to be revisiting the "Party! Get on the floor!" theme for the umpteenth time without even the slightest bit of linguistic flair. I mean, I remember back in her Bedtime Stories/Ray of Light days when Madge strived to stimulate both the brain and the gluteus maximus.
Now, she's issuing "an invitation to the dance of life," and it feels a little like she might just as well be doing it via Evite. When I IM'd my pal Kristen Baldwin with the question "Does Madonna really have nothing else to say?" she pithily replied, "At this point, probably not."
Which, I suppose, would strike me as slightly depressing - if all the swirling beats and synths weren't causing a rush of endorphins to the head. What do you think of Madonna's new single? Will this one be making its way to your iPod? And any chance it'll be a radio hit? Holla back, young'ns!
Celebration co-writer revealed
Source: Belfast Telegraph - 30 July 2009A musician from Castledawson has told of his pride after a track he co-wrote and arranged was chosen by Madonna as her next single.
Ciaran Gribbin - who performs under the name Joe Echo - will have cause for 'celebration' next week when the world's most famous female artist releases her latest single, taken from her new album.
The track, Celebration, is the first single to be taken from her new Greatest Hits album of the same name. It is expected to go to number one, as is the album, which is due for release on September 25.
And appearing on the credits – and raking in an expected fortune in royalties - will be 32-year-old Ciaran, who co-wrote the backing tracks along with Ian Green and Paul Oakenfold.
Speaking from his home on the outskirts of Castledawson, he explained how the collaboration came about.
"I've done a lot of work with the producer Paul Oakenfold who is a big buddy of Madonna's," he said.
"She approached him and asked him what he was working on and if he could send her some material that she could write lyrics to.
"Myself, Ian Green and Oakenfold had written some stuff for Oakenfold's new album so he sent her off between 15 and 20 tracks.
"Of these, she chose two I was working on, Celebration and Broken.
"Basically me, Ian and Oakenfold arranged the backing track, we worked out the chord structure, put the guitars, keyboards and drums to the track and Madonna wrote on the lyrics and melody."
The superstar - who is currently on tour - was delighted with the end result and decided to release Celebration as her next single. The album will be her last one for Warner Brothers, as she has recently parted company with them to work with Live Nation.
Ciaran said he was thrilled she had liked the track and was confident it would go to number one.
"The last six months have been pretty amazing for Joe Echo but writing this track for Madonna has to be the highlight," he said.
"I'm so proud and excited that my name is on this track and I'm quietly confident it will go to number one. After all, it's Madonna."
The singer/songwriter, who also penned the soundtrack for the new Jim Sturgess movie Heartless, along with his former Leya bandmate Michael Keeney, said he was hoping to meet Madonna next month.
"I'm going over to the Munich gig to meet up with Oakenfold so I'm hoping to be introduced to her then," he said.
Ciaran is also hopeful that Madonna may release his other track, Broken, as a single, when she releases new material with Live Nation.
He said the collaboration on Celebration would help "pay the rent for the next few years".
MTV on Celebration leak
Source: MTV.com - 30 July 2009It's her final release on Warner Bros. Records, so Madonna decided to call her upcoming greatest-hits collection Celebration. However, the party got started a little early.
That's because on Wednesday night, the title track from that greatest-hits comp leaked to file-sharing sites across the Net.
Celebration is a sleek and slippery dance track that harkens back to Madge's early-'90s, Vogue/Deeper And Deeper heyday: "You wanna dance?" she coos over a pumping House beat. "I guess I just don't recognize you with your clothes on." The track was produced by legendary DJ Paul Oakenfold and is one of two new songs on the album, which is due in stores September 29.
At press time, MTV News' attempts to reach Madonna's spokesperson for comment on the leak were unsuccessful.
The song was scheduled to hit radio on August 3. According to a Warner Bros. press release, a video for the song was recently shot in Milan and was directed by longtime collaborator Jonas Akerlund, who helmed her Ray Of Light clip as well as working on the documentary I'm Going To Tell You A Secret, which followed Madonna on her 2004 Re-Invention Tour, and a television special on her 2006 Confessions Tour.
The second song on Celebration is reportedly a collaboration with Lil Wayne called Revolver, a Weezy[& Madonna]-less demo version of which has been making the rounds on YouTube since May.
Celebration will include hits from Madonna's entire Warner Bros. career - in 2007, she left the label to sign a lucrative, all-encompassing deal with concert titan Live Nation - and although a full tracklist is yet to be announced, Warner's press release mentions songs like Everybody, Express Yourself, Vogue and 4 Minutes as making the cut.
The album will be released in a variety of formats, including a single disc, a deluxe two-CD set, and as a [double] DVD, which will feature some of Madonna's best-known videos, including some never before available on DVD.
Celebration leaks online
30 July 2009Madonna's brand new single Celebration finally found its way to the Internet! It's one of her most straight-up dance songs ever, a definite summer hit in Europe. While the official radio premiere is on Monday, August 3rd, today radio stations are already doing early premieres, so keep your ears sharpened!
According to Warner Music Belgium, the music video, directed by Jonas Akerlund, would be ready by August 17th and would get its premiere as soon as possible.
The official single cover also premiered, showing a collage of photos from Madonna's club photoshoot in Rio De Janeiro from December 2008, shot by Steven Klein. You can find the lyrics of the new song here, which reference many classic Madonna songs.
In related news, the Warner Music Netherlands press release confirms that the Celebration greatest hits DVD is going to be a double disc!
Madonna to sing on Budapest soccer stadium
Source: UPI - 29 July 2009U.S. pop star Madonna will perform at a Budapest soccer stadium despite protests by the Hungarian Football Association, organizers said Wednesday.
If Madonna's show is held at the Puskas stadium, two years of work of the national soccer team could be ruined, Istvan Kisteleki of the Hungarian soccer association told the Hungarian news agency MTI.
The Hungarian national team is scheduled to play two major world cup qualification matches early in September and it would take more than 30 days to repair the turf on Budapest's Ferenc Puskas stadium after Madonna's concert Aug. 22.
Hungary is to play Sweden Sept. 5 and Portugal Sept. 9.
Lajos Vajto, the director of Budapest's Kincsem Park, the site for horse tracks, said the Madonna concert could be held on his facility if the Puskas soccer stadium refuses to stage the show.
Preview new single Celebration
29 July 2009Fans can now preview Madonna's long-awaited new single Celebration with a 30 second long clip at Amazon.com! The page includes a supposed single cover, that only features the title of the song, without Madonna on the picture.
Celebration is going to premiere on radio on Monday, August 3rd and is expected to be available as a digital download everywhere on August 4th.
I Am Because We Are / Filth & Wisdom DVDs announced
Source: Madonna.com - 28 July 2009In addition to her Celebration Greatest Hits CD and DVD, two Madonna movies are to be released on DVD this coming September.
Filth & Wisdom, Madonna's first effort as a director, will be released in the USA on September 29. Just click here to pre-order your copy from Amazon.
Madonna and Nathan Rissman's I Am Because We Are documentary will also get a DVD release by September 22. Click here to pre-order. Please visit www.iambecauseweare.com/ for more info about the film.
New venue for Budapest show
Source: Madonna.com - 27 July 2009If you are to attend the Sticky & Sweet show scheduled in Budapest on August 22, please note that the show moves from Kincsem Park to Puskas Ferenc Stadion.
All tickets remain valid in the new venue!
GOLD and SILVER tickets remain in the same location in front of the stage. The ticket-holders should follow the signs "GOLD" and "SILVER" at the stadium.
The allocation for the BRONZE ticket owners will be on the grandstands, therefore closer to the stage and with a much better view. They should follow the signs "BRONZE" at the stadium.
The VIP ticket service remains exactly the same. The ticket-holders will receive a personal note about their exact seating location and parking place directly to their mailboxes.
All other seated ticket holders – as originally planned at Kincsem Park – will be on the tribunes facing the stage. They can get their new seat numbers at the Ticketpro central office (Budapest, VII. Károly krt. 9.) from July 31th until August 19th, or at the venue on the show day.
With the change of venue to the Puskas Ferenc Stadium tickets additional tickets are now available in the Ticketpro network, including new seated tickets. The new seated tickets can be purchased in all TicketPro outlets from July 31st.
For more info and maps, please visit www.livenation.hu.
Celebration to hit iTunes next week
27 July 2009News just in from Warner Music Netherlands: the new Madonna single Celebration will premier on the radio on August 3rd. One day later, on August 4th, the song will already be on sale as a download. There's no release date known for the physical single yet (for The Netherlands).
The compilation album will be released in a 2CD, CD and DVD format. For this album, a huge marketing campaign will be launched.
Celebration remixers + second single in September?
27 July 2009Fansite MadonnaTribe reveals the people who remixed Madonna's new single Celebration: Benny Benassi, Chris Lake, Felguk, Johnny Vicious and the producer himself, Paul Oakenfold. They also confirm the rumour that Madonna's daughter Lourdes is going to feature in the music video.
Additionally, they say Warner is happy with the positive buzz surrounding this single that they are already planning to release a second single from the album, which would be Revolver of course, in September already! We speculate that Warner must have realized the biggest exposure it could get is the album release week, and that its video would most likely be the Marilyn Minter collaboration that was reported in the media last week.
Celebration single release date
26 July 2009Warner Music Germany reveals that the physical single of Celebration will be out on Friday, September 11th, 2009 (which means a UK release on the 14th), but we don't have to wait that long to own the song as it is expected to hit iTunes sometime late August.
In related news, Madonna's official Myspace page now shows a banner dedicated to the upcoming compilation (part of the albumcover). Sharp-eyed fans can spot several different lyric-snippets on it, namely: Miles Away, You Must Love Me, Take A Bow, Lucky Star, Like A Virgin & Holiday.
We think these are hints to the tracklist, which, by the way, is supposedly still not finalized, contrary to several rumours around the Internet.
The ultimate greatest hits collection Celebration released on September 28th
Source: Madonna.com - 23 July 2009Madonna, who has racked up a record 37 top 10 hits as well as seven No. 1 albums (including her last four) on the Billboard Pop Charts, has given her fans yet another opportunity to "celebrate" her musical achievements. Today, Warner Bros. Records officially confirmed the September 28th release of CELEBRATION – the ultimate compilation of Madonna songs.
The songs on Celebration have all been remastered and selected by Madonna and her fans. They cover the expanse of the Material Girl's extraordinary career of hits including Everybody, Express Yourself, Vogue and 4 Minutes.
Celebration will be available in a two-CD set as well as a single CD. There will also be a Celebration DVD released simultaneously which includes the video visionary's best videos including several that have never before been available on DVD.
p>Celebration, the CD will also include two new songs that were recently recorded in New York City. The first single, also titled, Celebration, co-produced by Madonna and Paul Oakenfold, will be released August 3rd.A video for the single, which will be included on the Celebration DVD was just filmed in Milan, Italy and was directed by long time Madonna collaborator Jonas (Ray Of Light) Akerlund. Several dance club remixes of Celebration are headed to the clubs on July 24th. The song will also be available on CD and vinyl maxi. Radio will receive the Celebration single on August 3rd.
The cover for Celebration was created by street pop artist "Mr. Brainwash" who is best known for "throwing modern cultural icons into a blender and turning it up to eleven."
Madonna, a multi Grammy award winning singer, writer and producer has had over 12 No. 1 singles and has a record-smashing 39 No. 1 singles on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs Chart – by far the most of any artist in the over 30 year history of the list.
Madonna to join forces with Marilyn Minter
Source: ContactMusic - 21 July 2009Madonna is set to team up with controversial artist Marilyn Minter for a top secret collaboration.
The pop superstar has added one of Minter's photographs, of a giant pair of pink lips, to the backdrop of her ongoing Sticky & Sweet world tour and has requested a meeting with the New York-based artist.
Minter, who is known for erotically-charged style, admits she has agreed to work with Madonna - but the project is so secret even she doesn't know what the Holiday hitmaker is planning.
She tells the New York Daily News, "She wants to come by my studio, so I guess I will find out then. Maybe she wants me to photograph her, or to work on a video."
Celebrate video concept
F21 July 2009Fansite MadonnaTribe reveals info on Madonna's new video: the concept of the video matches with the throwback lyrics and the whole project, as it's meant to celebrate Madonna's entire career. In the video, similar to MTV VMA 1999 style, fans and impersonators will bring back some of the most classic Madonna imagery to life.
They say the Like A Virgin bride is going to be a very special guest (it is already rumoured that Madonna's own daughter Lourdes will be appearing in this role!). We wonder if this concept (which reminds us of Annie Lennox's "Little Bird" video) is going to be self-celebratory, or just as tongue-in-cheeck and a bit of mockery as the She's Not Me performance on tour.
In related news, fansite Madonnalicious just posted a short teaser for the upcoming greatest hits, which states September 2009!
UPDATE: More teasers online, here and here!
20 July - Madonna's old compilations removed from iTunes
Surprisingly, Madonna's compilation albums The Immaculate Collection & GHV2 are now absent from the world's iTunes stores, except the USA. While this is a clear sign that the new Madonna compilation is coming up (titled Celebration, but not officially announced yet), and they will want to put the focus on it, it is currently unknown whether the 1990 and 2001 compilations will be discontinued on their physical formats as well. We also wonder if it means most of the tracks on the new GH would be coming from the old compilations.
GHV2 enjoyed limited success since its release, but The Immaculate Collection remains the world's best selling female compilation album, between 25-30 million copies sold, is one of the 10 best selling UK albums ever, and is Madonna's best selling record, shifting more than 10 million copies in the USA alone.
Unfortunately its sales in the past few years dropped, possibly thanks to music buyers being able to make their own compilations with individual iTunes downloads, so in a way it is actually a good time for a career-spanning, definitive Madonna greatest hits set.
Additionally, we've just found out an interesting tidbit about Madonna's iTunes presence. For an unknown reason, Ray Of Light is sold as a partial album everywhere, but it's not Frozen that's not available (one would think, based on the Belgian plagiarism case), but it's the album tracks To Have And Not To Hold & Little Star that are absent.
We wonder about the reason, Madonna co-wrote these songs with Rick Nowels, but The Power Of Good-Bye also comes from these sessions and that's still available for purchase...
Madonna visits family of dead Marseille stage hand
Source: AFP via Yahoo - 20 July 2009Madonna won hearts in France Sunday as she visited injured survivors and the family of a stage hand who died during an accident which saw her concert date in Marseille cancelled.
The city's mayor paid tribute to the US pop star's "humanity" as she visited the home of 52-year-old French victim Charles Criscenzo's family in nearby Aix-en-Provence before tending to colleagues being treated in hospital.
The black-clad US pop star landed at Marseille-Marignane airport at 1615 GMT and sped off with a bodyguard in a black Mercedes to the house where Criscenzo lived, where a security perimeter had been set up to keep media away.
Two men, Criscenzo and 23-year-old Briton Charles Prow, were killed on Thursday with eight more workers injured in the accident when part of the stage being built at the city's Stade Velodrome collapsed.
The accident happened when a crane toppled over as they were preparing the venue for Sunday's concert, which was immediately cancelled.
Madonna -- whose two adopted children arrived with her in France, but left the airport in another car -- went on to visit three injured workers still being cared for in two Marseille hospitals.
One, an American, was in a serious condition Sunday, according to local health officials.
Madonna arrived mid-evening at the Mediterranean port's Conception hospital, without any official escort, and bearing a large bouquet of white roses, to visit a French technician who broke a hip in the accident.
Met at the hospital by city mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, she made no declaration before escaping the crowd to tend to the injured stage hand and making her way to a second hospital.
Speaking for the city, Gaudin said "we are very touched that a singer of her stature and talent has demonstrated such extraordinary human qualities" with this visit.
"Madonna wanted to come and visit those injured and the families of those killed," the mayor's special events deputy Maurice Di Nocera earlier told AFP. "She wanted something private and discreet."
The singer was not, however, given permission to visit the stadium -- the home of Olympique Marseille football club -- with an accident investigation under way.
The US pop star, who was warming up for a concert in Udine, Italy when she heard of the accident, paid an emotional tribute to the two men as she performed there later Thursday night.
"Two men lost their lives, which is a great tragedy to me," Madonna told her fans as she choked back tears.
"I feel so devastated to be in any way associated with anyone's suffering. So let's all just take a moment to say a prayer for Charles Criscenzo and Charlie Prow."
"Our hearts go out to their families and their loved ones," said the singer according to footage of the concert posted on the Internet.
The investigation by French prosecutors could lead to manslaughter charges. A judicial official said they were looking in particular at a possible error in how the stage roof had been raised.
Firefighters said the roof of the giant stage became unbalanced as it was being lifted into place by four cranes, toppling one of the cranes which fell crashing onto the 60-tonne metal-and-cable structure below.
A stage technician, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the roof would normally have been hauled into place by four motors, but that one of these had been replaced on Thursday by the crane that collapsed.
Madonna's next tour date is a sell-out gig in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, the latest stop in her almost year-long Sticky and Sweet world tour, according to her website.
Ticket reimbursements for the Marseille concert would begin on Monday, Madonna's publicists said.
Madonna to visit victims of French stage accident
Source: AP via Yahoo - 19 July 2009Madonna is expected to visit some of the eight workers who were injured in an accident in which two workers were killed while assembling a music stage for the singer in the French port of Marseilles.
The mayor's office in Marseilles says Madonna is expected to visit two hospitals Sunday night.
Madonna's concert that was scheduled for Sunday night in Marseilles was canceled after the accident Thursday at the Velodrome stadium, when the roof of the stage collapsed while it was being built and crashed down on the workers.
The next stop on her tour is in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday.
~ Moreover, U2 paid tribute to the victims of the accident last night in Berlin, taken from U2.com:
During Moment of Surrender Bono paid special thanks to the magnificent 360 touring crew and added a tribute to those involved in the tragic accident on the Madonna tour in Marseilles earlier in the week. 'This goes out to the Madonna crew.. and to the good lady as well.'
Be a part of Madonna's new video in Barcelona
Source: Madonna.com - 19 July 2009We are looking for you - amazing fans to be in Madonna's next video, which will be a celebration of her music and fans.
If you would like to join us, send us your best picture to impress us for a chance to get picked.
We want to see it!! We are looking for real fans, look-a-likes, you must come dressed to impress, bring all your Madonna Memorabilia (do you still have 80's stuff??) and be ready to PERFORM, dance or just be yourself.
**if you want to be picked, make sure to bring out your best Madonna Fan look!**
If you get picked you need to check the following:
- confirm you are over 18 yrs old
- you must bring a Photo ID to our shoot for entrance
- you can be at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday the 21st of July
Please note that Madonna will not be in the video shoot this day
SEND US YOUR PICTURES: e-mail lastminutefans@gmail.com now!
By e-mailing us, you acknowledge you will not receive a payment for this and you will sign necessary release forms and confidentiality agreements on the day.
Thank you!
Dub version of Celebrate leaks online
18 July 2009Just like 4 years ago, when Stuart Price's dub version of Hung Up preceded the album version of the single, fans are now treated to Paul Oakenfold's 12" Dub version of Celebrate.
The six minute thirty second long piece features minimal amount of vocals, but the backing harmonies of the chorus match with the short clip leaked earlier this week. As expected, it's a straight-up club track that sounds like Madonna's past remixes and unlike any of her album tracks.
Currently it is unknown if Oakenfold's remix is just an extended version of the song, or has different parts in instrumentation. Listen to the dub here.
Let's hope we get to hear the full track soon!
Which Madonna song should feature on every tour?
17 July 2009It has always been a controversial subject among fans: which song is being performed by Madonna too much on her tours? Which is the definite song that should not be missed out from any Madonna concert? What do you say? Let us know here!
In the previous poll, we asked you about which artist owes her career the most to Madonna. Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue & Lady Gaga won by a landslide, with 51%, 21% and 18%, respectively.
Stage in Marseille collapses, show gets canceled
Source: AP via Yahoo - 16 July 2009A stage being built for a Madonna concert in the French port city of Marseille collapsed Thursday, leaving one dead and six injured, the fire department said.
The stage at the Stade Velodrome stadium fell apart on top of several workers. Two of the injuries were serious, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said. All of the injured were taken to local hospitals.
The identities of the dead and injured were not immediately released.
The cause of the stage collapse was not clear. The area was cordoned off after the accident.
Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour was to arrive in Marseille on Sunday, but the concert was canceled after the stage collapse, according to Maurice Di Nocera, Marseille city councilor in charge of major events.
UPDATE: Madonna has issued the following statement: "I am devastated to have just received this tragic news. My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news."
Be a part of Madonna's new video!
Source: Madonna.com - 16 July 2009It's A Celebration And We Want You To Join!
Madonna and her team are currently filming the video to her next single in Milan and they want for you to be part of it:
"We are looking for you die hard fans to be in Madonna's next video, which will be a celebration of her music and fans. We need you to come dressed to impress, bring all Madonna memorabilia, t-shirts or Madonna outfits you have and be ready to perform, dance or just be yourself.
If you would like to join in, please check the following details:
- Confirm you are over 18 years old
- You must bring your photo ID to the filming location
- Must have your country of residence (residenza) and tax number (code fiscale) available
- You can be in Milan at around 9pm on Saturday 18th July. We will not reveal the location until just before this time.
If you agree, come and celebrate: Please e-mail lastminutefans@gmail.com with a recent picture attached (No picture, No invite), as well as your full name, mailing address and phone number .
PLEASE NOTE THAT MADONNA WILL NOT BE AT THE FILM SHOOT, WE ARE ONLY SHOOTING EXTRAS THIS DAY.
Please note that we will not be able to pick everybody that replies."
~ In related news, the a 20 second clip of the song in question leaked online. Celebrate indeed sounds like that Madonna and Oakenfold came up with a straight up summer-party song as a gift for the fans!
First 2009 tour Boxscores published
16 July 2009Quicker-than-a-ray-of-light we get the first batch of Billboard Boxscores of the 2009 leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour! All five dates are reported as sold out. Of course most impressive is the first outdoor show of the tour, in Belgium, which moved a whopping 68,000 tickets! While her 2 shows in London O2 are not far below in total gross, it's notable that Madonna did not use the full capacity of the venue as it could accomodate around six thousand more spectators.
O2 Arena, London, U.K.
July 4-5, 2009
$5,873,149
27,464 / 27,464
Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, U.K.
July 7, 2009
$2,827,517
13,457 / 13,457
Palais Omnisports Bercy, Paris, France
July 9, 2009
$2,306,551
15,806 / 15,806
Werchter Festival Park, Werchter, Belgium
July 11, 2009
$7,190,295
68,434 / 68,434
Madonna films new video in Italy
15 July 2009Fansite MadonnaTribe reports that Madonna started filming her new video last night in Milan, Italy at the Dolce & Gabbana party. She was filmed dancing together with her tour crew. It is expected that filming resumes on Friday and Saturday at D&G's Metropole.
Madonna's stylish night out with Dolce & Gabbana
Source: The Sun - 15 July 2009Does Madonna ever eat dinner on her own?
A night rarely passes where the Queen of Pop isn't spotted entering or leaving a swanky restaurant, often with celeb pals in tow.
Last week she hit posh London eatery Locanda Locatelli with Sir Paul McCartney and his daughter Stella.
And now she's fine dining in Milan at Dolce & Gabbana's restaurant Gold with the fashion behemoths and toyboy lover Jesus Luz.
Wrapped in an embrace with two of the world's premier designers and a Brazilian model, it's no wonder she's beaming from ear to ear.
Calvin Harris happy with Madonna remix
Source: Showbiznews.virginmedia.com - 15 July 2009Calvin Harris has admitted that he feels "privileged" that the likes of Madonna and Pendulum are sampling his music.
Madonna sampled his smash hit I'm Not Alone for a dance version of Frozen on her Sticky & Sweet Tour, while drum and bass rockers Pendulum have performed their take on the song at Glastonbury and MTV's Oxegen festival.
Calvin said at Oxegen: "I never imagined when I made it in my little purple room in Glasgow in my flat that it would reach far and wide as it has - it's always a privilege."
Title of greatest hits album: Celebration
10 July 2009Fansite MadonnaTribe reveals the long-awaited info about the upcoming greatest hits: the collection, titled Celebration will be a double disc release. 2 new tracks will be included: Celebrate and Revolver. The other Oakenfold-produced song Broken unfortunately did not make the cut.
The first single is going to be Celebrate, released to radio on July 28th already! It is a classic Madonna track, an invitation to the dance, which can be heard during the current Sticky & Sweet Tour, during Holiday, as an instrumental.
Practical info for Belgian show
9 July 2009For all fans who will attend Madonna's show in Werchter, Belgium next Saturday, here's some practical info.
How to get there?
Werchter is a small village, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. There are trains going there but there are NO more tickets available! Best option is to go to Leuven and take the bus from there. This shuttle service will be indicated at the train&bus station of Leuven. The bus ride will take about 15 minutes and will save you from traffic and parking problems. If you really want to drive there, you have to take exit 21 Holsbeek or exit 22 Aarschot on the highway E314. Werchter is indicated from the highway. There's parking around the festival ground.
What's the program?
According to Live Nation, fFans will be granted access to the field at 4pm. Although it's possible the scheduled soundcheck party will still be happening at that time; in that case, doors will open later. Paul Oakenfold is scheduled to play between 8pm and 9pm. Madonna should start at 9.30pm.
When to go?
I called Live Nation and they said that precautions would be made for fans who want to queue early. There will be security guards who will help you find your way. Golden Circle holders will have to enter through a separate entrance (possibly the press entrance - not sure). Belgian concert organisers are generally better organised than the average organisations, so the chaos that is experienced in some cities should not be the case (fingers crossed).
What to wear?
Belgium has a looooovely climate :-) Eventhough we've just had a full week of heat wave, the regular rain showers are back. The advantage is that we probably won't have to spend a full day in the beating sun. But try to bring some light raincoat. It won't be cold, but it could get wet... A baseball cap could help you both against the sun and against the rain.
Above all: HAVE FUN!!
And... don't forget to send your report of the show to Mad-Eyes afterwards!
Madonna greetz, the Mad-Eyes team
Belgian radio MNM: Music 'N Madonna
7 July 2009
Madonna's concert in Werchter next Saturday will be her first ever in Belgium. She is the artist of the week at radio station MNM, which this week stands for "Music 'N Madonna". There is a competition to win the last tickets: several times a day they tell a Madonna story and listeners have to reply by SMS if the story is true or not. On the MNM website you can take the quiz yourself and you can cast your vote in the Madonna Top 30, which will be broadcast on Saturday.
In the morning program, there are several Madonna-related sketches and in the afternoon program they invite Belgian artists to cover a Madonna song on air. Yesterday, the band Andes performed a great acoustic version of Papa Don't Preach. Later today, you can hear Elektra giving her Madonna rendition. And finally, there are two presenters with a special quest: they have to kiss Madonna. If you can give them any advice, contact MNM!
Meanwhile, the Belgian portal site Skynet gives away 10 duo-tickets for Saturday in their online competition. Good luck!
The scoop on Madonna's new couture costumes
Source: People.com - 6 July 2009Madonna looks fiercer than ever on stage these days, and she has one man to thank for that On the opening night of the Material Girl's Sticky & Sweet tour's second leg July 4 in London, Madonna wowed fans with a new "super couture, sensual, Goth, bondage" costume that Givenchy Haute Couture's Riccardo Tisci designed for her opening act. "What I wanted for the opening was to give a very iconic view of Madonna," Tisci tells PEOPLE exclusively.
"She's wearing an outfit that will make history. I wanted to do something even stronger (than what he designed for her in the tour's first leg) because she wants to be stronger." Working with the Queen of Pop was easy, says Tisci. "I just met her six months ago and I'm completely in love with her," he says.
"She's an artist but she let me express myself, which is rare. She knew what she liked from my collection and wanted me to translate that for her on stage." He also designed a new dress for another part of her show. "She said she wanted to do colors," he says. "I said why not? So we did fluorescent rosary necklaces (over a black dress.)"
Tisci was also very impressed with Madonna's ability to remain calm in the midst of so much activitity, rehearsing and putting her tour together. And yet, he says, "She was very calm and Zen. She is a Leo like me. For Leos to be calm and Zen takes time because we are very energetic. She was amazing."
And while Madonna may be strong, that doesn't mean that she isn't deeply feeling the death of friend Michael Jackson, paying homage to him midway through her Saturday night's show at London's O2 arena — where Jackson was scheduled to kick off his "This Is It" tour on July 13 — when one of her dancers burst onto the stage dressed in Jackson's trademark fedora, sequined jacket, white t-shirt and white glove, boogeying to a medley of his megahits including "Wanna Be Starting Something."
"All right people!" Madonna said afterward. "Let's give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known: Michael Jackson! Long live the King!!!" And we say long live her Majesty.
Madonna resumes Sticky & Sweet Tour with a bang!
5 July 2009On Saturday, July 4th, Madonna finally kicked off the long awaited 2009 leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour. You can find the slightly altered setlist on the details page and a quick rundown of the show in the brand new diary.
Check out our brand new gallery for high quality pictures!
You can also discuss the tour at our Facebook group with other fans!
Madonna inspired by Jackson, to pay tribute on tour
Source: ContactMusic - 4 July 2009Madonna has revealed she was "in awe" of Michael Jackson, and is devastated by his sudden death last week.
Madonna is "terrible sad" about the death of Michael Jackson.
The 4 Minutes singer is due to play London's O2 arena tonight (04.07.09) and tomorrow (05.07.09) - the venue where Michael would have staged his comeback shows later this month - and is planning to dedicate her performances to the King of Pop.
She explained: "He was the King who inspired us all. I am so terribly sad about Michael Jackson's death. I don't know what artist wasn't inspired by him. Everybody grew up in awe of him.
"To work with him and become friends and hang out with him, was exciting for me. I used to love picking his brains about musical stuff."
Michael - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest in Los Angeles last week, aged 50 - appeared alongside his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon in the Jackson 5 from the age of seven.
Madonna insists it was Michael's early induction into the world of fame which made him so unusual.
She told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "To be able to do what he did at such an early age was unearthly.
"Obviously we have very different personalities - he was a lot more shy than I am. That's because I was allowed to have a normal childhood and he wasn't, so there was a vulnerable side to him that made you want to take care of him and protect him.
"He was a real paradox, one of the world's greatest performers and obviously very confident on stage, but in real life he was very shy and you really felt for him."
Madonna also revealed she had offered to sing with Michael - who is survived by three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - at the 50 shows he had planned in London.
She joked: "I don't know what we could have done together. I could have carried his bags for him maybe."
Now, the 50-year-old singer has decided to pay tribute to Michael during her upcoming shows.
She will play a medley of Michael's songs - including 'Billie Jean' - and has a dancer who will dress as the late pop icon and perform some of his signature dance moves.
Madonna was distraught after Michael's death was announced, admitting she had been reduced to tears.
She said at the time: "I can't stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."
Brand new costume sketch for tour
3 July 2009It turns out Madonna is indeed going to hit the stage in revamped costumes! Check out our spoilers page for a brand new costume sketch!
UPDATE: You can find another surprise on spoilers page!
Marilyn Minter & Madonna, destined to be BFs
Source: W Magazine - 3 July 2009Fans attending Madonna's July 4 concert in London will be confronted by the surreal sight of a giant tongue licking and spitting out neon-colored icing. "It's not the most appetizing imagery; it's saliva being spit out with bakery products," says its creator, artist Marilyn Minter. Her film, Green Pink Caviar, serves as a backdrop to Madge's opening number, Candy Shop. Says Minter, "we had to make it as absolutely beautiful as possible so you overlook that."
The artist, who's previously collaborated with Tom Ford, tells us that she's felt solidarity with Madonna since the early Nineties. "She did her Sex book at the same time that I made a hardcore porn series of paintings," she says. "She got excoriated by the press and so did I, as traitors of feminism in a way. We were both pro-sex feminists at the wrong time, in the middle of early political correctness. We tapped into the way feminism was going a little bit ahead of the zeitgeist."
She is now headed off to London now for the concert. The two, she says, have not yet met (although Madonna owns two of Minter's works). Madonna sent her tickets, flowers and a note.
Turkish dancer Yaman Okur reveals secrets about Madonna
Source: Today's Zaman - 3 July 2009The summer 2009 leg of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet World Tour kicks off in London tomorrow. Among the performers accompanying Madonna onstage will be Yaman Okur, a Turkish dancer who has made headlines as the "brave Turk behind Madonna," as his name means "brave" in Turkish.
The Paris-born Okur, whose dreams came true when he first joined Madonna onstage before an audience of 60,000 in September 2008 as a dancer during her world tour, was busy rehearsing for the upcoming performances of the tour last week, but took some time to answer a few questions on the phone.
Okur spoke about Madonna's obvious motherly affection, his secret to approaching her and his own story of becoming one of Madonna's dancers in an interview ahead of the start of the 30-gig tour, which will run through September. "She has enormous positive energy," said Okur about the Material Girl. "Madonna is more of a beautiful mother than an artist."
The Turkish press calls you the "brave Turkish dancer behind Madonna," but where exactly are you from?
I was born in Paris, and I grew up there. My family relocated to Paris two years before I was born. My mother is originally from İzmit, and my father is from Adapazarı [in northwestern Anatolia]. I used to visit Turkey each summer throughout my childhood, and that's how I learned Turkish. There are no other dancers in my family, but I have always been into dance, since my childhood.
What does it feel like being on the same stage with Madonna? Do you remember the very first song of hers to which you performed live onstage?
There were around 50,000 or 60,000 people in Wembley Arena. My first moment live onstage was the moment she was about to sing Beat Goes On. It was so beautiful to be able to perform my own dance numbers besides the set choreography.
What was your story before you auditioned in New York to become one of Madonna's dancers for her European tour? Were you a fan of hers?
I have always watched Madonna's shows with a great appreciation; I loved her shows on the Drowned World Tour and Re-Invention Tour as a dancer myself. I was born in 1977; we all grew up listening to Madonna's songs throughout our childhood, but honestly I was more into rap and hip-hop as I was into break dancing also. I first dreamed about dancing with Madonna while I was watching her Confessions Tour and that was because I saw one of the most famous American break dancers, Cloud, dancing with her there.
Last January, my girlfriend and I got this text message from one of our friends about auditions for dancers for Madonna in New York, and we flew to New York immediately. Throughout the auditions, [we were asked to perform] set choreographies for three and also freestyle performances. Madonna has enormous positive energy, and dancing right in front of her was like a dream.
How is Madonna's behavior towards her dancers?
In my opinion, Madonna is more of a beautiful mother than an artist. ... She approaches all of us just like a mother. She cares about our comfort, and she approaches with love and protection just like a mother does. In a documentary, I watched Madonna gather her dancers and pray together with them before her stage shows. Did you also pray with her?Yes, of course we did. Among her dancers there is also another Muslim dancer named Norman, who normally lives in Malaysia. Madonna knew we're Muslims. She heard us read al-Fatiha [ahead of a performance] in one corner, and she listened to us. Just two days later, while we were about to pray all together before the show, she said to us, "You read 'al-Fatiha,' too." She is so unique and so special.
Which Madonna song gives you the greatest inspiration for dancing?
My favorite song from her Sticky & Sweet Tour is Beat Goes On. Actually I was chosen as a choreographer, and I prepared the choreography for the song Heartbeat. You will see it when the tour's DVD comes out. I love the song Heartbeat, as well.
Who else have you danced with onstage, or who would you like to dance for?
My dream was to dance with Madonna, and it came true. I can't even dream about dancing for someone else after dancing with Madonna. Previously, I performed with Lionel Richie for a show in France. Now we are going on with our rehearsals in London for Madonna's summer tour ... which starts off in London on July 4. It makes me so happy that I will be dancing on the same stage with Madonna once more.
Any hints for approaching Madonna or any guidelines for getting a chance to become a dancer for her?
Actually, there is a hint. Madonna likes things she has never seen before, things that are very unique. A brand new dance undiscovered, brand new music undiscovered. She liked my slow-motion numbers when she chose me. ... Madonna likes original and very different things, and she is not afraid of giving it a try. She is open to novelty. If you want to approach her, you have to come up with new things.
Madonna.com previews tour DVD
3 July 2009Head over to Madonna.com to watch an amazing 3-minute long montage of the Sticky & Sweet Tour DVD filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina! The DVD show is going to be broadcast on Sky 1 tomorrow night, at the same time when Madonna is kicking off the 2009 leg of the tour in London.
Christian Audigier to helm The Material Girl Project
Source: Monsters and Critics - 2 July 2009Madonna's new clothing collection is for "seven-year-olds to 77-year-olds".
The 50-year-old popstar is teaming up with French fashion designer Christian Audigier - who has an eponymous label and is also behind the Von Dutch and Ed Hardy labels - on a new range, and is determined to make it suitable for all age groups.
Christian told BANG Showbiz: "Madonna and I are working on a new project called The Material Girl Project and I'm going to be a partner with her on it.
"It's going to come out, in September, when it's back to school time. So we are working on different designs and samples right now, so we're going to have most of that done at the end of the summer.
It's going to be for everyone, all ages. We're going for everyone, from seven-year-olds to 77-year-olds. We're not excluding anybody."
Christian - who is currently in London to launch his new range of champagne and wines - has been thrilled with the way the 4 Minutes singer has thrown herself into the collaboration, claiming she is full of ideas and has a clear vision for the line.
He explained: "Madonna is a good choice because she comes into it a total pro. If I need to listen to music, then I go and see Madonna because she is the best, so this is the same thing.
"Does she have loads of ideas? Oh, of course. I had a meeting a month ago with her and she is really all about the detail. She knows exactly what she likes and is always proposing ideas to us. After that she decides whether she wants to add shoes or other things. She's like me, when it's a, 'Yes,' it's a big, 'Yes.' When it's a, 'No,' it's a definite, 'No!' I like people like that, a lot of people are really critical but never give a solution. She is not like that."
Europe to turn Sticky & Sweet in 3 days
Source: Madonna.com - 1 July 2009We're now just 3 days away from the opening night of Madonna's 2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour! The Material Girl and her whole band are busy rehearsing for the show, which will be played 29 times in 25 different cities all over Europe from July 4th to September 2nd.
The 2009 leg of the tour is to feature some changes, including a couple of songs that were not performed last year, so get ready for what promises to be another amazing experience! If you're still looking for tickets, please visit the Tours page now.
Madonna reinvents tour opening screens with Green Pink Caviar
Source: WWD.com - 1 July 2009Madonna fans heading to the latest leg of her Sticky & Sweet tour, which kicks back off in London on Saturday, are in for a surprise. The opening song, Candy Shop, will be performed under a pair of giant luscious, pink lips licking and sucking on sparkly gold, orange, silver and green goo.
The nine-minute video, titled "Green Pink Caviar," is a new addition to the tour courtesy of artist Marilyn Minter, whose photographic work is in Madonna's personal collection. "When I heard Madonna might be interested [in the video], I said, 'Wow, how much does she want me to pay her?'" laughs Minter, who was initially told it was too late to insert anything into the tour. Apparently it was too good to resist and became part of the show.
"Then [Madonna] actually paid me a bunch of money and sent tickets," said Minter, who is on her way to the U.K. for her first-ever Madonna concert to see her video in action.
~ Watch the trailer of Green Pink Caviar here!
Madonna in new Vuitton ads
Source: WWD.com - 1 July 2009Marc Jacobs was so pleased with this spring's Louis Vuitton campaign featuring Madonna that he was eager to do an encore. "But very quickly Marc said, 'I want something completely different,'" related Antoine Arnault, Vuitton's communication director.
The new ingredients included a dash of Tamara de Lempicka and a soupçon of Man Ray for color-drenched images by Steven Meisel with a surreal edge, thanks to generous use of solarization, a technique of overexposure first perfected by Ray.
"It gives something very graphic, more edgy" than the first Madonna campaign, also by Meisel, which depicted her as a French coquette in a Parisian bistro setting, Arnault said. The new spots, which break in a range of August titles, feature a variety of runway looks and leather goods, many in the house's signature monogram.
Asked about the impact of the first Madonna campaign, Arnault said, snapping his fingers for emphasis, "Everything she was wearing in the first campaign was sold within a few months. People came into the store saying, 'I want the Madonna bag, the Madonna shoes."
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