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Madonna news - Aug. 2009
← July 2009 | Sep. 2009 →
Celebration video to be free download on iTunes
Source: BusinessWire - 31 August 2009Madonna’s hotly anticipated new video for her Celebration single will have its exclusive world premiere on the iTunes store as a free download for two days beginning Tuesday, September 1, 2009. Madonna is a multi-award winning visionary in the realm of video performance. The Celebration video, which contains mind-boggling dance moves, reaffirms yet again her reputation as the master of the "short movie." The video will be available for purchase on iTunes on Thursday, September 3rd.
The Celebration video, directed by long time Madonna creative collaborator Jonas Akerlund (Ray Of Light) was filmed recently in Milan, Italy and features the Material Girl dancing with her amazing troupe of performers from her current Sticky & Sweet Tour. The video also includes cameo appearances by Madonna’s daughter, Lola Leon and model/DJ Jesus Luz.
Simultaneous to the video debut, Madonna’s definitive greatest hits album, Celebration which has been totally remastered and includes two new songs, can be pre-ordered on iTunes.
~ The press release contains a 15 second long clip of the video, featuring the Benny Benassi remix. The video will have its world premiere at 8 am CET on September 1st and you can catch that on Hungarian radio station Sláger Rádio's website, among others.
It's So Cool is a registered Madonna song
31 August 2009Just a week after the writers of Revolver were made public, now we find another new Madonna song listed at Warner Chappell: It's So Cool, which has been long rumoured across the online Madonna community. It's a song from the American Life sessions, which means it's no surprise that Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Monte Pittman are credited alongside Madonna. It's Monte's second songwriting credit, after Easy Ride.
It's So Cool is expected to be an iTunes pre-order exclusive bonus track for Celebration, reworked by Paul Oakenfold. On the other hand, there's no sign of the song "Broken (I'm Sorry)" from the Oakenfold sessions, which most likely means this track is being kept in the vaults and was not submitted to Warner.
Moreover, ASCAP's website lists several of the Sticky & Sweet Tour samples under Madonna's name now, indicating these were registered for the upcoming DVD release: "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" (used in Music), "Feels Like Home" (used in Like A Prayer), plus 'Into The Groove 2008' which naturally contains the writers of "Toop Toop". While "Give It To Me" (used in Vogue), "Here Comes The Rain Again" (used in Rain) or "I'm Not Alone" (used in Frozen) are not listed here, we find 3 Gypsy songs: "Pala Tute", "Doli Doli" and "Me Darava". The latter two being credited to the frontman of Madonna's Gypsy band, Alexandre Kolpakov.
Madonna tours Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem
Source: AP via Yahoo - 31 August 2009The Material Girl has opened a visit to the Holy Land with a spiritual touch.
Madonna headed to Jerusalem's Old City late Sunday where she toured an ancient tunnel near the Western Wall — the holiest site where Jews can pray.
The 51-year-old pop star arrived in a black Mercedes van and was escorted into the tunnel by police. She made no comment to reporters and was whisked away about a half hour later.
Madonna isn't Jewish, but she's a follower of Jewish mysticism and has even taken the Hebrew name Esther.
She arrived early Sunday for a pair of concerts this week. It will be her first performance in Israel since 1993, though she came on private pilgrimages in 2004 and 2007.
Madonna is also set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday.
Madonna booed in Bucharest for defending Gypsies
Source: AP via Yahoo - 27 August 2009Thousands of fans have booed pop star Madonna after she spoke out against the discrimination of Gypsies in eastern Europe during one of her concerts.
Madonna paused in the two-hour concert to say that Gypsies, also known as Roma, were discriminated against in eastern Europe. She said that made her "sad" and nobody should be discriminated against
Thousands in the crowd of 60,000 booed her. She did not react.
Roma musicians and a Roma dancer were featured in her show, held just yards from the giant palace of ex-communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Their performances were applauded by the crowd.
There are officially some 500,000 Roma in Romania, but the real number could be around 2 million. They face prejudice and discrimination in Romania and other east European nations.
Madonna.com confirms Celebration CD & DVD tracklist
Source: Madonna.com - 26 August 2009Warner Bros. Records has confirmed the final track listing for Madonna's upcoming Celebration CD – The "Ultimate" Compilation - and Celebration the Video Collection DVD – both scheduled to be released on September 28/29th. The songs which were selected by Madonna and her fans have all been exquisitely remastered. Celebration will be available as a two-CD set as well as a single CD.
The Celebration Video Collection DVD will include unedited and never before seen footage of Justify My Love along with 27 Madonna videos to be released on a DVD compilation for "the very first time" including Into The Groove and Give It 2 Me as well as the just completed video of Madonna's new single Celebration.
Madonna clearly continues to rule the dance floor with her latest single. Her Celebration Remix EP is #1 on iTunes Dance Album chart as well as #1 on the Masterbeat overall chart. The song is #*5 on Billboard's Club Singles Chart and the Greatest Gainer for the second week in a row. If Celebration reaches #1 on Billboard's Club Single Chart, it would be Madonna's 40th!!!! #1 Club single – the most of any artist in the history of the Billboard Club Singles Chart.
On the international front so far, the Celebration single is already #1 in Italy and Holland, #2 in Japan and is Top 5 airplay in every other major market.
Another newly recorded song, Revolver featuring Lil Wayne is also included on the Celebration CD. Artwork for the packaging of the CD and DVD was designed by renowned street pop artist "Mr. Brainwash."
Currently on tour in Europe with her sold out Sticky & Sweet Tour, the multi-Grammy winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer with the highest grossing tour in history for a Female Artist, is scheduled to end her tour with her final show in Israel on September 2nd.
Madonna Celebration CD Track Listing:
CD 1:
01) Hung Up
02) Music
03) Vogue
04) 4 Minutes
05) Holiday
06) Everybody
07) Like A Virgin
08) Into The Groove
09) Like A Prayer
10) Ray Of Light
11) Sorry
12) Express Yourself
13) Open Your Heart
14) Borderline
15) Secret
16) Erotica
17) Justify My Love
18) Revolver
CD 2:
01) Dress You Up
02) Material Girl
03) La Isla Bonita
04) Papa Don't Preach
05) Lucky Star
06) Burning Up
07) Crazy For You
08) Who's That Girl
09) Frozen
10) Miles Away
11) Take A Bow
12) Live To Tell
13) Beautiful Stranger
14) Hollywood
15) Die Another Day
16) Don't Tell Me
17) Cherish
18) Celebration
Madonna Celebration DVD Track Listing:
1) Burning Up
2) Lucky Star
3) Borderline
4) Like A Virgin
5) Material Girl
6) Crazy For You
7) Into The Groove
8) Live To Tell
9) Papa Don't Preach
10) True Blue
11) Open Your Heart
12) La Isla Bonita
13) Who's That Girl
14) Like A Prayer
15) Express Yourself
16) Cherish
17) Vogue
18) Justify My Love
19) Erotica
20) Deeper and Deeper
21) Rain
22) I'll Remember
23) Secret
24) Take A Bow
25) Bedtime Story
26) Human Nature
27) I Want You
28) You'll See
29) Frozen
30) Ray Of Light
31) The Power Of Good-Bye
32) Beautiful Stranger
33) American Pie
34) Music
35) Don't Tell Me
36) What It Feels Like For A Girl
37) Die Another Day
38) Hollywood
39) Love Profusion
40) Hung Up
41) Sorry
42) Get Together
43) Jump
44) 4 Minutes
45) Give It 2 Me
46) Miles Away
47) Celebration
Orthodox Church condemns Madonna gig in Bulgaria
Source: AFP via Yahoo - 25 August 2009Bulgaria's Orthodox Church condemned on Tuesday Madonna's upcoming Sticky and Sweet concert in Sofia, saying it blasphemously collides with the date that marks the beheading of John the Baptist.
"We express our Christian support and approval for the art of singing, which influences the moral development of people and promotes universal moral values," the church said in a statement.
But it added that at almost every concert she stages in a Christian country, Madonna -- who performs in the Bulgarian capital on Saturday -- has shown a "lack of respect" for church rituals.
"In some of her choreography and stage scenarios, this singer sends impressive messages which, however, run contrary to Christian morality," the statement said.
What's more, the church said, August 29 is a day of lent for Orthodox Christians marking the beheading of John the Baptist, the biblical preacher who baptised Jesus Christ and an important figure in the Orthodox faith.
Almost all tickets for Madonna's concert, one of the largest gigs ever organised in Sofia, have already been sold, organisers told AFP Tuesday, although they refused to give a precise number.
Fans are feverishly awaiting the show, which also falls on the day that late pop idol Michael Jackson would have turned 51.
Revolver is a registered Madonna song
24 August 2009Warner Chappell, the database of registered songs now lists new Madonna song Revolver. The songwriting credit is shared between six songwriters. Contrary to fan speculation, Madonna does get a writer credit, which means her version will not be identical to the leaked demo.
The writers are: Carlos Centel Battey, Steven Andre Battey, Dwayne Carter, Justin Scott Franks, Brandon Kitchen & Madonna. The song is produced by Madonna and Frank E and is featuring as a bonus track on the double disc version of Celebration.
We'd like to point out that Dwayne Carter is hip hop superstar Lil Wayne, which confirms his involvement in the track.
Moreover, the song Celebration is registered on the same site as well.
Celebration video premiere and single release dates
Source: Madonna.com - 23 August 2009The wait is almost over... Just a few more days before we all discover the video to Madonna's new anthem..!
The Celebration video will be available for download from iTunes in the USA, Canada and Mexico starting September 1st.
The video, which was directed by Jonas Akerlund, is also set to premiere on TV around the world that very same day!
More details are to be announced soon so stay tuned!
European Madonna fans, we're happy to announce that Celebration will be released as a digital single in Germany on September 11 and in the UK on Monday, September 14.
Stay tuned for more Celebration related info!
~ Please note that a UK physical single is not entirely out of question at this point, as the UK promo CD lists both physical and digital releases for September 14th.
Billboard reviews Celebration
Source: Reuters - 22 August 2009Madonna's latest single won't start any new trends, but it does return the singer to her dance-floor roots. "Come join the party ... 'cause everybody wants to party with you," she sings on Celebration, the title track and one of a reported two new songs on her best-of set that's due September 29.
A notable assist comes courtesy of trance DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold, who co-wrote and co-produced the buoyant stomper. He supplies a surging beat that could easily have been lifted from the star's Confessions On A Dance Floor period (Hung Up, Sorry) but can be traced even further back to her 1992 hit Deeper And Deeper.
The melody, meanwhile, recalls her last single, 4 Minutes, in its urgency. Consider Celebration a score for Madonna's retro-futuristic fan base and a nice bookend to her collection of chart glories.
Latest Billboard Boxscores
19 August 2009Another week, another couple of Boxscores. This time around we get very impressive numbers: the Helsinki show breaks Madonna's own gross record set by the Wembley show last September and is the show with the highest attendance of the entire 2008-2009 tour so far.
Also, Madonna breaks a record set by U2 just a week before her own double date in Gothenburg's Ullevi stadium with almost 120,000 attendance in total. This actually raises some questions since U2's current show features a round stage that is advertised as a better way to use total capacity of the venue, unlike Madonna's end-stage.
West Harbour, Helsinki, Finland
Aug. 6, 2009
$12,148,455
85,354 / 85,354
Ullevi Stadion, Goteborg, Sweden
Aug. 8-9, 2009
$14,595,910
119,709 / 119,709
2 / 2
Parken Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark
Aug. 11, 2009
$6,709,250
48,064 / 48,064
Chodov Natural Amphitheatre, Prague, Czech Republic,
Aug. 13, 2009
$3,835,776
42,682 / 42,682
Bemowo Airport, Warsaw, Poland
Aug. 15, 2009
$6,526,867
79,343 / 79,343
Paul Oakenfold: new material is 'the sound of tomorrow'
Source: Music Mix @ Entertainment Weekly - 19 August 2009British DJ and remixer extraordinaire Paul Oakenfold would like to clear something up: He has never been naked in a recording studio with Madonna. "That was a joke," he laughs, referring to Madonna's April 23rd tweet via manager Guy Oseary's account (@guyoseary): "paul oakenfold is running around the studio naked.. because i wont put the air on.. its hot in here.. but the music is hotter!!!! -M."
But Oakenfold, who recently released Perfecto: Vegas, a two-disc set celebrating his popular residency at the Palms Casino, from which he recently took a break to join Her Madgesty's Sticky and Sweet Tour in Europe, is dead serious about getting people on the dance floor with Celebration. The song, which he co-wrote with Madonna for her upcoming greatest hits package (in stores Sept. 29), is he says, "meant to be positive in the respect that you can do it, let's have a good time, let's enjoy ourselves."
And while the song, which leaked online in July, has a party-time feel, Oakenfold tells us that he and "M," as he calls her, were all business during their first in-studio collaboration. "It was very focused, very professional," he recalls. "When you step up to this level, it's an interesting process because you're on someone else's time, and you respect that. And that's really what it's about. So I was extremely organized when I went in there with the team that I had." And he's pretty proud of the result: "It's definitely the sound of tomorrow. Which always becomes the sound of today."
Madonna enjoys 51st birthday celebrations
Source: Telegraph.co.uk - 18 August 2009Madonna enjoyed her 51st birthday in the Mediterranean with her boyfriend Jesus Luz and her children.
Celebrations began on a Sunday night when the singer hosted a dinner party in the Italian resort of Portofino, where she is staying with her boyfriend, daughter Lourdes and adopted children, David Banda and Mercy James.
At the Splendido Hotel, she was joined by about 30 guests, including Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, where she was presented with a cake, which had sparklers.
The singer was seen taking a private boat the following day with her children.
Dressed in a personalised basketball kit, which said "Madonna 1", she was pictured jumping into the sea and enjoying the company of friends and family.
Earlier in the weekend, she celebrated in Warsaw when her Polish fans wished her happy birthday during a concert. They held up signs saying "happy birthday" and sang May You Live A Hundred Years, a traditional Polish birthday song.
The ex-wife of director Guy Ritchie, she has previously defended her lifestyle saying: "Once you reach a certain age you're not allowed to be adventurous, you're not allowed to be sexual. I mean, is there a rule? Are you supposed to just die? I've never been a conformist."
~ You can read more on the Polish birthday show in our tour diary.
Mad-Eyes wishes Madonna a Happy Birthday!
16 August 2009Today, Madonna turns 51 and this is how Mad-Eyes visitors celebrate this special event:
I just wanted to make a special birthday wish to Madonna.. with all my heart and my soul. 51 years and still alive and kicking!! You're an incredible woman, an incredible artist, mother and leader! Thanks to you not only I could fight my tough life with strength and determination, but I also could learn a lot of deeper things refered to life, the real meaning of life.
You opened my heart and my spirit to something more profound and as you always try to tell us, I'm trying to change, to re-invent myself and the people I am in touch with. For all these reasons and many more I wish you the best wishes for your birthday! Hope it'll be a great occasion to have fun and spend time with family and friends. (Wish I could be one of them haha).
~ Domenico
Happy B'day M-Dolla!!!!!! Even if you become 51, you will still look young. Keep dancing and singing til your last breath!!!! I wish you the best in everything. Love you, Madonna!!
~ Tarek
Wishing you the very best on YOUR special day. You have made a huge impact in my life and I could not imagine not having YOU Madonna in my life through all your Music, talent, dedication, etc. I can't wait for your new CD - "Celebration" is fantastic and I cannot wait to hear more! Celebrate like there's no tomorrow w/your closest friends and family. Please just don't ever forget your fans - I being one of your biggest.
I know that you know that without us fans, you wouldn't be where you are today despite alllllllllll your hard work that you have put in to your career. I love you!!! Happy 51st - even though you still look like your in your 20's!!!!!
Love Always and Forever!
~ Shannon
All you do is love, all the world gives today is thank you. Have a very happy birthday!
~ Uri
You are a BIG part of my life. Everyday I play your songs. daily I sing with you. Because of you I learned how to Vogue and do the bus stop! I followed you to nyc and nj for you tours. I cant wait to read about you in the paper. Oh gosh What has she done This time? You are my Idol. My Queen. Nobody will every replace you. I love you very much!
Happy Birthday MADONNA!
~ Jermaine
Happy Birthday Madonna! A shame I can't sing a song for you, the other day we sang for your son, when you where on the hotel in copenhagen. :) What can I say, I've been loving you since 1983, you are the queen of the world. God save the queen!
Words cant describe how youve changed my life.
~ Heidi
It's well known that you are one of the most successful artists of the whole history and a simple birthday message will change nothing, but I just wanna send you my best wishes for you because you've changed my life.
Happy birthday Madonna! I love you a lot!
~ Diego
I have met you in 1999 as I was the elected the best Fan of you of Europe by MTV...so happy BD to me and you forever :)
~ Nico
Happy Birthday Dear Queen! It's a true miracle that you and your music are still alive! That's the proof of your IMMORTALITY. I hope that you and your family have a very good day, without accidents (lol). Anyway, I know that CELEBRATION will be a success, because you and your talent deserve it. All those songs are part of our lives and minds, I know that your next album will be awesome, because your energy shows it in every concert that you give.
Thank you for coming to Chile last year! Thank you for knowing us! Thank for giving us the chance to see two of your fabulous concerts! Thank you for making us happy! Now we have more than 25 years enjoying your ART, and I'm sure that we'll have more than that at least in the next 10 years :D
Thank for the music Madonna.
A latin kiss from Chile
~ Hector
Happy Birthday Madonna! I'm having friends and family over tomorrow night for a birthday party in your honor! We will drink Lemon Drops and watch your amazing tours and videos! Cheers baby! Have a beautiful day! Lots of Love
~ Mike
Celebration greatest hits tracklist leaks
15 August 2009Fansite MadonnaTribe reveals the tracklist of the double CD of Celebration:
CD 1:
01) Hung Up
02) Music
03) Vogue
04) 4 Minutes
05) Holiday
06) Like A Virgin
07) Into The Groove
08) Everybody
09) Like A Prayer
10) Ray Of Light
11) Sorry
12) Express Yourself
13) Open Your Heart
14) Borderline
15) Secret
16) Erotica
17) Justify My Love
18) Revolver
CD 2:
01) Dress You Up
02) Material Girl
03) La Isla Bonita
04) Papa Don't Preach
05) Lucky Star
06) Burning Up
07) Crazy For You
08) Who's That Girl
09) Frozen
10) Miles Away
11) Take A Bow
12) Beautiful Stranger
13) Hollywood
14) Die Another Day
15) Don't Tell Me
16) Live To Tell
17) Cherish
18) Celebration
As you can see, all the lyrics hints at Madonna.com turn out to be correct, except one song, You Must Love Me, whose lyrics feature on the albumcover but is not part of the tracklist, which means Evita is the only major Madonna era that is not represented on this otherwise fantastic compilation.
Ask Billboard: Madona vs Whitney
Source: Billboard.com - 14 August 2009Hi Gary,
Whitney Houston and Madonna are making simultaneous returns to the charts, harkening back to the diva rivalry the two staged in the '80s. Which one of these pop stars has sold the most albums? Conflicting sources show one selling more than the other, and vice versa. I know you will have the most reliable information.
Thanks,
Neil Massey
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Hi Neil,
Houston and Madonna do indeed grace a number of charts this week, including the Billboard Hot 100, to which each superstar returns. See yesterday's Chart Beat for details.
As for who has sold the most albums since the singers' arrivals, let's use two sources. Because the pair enjoyed major successes prior to the advent of Nielsen SoundScan data in 1991, let's first look at Recording Industry of America (RIAA) figures, which encompass the spans of both singers' entire extraordinary careers.
According to the RIAA, Madonna holds a slight edge over Houston. Madonna ranks 15th all-time with 63.5 million units certified. Houston places 20th with 54 million. (The Beatles lead with 170 million units certified).
Using Nielsen SoundScan data (again, since 1991), Madonna holds a much wider lead. She has sold 26,347,000 albums, compared to 9,489,000 for Houston.
Here are Madonna's 10 best-selling albums, according to Nielsen SoundScan:
5,777,000, The Immaculate Collection (1990)
3,837,000, Ray Of Light (1998)
2,923,000, Music (2000)
2,309,000, Bedtime Stories (1994)
2,086,000, Something To Remember (1995)
1,890,000, Erotica (1992)
1,695,000, Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005)
1,385,000, GHV2: Greatest Hits Volume 2 (2001)
725,000, Hard Candy (2008)
675,000, American Life (2003)
Here are the totals of Houston's five studio albums to date, plus her best-of and holiday sets:
2,753,000, "My Love Is Your Love" (1998)
1,728,000, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" (1990)
1,644,000, "The Greatest Hits" (2000)
1,038,000, "Whitney Houston" (1985)
972,000, "Whitney" (1987)
737,000, "Just Whitney" (2002)
433,000, "Holiday Album" (2003)
The next showdown is set. Houston releases "I Look to You" Aug. 25, and Madonna offers Celebration, her third hits compilation, Sept. 29. The latter date is scheduled to feature new albums from two other female superstars, which should make for a notable scramble for the top of the Billboard 200: Mariah Carey releases "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" and Barbra Streisand returns with her first studio album since 2005, "Love Is the Answer."
Female-led alternative rock act Paramore, featuring singer Hayley Williams, will also compete for the summit the same week with its sophomore set, "Brand New Eyes."
Madonna scores 55th Billboard Hot 100 hit
13 August 2009The new single Celebration manages to debut on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart this week, entering at #71. It's Madonna's 55th chart entry, reassuring her fourth place in the all-time female list of Hot 100 entries. Celebration almost completely relied on sales for this debut, it sold 31,882 last week (current total is around 42,000).
Unfortunately since then it left the iTunes top 100 and its airplay is struggling, it couldn't even break 2 million audience impressions so far. Which means most likely Celebration will only spend one week on the Hot 100 and becomes Madonna's worst performing lead-off single since Everybody, and her 3rd lowest peaking Hot 100 hit (behind only Nothing Really Matters & Love Don't Live Here Anymore).
We'd like to remind our readers that as fans, we cannot do anything about this (apart from buying the song once on iTunes or Amazon, if you live in the US). It was all decided on the highest level of radio programmers and record labels. US pop radio is incredibly resistant against Madonna now, because they don't consider her as a big name act for their target audience.
Request campaigns will not help. It's strongly rumoured that the second single would be Revolver featuring Lil Wayne, but that's not confirmed as of yet and it's better not to expect miracles from that song either.
On the other hand, Celebration is already #29 on the Hot Dance / Club Play chart where it undoubledly will reach the top spot.
In related news, the track is still not available on UK or German iTunes, but airplay has been building in these places, so at least Madonna will be able to claim a proper hit in several European countries, as always.
Of course it also does not help the single that the video is still not available, but maybe that'll give a push when it premieres, reportedly on August 28th.
You can find Madonna's chart peak history in various countries on our charts page.
Billboard Boxscores of first Northern shows
12 August 2009Here are the latest tour Boxscore numbers. While Oslo and Tallinn show now surprise, unfortunately the Russia numbers are very questionable, since fans and press alike cited a 50,000 attendance at St. Petersburg's Palace Square. The reason why Live Nation set the reported number so low is unknown.
Valle Hovin, Oslo, Norway
July 28, 30, 2009
$10,481,500
79,409 / 79,409
2 / 2
Palace Square, St. Petersburg, Russia
Aug. 2, 2009
$4,431,805
27,103 / 27,103
Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, Tallinn, Estonia
Aug. 4, 2009
$5,924,839
72,067 / 72,067
Stream Benny Benassi remix + video premiere schedule
8 August 2009Madonna.com reminds fans that the Benny Benassi remix of Celebration (which is reportedly being used as the vieo version) is available for streaming on Madonna's official MySpace page, for a limited time. Meanwhile, the UK's DigiGuide reveals that the premiere of Celebration video is going to take place on Channel 4 at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 28th, 2009.
7 August - Slovenia show cancelled
Local promoter Lupa announces today that the show scheduled for August 20th in Ljubljana, Slovenia is cancelled. They blame "unforeseen logistical problems" but it has been widely reported in the media that ticket sales failed to reach expectations.
Refunds will be available at the original points of purchase from August 17th, like official ticket vendor Eventim.si (who also announce the cancellation). Live Nation confirms the Munich and Budapest shows, scheduled before and after August 20th, will not be affected by this decision.
Unfortunately the horse-racing venues of this tour are certainly bringing bad luck, as both Hamburg (cancelled 4 months ago) and Slovenia shows were meant to take place on such venues, and in Budapest a similar concert venue already caused controversy...
We're sorry for everyone affected by this!
UPDATE: Live Nation makes an attempt to cover up ticket sales problems in a Reuters article:
Pop star Madonna has canceled her concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia scheduled for August 20, the tour manager said on Friday.
Local media cited poor ticket sales as the main factor, although promoters denied this was the reason.
It is the second concert Madonna has canceled since July. A performance in the southern French town of Marseille was scrapped after the stage being built for it collapsed, killing two workers.
"The reason for the cancellation is unforeseen logistical difficulties," said Laszlo Borsos, managing director of Live Nation in Budapest, overseeing Madonna's tour in eastern Europe.
"There is no problem with ticket sales, absolutely."
Slovenian media reported the concert had to be canceled as promoters had sold only 7,000 of a planned 63,000 tickets in a city with a population of 250,000.
In 1997 Michael Jackson was set to play the same location, but his concert was axed amid poor sales.
According to Madonna's website www.madonna.com, of 12 remaining concerts on her Europe tour which ends in Israel, only Sunday's upcoming concert in Gothenburg, Sweden, is sold out.
In cities such as Belgrade, where Madonna has never performed before, organizers are advertising heavily in the lead up to a concert later this month.
Billboard Boxscores of Italian & Spanish shows
5 August 2009Billboard now publishes the second batch of Madonna tour Boxscore numbers, the five shows in Italy & Spain. While Milan is definitely a nice surprise, the rest of the concerts (even though all sold-out) show conservative numbers for such stadium/outdoor venues...
Stadio San Siro, Milan, Italy
July 14, 2009
$6,507,798
55,338 / 55,338
Stadio Friuli, Udine, Italy
July 16, 2009
$3,236,277
28,362 / 28,362
Estadio Olimpico, Barcelona, Spain
July 21, 2009
$5,010,557
44,811 / 44,811
Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid, Spain
July 23, 2009
$4,109,791
31,941 / 31,941
Recinto Feria, Zaragoza, Spain
July 25, 2009
$2,015,381
30,940 / 30,940
Budapest show: Madonna to perform in Kincsem Park
Source: Madonna.com - 5 August 2009Live Nation Hungary has accepted the apology of NUSI, concerning the problems that have arisen about the booking of the Puskas Ferenc Stadium for the concert of Madonna on August 22nd, and hereby informs the audience that the show will remain at the original venue, the Kincsem Park Hippodrome.
Live Nation remains perplexed by the position of the President of the Hungarian Football Federation, who refused our offer of grass replacement at the Puskas Ferenc Stadium, which would clearly have been in the best interests of Hungarian football.
But the most important thing now is that the show must go on, and we must accept that the time is not sufficient to try to solve the issues, in the face of such inflexibility. Unfortunately though, this inflexibility could have serious consequences for the future of major concerts in Hungary.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a very special thanks to the management of Kincsem Park, who have shown commendable willingness to help throughout this affair. We look forward to welcoming the Madonna audience to an unforgettable concert at their excellent venue.
All tickets remain valid to the Kincsem Park with the original conditions.
~ If you need any advice regarding the Budapest, Hungary show, please contact us here, or in our Facebook group!
Paul Oakenfold breaks barriers with Madonna
Source: Spinner - 4 August 2009
The first single from Madonna's upcoming greatest hits and more album, Celebration, is the newly recorded title track. Living up to its title with a fun, freewheeling vibe, the dance anthem was co-produced by Madonna and DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold. Oakenfold tells Spinner that the pair worked on several songs to boost the retrospective with new sounds.
"I produced a bunch of cuts. I don't know what's on the album, I just know Celebration is the first single," Oakenfold says. "I didn't know it was coming out so soon either," he adds excitedly, speaking from Norway where he's midway through his duties as the opening artist on the European leg of Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour.
Mid-July, Oakenfold issued the latest in his Perfecto Records mix CD collection, 'Perfecto Vegas,' a whopping double-CD inspired by the edgier club cuts from the 45-year-old British-born artist's 2008 residency at the Palms Hotel and Casino. "It's underground tracks from the underground side of what we do," he says. "There are tracks that I do that become hits and other DJs play them. But there's no point in having an album with those kind of tracks. It dates the record."
Three Oakenfold productions are mooted for inclusion on Celebration, which is due in September. It's important that the new tracks blend in, he says, and he took Madonna's classic songs as inspiration. Still, though Celebration easily recalls Madonna's 1983 breakthrough Holiday, Oakenfold wasn't going for a total retro feel.
"I'm certainly not looking to go backwards. I'm looking to go forwards and to break musical barriers down with something that's up-tempo and works on American radio, which is pretty jaded in some respects," he says. "In terms of the song, it sounds classic Madonna; in terms of the music, it's cutting edge."
The Celebration single is out now.
~ Please note that both Guy Oseary and Madonna's official site confirmed only 2 new songs to be included on Celebration. According to several sources, the other one is going to be Revolver, although this has not been officially confirmed as of yet.
Liz Smith: Nothing 'eternal' between Madonna and Guy
Source: WoWoWoW.com - 3 August 2009"American women aren't accustomed to chivalry!" said Irene Dunne in 1937's "The Awful Truth."
Well, one American woman not accustomed to chivalry – based on the expensive end of her marriage – is Madonna. The Big M had to pay big time to British director Guy Ritchie to finalize their divorce after eight intermittently blissful years. (The bliss was wearing thin by year four.)
So, it comes as a hilarious rumor that Madonna has penned a song dedicated to Guy, entitled "Eternal Love." Nope! Not that Madonna doesn't believe in eternal love. Underneath her steely refusal to be publicly vulnerable she is a dedicated romantic. But she ain't pining for Mr. Ritchie. They are civil and "amicable" because of their son, Rocco (and Guy is said also to be fond of David Banda, the little boy from Malawi, not to mention Madonna's daughter Lourdes). That's as far as it goes.
Madonna did offer two songs on her last album that seemed to reference her soon-to-be-ex: Miles Away and Devil Wouldn't Recognize You. Neither indicated hope for their relationship.
Madonna has written a new song, Celebration, that will be a part of her coming Greatest Hits collection, a massive effort that is also titled Celebration. This set will include most of her most famous videos as well. It will be La Ciccone's final album for Warner Records, her home label for 25 years. And the star is still keeping company with beautiful and devoted Jesus Luz. She is not missing the emotional distance of Guy Ritchie.
I'm afraid no mention of Madonna right now could ignore the infamous photo of her from London, with seriously over-stressed and sinewy arms. Madonna has been – for my taste – too thin and too worked out for a long time. (Although when you meet her in person, she appears much less muscular than in pictures!)
But I think this particular photograph was altered a bit to make the worst of a bad moment. Other shots from that same night show her as thin and wiry, but not grotesque.
Maybe once she's off this final leg of her tour, she'll relax, eat some fatty foods and put on a few. It's difficult to be anything but muscle from head to toe when you do what she does every night onstage for two hours.
It's a Celebration on Madonna.com
1 August 2009Madonna's official site celebrates the arrival of new single Celebration with a brand new opening page, showing off the fantastic cover of the upcoming greatest hits. They also give fans a treat with a stream of the new song for a limited time!
The biggest news is, they confirm the Celebration compilation is going to feature 34 hits!
Also, the background is chock full of lyrics of Madonna classics! We took an attempt to spot as many as possible: Everybody, Holiday, Lucky Star, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Live To Tell, Papa Don't Preach, La Isla Bonita, Who's That Girl, Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Vogue, Justify My Love, Secret, You Must Love Me, Ray Of Light, Beautiful Stranger, Music, Don't Tell Me, Die Another Day, Hung Up.
We wonder if all of these are real hints to the tracklist! If we combine these with the other officially confirmed songs (4 Minutes) and the songs that appear in the title with lyrics (Take A Bow & Miles Away), we've already got 24 out of 34 hits... ;-)
UPDATE: Madonna.com has added a fantastic teaser for the compilation, that yet again contains some more lyrics hints, including Open Your Heart, Cherish, Take A Bow, Frozen & Miles Away (which would mean 27 confirmed songs now). On top of that, several images of Rain, Human Nature, Get Together & Give It 2 Me videos are used. Could they be hints for the DVD?
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