Madonna news - Sep. 2012


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Madonna: "I was ironic about 'black muslim Obama'"

Source: AceShowbiz - 26 September 2012

Madonna answers people's questions as to why she called President Barack Obama "a black Muslim" when giving him an endorsement at her concert in Washington D.C. The Material Girl explains her statement, "I was being ironic on stage."

"Yes I know Obama is not a Muslim - though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were? The point I was making is that a good man is a good man no matter who he prays to. I don't care what religion Obama is - nor should anyone else in America."

Madge seemed to confuse her fans when she called Mr. President "a black Muslim in the White House" while voicing her support for him. "It means there is hope in this country," she explained. "And Obama is fighting for gay rights, okay? So support the man, goddamnit!"



Gibbons slackliners behind the scenes of MDNA

Source: Wusa9 - 26 September 2012

If you've seen Madonna in concert this year or even the Super Bowl Halftime, then you have witnessed the acrobatic performances on what seems to be a tightrope.

MDNA slackliners MDNA slackliners MDNA slackliners

This technique is called Slacklining and it's growing in popularity. The queen of pop has included the Gibbon Slackliners in her MDNA 2012 world tour: meet Hayden Nickell, 23 of Durango Colorado; Jaan Roose, 20 of Estonia; and Carlos Neto, 23 of Brazil.

"I think when [Madonna] was looking around on YouTube or online and discovered it, she found this eccentric guy Andy Lewis and invited him to come do his thing at the Super Bowl and that really paved the way for mainstream slacklining," said Nickell.

During the halftime show, Lewis appeared in a toga and performed high energy acrobatic moves on a 2-inch wide trampoline-like rope known as the slackline.

The sport originateed from rock climbers who would walk on ropes and chains to work on their balance, and to strengthen knee and ankle stabilizer muscles.

"The nature of the sport is very interesting, something that nobody has really seen," Nickell said. "There have been a lot of high-wire acts and tightropes, but those don't move, it's more of just walking and doing static tricks, and this is kind of taking that gymnastics dynamic to the tightrope."

The trio auditioned for Madonna in Colorado showing off their stunts and flips before being chosen to take part in her tour.

"The tour is absolutely amazing. It's a great opportunity to see the world and to be around Madonna," he said. "She's a very inspiring person, it's crazy to see concerts from the other side."

The slackliners have one number on stage with Madonna during the song Hung Up as she walks the line, and one song on their own. To prepare for the slacklining, Madonna trains with the guys before the show every day for two hours.

The European tail end of the tour wrapped up in late August. Madonna and company are now touring the U.S., and are currently performing in D.C. at the Verizon Center.

On Tuesday they head to Vancouver, Canada and will then make their way back into the U.S.

In late November they will head to Latin America with the tour concluding in Argentina in December.

Take a look at the first slackliner, Andy Lewis, to be on national TV during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show at the 4 minute mark:



Madonna scores new Guinness record with Super Bowl

12 September 2012

Guinness Book of Records 2013 Madonna scored a new entry in the 2013 edition of the Guinness Book of Records! Her performance at the Super Bowl in February of this year attracted 114 million viewers, which is the Biggest TV audience ever!

Congratulations Madonna on yet another record!



Fourth and final NY show added to MDNA Tour itinerary

Source: Madonna.com - 7 September 2012

MDNA TourAfter 3 sold out shows, (including two at the Yankee Stadium on September 6-8 and one at Madison Square Garden on November 12th) we are happy to announce that Madonna has just added a fourth and final New York show to her MDNA Tour itinerary. The new show will take place at the Madison Square Garden on November 13th!

Tickets will go on sale at 10am local time on September 14th, while a devoted Icon pre-sale will start on September 10th, at 10am local time for Legacy members / 11am local time for Live Pass members.

Please note that Icon will e-mail Lifetime Legacy members with pre-sale codes one hour before the fan club pre-sale begins. If you are not an Icon Legacy member, you may participate by purchasing the Icon Live Pass. All Live Passes will be offered on Ticketmaster for this pre-sale. Simply go to Ticketmaster.com on Monday morning @ 11am local time and purchase the Icon Live Pass Bundle, which will give you access to the pre-sale (4-ticket limit) and the Live Pass tour gift.



Madonna is first woman to perform at Yankee Stadium

Source: Newsday - 7 September 2012

Madonna racked up another career first Thursday night as she became the first woman to headline Yankee Stadium.

Madonna at Yankee Stadium Madonna has invited Grammy nominated superstar DJ, remixer and producer AVICII, aka Tim Bergling, to join her at Yankee Stadium on September 6 & 8 for her MDNA shows in New York City. "I just want to say it's an honor for me to be playing Yankee Stadium," she told the capacity crowd from her massive stage set up in deep centerfield. (She returns for another Yankee Stadium show Saturday.)

And in true Madonna style, she commemorated the event guns blazing -- literally. The MDNA show, which she rehearsed at Nassau Coliseum throughout May, opens with a great deal of pretend violence and a fictional body count that rivals a Hollywood shoot-em-up, all symbolic, she says, of her own emotional turmoil.

Holiday, celebration -- this is not. Madonna gets to a happier place at the end, one filled more with spirituality and personal acceptance than actual partying and, you know, dancing, though there is actual parkour-styled jumping for joy at times. Thursday night's show was actually much warmer than the tour opener in Philadelphia last week, especially during the lovely Open Your Heart, where she was joined onstage by her son, Rocco, and declared "I love you" to the audience.

She also adopted a more political bent, revealing "OBAMA" scrawled on her back and declaring that her world tour made her appreciate American life more. "That doesn't mean this is a perfect country," she added. "We have a long way to go. Thank god for Michelle Obama and her good-looking husband too."

Madonna has set up the MDNA tour as a current, artistically challenging work, rather than a nostalgic, greatest-hits package. She keeps moving forward, which may explain how she continues to reach new milestones like conquering Yankee Stadium.

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