 | |
Madonna news - Dec. 2015
← Nov. 2015 | Jan. 2016 →
Diplo: "Going to MET Ball with Madonna was highlight of 2015"
Source: Facebook - 30 December 2015In a nostalgic mood, Diplo posted the following comment about his collaboration with Madonna and the admiration he has for her:
"When I first got a chance to work with Madonna I didn't expect much to come from it. Maybe because she is one of the biggest pop stars of all time. I didn't think she would take me serious just another producer working on a huge album. I didn't expect to make a great friend for life and didn't expect to be such a big part of her record.
She showed me a whole other level of dedication and old school work ethic when it comes to writing. I'm proud of the work we did. Those sessions were some of the most fun I have done to date. I played some shows and shot videos with her later in the year but going to the Met ball with Madonna was a highlight of 2015."
Rumour: new tour dates for Europe and Middle East in Summer 2016?
27 December 2015Earlier this month, we reported the rumour that Live Nation is in talks to bring the Rebel Heart Tour to Tel Aviv next summer.
Rumours about a tour extension in the summer of 2016 are now getting stronger. Some fansites are reporting that an announcement might happen as soon as January 11th, and that Madonna would be performing in Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Vienna, Malta, Ireland and the UK.
Nothing is official at this point, but let's hope we soon hear more about this!
UPDATE: Our friends at DrownedMadonna have heard from their sources that the above rumours are unfortunately untrue at this moment...
Madonna's 40 Biggest Billboard Hits
Source: Billboard - 25 December 2015She's the Queen of Pop and royalty on the Billboard charts. To celebrate Madonna's career, we've compiled an exclusive ranking of the diva's 40 biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit singles.
Since arriving on the Hot 100 the week of Oct. 29, 1983, with "Holiday," she has earned a total of 57 chart hits, including a record 38 top 10s. Yes, you read that right: Madonna has more top 10 hits than any other artist in the history of the chart (and incidentally, Madonna was born the exact same month as the Hot 100). The Beatles are in second place, with 34 top 10s.
The ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from each era, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference between turnover rates from those years.
40. Rain
Hot 100 Peak Position: 14
Peak Year: 1993
"Rain," the fourth single from 1992's Erotica album, comes in at No. 40 on Madonna's all-time biggest hits list. The commercial release of the maxi-single (and 12" vinyl) was bolstered by the previously unreleased track "Up Down Suite" as well as a jazzy/hip-hip remix of the Erotica album cut "Waiting" (featuring Everlast).
39. Oh Father
Hot 100 Peak Position: 20
Peak Year: 1990
Accompanied by a stunning black and white music video, the haunting ballad "Oh Father" was the fourth single from the Like a Prayer album. At the time, "Oh Father" had the unfortunate honor of ending Madonna's string of 17 consecutive top 10 hits. "Oh Father" stalled out at No. 20 while all 17 Madonna singles from "Borderline" (1984) through "Cherish" (1989) had reached the top 10.
38. Don't cry For Me Argentina
Hot 100 Peak Position: 8
Peak Year: 1997
"Don't Cry For Me Argentina" took an unconventional route to the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Recorded as the sweeping centerpiece to the movie Evita, the song wasn't necessarily a made-for-radio hit single. However, uptempo dance mixes of the song were produced (which included new vocals from Madonna) and promoted to radio stations. The so-called "Miami Mix" (by producers Pablo Flores and Javier Garza) soon became a smash on the radio and led to a commercial release as a maxi-single and 12" vinyl. Pent-up demand for the remixes engineered a No. 17 debut on the Hot 100 for the single on Feb. 22, 1997. The following week it sailed to its No. 8 peak.
37. Holiday
Hot 100 Peak Position: 16
Peak Year: 1984
Madonna's first Billboard Hot 100 hit (though not her first single), debuted at No. 88 on Oct. 29, 1983 - and the chart hasn't been the same ever since. The cut would eventually rise to No. 16 on Jan. 18, 1984 and was the first of three top 20 singles from Madonna's self-titled debut album. "Holiday" is also the third and final non-top-10 hit (with Nos. 37, 39 and 40) on this round-up of Madonna's biggest singles. Every other tune on this tally reached the top 10.
36. Hanky Panky
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Year: 1990
In 1990, Madonna could have released pretty much anything and it would have been a hit single. Take for example this goofy (but catchy!) ditty about having a "good spanky." It reached No. 10 on July 28 of that year, as Madonna's massive Blond Ambition Tour was winding its way around the globe. "Hanky Panky" was the second, and final, single from the I'm Breathless album (a sort of companion set to the Dick Tracy film, in which she co-starred). The first Breathless release was "Vogue" - but more on that single in a little bit.
35. Rescue Me
Hot 100 Peak Position: 9
Peak Year: 1991
"Rescue Me" was one of two new songs recorded for Madonna's first greatest hits album, 1990's The Immaculate Collection. When it debuted at No. 15 on the March 2, 1991 Hot 100 chart, it marked the highest-ever bow for a single by a woman. Further, it was - at the time - one of only four titles to debut in the top 20. The song had been an airplay hit for a full three months before it finally arrived on the Hot 100, as the single had been held back from commercial release. As "Rescue Me's" release was delayed until it had reached its peak of popularity on the radio, it had an artificially short run - eight weeks - on the Hot 100.
34. Hung Up
Hot 100 Peak Position: 7
Peak Year: 2005
The lead single from 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor boogied its way to No. 7 on the Hot 100 in 2005 and was the first of two chart hits from her discofied album. (A second hit, "Sorry," reached No. 58.) "Hung Up" featured a galloping sample from ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" while its video had Madonna channeling Saturday Night Fever whilst clubbing in London.
33. Die Another Day
Hot 100 Peak Position: 8
Peak Year: 2002
The title track from the James Bond film, released in 2002, became the first Bond tune to reach the top 10 on the Hot 100 since Duran Duran's A View to a Kill hit No. 1 in 1985. Further, "Die Another Day" was the first official Bond theme song to even chart on the tally since "A View to a Kill." The electro-hued single would go on to appear on Madonna's 2003 album, American Life.
32. Ray Of Light
Hot 100 Peak Position: 5
Peak Year: 1998
"Ray Of Light" continues to hold the record for Madonna's highest-debuting single ever, as it started at No. 5 on the Hot 100 chart dated July 11, 1998. The single was the title track (and second single) from Madonna's 1998 album, and went on to win a Grammy Award for best dance recording. Its corresponding music video, directed by Jonas Akerlund, also won a Grammy for best short form music video, and earned five MTV Video Music Awards (including Video of the Year).
31. Erotica
Hot 100 Peak Position: 3
Peak Year: 1992
The dark and sexy single - the lead-off track from her 1992 album of the same name - launched with a bang at No. 13 on the Hot 100 dated Oct. 17, 1992. It zoomed to its peak of No. 3 the following week, kept out of the top two slots by Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" (No. 1) and Patty Smyth's "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" (No. 2).
30. Deeper And Deeper
Hot 100 Peak Position: 7
Peak Year: 1993
The Erotica album's swirling second single, "Deeper and Deeper," topped out at No. 7 on the Hot 100, spending 17 weeks on the list. Its retro music video is riddled with cameos, including her now manager Guy Oseary, Sire Records chief Seymour Stein, longtime friend and actress Debi Mazar and adult film director/DJ/drag diva Chi Chi LaRue.
29. Keep It Together
Hot 100 Peak Position: 8
Peak Year: 1990
"Keep It Together" was the fifth commercial single from Madonna's 1989 Like a Prayer album and was initially planned to carry with it a previously unreleased b-side. The b-side in question? "Vogue." Luckily, that anthem would go on to have its own single release. Instead, "Keep It Together" set sail on its own - without a sexy b-side to spice up sales. However, "Keep It Together" was remixed to become slightly more radio-friendly. Its redux was reminiscent of the then-popular track "Back to Life" by Soul II Soul.
28. You'll See
Hot 100 Peak Position: 6
Peak Year: 1995
Composed and produced with David Foster, "You'll See" was one of a handful of new tunes Madonna recorded for her 1995 ballads collection Something to Remember. The ballad, which showcased Madonna's newly-trained vocal abilities, would prepare audiences for her lead role in the following year's Evita. The "You'll See" music video became Madonna's first sequel clip - as it followed the story set in motion in the dramatic "Take a Bow" short.
27. Borderline
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Year: 1984
Madonna's first top 10 single was the first of a staggering 17 consecutive top 10s for the singer from 1984 through 1989. The "Borderline" music video was the first collaboration between Madonna and director Mary Lambert, who would go on to helm her clips "Like a Virgin," "Material Girl," "La Isla Bonita" and "Like a Prayer."
26. Don't Tell Me
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
Peak Year: 2001
"Don't Tell Me" was the second single from the Music album and was co-written by Madonna's brother-in-law, recording artist Joe Henry. He would later release his own version of the track, re-titled "Stop," on his 2001 album Scar.
25. Frozen
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Year: 1998
The lead single from the Ray Of Light album marked a sonic change in Madonna's career, thanks to its co-producer, William Orbit. The track was heavily influenced by electronic dance music and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100. It would have perhaps reached the top of the chart, had it not been for K-Ci & JoJo. The week that "Frozen" zoomed from No. 5 to No. 2, the R&B duo's "All My Life" raced up the chart from No. 15 to No. 1 - blocking Madonna from the penthouse.
24. Lucky Star
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
Peak Year: 1984
"Lucky Star" is the lone Hot 100 hit in Madonna's catalog that was composed entirely by the diva herself. The uptempo number riffs a bit on the old nursery rhyme "Star Light, Star Bright" and has endured as one of Madonna's most beloved dance tracks.
23. Dress You Up
Hot 100 Peak Position: 5
Peak Year: 1985
"Dress You Up" is the first of four singles on this tally from Madonna's Like a Virgin album. The plucky dance track was produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers (as was the rest of the Virgin album) and was the final single released from the set.
22. This Used To Be My Playground
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Year: 1992
Written for the film A League of the Their Own, co-starring Madonna, this delicate ballad became her 10th No. 1 single in the summer of 1992. It spent a week at No. 1 - sandwiched between two monster hits. It followed a five-week No. 1 run by Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back" and immediately preceded a 13-week reign by Boyz II Men's "End of the Road." Curiously, Madonna has yet to perform "This Used to Be My Playground" live - either on tour or during a promotional appearance.
21. Angel
Hot 100 Peak Position: 5
Peak Year: 1985
One of Madonna's many singles which she co-wrote with Stephen Bray, "Angel" reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 1985. Rather famously, the "Angel" 12" vinyl single contains one of the most famous b-sides in U.S. history: "Into the Groove." While "Into the Groove" received a proper release in other countries, in America, it was relegated to b-side status despite its enormous popularity both on the radio and on MTV.
20. 4 Minutes
Hot 100 Peak Position: 3
Peak Year: 2008
"4 Minutes" is notable in that it was only the second single release in the U.S. from Madonna on which she shares credit with another artist. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland joined forces with her on the track - a little under five years after Madonna had first paired with Timberlake's former flame, Britney Spears, for "Me Against the Music."
19. Secret
Hot 100 Peak Position: 3
Peak Year: 1994
Co-produced and co-written with Dallas Austin, "Secret" was the first single from Madonna's R&B-hued Bedtime Stories album in 1994. The strummy, hip-hop-lite song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 - stuck behind Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" (No. 1) and Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do."
18. La Isla Bonita
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
Peak Year: 1987
The Spanish-flavored track seems to be a favorite of Madonna's, as it has been included on the setlists of many of her concert tours. She also performed it at the 2007 Live Earth benefit show in London. "La Isla Bonita" was the fifth and final single from her True Blue album, and the cut reached No. 4 on the Hot 100.
17. Cherish
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Year: 1989
The light, lovey-dovey pop song was a throwback to '60s girl groups and doo-wop music, with couplets like "Romeo and Juliet they never felt this way, I bet" and "You are my destiny, I can't let go, baby, can't you see." The song's companion video clip was the first directed by photographer Herb Ritts. He had previously shot Madonna's album covers for True Blue and Like a Prayer.
16. True Blue
Hot 100 Peak Position: 3
Peak Year: 1986
"True Blue," the title track from Madonna's 1986 album, spent three weeks stuck at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. All about "true love, oh baby," the single is an unabashed peppy love song. Perhaps an indication of Madonna's (lack of) fondness of the track - it has only been performed on one of her concert tours: 1987's Who's That Girl trek [Mad-Eyes: and of course now at her Rebel Heart Tour].
15. Express Yourself
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Year: 1989
"Come on girls, do you believe in love?" Well, Madonna had something to say about it in 1989, when "Express Yourself" was released as the second single from the Like a Prayer album. The single's video was directed by a pre-super-stardom David Fincher and was the first of four video collaborations between the two artists.
14. Causing A Commotion
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Year: 1987
"Causing a Commotion" was the second single from Madonna's Who's That Girl soundtrack, peaking at No. 2 for three straight weeks. (It was prevented from reaching the top by Michael Jackson's "Bad," which jumped to No. 1 the same week "Commotion" hit No. 2 for the first time.) "Commotion" also ranks as Madonna's biggest Hot 100 hit (on this top 40 recap) without an official music video.
13. I'll Remember
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Year: 1994
"I'll Remember," from the film With Honors, is one of six Madonna singles that have peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Madonna holds the record for the most No. 2 hits in Hot 100 history. This particular track was lodged in the runner-up position for four weeks, behind All-4-One's "I Swear."
12. Material Girl
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Year: 1985
"Material Girl" is one of those singles that some people might assume was a No. 1 hit for Madonna. However, it topped out at No. 2 on the Hot 100 tally in 1985. As the second hit from the Like a Virgin album, the song would also become a nickname for the diva herself (whether she liked it or not).
11. Who's That Girl
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Year: 1987
We're entering rarified air now, as every one of Madonna's top 11 hits of all time on the Hot 100 chart are all No. 1s. "Who's That Girl" was the title track of the Madonna film and doubled as the lead single from its companion soundtrack.
10. Open Your Heart
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Year: 1987
Madonna's third single from True Blue shot to No. 1 on the Hot 100 on Feb. 7, 1987, marking the singer's fifth chart-topper. Its video caused a stir as Madonna starred as an exotic dancer who becomes friends with a boy (played by dancer Felix Howard).
09. Music
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (four weeks)
Peak Year: 2000
Madonna's most recent Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 is "Music," which spent four weeks atop the tally in late 2000. The cut was the lead single of the Music album, which again teamed her with William Orbit (Ray of Light). The single itself, like a fair portion of the album, was co-written and co-produced by Madonna and Mirwais.
08. Live To Tell
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Year: 1986
After the madness of the boy toy era of Madonna's career (1983-85), she surprised many with "Live to Tell," the lead track from her 1986 album True Blue. The haunting ballad was written partially for the film At Close Range (which starred her her then-husband Sean Penn) and found the No. 1 target on the Hot 100. The song was accompanied by a music video that introduced a decidedly toned-down Madonna to the public - one of the diva's first major so-called reinventions.
07. Papa Don't Preach
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (two weeks)
Peak Year: 1986
"Papa Don't Preach" was one of the few songs that even Madonna's most conservative critics could find reason to champion. The song tells the story of a young woman who confesses to her father that she's become pregnant, however, she's opting to keep her baby (as opposed to giving it up).
06. Like A Prayer
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (three weeks)
Peak Year: 1989
Would anyone have thought that "Like a Prayer" - which caused so much controversy in 1989 upon its release - would ultimately end up being performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012? Yeah, we didn't think so. The song premiered in a two-minute Pepsi commercial that aired during The Cosby Show on March 2, 1989. (Pepsi was set to sponsor Madonna's then-upcoming Blond Ambition Tour.) The next day, the "Like a Prayer" music video debuted ... you know, the one with the burning crosses, stigmata and so on? Yes, well, Pepsi high-tailed it away from Madonna and she - again - outraged the masses.
05. Justify My Love
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (two weeks)
Peak Year: 1991
"Justify My Love," like so many of Madonna's singles, spawned a music video that garnered more attention than perhaps the song itself. Its clip was so racy, MTV declined to air it entirely. Luckily for the buying public, Madonna opted to sell the video as the first-ever commercially-available video single.
04. Take A Bow
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (seven weeks)
Peak Year: 1995
It may surprise some, but "Take a Bow" spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other Madonna single. (However, on this list, it ultimately ranks at No. 4.) With a seven-week run atop the Hot 100, 1995's "Take a Bow" returned her to the top of the chart for the first time since 1992 ("This Used to Be My Playground"). Co-written and co-produced with Babyface, "Take a Bow" is one of two No. 1 singles that she's yet to sing on tour - the other is "This Used to Be My Playground."
03. Crazy For You
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Year: 1985
Perhaps the ultimate slow-dance song, "Crazy for You" proved to be so popular upon its release that it bumped "We Are the World" by USA for Africa out of the No. 1 slot. Before "Crazy for You" had reached the top, though, it had sat in the No. 2 position for three straight weeks, biding its time until it could push "We Are the World" aside.
02. Vogue
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (three weeks)
Peak Year: 1990
Initially planned as the b-side of "Keep It Together," Madonna's tribute to the fierceness that is vogueing was thankfully released as a single on its own. The thumping dance number is as iconic as its glamorous black-and-white music video, which was directed by David Fincher.
01. Like A Virgin
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (six weeks)
Peak Year: 1984
It's somehow appropriate that Madonna's first No. 1, "Like a Virgin," tops our list of her 40 biggest Hot 100 hit singles. The title track and lead single from her 1984 album spent six weeks atop the chart and became one of the diva's signature songs. It was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly and produced by Nile Rodgers.
Happy Holidays!
24 December 2015While we all take a break from Madonna's wonderful Rebel Heart Tour, it's time to enjoy the holiday season.
We wish every Rebel Heart out there Happy Holidays and hope that 2016 will bring us all many fantastic Madonna moments!
Enjoy this brilliant mash-up of Wham's Last Christmas and Into The Groove, done by Cr@zy4Mad*nna.
Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour has now grossed $80 million
Source: Billboard - 23 December 2015Madonna leads Billboard's latest Hot Tours ranking (see list, below) with the newest reported box office sales data from her global trek.
The new Hot Tours tally includes grosses from 14 shows in eight markets during the European leg of the tour (see No. 1, below).
Box office revenue from all eight markets totals $22.6 million from 194,827 sold tickets at 14 performances. One venue, Turin, Italy's Pala Alpitour, hosted the pop legend for three shows (Nov. 19, 21-22). Arenas in four cities, Barcelona, London, Amsterdam, and Paris, brought in the tour for two nights.
Overall sales from the Rebel Heart Tour now total $80 million from 45 concerts during the first two legs of the tour, through Dec. 10.
622,048 fans have seen the tour since the opening jaunt through North America that ran from Sept. 9 until Oct. 29. The run through Europe followed, kicking off on Nov. 4 in Germany.
Billboard has received sales data from Europe through the two nights in Paris on Dec. 9 and 10. Revenue from shows in Zurich and three U.K. markets, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, have yet to be reported from the fall leg.
The Rebel Heart Tour's European leg wrapped on Dec. 20 in Glasgow. The tour will restart in North America on Jan. 6 in Mexico City for a pair of shows, before swinging back to the U.S. for eight performances. Following that, Madonna will play Puerto Rico, a series of Asian countries, first-ever shows in New Zealand, and her first tour of Australia in over 20 years. The tour is scheduled to close on March 20, 2016 in Sydney.
Madonna's previous tour, the 88-show MDNA Tour, raked in $305 million in 2012.
U2 takes the No. 2 slot on the Hot Tours ranking with $18.6 million in box office sales reported from the final four cities on the band's Innocence + Experience tour that wrapped on Dec. 7 in Paris.
| HOT TOURS - Dec. 22, 2015 | |
| Ranked by Gross. Compiled from Boxscores reported Dec. 15-21 | |
| Rank | ACT |
| Total Gross | |
| Show Date Range | |
| Show Venue/City (Shows/Sellouts) | |
| Total Attendance (Capacity) | |
| 1 | MADONNA |
| $22,645,983 | |
| Nov. 16-Dec. 10 | |
| Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning, Denmark (1/1) | |
| Pala Alpitour, Turin, Italy (3/3) | |
| Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona (2/2) | |
| Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium (1/1) | |
| SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany (1/1) | |
| O2 Arena, London (2/2) | |
| Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam (2/2) | |
| AccorHotels Arena, Paris (2/2) | |
| 194,827 (194,827) | |
| 2 | U2 |
| $18,613,752 | |
| Nov. 6-Dec. 7 | |
| SSE Hydro, Glasgow, U.K. (2/2) | |
| AccorHotels Arena, Paris (4/4) | |
| SSE Arena, Belfast, U.K. (2/2) | |
| 3Arena, Dublin (4/4) | |
| 160,792 (160,792) | |
| 3 | COLD CHISEL |
| $1,848,640 | |
| Dec. 15-18 | |
| Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney (3/0) | |
| 27,005 (27,789) |
Fire alarm makes Madonna evacuate Glasgow nightclub
Source: Daily Record - 21 December 2015Queen of Pop Madonna raced away from a Scots nightclub during a fire alarm after she spent the night partying following her last UK show of the year.
Her Madgesty ended her gig at Glasgow's SSE Hydro on a high with a private party at Glasgow's swish KOKOMO nightclub with around fifty of her close crew and dancers.
She arrived at the club shortly before one am in her black Range Rover followed by her convoy of three people carriers.
She snuck in the back door and was keen to party rather than chat.
However she ended up being evacuated from the club at 3am after the fire brigade turned up.
And passers by didn't even recognise they had a star in their midst.
The star's management contacted the venue a few days ago to check out the club's amenities for a VIP after show party.
They were thrilled to have somewhere private where Madge could relax and party in stylish surroundings with close friends and crew.
The club's VIP Parlour room boasts a sumptuous red and black interior with plush velvety covered booths and slick mirror detailing.
Guests are offered a range of drinks Including house speciality cocktail the KOKOMO Ulysses, and staple classic An Aviation made up of gin, lemon juice, Maracino liqueur and Creme de violet.
It is believed that Madonna specifically requested a bottle of Dom Perignon Rose for her night out.
Light bites and snacks were also provided from the venue's sister pub Bunker.
John Blaen, creative director at KOKOMO said: "It's fantastic to have an artiste of Madonna's stature choose our venue for her private party. It was a privilege to have her in the club and see her having such a good time."
The dancers were having a fantastic time and one of them even brought a skateboard with them."
The singing legend who recently celebrated thirty years in the business showed she had real stamina as she danced the night away following her show.
However Madonna's night ended with a bit of extra action when the neighbouring club Bamboo's fire alarm was set off and the surrounding buildings had to be emptied.
Instead of escaping round the back of the club to catch her lift to her private jet at Glasgow airport the singer was forced to come out the front of the building.
Three fire engines surrounded the exits so the Material Girl sheepishly stepped through the crowds on the pavement into a silver people carrier during the surrounding commotion.
An onlooker said: "No one realised it was Madonna coming out the club and by the time they recognised her she'd sped away into the night."
Shortly after she jetted away from Scotland on her private plane.
Madonna hits back at the Hydro after engineers CUT her sound due to curfew
Source: Daily Record - 21 December 2015
SINGER Madonna lived up to her Rebel Heart persona as she was forced to perform without lights or sound after going over time at Glasgow's SSE Hydro last night.
The Queen of Pop had taken to the stage later than expected but appeared to be enjoying every minute of her performance in front of a sell out crowd.
But almost two hours into the set, the venue cut the sound and lights, yet Madonna carried on regardless .
The SSE Hydro normally runs to an 11pm curfew but Madonna was still going strong after 11.30pm after telling the audience she loved them.
And when she returned for an encore of Holiday she had to sing with the lights up accompanied by the audience cheering and clapping.
The star took to Instagram to hit back at the venue following their decision saying, "We don't stop till its over Glasgow! Don't try to silence the queen."
The music legend also added: "Love you Glasgow," another Instagram post.
Earlier she had delivered a hit packed set that included stunning visuals, costume changes and the expected twisted religious iconography including pole-dancing nuns as back up and an X-rated recreation of The Last Supper.
The shock factor may be harder than ever for the world's best-selling female artist to achieve after having pushed the envelope for more than 30 years.
The hits stretched all the way back to 1983's Burning Up - with Madonna on lead guitar - while the classic Vogue got mixed in with Holy Water which saw the aforementioned pole dancers slide around large crucifixes wearing nun's habits and white frilly knickers before Madonna straddled a table with her legs akimbo and dancers for disciples.
The show began with Mike Tyson telling the crowd on the video screen: "I'm the best the world has ever seen" as Madonna descended in a medieval spiked-cage for her opening song Iconic.
The track, taken from her 13th studio album Rebel Heart, was just one of several new songs – such as Devil Pray, Body Shop, Bitch I'm Madonna and Living For Love – in a set that also included some greatest hits stretching back 32 years.
Wearing Japanese warrior-style clothing to begin and disrobing a gown that must have relieved fears of a repeat of the wardrobe malfunction that saw her take a tumble at The Brits earlier this year, she strolled down a crucifix shaped walkway with a heart at the end and told the crowd:
"Alright Scotland, alright Glasgow, we're going to tear things up over here. Well, I'll be darned Glasgow. Are you happy to be here? This is a girl who works hard for her money and I need some feedback because if you're not happy I'm not happy. If you're not about to have the best orgasm of your life how can I? I love Scotland. Before I loved it but now I lo-ve it."
And as she prepared to strum a ukulele on True Blue she dealt with a heckler with one finely tuned quip.
"I can't hear a word you're saying. It's better that way."
For the most part, this was a trip through an impressive back catalogue from a singer who has sold over 300 million records.
They included True Blue, Like A Virgin and Deeper And Deeper, the latter giving Scotland's largest indoor venue into an intimate nightclub makeover.
Among the highlights was La Isla Bonita and an intimate cover La Vie En Rose on ukulele with hundreds of songs to choose from there was always going to be a surprise whatever songs Madonna chose to include or exclude in her set.
As it was, her 10th world tour proved to be everything her fans could have hoped for and as the 57-year old pop legend stomped down the stage runway – a crucifix crowned with a heart – she showed stars half her age how it should be done.
A Hydro spokesperson said: "Madonna finished the agreed set, and then chose to come on for another song.
"By that stage all the power and control equipment had already been disconnected by the production teams."
However, Madonna has performed Holiday as an encore throughout the tour.
Madonna concert in Singapore may be called off
Source: Channel News Asia - 18 December 2015SINGAPORE: Pop icon Madonna may not be coming to Singapore after all.
A check on Thursday (Dec 17) of the singer's concert schedule on her official website, which had earlier indicated that Madonna would be performing in Singapore on Feb 28, found that the tour date had been removed.
The website had also stated that online sales of tickets would begin on Thursday. The link led to a page to buy an Icon Live Pass, which included membership to Madonna's official fan club Icon and allowed fans to purchase pre-sale tickets and VIP packages. The link has since been removed.
On Thursday, the fan club sent out an email to fans saying that the information on her concert details was "inaccurate".
"If you have purchased an Icon Live Pass for this pre-sale offer, we will automatically refund your order," it said. "Thank you for your support of Madonna, and we will endeavor to improve our service to avoid such errors in the future."
Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, a representative from the official website said the presale tickets for the Singapore show has been "cancelled".
"Once Madonna's Singapore concert details are finalised, all members will be sent an announcement with the proper on-sale schedule information," the spokesperson added.
Police told Channel NewsAsia that an application for a public entertainment licence to stage Madonna's concert has been received, but is currently still being assessed.
Organiser IMC Live Group has declined to comment.
Madonna submits declaration in Court that Sean Penn never assaulted her
Source: Hollywood Reporter - 18 December 2015The actor amends his $10 million lawsuit against 'Empire' co-creator Lee Daniels.
On Thursday, Sean Penn filed an amended complaint in his defamation lawsuit against Empire co-creator and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lee Daniels. The court documents now come with a declaration from pop superstar Madonna herself that Penn never struck her during their relationship in the 1980s.
In a September interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels attempted to defend Empire star Terrence Howard over media reports of domestic trouble. "[Terrence] ain't done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he's some f—in' demon," Daniels told THR. "That's a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America."
For this quote, Penn brought a $10 million lawsuit, alleging that he was falsely accused by Daniels of hitting women by being likened to Howard.
Daniels raised a First Amendment defense in an effort to get the lawsuit tossed, but before the case gets any further, Penn has a few things to add, including Madonna's own sworn statements.
Given a couple decades' worth of salacious stories about the Penn-Madonna marriage, which lasted between 1985-1989, the singer speaking up about this topic under penalty of perjury marks a remarkable development from at least a social standpoint. In her declaration, Madonna addresses two incidents that frequently come up in the media — one in 1987, another in 1989 — and denies she was struck by a baseball bat, tied up or physically assaulted. From her declaration:
Rolling Stone crowns Ghosttown Best Song of 2015
Source: Rolling Stone - 17 December 2015
The music industry has had a historic 12 months as the streaming wars heated up and album sales reached record-breaking highs thanks to Adele after years of diminishing returns. As the business itself faced incredible changes, breaking artists and veteran musicians alike experimented with their sounds, doing everything from throwing back to the Seventies to getting everyone to cha-cha. As 2015 comes to an end, we asked our readers to vote for their favorite songs of the year. Here are the results.
1. Madonna - Ghosttown
Even in a great year for pop music, Madonna is still the queen. The power ballad off her March album Rebel Heart was a more classic pop turn for the singer after the house hit "Living for Love" and trap digression of "Bitch I'm Madonna." On the massive, romantic track, the singer tackles both world issues and a reflection of self. Even though the single didn't crack the Billboard Hot 100, it still topped the dance charts and showcased one of the singer's strongest vocal performances.
Rebel Heart Tour named one of the Best Music Performances of 2015
Source: EW - 17 December 2015
Entertainment Weekly has named Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour as one of the Best Music Performances of 2015:
Three decades into her career, Madge could have set up shop in Vegas. But the Queen of Pop is a tireless road warrior who's always in search of new sounds and ideas. So with a set list of more than two dozen songs, she served up revamped versions of her most enduring hits — and still turned every arena into a life-affirming disco.
Brisbane tour dates moved forward
Source: News.com.au - 16 December 2015MADONNA has changed the routing of her Australian tour next year to cut her time spent down under.
Due to unexplained "scheduling issues" Madonna has moved her Brisbane shows forward by ten days.
It means Madonna will now play six shows in just nine days, ending the tour six days earlier than originally planned.
Her Australian tour starts in Melbourne on March 12 and 13 and the singer will now play Brisbane Entertainment Centre on March 16 and 17 then her entire Rebel Heart Tour ends with shows in Sydney on March 19 and 20.
Those with Brisbane tickets for March 26 must now attend the March 16 show, March 27 tickets are valid for the March 17 show.
Anyone who cannot attend the new dates in Brisbane can get a refund before February 1.
In remarkable news Qantas and Jetstar will waive the change fees for fans flying to Brisbane from interstate who need to change their flights to make the new dates.
The airlines are partners with tour promoter Live Nation.
However it will cause grief for others on different airlines or those with non-refundable accommodation booked when the shows went on sale earlier this year.
The scheduling changes will fuel speculation the superstar's Australian tour is not selling as well as expected.
The original routing of the tour saw Madonna play the three eastern states over three consecutive weekends, with ten week days off in-between.
Fans in Adelaide and Perth were hoping the blank schedule would be filled with Madonna playing shows in their states. That would have angered those fans who'd already spent a large amount of money buying tickets, flights and accommodation for the shows in the Eastern States.
With no new dates being added, promoters would have had to pay to keep the expensive production on ground in Australia without more shows to offset the cost. The new routing means the staging will have to be shipped around the country immediately after Madonna leaves each venue.
Many are grumbling online about the expensive ticket prices for the Madonna shows, where the majority of seats are priced at either $305 or $510 before fees, with a small amount of $99 tickets selling out instantly.
Also snapped up straight away were $2000 guaranteed front row ticket packages.
Some VIP packages, none of which include a meet and greet but do offer seats closer to the stage, are still available, priced between $300 and $800.
Brisbane is still the place to get the widest range of ticket options, with some seats for around $200 still available as well as a $3000 VIP package which includes a seat alongside the runway as well as merchandise and other items.
Harbour Cruise parties in Sydney will still go ahead.
Madonna will visit New Zealand for the first time on March 5 and 6.
The 2015 leg of her Rebel Heart Tour ends in Scotland on Sunday before spending January and February on the road in South America, North America and Asia before heading down under for the first time since 1993.
Madonna confirms tour stop in Singapore on Feb. 28
Source: Malay Mail Online - 16 December 2015 Malaysian fans who didn't manage to secure tickets for the Asian stops on Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour have one last chance to see her.
According to her official website, the Queen of Pop is bringing her Rebel Heart Tour to Singapore's National Stadium on February 28.
The New Paper said concert pre-sale starts tomorrow at 10am, exclusively for fans who purchase the Icon Live Pass for S$20 (RM61).
The pass includes membership to the official Madonna worldwide fan club ICON and access to the ticket pre-sale tomorrow (limited to four tickets per person), among others.
Ticket sales open on December 22.
However, the newspaper added that despite the official announcement on Madonna's website, the concert's local organisers have yet to confirm the date of the concert.
The 57-year-old will be making stops in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Macau and Manila as part of the Asian leg of her Rebel Heart Tour.
This will be the first time that Madonna is performing in Singapore. She was slated to bring her Girlie Show to the island nation in 1993, but authorities banned her concert.
Madonna blasts radio stations for ageism against women: 'That's one frontier not conquered'
Source: Huffington Post - 11 December 2015
Madonna has blasted radio stations for only playing the music of younger musicians, explaining in her no-holds-barred fashion, "It's bullsh*t - but that's the way it is."
The singer, currently in the middle of her successful Rebel Heart Tour, tells journalist Cameron Adams for Australia's Daily Telegraph that "Radio is ageist. If you're not in your twenties they won't play you on the radio. It's bullshit — but that's the way it is.
"It is disappointing. We live in an ageist society. I've tried my hardest to do whatever I can to change peoples' perception of women, of age, of what is possible and why should any of us limit ourselves in any way, shape or form regardless of our sex, our sexual preference, our age, our religious beliefs, our race etc.
"So for me it's shocking in this day and age where we're now accepting gay marriages that we still treat women in a very sexist way. That's one frontier that has not been conquered. Because if I was a man, things would be different ..."
Madonna also used the interview to set the record straight on rumours that she and ex-husband Sean Penn had rekindled their romance, following his split from actress Charlize Theron.
"We've been friends for ages," Madonna clarifies. As for the rumours... "Yeah, but we're friends."
Madonna, who still has a didgeridoo in her London home as a souvenir of her 1993 tour Down Under, also explains why she will never be tempted by a Greatest Hits tour.
"I don't want to just sing all my hits, that's so boring. There needs to be a thread that connects them all, they have to flow from one to the other seamlessly, and for me it's always a challenge to make that happen."
Madonna impressed her fans last night with a spontaneous concert in Paris's Place de la Republique, the main site for tributes for victims of the recent attacks on the city.
Following her concert on Wednesday evening in the French capital, she tweeted that she would be heading to the square for a further appearance. Once she'd arrived, she launched into moving renditions of her song 'Ghosttown', John Lennon's 'Imagine' and her own 'Like a Prayer'.
The star told the crowd:
"Everybody knows why we're here … we just want to sing a few songs about peace, just to spread love and joy, and to pay our honour and respect to the people who died almost four weeks ago.
"And to spread light … we all need it."
Madonna gives surprise Paris street performance in Place de la Republique
Source: CNN - 10 December 2015
Madonna stepped off the stage after her Paris concert on Wednesday night and headed to another performance.
But unlike her sold-out show at the AccorHotels Arena, this one had just a small crowd of onlookers, swaying and snapping photos with their cell phones.
It started with an announcement the Material Girl sent to fans on Twitter, inviting them to the Place de la Republique, the site of a memorial to victims of the November 13 terrorist attacks.
It wasn't long before a crowd gathered, and social media posts showed up featuring video and photographs of the singer belting out her own songs and other classics, such as John Lennon's "Imagine."
In an Instagram post, Madonna said she was singing "songs for peace" with her son David Banda and guitarist Monte Pittman.
Video and photos from the scene showed the singer standing in front of a makeshift memorial in the plaza honoring the victims of the Paris attacks.
At a concert in Stockholm, Sweden, after the Paris attacks, Madonna teared up as she explained why she'd decided to continue her "Rebel Heart Tour" in Europe.
"I feel torn, like why am I up here dancing and having fun when people are crying over the loss of their loved ones?" she said. "However, that is exactly what these people want to do. They want to shut us up. They want to silence us. And we won't let them."
That night, she led the crowd in a moment of silence before leading them in a rendition of her song "Like a Prayer."
She sang the same song Wednesday night on the streets of Paris. Afterward, the singer blew kisses at the crowd and shouted out the word "peace."
- Check out Mad-Eyes personal report from the special performance, including pictures and videos, in the tour diary.
Rebel Heart gets snubbed at Grammies
8 December 2015 
The nominations for this year's Grammy Awards have been announced. Despite being released months before the September deadline, Madonna's Rebel Heart album has not received any nominations.
Diplo is nominated in the category 'Producer of the Year', for his work on Bitch I'm Madonna, among other songs.
Madonna in talks for Israel show?
Source: Ynet - 8 December 2015According to Ynet, Madonna is in initial talks with several producers in the Israeli market to bring her Rebel Heart Tour to Tel Aviv next summer.
Her world tour is already an established fact after starting off in Montreal on September 9. Her previous tour, MDNA, kicked off in Israel on May 2012 and recorded unusual commercial success, grossing $305 million from 88 shows.
Last March, Madonna released the album "Rebel Heart," which wasn't one of her most successful ones, but as far as concerts are concerned she has no problem, especially outside the United States.
For the first time in over 20 years, Madonna will return to Australia for six concerts in March, after two shows in New Zealand. Israel has been offered a number of possible dates in the summer, and several producers have already began holding talks with the singer's representatives. Some of them have also attended her concerts in order to review the setlist.
Madonna, who is a shrewd businesswoman, knows how important this tour is and is therefore seeking to channel it to as many destinations as possible. Her 10-year $120 million contract with entertainment company Live Nation is about to end next year, and the numbers of the current tour will determine the next contracts.
↑ Back to top of page