Madonna Under My Skin

June 20 and 24, 2012: Me & Madonna

2012-02-07T11:33:00.004Z

Source: Madonna.com

Madonna World Tour

2012-02-07T11:31:00.003Z

It's official!

Madonna is having a huge party and everyone's invited. The Madonna 2012 World Tour begins May 29th 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel it was officially announced by Live Nation Entertainment, the tour's international promoter. The shows will include arenas, stadiums and special outdoor sights including the Plains of Abraham in Quebec and a return visit to South America as well as Australia where she has not performed in 20 years. The tour will stop in 26 European cities including London, Paris, Milan and Berlin.

Live Nation
Tuesday, 7 February 2012

One word: Triumphant

2012-02-06T02:48:00.002Z

You just couldn't say it better

2012-02-03T17:47:00.004Z

Sorry Haters, Madonna still has it. This clip is a touchdown.

The Wall Street Journal
February 3, 2012

Times Square, this afternoon

2012-02-03T17:28:00.000Z

Number 1

2012-02-03T15:20:00.006Z

MDNA has just reached #1 in my country!
(iTunes chart, of course)

update: iTunes USA!

... and the first reaction is...

2012-02-03T14:18:00.003Z

... YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3 minutes to go...

2012-02-03T13:53:00.006Z

... for the world premiere of Give Me All Your Luvin!!!

Go France!

2012-02-02T14:00:00.009Z

Now this is what I call one hell of a promotion...

... and if you're walking down Les 4 Temps, a shopping center at Paris la Défense,
this is what you'll bump into. Go France!

ICONIC

2012-01-31T10:26:00.005Z

There's no better way to describe the new album cover...
Hold on tight, brothas and sistas... something HUGE is coming!

What a morning!

2012-01-31T10:16:00.006Z

Oh my God... Tuesday morning, just arrived to work, logged on to Facebook and BAM BAM BAM!

1) First images of M's visit to Jay Leno's Tonight Show, yesterday
2) First exclusive photo of the Superbowl stage (ok, my heart's racing now)
3) and the biggest surprise of 'em all: the cover of MDNA!

Someone get me an anxiolytic!!!

All eyes set on American Idol!

2012-01-30T10:46:00.006Z

The video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'" directed by Megaforce, is football and cheerleader themed - inspired by her upcoming Super Bowl appearance. In an AMERICAN IDOL exclusive, Madonna will world preview the video for her new single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., during IDOL Thursday, Feb. 2 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The full video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'" will premiere on Madonna's YouTube channel on February 3rd at 9am EST/6am PST.

source: Madonna.com

Just watched the preview a few minutes ago... OH MY GOOOOD!!!!

The party has oficially begun!

2012-01-30T10:30:00.007Z

After weeks and weeks of rumour, speculation and leaked information, the Queen's heralds have finally spoken!

January 29, 2012
The Material Girl Is Back On The Dance Floor

Madonna will be releasing her new single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" featuring Nicki Minaj & M.I.A. on February 3rd, three days before her highly anticipated Bridgestone Super Bowl halftime performance, it was officially confirmed by Interscope Records. "Give Me All Your Luvin'" is the first single from Madonna's upcoming album MDNA , her 12th studio album and follow up to 2008's Hard Candy which debuted at No. 1 in 37 countries. The song was written by Madonna, Martin Solveig, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A, composed by Martin Solveig and Michael Tordjman and produced by Madonna and Martin Solveig.

source: Madonna.com

WOW!!!

2012-01-29T23:44:00.008Z

Precisely one week from the highly awaited Superbowl performance, the cover of Give Me All Your Luvin' was revealed today!

What can I say? I cannot think of another thing than... WOW!
Simply amazing. Madonna at her best!!!

It goes straight to the top 5 of my all-time favorite single covers!

Mother and Father of Reinvention

2012-01-17T23:50:00.022Z

To me, he is the absolute King (sorry Elvis, sorry Michael).
And Madonna's true predecessor.

For two decades, it was all about rock and roll. But in 1972, the world was about to witness a real revolution in pop culture.

Already with five albums behind, enough to prove his talent as a musician and songwriter, David Bowie engendered the first transmutation in the history of mainstream music: from artist to character. He was not Bowie anymore. He was Ziggy Stardust.

It happened not only on record, but mostly on stage, the place where it would all come to life. Ziggy/Bowie brought performance art, theatre, even fashion to a space where, so far, the only thing to do was to sing and play the guitar. The whole concept of a rock show was forever changed.

For years to come, David Bowie would produce groundbreaking music, embodied in new characters, animated onstage through more inventive performances.

One of those performances was from the Diamond Dogs Tour, in June 1974, which took place at the Cobo Hall, in Detroit, Michigan. Among the audience, stood a 15 year-old girl, moments after sneaking from her father's house, to watch her first concert ever.

Cobo Hall, Detroit

David Bowie, Diamond Dogs Tour, 1974

The 15 year-old girl

It would cost her the whole summer, as she was obviously grounded, "but it was worth every minute": on that evening, she felt overwhelmed and profoundly inspired. Ten years later, she would become the biggest female pop star in the Planet.

Madonna and David Bowie met each other, at least, circa 1986/87 - there's only one picture of them together, alongside Billy Idol and Sam Kinison, to tell the story.

But it was exactly sixteen years ago, on January 17, 1996, that the Mother and Father of Reinvention would finally come together in public - even though not in person. Madonna was invited to accept the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, on Bowie's behalf. On her speech, M described that unforgettable night, when she was a teenager.

One true symbolic moment in pop music history.

January 17, 1996
Accepting Bowie's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
and backstage with David Byrne and Seymour Stein

I'm so happy right now!

2012-01-16T02:12:00.000Z

SHE WON!!!

2012-01-16T01:57:00.009Z

... and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song goes to...
Masterpiece by Madonna!

Congratilations to our Icon. We are all SO PROUD of you!

Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-16T00:42:00.002Z

The Queen has stepped on the red carpet!
(oh I love live streaming...)

The title!!!

2012-01-11T15:38:00.003Z

Madonna just officially announced the name of her upcoming studio album, which is “M.D.N.A”!

Madonna's official Facebook page
11 Jan 2012, 15:20

Paris Is Burning

2012-01-01T22:59:00.026Z

I wanted to see this for a long time and, finally, today was the day. The first movie for 2012 was Jennie Livingston's Paris Is Burning.

Produced in 1990 and filmed throughout the second half of the 80s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the african-american, latino, gay and transgender communities involved in it.

Brilliantly executed, Paris Is Burning is a unique and valuable document that portrays such an important aspect of the underground, post-modern culture, which paved the way for new visions in the 1990s - Madonna's Vogue is one of those results.

More than that, this is a thoughtful reflexion on race, class, gender and sexual orientation issues in the ultra-conservative, homophobic America of the late 80s, as you can see by the reactions it triggered - check the reports below and laugh to keep from crying.

Please do not miss this movie.

And here's M attending the premiere in LA, on August 7th 1991, with Tony and Alec.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T00:24:00.002Z

Vogue (The Re-Invention Tour)
Beat Goes On (Sticky & Sweet Tour)
Express Yourself (The Girlie Show)
Deeper and Deeper (The Girlie Show)
Open Your Heart (Who's That Girl Tour)
Music Inferno (The Confessions Tour)
Erotica/You Thrill Me (The Confessions Tour)
Lucky Star (The Confessions Tour)
Hung Up (The Confessions Tour)

Spending the first minutes of 2012 with you

2012-01-01T00:18:00.005Z

Rain

Spending the last minutes of 2011 with you

2011-12-31T23:45:00.005Z

Oh Father
This Used To Be My Playground
Live To Tell

Oh dear...

2011-12-28T14:21:00.011Z

One month has passed without writing a thing!

December is being quite a ride. Between work, studies on music journalism, my podcast side-project, Christmas stuff and an endless flu, there's no energy left to think about nice things to post in here.

Something's got to give... but under the skin, all remains alive and kicking ;)

No need to talk about all the frenzy that has been going on these last few weeks, surrounding the new album, the new video, Superbowl, the world tour, the perfume, the Golden Globes, oh God, what a massive year lies ahead of us!

You all know everything about that - and frankly, it's not my intention to give you the news (there are better places to find them), only thoughts and impressions.

So here's something I'd like to share with you, reminding the amazing December we had, nineteen years ago. I couldn't be more obsessed back then, M couldn't be more fierce and daring. Our Christmas in 1992 was all about house music, vintage clothes, romance and nightclubbing.

A few days ago, I put Erotica on my CD player, pressed 4 and couldn't help saying out loud: God, this is SO DAMN SEXY!

I can't help falling in love with this song, over and over again.

World AIDS Day I

2011-12-01T23:58:00.000Z

Love Won´t Protect You
Commercial for National AIDS Network
December 1st, 1988

World AIDS Day II

2011-12-01T23:52:00.022Z

Madonna's commitment to the fight against AIDS has always been a reason for our pride, since the first Who's That Girl Tour shows, dedicated to the research of a cure for "the plague of the 20th century". But at the time, I wasn't aware of such thing.

In fact, I wasn't aware of the seriousness of AIDS at all (I was 7 when the Portuguese media talked about it for the first time, in 1984, with the shocking death of António Variações, a Portuguese singer and absolute pop icon in my country). Not until the day I arrived home, on March 1989, after running to the record store to buy my copy of M's brand new album - with that amazing, epic title: Like a Prayer.

When I took the record out of the sleeve, something fell off. There they were: The Facts About AIDS. Madonna was speaking directly to us, addressing the issue through her art. On that precise moment, I realised ther seriousness of it.

Unfortunately, 22 years have passed and still...

... AIDS Is No Party!

World AIDS Day III

2011-12-01T23:42:00.000Z

September 1998
Speech at the APLA Walk
(AIDS Project LA)

World AIDS Day IV

2011-12-01T23:33:00.004Z

Message in 2003

Heathrow > JFK

2011-12-01T23:23:00.015Z

October 24, 2011
Departure: Heathrow, London

Arrival: JFK, New York

The W.E. Tour: Episode 7

2011-12-01T22:52:00.036Z

After Venice and Toronto, W.E.'s film festival tour could not be completed without the 55th BFI London Film Festival. On October 23, Madonna arrived at the Empire cinema in Leicester Square and was ABSOLUTELY DAZZLING!

The Skin I Live In

2011-11-19T23:12:00.005Z

October 13, 2001: The Skin I Live In afterparty at The Double Seven, New York, with Pedro Almodovar, Steven Klein, Carlos Leon, Brahim and Debi Mazar.

Confession #2

2011-11-09T13:24:00.005Z

I have this strong suspicion that Girls Gone Wild (allegedly produced by Benny Benassi) will be one of my favorite tracks from the upcoming BOMB...

November 8, 2011: Give Me All Your Love!!!

2011-11-08T21:48:00.009Z

The same way I will never forget the very first time I heard Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Vogue, Justify My Love, Erotica, Secret, Frozen, Music or Hung Up, this is DEFINITELY one night to remember.

I just had dinner and logged into Blogger, to find a message from my dear dear reader Cait. When I opened it, I just couldn't believe what my eyes were reading: «Full GMAYL demo here...»

Oh my God... oh my God... OH MY GOOOOD!!!

Although this is a demo and even though it may not end up in the final tracklist, one thing is certain: this is A NEW MADONNA SONG!!!

And WHAT AN AMAZING TRACK!!!!
Burning Up meets Gambler meets Over and Over meets 2011!!!
I JUST CAN´T STOP LISTENING TO IT!!!

This SO leads me to yesterday's "message from Universal" that surfaced in the internet:

The response from the listening party at Universal Music was overwhelming positive and the production is apparently "very new an fresh". Keep calm. We have a major Madonna album coming our way. Buzz from Universal is that she has a masterful dance pop album on her hands. They are going to promote like nobody's business. I'm expecting two #1 singles off this album. It's very modern and VERY dance from what my guy at UMG said - but done only as Madonna can do.

YES! YES! YES!!!!

It's only a demo yet, but...

... WE ARE SO FUCKING HAPPY, MADONNA!!!
THANK YOOOOU!!!

... and once again, thank you Cait! ;)

New York always makes her look SO COOL

2011-11-08T01:19:00.014Z

September 13, 2011

September 14, 2011

September 17, 2011

September 23, 2011

September 24, 2011

September 27, 2011

September 30, 2011

October 1st, 2011

October 13, 2011

October 17, 2011

Dinner with Madonna

2011-11-05T23:53:00.013Z

September 12, after-party dinner at Grey Goose Soho House in Toronto:

Madonna's dinner starts with seared tuna w/ avocado appies & buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes.
Lisa Tant (Editor-in-Chief of Flare Canada’s)

Sitting a couple down from Madonna at a big wooden table. She was spritzing samples of her new scent Truth or Dare. Smells like gardenias! And by the way, Madonna’s got ravioli in front of her.
Jeanne Beker (Fashion TV host)

Fashionmagazine.com:

Madonna is a people person. It is so clear that she wants to connect. She looks you in the eye. She leans across the table when the room gets too loud to hear. Any of the nastiness or aloofness that was evident in the 1991 Truth or Dare documentary was nowhere to be found last night.

She drinks red wine.

She publicly thanked the Bay, which sponsored her gala and hosted her dinner at the Grey Goose Soho House, and privately thanked Bay executives with a big smile and firm handshake (...). And when film maverick Harvey Weinstein arrived at dinner she turned her attention to him as if they were the only two in the room.

Source: Madonnarama.com

The W.E. Tour: Episode 6

2011-11-05T23:13:00.030Z

Back to September 12: a few hours after the press conference, M attended the W.E. screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. The images speak for themselves: definitely my favorite W.E. Tour episode. She looks STUNNING!

Let's go to bed...

2011-10-30T17:49:00.010Z

Playing the Bedtime Stories album this morning made me want to go revisit the Patrick Demarchelier photoshoot. After the overwhelming Sex/Erotica/Body of Evidence/The Girlie Show dark trip, M just laid back and gave us smoothness, a blue bedspread, a white gown, Pepito, a golden nose ring and breathtaking beauty. Perfect for a lazy Sunday at home, with the pijama on.

Revisit the complete "bed series" from this shoot Through The Looking Glass.

Confession #1

2011-10-30T11:57:00.004Z

Woke up feeling weird. One year ago, I went through one of the most painful experiences ever: the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with went away. One year later, so many things have changed (inside and out), but the wound remains. So I turn to Her. My eternal healer.

A little up and down
And all around
It's all about survival...

The W.E. Tour: Episode 5

2011-10-30T00:52:00.024+01:00

Ten days after the last appearance in Venice, M was back on track and cleverly following the film festivals circuit to promote W.E.. Next target: the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

On September 12, M attended a press conference with cast members Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough and Abel Korzeniowski and presented another one of her appropriatley sober, hyper-elegant outfits. She's the Director here, period.

And at 5 pm (Lisbon time), during the last hour of my workday, I entered the TIFF website and my heart jumped as soon as I read the words "coming up: W.E. press conference". A few minutes later, the image was on, blue background, large table with microphones, journalists going to their seats, heart started racing and BAM... THERE SHE WAS! Madonna in real time! The damn computer had no soundboard but I watched the whole thing, completely entrallhed with that gorgeous face and oh-so-familiar expressions. Needless to say, I couldn't work AT ALL. Shhhh... don't tell anything to my boss.

Venice - London - New York

2011-10-21T23:25:00.006+01:00

September 4th
Departure: Heatrhow airport, London

Arrival: JFK airport, New York

The W.E. Tour: Episode 4

2011-10-05T00:19:00.015+01:00

«It’s surreal to be in Venice since I was here early in my career, filming my Like a Virgin video», she said before announcing the inaugural Gucci Award for Women in Cinema to Jessica Chastain, American film and TV actress.

The event was held at the Bauer Il Palazzo Hotel in Venice, on September 2nd. Once more, Elegance was M's middle name, this time with a darker, Batlady-goes-Goth twist.
And ah, yes. The sunglasses...

The W.E. Tour: Episode 3

2011-10-03T22:50:00.018+01:00

Third day in Venice (if we take the night of the arrival into account), September the 2nd.
M and the W.E. cast make an appearance at the Movie Star Lounge. And all I can think of, when I look into these photos is... "those eyes!". However, the 6th one in this sequence is definitely my favorite. I'm pretty sure you understand why...

The W.E. Tour: Episode 2

2011-10-01T23:10:00.057+01:00

On the night of September 1st, it was IT! We even got the chance to watch those amazing 9 minutes LIVE on the internet, which added so much emotion to all this. It reminded me of those unforgettable Evita premieres, now with a classic Italian touch.

The absolute Diva. And that "Erotica" playing in the background... WOW!!!

We've already seen tons of photos from the W.E. world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, but there you go: some of my favorites.

The W.E. Tour: Episode 1

2011-09-29T23:29:00.030+01:00

First day of September, first public appearance to promote W.E. at a press conference, hours before the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. On a Thursday afternoon, the world laid eyes on M. And boy, she looked insanely elegant!

The W.E. Tour

2011-09-29T00:13:00.009+01:00

After quite a "special" September, filled with insane work, family issues and a forced pause - blame it on a terrible flu - I can finally count our blessings, given by the amazing hurricane that I like to call The W.E. Tour.

It all started out in August 31: M arrives in Venice...

Auditions!

2011-09-08T11:03:00.002+01:00

It is happening today!!! Oh dear...

Madonna Summer: Miami, 2004

2011-08-31T23:04:00.008+01:00

Once again in Miami, once again in August, once again on tour.

Madonna Summer: Miami, 2001

2011-08-31T22:56:00.013+01:00

Another pause from a world tour (this time the Drowned World Tour 2001), this time to spend her birthday with Guy, rocking the boat and catching some sun. Love the bikini!

Madonna Summer: French Riviera, 1987

2011-08-27T22:06:00.013+01:00

Once again, the French Riviera and a tour. However, this was a temporary time off, taken during M's visit to Nice, during her first worldwide stage event, the Who's That Girl Tour.
The next stop would be the final one, in Italy.

Old-time pal Debi Mazar joined M for some Summer fun and it was the first time I saw her in holiday mode, back in those days ("wow, she digs the sea as well!").

As I was going through these pics, I just couldn't resist doing the "then and now" thing... ;)

Madonna Summer: Antibes, 2011

2011-08-27T00:06:00.009+01:00

Speaking of jet skiing... who's driving now, huh?

August 25, 2011: holiday in Antibes, France,
taking some time off from the recording sessions.

Madonna Summer: French Riviera, 1990

2011-08-26T23:31:00.022+01:00

After the most grueling tour she experienced at the time, M could finally lay back and enjoy something she rarely had: time off!

Having Nice as Blond Ambition's last stop, the Queen and her entourage stayed in for a few more days and set the French Riviera on fire with a bit of X for X-tra fuuun!

Some of those moments were immortalized in Truth or Dare and remain as one of our favorite Madonna Summer moments.

Summer holidays!

2011-08-26T22:53:00.013+01:00

What better reason for being absent from the blogosphere than a well deserved pause for Summer holidays?

Just came back from a wonderful 9-days stay in Praia da Luz, Algarve, with all its bright Sun and crystalline sea. The perfect setting to wish Madonna one hell of a HAPPY 53th BIRTHDAY!

Me in Algarve

M in Antibes

Black Sand (I)

2011-07-30T12:41:00.007+01:00

We're on the Summer peak, so here it is: one of the sessions from the amazing Malibu photoshoot by Herb Ritts, 1985. Some of the photos would be featured in the Virgin Tour Book and Rolling Stone's May edition.

Black sand, tanned skin, swimming suits, the Boy Toy belt, Sea Sex & Sun. Madonna at her best.

Lines of Style

2011-07-10T00:50:00.013+01:00

Continuing the Herb Ritts '93 sessions for Interview magazine, the white wall series portray Madonna in all her class and sophistication. And speaking of sophistication, we could all see a couple of outtakes from this session later (thank you Pud), in the astonishing Rain video. Have I already told you that this is my all-time favorite Madonna video?

Watch more from this session Through The Looking Glass.

The first sounds!!!

2011-07-08T22:14:00.010+01:00

OH MY GOD!!!
These were recorded by a fan, in front of M's house in London.
I just died and went to heaven, ok? I'll be back in a few hours...

New music in the making!

2011-07-08T21:58:00.008+01:00

Never a 4th of July has been so HUGE for all of us! On this day, 2 birds tweeted what we've all been dying to hear:

It's official.. Madonna's 1st day in the recording studio for the new album... Very exciting.. Happy 4th of july...
Guy Oseary

London – Production session today
Martin Solveig
(brought to us exclusively by Madonnarama.com)

On June 30th, M was spotted leaving a recording studio. THIS IS IT!

Rolling Stones bows to The Queen

2011-07-07T14:26:00.009+01:00

On the 9th day, God wrote this on what would be called The Music Bible.
F**K YEAH!!!

«To say that Madonna won this poll in a landslide would be like saying that she was a kind of popular pop singer in the 1980s. It wouldn't even begin to explain the scope of the situation. She received five times as many votes as Lady Gaga, who landed in second place by a very comfortable margin. The only persistent criticism that Gaga has dealt with in recent years is that she's too much like Madonna. It's a hard shadow to escape. Madonna is a musical icon without peer. Her run of hits over the past 30 years is simply astounding, and when she hits the road, tickets sell like it's a Led Zeppelin reunion tour. Sure, her last few albums didn't match up to the classics. Nobody cares. She's Madonna. Lady Gaga has accomplished more in recent years than any artist of her era, but she's still got a long climb until she reaches Madonna level. It's very likely that no other artist will ever reach it though. Her manager Guy Oseary recently tweeted that she's started recording her 12th studio album, so clearly she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.»

Rolling Stone, 2011

Lola, 2011 / Madonna, 1980

2011-07-06T10:28:00.000+01:00

Happy 25th anniversary

2011-06-30T23:48:00.004+01:00

I knew it was going to arrive soon. Everyday I would sneek into the record store near my place, hoping for the moment. One day, the lady smiled at me: "Ruizinho, it has arrived". When I looked at the cover, I was mesmerized, couln't even speak. My heart started racing. She was so incredibly beautiful. The album cost me 1200 Escudos. I was 8 years old.

Dita's ghost by the pool

2011-06-28T23:48:00.015+01:00

Another series from the Interview photoshoot: the swimming pool shots. Sessions took place at M's home in Miami, the same location for the legendary Sex sessions with Steven Meisel. Curiosly, for this one, M wears the same see-through dress she used a year before. Dita's ghost was still raving by the pool. HOT!

One of the shots would be used for the cover of the Rain single, released in July 1993.

Summer's here!

2011-06-27T22:51:00.016+01:00

Of all the images that come into my mind when Summer arrives, I always think of the cover of Interview from June 93. Simple, luminescent and filled with that timeless M expression of Beauty. In one word: stunning.

On that issue, M chatted with Mike Myers by telephone, talking about everything and nothing at all. One page of pure Madonna humour accompanied by a beautiful, sexy portfolio of 7 photographs by Herb Ritts, celebrating the beginning of Summer. There they were, those gooorgeous bangs à la Bette Davis, a few days after they were flaunted during the amazing rendition of Peggy Lee's Fever, at Arsenio's 1000th episode. Some of the photos would be used for the Girlie Show tourbook.

So many good reasons to start a series of posts dedicated to the hot season!

Watch more from this first section of Ritt's photoshoot Through The Looking Glass.

Eurostar Paris-London

2011-06-27T21:35:00.009+01:00

June 26, 2011
(give me M in a hat and I'm a happy guy)

Leaving Ritz, Paris

Arriving at Gare du Nord, Paris

Arriving at St. Pancras Eurostar Train Station, London

A night in Paris

2011-06-27T21:28:00.011+01:00

June 25, 2011: Saturday night at VIP Room Theatre in Paris.

Flea Market

2011-06-26T02:31:00.016+01:00

June 25, 2011
Spending Saturday afternoon visiting the Paul Bert flea market, Paris.
Sooooo gorgeous!!!

Flight Mode

2011-06-26T02:03:00.018+01:00

June 21, 2011
At JKF Airport, leaving New York.

Arriving at Heathrow, London, a few hours later.

June 24, 2011
Arriving at Ritz, Paris.

After all the nostalgia...

2011-06-26T01:51:00.007+01:00

... we return to the present. «Madonna goes into the recording studio next month to begin work on new album...», tweeted Guy Oseary last week (June 14, 2011).

Behold... the Queen will RISE again!

Jungle Fever

2011-06-26T00:02:00.014+01:00

May 16, 1991: Last appearance at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. Once more, M dazzled the crowd and the paparazzi, as the vessel for cutting edge, insane fashion. At the time, I found the outfit a bit weird. Today, I call it fieeeerce! (snap your fingers, if you may.)

«I can't open my coat, yet...»

2011-06-19T01:22:00.003+01:00

Marvellous.

Euroquake

2011-06-17T00:05:00.022+01:00

In fact, Cannes veterans say they haven't seen anything like this since Brigitte Bardot's appearance in 1952.

May 13, 1991: Madonna presented Truth Or Dare (now In Bed With Madonna) at the Cannes Film Festival. I actually retain this in my memory as Coronation Night. Europe fell at her feet.

Welcome party in Cannes

2011-06-16T01:50:00.004+01:00

May 12, 1991: a few hours upon arrival, the first party in Cannes for La Madonne.

Cannes, 1991: The "Insane Atmosphere", from Minute 1

2011-05-26T22:24:00.012+01:00

Those were the (absolutely insane) days. Every little move M made, it would make headlines. Everywhere she stepped her foot in, it would turn the whole damn place upside down. No wonder: world-stopping events like the Blond Ambition Tour and the Justify My Love video were a few months behind.

And now, another monumental feature: the Truth or Dare documentary. Now, it was time to show it to Europe - and no better place to do it than the Cannes Film Festival.

The euro-insane atmosphere was immediately set, the first minute she arrived at Nice airport, on May 12, 1991. The Los Angeles Times tells it all.

(I remember hearing about "The Cannes Incident" so well...)

«Cannes Dares to Be Seduced by Madonna.
Welcoming the pop star and filmmaker Akira Kurosawa on the same day, you can't say the film festival doesn't have range--or a sense of humor.

If the camera crews that followed pop singer Madonna on her Blonde Ambition tour had been with her Saturday afternoon, they would have gotten great footage for a sequel to her new documentary, "Truth or Dare." A source close to Madonna said that when she arrived in Nice, French customs officials, acting on a tip that she would have drugs with her, held the star up for an hour-and-a-half while she was searched.
"It's ridiculous because everybody knows Madonna doesn't do drugs," the source said. "She was really upset about it."
Welcome to the Cannes Film Festival, Madonna. We could have told you it's a zoo, but then we never knew you'd be here. The festival loves stars--adores them--but they usually save this kind of excitement for a movie star. In fact, Cannes veterans say they haven't seen anything like this since Brigitte Bardot's appearance in 1952.»

Los Angeles Times
May 13, 1991
Jack Mathews, Cannes report

West coast to East coast

2011-05-18T23:41:00.018+01:00

Two days after the world premiere, Madonna flew to New York, to attend the second US premiere of Truth Or Dare.

This time, it was all about fashion: for the Big Apple event, M presented herself in absolute fierceness. While hair & makeup was all about Old Hollywood glamour, from the neck down there it was: the classic Dolce & Gabbana chunky beaded bustier - later on, Diamond and Pearl would wear it in Prince's Cream video.

Once again, the press went wild. Lauren Hutton, Susan Sarandon, Ron Silver («She's enriching the public debate», he wisely said) and Debbie Harry were some of the celebrity guests who attended the premiere.

Just like in LA, all the profits from the NY event went to AIDS Project Los Angeles and AIDS Action Foundation.

Next stop: a monumental, European moment that we would never forget.

Truth Or Dare: the world premiere

2011-05-15T19:34:00.042+01:00

Although we immediately think of Cannes when we talk about the Truth Or Dare premiere, it was actually in Los Angeles that the movie had its world premiere.

On May 6th 1991, Madonna came out as a brunette (what an amazing dark hair!) and set LA on fire with this huge event, starting with a screening at the Hollywood Cinerama Dome. Two hours later, the Queen, her entourage (director, brother, backup singers and dancers) and all the guests danced the night away at the Arena.

And here are the TV reports. Altought CNN's words are full of crap, the images are great. And how I love Liz in full action! The Validator rules!!!

Then, MTV's (attempt to do an) interview. Madonna at her ultimate best, channelling Susan. I could watch this 24/7.

«She bares her nipples and her soul»

2011-05-15T19:24:00.007+01:00

For the first time on film, the bitch goddess descends from her pedestal to laugh at her narcissism. She bares her nipples and her soul. She wants to be liked. Is this vulnerable Madonna the real thing or a ploy to ingratiate herself with film audiences who've found her chilly and strident? You be the judge. But there's no denying that Truth Or Dare is at its raunchy best when Madonna is kicking ass instead of kissing it.

Rolling Stone, 1991

Like we've never seen her before

2011-05-15T17:26:00.023+01:00

It was simply one of Madonna's boldest, bravest and decisive moves.

Originally titled Truth or Dare: On the Road, Behind the Scenes and In Bed with Madonna, the documentary that stopped the world in 1991 simply needs no introduction.

All of us M fans thought we died and entered the gates of Heaven; press from all around the globe went wild about it; 10-page articles were written by movie critics and scholars, dissecting the whole «true-not-true» question.

So here we were: one year after the monumental Blond Ambition, M was at the height of her popularity... again. No doubt about it: she was the absolute female pop icon of the 90s.

Twenty years after its release, and with a second (kinda) sequel in the meantime, Truth Or Dare is still one of the most amazing things M has ever generated.

Because no words will everencaplusate the Truth Or Dare experience, here are some interesting facts about it:

While sketching the first ideas in early 1990, she thought about David Fincher to direct this documentary about the upcoming tour. At the last minute she dropped it and turned into a small-time video director whose college thesis she'd admired: Alek Keshishian.

The only moments when M said to Alek «You just can't» were during business meetings and with her grandmother.

Truth Or Dare was the most financially successful documentary of all time, making a total $15,012,935 at the box office. The film cost $4 million to make.

The Editing Room

2011-04-28T23:37:00.018+01:00

Twenty years ago, Madonna had her first big experience in the editing room, with the help of a young, unknown director called Alek Keshishian.

By this time, Truth Or Dare was in the can, ready to be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

A global event was about to happen...

April 21, 1991: Dance-a-Thon, The (Amazing) Sequel

2011-04-21T23:36:00.033+01:00

Of all the off-work appearances troughout M's career, this is definitely one of my all-time favourites. Precisely 20 years ago and for the 2nd time, Madonna joined hundreds of people for the 3rd annual Dance-a-Thon, held by AIDS Project Los Angeles. Due to the success of both previous events (her presence at the first one was surely one of the causes), the APLA's dance marathon moved from the Shrine Auditorium to the LA Sports Arena. Huge!

While 89's appearance was all about style, sunglasses and cut-off jeans, this time was for serious dancing. Dressed up in tracksuit pants and that oh-so-marvellous combination of black bra & white top, Madonna wasn't just showing herself around. She danced her ass off, up to that amazing state of grace: totally covered in sweat. That hair, dear Lord...

Those were the days when house music was reaching world domination (God, how I miss them) and, once more, Madonna was at the forefront of such crucial movement in contemporary culture.
I'm so sad that my VCR doesn't work anymore. I have this videotape with one of those low-budget-low-quality biographies, containing several minutes of home-video footage of M's furious dancing at 91's Dance-a-Thon. I remember watching it over and over again, in absolute religious ecstasy. Every move, that amazing body and gorgeous face, fingers snapping to the rythm... Madonna taught me how to dance.

Unortunately, I still can't find the footage on the internet. But I can still remember every second of it. The best things always remain in your brain.

Update (on June 6, 2011): ask and you shall receive!
As I was going through Facebook, I saw something that made my eyes pop. THE VIDEO!!!
Thank you, DivinaMadonna.com!

Abbey Road

2011-04-10T13:24:00.005+01:00

They went walking. She goes biking.

The Beatles. August 8, 1969.

Madonna. April 8, 2011.

Love it!

2011-03-31T14:43:00.007+01:00

M, Lola and Steven Klein / Kabbalah Center, NYC / March 26, 2011

«You are the most golden of stars.»

2011-03-23T23:39:00.001Z

I am so sorry to hear that this great legend has passed. I admired and respected her not only as an actress but for her amazing and inspiring work as an AIDS activist. She was one of a kind.

Madonna, 2011

By sharing your light, you have unconsciously given us permission to do the same. You are the most golden of stars.
Madonna, 1997

Farewell, Liz

2011-03-23T22:42:00.011Z

She gave her name and her voice to such an essential cause.

Thank you, Elizabeth Taylor.

Purim 2011

2011-03-20T23:41:00.002Z

I Love Vinyl!

2011-03-20T23:27:00.004Z

In Bay City

2011-03-14T12:17:00.007Z

March 13, 2011

Madonna in Bay City, Michigan, attending grandmother Elsie's funeral visitation.

Making the video: Material Girl

2011-03-10T22:43:00.019Z

A few days ago, I came across with this amazing image of M during the Material Girl shootings.

(found it on The Best Madonna Pictures Collection Facebook channel)

It makes me wanna go back to those stunning "making of" photos, which document not only one of the most significant music videos of all time, but also a very special occasion: on this location, Madonna met this guy. His name was Sean...

Madonna and Material Girl video director Mary Lambert

Elsie Mae Fortin (June 19, 1911 - March 9, 2011)

2011-03-10T10:30:00.007Z

Elsie Mae Fortin, Madonna's maternal grandmother, passed away yesterday, at the beautiful age of 99. Rest in peace, Elsie.

It's Oscars night! (Part 11)

2011-03-06T23:50:00.013Z

February 27, 2011

Lola's premiere on the red carpet. Gorgeous.

Madonna: hot like wow!

Work it, girl!

83rd Academy Awards Vanity Fair party

It's Oscars night! (Part 10)

2011-03-06T00:57:00.018Z

February 22, 2009

I can only think of one word for this: stunning!

Another one of my favourites.

81st Academy Awards Vanity Fair party

It's Oscars night! (Part 9)

2011-03-05T00:23:00.007Z

February 24, 2008

Writers were on strike.

The Vanity Fair party was cancelled.

Madonna and Demi Moore came to the rescue and threw their own.

This year's style choice: Gold.

It's Oscars night! (Part 8)

2011-03-03T22:56:00.018Z

February 25, 2007

Elegant, sooooo damn elegant.

Classic Madonna.

79th Academy Awards Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 7)

2011-03-02T22:47:00.020Z

March 5, 2006

Taking the Dancefloor vibe into the Oscars.

Hotter than e-v-e-r! The red carpet has never seen anyone sexier.

One of my all-time favourites.

78th Academy Awards Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 6)

2011-03-01T00:46:00.013Z

March 21, 1999

I guess the whole Max Factor thing just didn't work out.

Hair and outfit made her look... old. Definitely a no-no.

But one thing didn't change: that gorgeous face.

71st Academy Awards, Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 5)

2011-02-28T01:21:00.030Z

March 23, 1998
Taking Pre-Raphaelite glow and cutting-edge European fashion into the red carpet.

Dressed by Olivier Theyskens. Brilliant.

«What a shocker...»

70th Academy Awards Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 4)

2011-02-27T23:44:00.018Z

March 24, 1997

Second live experience at the Academy Awards stage and in front of an audience of millions, across the planet. I was in Aveiro at Pedro's and we were as nervous as her. This time, it was all about singing. She was unsually controlled and revealed an incredible new vocal performance. Madonna's bel canto, as Eva Peron. Brilliant.

All about the bangs

69th Academy Awards Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 3)

2011-02-27T20:43:00.013Z

March 27, 1995

Again in good Hollywood style.

67th Academy Awards, Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 2)

2011-02-27T19:59:00.006Z

March 30, 1992

Subversive fashion (God, I miss those days...).

64th Academy Awards, Vanity Fair party

It's Oscar night! (Part 1)

2011-02-27T17:01:00.010Z

March 25th, 1991

A sumptuous premiere on the red carpet,

in pure, dazzling Old Hollywood glamour. Perfect.

63rd Academy Awards party

Sooner Or Later

2011-02-27T16:32:00.007Z

Truly one of the most memorable, amazing 5 minutes in M's career... and in Oscar history.
Noeone else in this Planet but Madonna could do this.
And I can't believe it's been 20 years already...

Hell fucking yeah!

2011-02-19T03:11:00.002Z

Open Your Heart

2011-02-18T01:13:00.022Z

More than just another M classic, and definitely one of our all-time favourites, Open Your Heart is a true milestone, for so many reasons.

And because it happened 24 years ago - on February 7th 1987, it reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart - let's stick with it for a moment.

Follow Your Heart

Yep, this was the song's original title. Gardner Cole and his friend Peter Rafelson wrote it for over a year, as a rock song (circa 1984-85). According to Cole, «Follow Your Heart is the name of a vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles. I was in love with a waitress there named Lisa and she was the original inspiration for the lyrics.»

Donna's first step into Planet M

At that time, Cole had already submitted a song to Madonna (the title was Motor City Girl), but she rejected it. In the meantime, the original demo of Follow Your Heart was sung by Jason Scheff, Chicago's then lead singer (after Peter Cetera left the group).

It was Freddy Demann who, after listening to the demo, saw it as a potential hit for Madonna. He asked Cole to make a new demo, with a female voice instead. Cole asked his former girlfriend to sing the demo - a girl called Donna DeLory.

Later, on he suggested Pat Leonard to use Donna as back-up singer and dancer, by the time Pat was helping Madonna put together an upcoming tour...

Madonna says Yes

Even though the original song didn't sound like Madonna at all, she ended up accepting it. M teamed up with Pat and magic was made. Some of the lyrics were altered, a new title was given, a bassline was added, mid-tempo became up-tempo, a dance-pop song was created.

But it was Madonna's interpretation that really hit the mark. Just read the lyrics alone: not that special, even silly and juvenile (yes, it worked perfectly on Glee).
Now listen to Madonna's singing: powerful, assertive, sexual. The Midas touch.
Finally, picture her in late 1985, at the recording studio. Open Your Heart was, indeed, the first cut for the True Blue album.

Breakthrough

And then, there was the music video. It is said that Sean Penn was originally set to direct it. Fact or fiction, the truth is that Jean-Baptiste Mondino came along... and a true work of art was created. Shot in October 1986, it was released two months later. And it could still be released today.

In fact, this is one of those cases where the music video transcends time and the actual song itself. We just cannot dissociate Open Your Heart from all that peep-show atmosphere. That's why the Peugeot advert was so... strange.

This is where we get to the "landmark" bit: the Open Your Heart video was the Big Bang for an entire universe of elements that would radiate from Madonna's art, for years to come. Just to name a few:

1) Sex
Before OYH, it was all about innuendo. Now, sex was reeealy on the table - and in our faces. I was 9 years old at the time and I blushed when I saw the video for the first time, at a friend's house. Oh my god, we can actually see her groins!... Remember, it was 1986. It totally pushed all boundaries.

2) Mondino
The first "French touch" in M's career (Patrick Hernandez doesn't count...).

3) The conical bra
First lesson in one of the most iconic symbols in M's career. Period.

4) Tamara de Lempicka
First lesson in Art History.

5) Super-fit
In Papa Don't Preach, we could tell she was slimmer. But now... oh my god! Meet the fucking amazing quadriceps!

6) Androginy
Boys who are girls... inside the viewing booth; and at that fantastic end.

7) The chair
Cabaret, Broadway... M finally embraced such a poetic prop. Later on, she would take it to the stage.

Surely, there is more to add to the list. But I have to stop now. I just have to watch the video.

Sources:
Wikipedia
MadonnaTribe's interview with Gardner Cole

Watch this visual extravaganza in pictures, Through The Looking Glass.