…Like Madonna, Maya is not a trained musician but instead a brilliant editor, able to pick and choose and bend the talents of others to fit her goals. They share an enormous appetite and a discerning eye for the intertwined worlds of fashion, art and music.
“Madonna is the one,” Maya said. “Madonna did amazing songs. She had an amazing sense of style, without a stylist. And she was flawed, and sometimes she admitted it. I’ll fight the fight for Madonna. I think she should send me some chocolates or something to thank me.”
…Maya feels that Gaga is not original, that she mostly borrows from the Abba playbook, and she gets annoyed when Gaga is compared to Madonna. “You can’t really say that Gaga is culturally a change,” Maya said. “Madonna was truly unique.” Gavras nodded. “And Madonna was pretty,” he said. “Pop stars should be pretty.”
madonnalicious reader Kunal took a picture of this large billboard that has been put up in St. Mark's Square, Venice, advertising Madonna's MDG sunglasses.
Rising Brit star James D’Arcy has been cast in Madonna’s second directorial effort, “W.E.,” as King Edward VIII.
D’Arcy, who has starred alongside big names like Russell Crowe and Daniel Craig, will take center stage in the multihyphenate’s biopic about the affair between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson that led to the Brit monarch abdicating the throne to marry his lover. www.absolumentmadonna.fr He joins Andrea Riseborough, Abbie Cornish and Oscar Isaac in the pic, which Madonna penned with Alek Keshishian, who directed the queen of pop in “Truth or Dare.”
Riseborough, best known for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the BBC drama “The Long Walk to Finchley,” will play the role of Wallis, while Cornish and Isaac will play a contemporary couple in the present day. Cornish plays the role of Wally, a woman in a loveless marriage, who meets Isaac’s Russian character, Evgeni at a Sotheby auction. Her belief in the great love story of Wallis and Edward provides the backdrop for the tales of both romances.
Former Miramax exec Colin Vaines will produce the pic, which will begin shooting in Britain on July 4, while Kris Thykier, producer of “Kick Ass” and “Harry Brown,” will executive produce.
Vaines said he feels good about the “fresh, young” cast now on board the project. “We’ve found the right cast for this picture now,” said Vaines. “The addition of James is wonderful as he’s got such charisma and possesses a real regal quality that he can capture. There was a real chemistry between him and Andrea and I feel very good about the cast we’ve got.”
D’Arcy has previously had roles in “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” “Flashbacks of a Fool” and “An American Haunting.” He also stars alongside Sean Bean in the upcoming “Age of Heroes” and recently wrapped “The Flight of the Swan.”
Source: Variety
IN SHORT…
Rolling Stone Magazine published the 500 greatest songs of all time - an updated edition of a list that came out back in 2004. www.absolumentmadonna.fr Madonna came at #306 with Like a Prayer!
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Madonna’s Malawi documentary I Am Because We Are is up for Best Documentary in the VH1 Do Something Awards 2010. Register and vote here
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Live Nation’s official online Madonna store has got three new t-shirts from Trunk Ltd. Visit the store!
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Liz Rosenberg has shot down reports Madonna is planning an extensive cosmetic overhaul this summer after British tabloid spread rumours that she’s preparing herself to go under the surgeon’s knife in a bid to look younger. “Madonna is directing a movie all summer. (There’s) no plastic surgery on her calendar. (It’s) all fiction.”
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Lady Gaga has been accused to rip off from Madonna yet again in her ‘Alejandro’ video directed by Steven Klein. In just 19 second preview of her last video, the media accuses her to “borrow” from Madonna’s Express Yourself, Erotica and Vogue. Have a look...
Belinda Carlisle jealous of Madonna’s figure by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.frSinger Belinda Carlisle was so jealous of Madonna’s lithe figure she embarked on a series of diets which ended in a dangerous eating disorder. www.absolumentmadonna.fr
In her new memoir, Lips Unsealed, the star reveals she pushed herself to lose weight after becoming envious of Madonna slim frame in her 1980s heyday.
“I thought she (Madonna) looked phenomenal because she was skinnier than me.
In some way, the drink and drugs is easier because it’s abstinence, but with food, you got to eat every day, and I had a terrible relationship with food.”
I think Madonna is great. She’s been a wonderful friend, very kind and supportive, and amazing. She’s such an incredible woman and… I get compared to so many people and we all get compared to each other, whether we’re blond, brunette, black, white, straight, gay… but on another level it’s kinda funny, because my Mother looks very much like Madonna and the older I’ve got the more I look like my Mother. So, sometimes I just wanna say, “It’s not my fault, I look like her!”
Did you have fun doing that skit on SNL with her ?
Yeah, I did! She’s great. We had a blast, we were laughing… We were both driving everyone crazy … rehearsing over and over and over again and SNL just wanted us to go get ready for the show…and we kept going… She is so great… There’s no bad comparison to Madonna, she’s so wonderful… and there can never be another Madonna, so I have to think of even more ways to annoy and shock everyone, because she has done everything.
Madonna’s publicist has shot down reports the pop superstar is planning an extensive cosmetic overhaul this summer, insisting there is “no plastic surgery on her calendar”.
The Material Girl turns 52 in August, and is rumoured to be preparing herself to go under the surgeon’s knife in a bid to look younger.
British tabloid reports suggest the singer has booked herself in for an eye lift, lip and cheek fillers, breast implants and Botox.
But according to Madonna’s spokesperson, the only thing the star will be scrutinising over the summer is her upcoming movie about the abdication of British monarch Edward VIII.
The rep tells GossipCop.com, “Madonna is directing a movie all summer. (There’s) no plastic surgery on her calendar. (It’s) all fiction.”
UK city newspaper the Metro picked up the story about Madonna's joy that Malawian couple Steven and Tiwonge who have been released from prison after being previously jailed for being gay. Click on the article to enlarge.
Madonna's Malawi documentary I Am Because We Are is up for Best Documentary in the VH1 Do Something Awards 2010.
Fans can vote at www.vh1.com/do_something_awards/2010/docu-style
Please note thought that to be able to vote fans will have to sign up to VH1.
IN SHORT…
The Sticky & Sweet Tour Thaï DVD includes a leather key chain with a silver M on it. www.absolumentmadonna.fr The Russian version of the CD/DVD comes with a jewel case with an obi.
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According to newspaper Daily Star, Madonna picked up a £20,000 bar tab for her dancers, when she went out to the Aura nightclub in London last week .
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According to Reuters, the israeli city of Safed (also known as Tzfat) which Madonna visited last year, is now enjoying a touristic boom since the Queen of Pop paid her respects at the grave of the 16th-century rabbi revered as the founder of modern Kabbalah. Laurie Rappeport, once of Detroit, who runs a visitor center argues, “Yes, she was here. She went to the cemetery. She herself may be very sincere. But she has turned Kabbalah into a joke, a cult.” Tour guide Richard Woolf explains that “Kabbalah’s been hyped up, by the Madonna connection and so on. Every now and then people ask ‘Where did she go?’, It’s a curiosity, that’s all.”
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Australian singer Sia introducing her cover of “Oh Father” from Madonna, in Copenhagen…
“I changed the words a little bit. Madonna wouldn’t let me change the words on the record, but I change them when I sing them live. ‘Caus she’s not here! And I don’t reckon she’s on youtube, like… caring or anything.”
from Showstudio live chat
Warhol is such a big influence in your work, and Madonna is as well. How is it having a personal relationship with her now? After all she did know Warhol, and I think we can state he’s your biggest influence. Meeting you for 1 minute was so surreal (you gave me an autograph after a concert.) I can’t even imagine having a personal relationship with someone I adore so much. How do you feel when someone not only so iconic, but also such a big personal influence, is suddenly an accessible person? – Asked by Laurent James, Antwerp, Belgium.
Lady Gaga: Madonna is a wonderful wonderful person. She is so full of the most wonderful freedom and spirit, and is so kind. Working with her has always been very exciting and very fun. We have shared some wonderful honest moments together. She comes to my shows, I’ve asked her questions, she give me advice. It’s been my experience in the industry that I’ve connected on a much deeper level with the more iconic and legendary people that I have admired, and not with any of my contemporaries. The one things the legends all; have in common are that they are the nicest human beings I have ever met. As a segue-way from knowing, and meeting and loving Madonna it has allowed me to meet amazing, wonderful iconic people. By meeting these people, I have discovered myself. My freedom. My security. Myself.
Dolce & Gabbana have launched the MDG website - giving fans access to the press images, backstage pictures, film footage and a detailed look at the sunglasses.
To explore the site visit www.dolcegabbana.com/boutique/dg/eyewear/mdg
Madonna has found her Duchess of Windsor – and it’s all thanks to Margaret Thatcher.
The singer has injected some energy into her once troubled film W.E., about Edward VIII’s Abdication crisis and the so-called romance of the century between Edward and twice-divorced Wallis Simpson, by casting rising star Andrea Riseborough, who portrayed the young Mrs Thatcher in BBC drama The Long Walk To Finchley, as Mrs Simpson, who later became the Duchess of Windsor.
In W.E. (it stands for Wallis and Edward), the script calls for the Duchess’s age to range from late 20s to late 60s.
Colin Vaines, W.E.’s producer, told me Madonna was particularly struck by how well Andrea portrayed the former prime minister – and also by her performance as a schoolgirl in Sam Taylor Wood’s short film Love You More.
‘She was just amazed at how Andrea can go across the full range,’ Vaines added.
Vaines told me Madonna’s ‘passionate about making and telling the story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’, though it will be told through the eyes of a contemporary figure, an American woman named Wally who becomes fascinated by the Windsor love affair when there’s an exhibition of the Duchess’s valuables before an auction in New York.
Abi Cornish, as this column revealed in January, will play Wally while Oscar Isaac, the hot American actor, will play a highly educated security guard who falls in love with the married Wally.
(Isaac can be seen on big screens at the moment as King John in the new Robin Hood picture.)
Andrea told me how she and Madonna initially met for 90 minutes to discuss the part when Vera Farmiga withdrew after becoming pregnant.
‘Madonna has read pretty much every book on the Duke and Duchess and I have been absorbing as much as possible about the Duchess, and speaking to people who knew her.
‘What’s fascinating is that this is the woman a king gave up the crown for, and that must have been such a heavy responsibility for her, as well as him.
‘She begged him to remain on the throne – she would rather have stayed as his mistress.
‘And I wonder what it must have been like after the Abdication? Did they hate each other or did they love each other? They were so compelling and enigmatic,’ Andrea told me.
Filming will begin in July on locations in London, Paris and New York, and the script has gone through several rewrites since I last read it and now seems much stronger.
Could it be that I have misjudged Her Maj and that the film won’t be bonkers after all?
Her people in Cannes told me that Madonna has realised that she has to focus totally on the film.
‘She can’t just snap her fingers and things happen, as has sometimes been the case on other projects. She understands that she has to roll her sleeves up and work harder than everyone else on the movie’s payroll,’ I was told.
Well, for now at least, I bow to Madonna.
Christina Aguilera has confirmed that her latest video features several deliberate references to Madonna.
The singer, who took to the stage with Madonna and Britney Spears for a notorious performance at the 2003 VMAs, used her ‘Not Myself Tonight’ clip to salute the pop queen’s legacy.
“One of my favourite videos ever is ‘Express Yourself’ by Madonna which came across as really strong and empowering which I always try to incorporate through my expression of sexuality,” Aguilera said.
“I love the direct reference I made to Madonna with the eye glass moment and the smoke and stairs. I was paying tribute to a very strong woman who has paved the way before.”
‘Not Myself Tonight’, the lead single from Aguilera’s upcoming album Bionic, is available to download now.
DigitalSpy
Perez Hilton : “There would be no Lady Gaga without Madonna.” by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.frPerez Hilton gave an interview to Spank Magazine, in Los Angeles.
Madonna is mentioned by the infamous blogger… www.absolumentmadonna.fr
“Pop culture to me is everything that is not related to sports or politics.
Well, my biggest Pop icon is Madonna, she’s my ultimate icon.
There would be no Lady Gaga without Madonna, and I love Gaga.”
IN SHORT…
by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.fr
As previously mentioned on AbMad, Madonna started a petition to challenge the Malawi court decision against the gay couple sentenced to 14 years in jail, just because they were gay…
In the name of human dignity and equal rights for all, let’s join her! www.absolumentmadonna.fr
Sign here...
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A recent poll conducted by American website shine.yahoo.com charted the 10 most iconic dresses of the past 50 years.
Madonna’s wedding dress at the MTV Video Music Awards (1984) came at #3 with the following comment:
As if Madonna’s Like a Virgin song wasn’t controversial enough, the pop star performed the song at the first MTV VMAs wearing a wedding dress, veil, and Boy Toy belt buckle. After suggestively writhing around on the ground in her gown, this show-stopping performance catapulted Madonna into a mega-star and international fashion icon.
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Controversial Serbian singer Jelena Karleusa aspires for Madonna’s fame announcing it was just the beginning of her first steps on the international scene.
“I am wishing Madonna’s fame! We are very similar…”
But apparently during the preparations for her concert named “All about Diva,” she didn’t find much understanding for her demanding ideas and was often told “Serbia was not America, and she was not Madonna.”
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Glee has been renewed for a third season… Does this mean we’ll get a third Madonna episode?
UK fashion magazine “Glamour” recently released a list of “Glamour’s inspirational women.”
1. Madonna: Reason:- “Because she has inspired us to develop our sound as she herself has always developed as an artist — and for her never ending fabulousness of course!” Stine, lead singer of pop band Alphabeat.
2. Ophra Winfrey 3. Natalie Massenet 4. Sigourney Weaver 5. Coco Chanel 6. Anne Frank 7. Drew Barrymore 8. Twiggy 9. Dorothy Parker 10. Michelle Obama
UK newspaper the Daily Mirror were at the Aura nightclub in London when Madonna turned up to party on Thursday night - click on the article to enlarge.
Lady Gaga: “Nobody will ever be the new Madonna”
by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.fr
Lady Gaga gave an interview to french channel, TF1…
Again, she’s being described as “the new Madonna” and the one who’s “showing the world how old Madonna is”, but Gaga refuses any comparison… www.absolumentmadonna.fr
Here’s what she had to say…
TF1: You are an Italian from New York, people always compare you to Madonna. Are you saying that you’re here to end Madonna’s reign, and that you are the post-Madonna of pop?
Lady Gaga: Nobody will ever be the new Madonna. Nobody will ever take her place. What Madonna did for feminism and for women all over the world, for the sexual revolution, can never be replicated because it has already been done.
Swiss #1 female tennis player loves Madonna! by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.frFrench Open tennis tournament Roland Garros is about to start and Swiss number one female tennis player, Timea Bacsinszky answers some questions from newspaper, Le Matin, and mentions Madonna as an inspiration... www.absolumentmadonna.fr
Le Matin: If you had to choose the one and only song to sing, which one would it be and why?
Timea Bacsinszky: Madonna’s Celebration, because it gives me positive energy. I was so inspired by this song when I played in Luxemburg. It’s my best memory from a tournament!
Madonna’s charity got one million dollars out of AmFAR by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.frWebsite showbiz411 recently published an article on how Dr. Mathilde Krim - who created AmFAR, the fundraising group for AIDS research - explained that Raising Malawi got a $1 million from AmFAR in 2008! www.absolumentmadonna.fr
She apparently explained that two years ago Madonna made an appearance here in Cannes for AmFar’s annual “Cinema Against AIDS” dinner. Madonna was in town to promote her self-important Africa documentary. She’d never been to Cinema Against AIDS before. Sharon Stone, as usual, was the emcee and auctioneer. Madonna - who has not donated money to AmFAR at least through her charitable Ray of Light foundation - auctioned off a couple of handbags she owned, a signed guitar, and some miscellaneous items from the stage, even some used tissues.
For her time, and the publicity, Madonna apparently received a donation to her Raising Malawi charity, of $1 million.
Never before Madonna picked up that million dollar check had AmFAR given such a large donation to any organization. In 2008, in fact, the second largest amount given to one entity was a total of about $350,000 to the University of New South Wales in New Zealand.
The average amount AmFAR hands out is $10,000 with a few exceptions.
One of AmFAR’s execs, Kevin Frost, apparently explained that “The event Madonna attended raised $10 million.”
4 Tours: 4 Hits! by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.frPeople Magazine has created an updated list with the 15 most profitable female tours in the world and Madonna takes over of all the top 3 spots!!! www.absolumentmadonna.fr
01- The Sticky & Sweet World Tour - Madonna - 2008-2009
02- The Confessions World Tour - Madonna - 2006
03- The Reinvention World Tour - Madonna - 2004
04- The Farewell World Tour - Cher - 2002-2005
05- The Circus Starring: Britney Spears World Tour - Britney Spears - 2009
06- The Taking Chance World Tour - Celine Dion - 2008-2009
07- I Am World Tour - Beyonce - 2009-2010
08- “X2008? World Tour - Kylie Minogue - 2008
09- Back to Basics World Tour - Christina Aguilera - 2007
10- Drowned World Tour - Madonna - 2001
11- The Beyonce Experience World Tour - Beyonce - 2007
12- Dream Within a Dream World Tour - Britney Spears - 2001-2002
13- Showgirl Homecoming Tour - Kylie Minogue - 2006-2007
14- Funhouse World Tour - P!nk - 2009
15- I Told I Was Trouble World Tour - Amy Winehouse - 2006-2008
Lady Gaga: I don’t think of myself as the new Madonna! by ZaCK, www.absolumentmadonna.frLady Gaga recently gave an interview to French Magazine Les inrocks. Of course and once again, the name Madonna is all over it… www.absolumentmadonna.fr
Les inrocks - Why did you dedicate your album to Prince, Madonna, David Bowie and Andy Warhol ?
Lady Gaga - I’ve been listening to Prince and Madonna a lot. David Bowie and Andy Warhol are inspiring me. For me they are major artists because the visual aspect of their music is very strong. When I’m home listing to the radio and Prince, Bowie or Madonna’s music is being played, I see something, which isn’t the case with many other singers.
Les inrocks - Did you say that you were the new Madonna?
Lady Gaga - I never said that. I’m very angry when I read this so-called quote. From the beginning of my career people have been saying that I was the new Madonna. So take note of this: I DON’T THINK OF MYSELF AS THE NEW MADONNA!
Les inrocks - You’re blond and an Italian from New York... Don’t you think there’s room for comparison?
Lady Gaga - I do have the utmost respect for her. In some ways it’s indecent to ask a kid like me who’s been around for five minutes if I think I’m the next pop icon. It’s like ‘Who do you think you are?’ You have to let me accomplish more before you call me a pop icon.
Les inrocks - But do you want to be a pop icon?
Lady Gaga - If I wanna rule the world? The answer is yes. I think that secretly everyone wants to rule the world. But most people are afraid to say so.
