Madonna attends Keep A Child Alive

Madonna’s “Bedtime Stories” Turns 20: Backtracking

Throughout her extensive career, Madonna (a.k.a. The Queen of Pop) has worn many, quite controversial hats. Whether it be a girly-girl for 1986′s True Blue, a political rebel for 2003′s American Life or a disco goddess for 2005′s Confession On A Dancefloor, the entertainer always knows how to switch up her persona to keep her fans interested and the world guessing what her next move will be. (Well, maybe not with MDNA. I’d like to forget that album.)

But one of the singer’s greatest musical eras was arguably her most subtle. On October 25, 1994, her sixth studio LP Bedtime Stories released worldwide. The album found Madonna easing up on her naughty persona and going for a softer vibe, and today (October 24) we celebrate its timeless sound.

Madonna’s much talked about album, Erotica (released in 1992), did not go over well with critics or some of the entertainer’s fans. The backlash she received from it stemmed from its explicitly sexual nature (which included the infamous Sex book). Two years later, Bedtime Stories acted as the tamer, more mellow sister that tried to gloss over the singer’s panned image. While it was obviously a cleaned-up and more accessible album, it still signified another era of change for Madonna. Sure, she makes incredible dance-pop classics, but Bedtime Stories displayed the evolution of a soulful singer, and it helped lead to albums like the adventurous Ray of Light (1998) and possibly even the “B-girl” edge of 2008′s Hard Candy (as crazy as that sounds).

Strike a Pose...2012

Madonna’s Items Up for Auction

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Costumes, gowns and jewelry worn by Madonna in films such as "Evita" and "A League of Their Own" and in the "Material Girl" music video will be the highlights of a celebrity auction next month in Beverly Hills, Julien's Auctions said on Tuesday.

They are among the more than 140 items from Madonna's life and career that could fetch a combined total of up to $500,000 in the two-day in-house and online auction beginning Nov. 7.

"This is the biggest collection of Madonna items ever to come to auction at one time," said Martin Nolan, the executive director of the auction house.

Many of the items in the auction are from a collection amassed by Marquee Capital, a London-based niche asset management company specializing in alternative investments, and other sources and collectors.

Among the stand-out lots is the strapless, evening gown, mink cape and jewelry Madonna wore in her "Material Girl" music video, which together could sell for at much as $70,000.

Nolan said Madonna admired Marilyn Monroe and had chosen to wear the pink gown that the actress had worn back in the 1950s when she made the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

"We have that particular outfit," said Nolan.

The auction will also include the inauguration dress Madonna, 56, wore when she played Eva Peron, the first lady of Argentina, in the hit 1996 musical "Evita;" the uniform, ball and catcher's mitt from 1992's "A League of Their Own;" and the white jumpsuit, mink coat and cowboy hat she wore in the "Music" video.

In addition to the beaded, ivory gown from "Evita," Julien's is selling 38 costumes the pop diva wore from the 85 that were featured in the film. 

The wedding dress, veil and shoes that Madonna wore when she married actor Sean Penn in 1985 in California are expected to fetch up to $60,000, and the annulment papers ending the union in 1987 will also be offered. The couple divorced in 1989.

Madonna was named the highest-earning celebrity in 2013 by Forbes magazine. She raked in an estimated $125 million from June 2012 to June 2013, thanks to her worldwide MNDA Tour, merchandising sales, her fragrance and her Material Girl clothing line.

"She really is a true icon, highly talented and a very smart businesswoman," said Nolan.

The Madonna collection, which is expected to attract collectors, museums and investors, is part of Julien's "Icons & Idols: Rock 'n' Roll," which will include more than 700 lots, representing 40 artists such a pop singers Katy Perry, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, and country-western star Naomi Judd.

"They are selling their own items and a generous portion is going to go to their charities," said Nolan, adding the total estimate for the entire sale is $1.2 million to $1.8 million.

Madonna to perform on X Factor live final?

According to reports, Madge is due to appear on the talent show's live final but only if she 'approves of the line-up'.

The superstar is said to have been persuaded by the show's creator, Simon Cowell, to perform on the final, but before excited mounts - there are apparently terms and conditions.

A source said: "Madonna will have been provisionally booked because the final can be subject to change if an artist doesn't approve of the finalists - especially if they have agreed to sing with them. "Someone like Madonna will want a lot of creative control over her appearance, but for Simon the ratings will worth it."

The source added: "She has been told that her label will be expected to pay for any stage props and backing dancers she brings with her".

It is no doubt the 56-year-old will boost the ITV show's ratings if she appears on their stage on December 13.

At the start of this series ratings were reportedly dropping, so hopefully Madge will bring back the days where The X Factor would draw in a high-set list of worldwide performers.

Previously the show has seen Sir Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Sir Elton John grace the X Factor stage and last weekend we saw Pharrell Williams and Taylor Swift perform.

Of course more importantly, the proposed appearance could help boost sales of Madonna's next album, which is due to go on sale shortly after she is due to appear on the show.

Strike a Pose...1987

Natalia Kills completed eight songs with Madonna for the latter’s new album

‘They Talk Shit About Me’ hitmaker Natalia Kills worked on eight songs for Madonna’s new album.

“She writes incredible lyrics, sings beautiful melodies, but most of all she is so fucking funny,” Kills told Paper magazine of her time working with the bathroom selfie enthusiast.

Also, if you’re wondering how Madonna came to hear about Kills’ ‘oeuvre’ in the first place, wonder no more:

“Madonna’s dancers play my music during her rehearsals and workouts every week.”

She also found the time to talk about her own music, suggesting there might be some on its way quicker than expected:

“It’s coming out all this year. All really soon, really really soon, wink wink, very very soon.”

‘Wink wink’.

For the Record: The Look of Love

On November 25, 1987 the third and final single from the  'Who's That Girl' soundtrack, "The Look of Love" was released.  While shooting for the film, then called Slammer, Madonna had requested that producer Patrick Leonard develop a downtempo song that captured the nature of her film persona. She later added the lyrics and vocals to the demo tape developed by Leonard, and the song was "The Look of Love".

Madonna was inspired by the 1954 film 'Rear Window' and the look that actor James Stewart gave actress Grace Kelly. She said: "I can't describe it, but that is the way I want someone to look at me when he loves me. It's the most pure look of love and adoration. Like surrender. It's devastating."

"The Look of Love" was released in the United Kingdom, some European countries and Japan. "I Know It", a track from Madonna's self-titled debut album, appeared as the B-side.  In 1989, the song was used as the B-side for the "Express Yourself" single release.  In the United Kingdom, "The Look of Love" was released on December 12, 1987 and entered the UK Singles Chart at position 15. The next week, it reached a peak of nine on the chart, her first single to miss the top five since "Lucky Star". It reached the top ten of the charts in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It also charted in France, Germany and Switzerland, while on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles of Billboard, it reached 17.

Madonna's only live performances of the song were on her Who's That Girl World Tour in 1987.  As she finished the performance of "Causing a Commotion", the spotlight was focused on her. The introductory music of "The Look of Love" started and Madonna roamed around the stage, pretending that she was lost.

She wanted to portray her Who's That Girl character Nikki, when she was lost in a similar sequence in the film. After she finished singing the song, Madonna pretended to walk forward by pushing through the air, as the conveyor belt took her backwards, ultimately taking her away from the stage.

Lourdes Trades In Posh Lifestyle

She is following in the footsteps of her famous mother by attending her old college, The University Of Michigan.  But despite her privileged upbringing, it seems Lourdes Leon is certainly no Material Girl.  In a stark contrast to her mother's mansions, the teen, who turns 18 this week, currently shares a simple bunk bed with a fellow student in a tiny box dormitory.

While living with her superstar mother she would have been used to a life of private chefs and glamourous restaurants - here she eats at a noisy canteen, filled with hundreds of students, where pizza, pasta and burgers make up a mundane menu.
In an exclusive look at Lourdes new college life, the MailOnline can reveal the down-to-earth teenager has been using the nickname Lola, her mother gave her when she was younger, to help blend in.

Speaking to the MailOnline a fellow student said: 'She's not as sociable as many people would have thought and she couldn't be more different from Madonna's huge persona.' The pal added: 'Every day that passes she's slowly coming out of her shell.

'There's no diva behavior or anything like that. She's really aware how people might judge her and doesn't want a bad reputation.'

Ariel Pink on new album: “They need something edgy"

Is Madonna going indie on her next record? According to Ariel Pink, Madge is looking for a change in direction and has enlisted the LA-based singer to help write the followup to 2012’s EDM-centric MDNA.

“Interscope are calling me to help write Madonna’s record,” Pink revealed in an interview with FL’s Doug Wallen.“They need something edgy. They need songwriting. She can’t just have her Avicii, her producers or whatever, come up with a new techno jam for her to gyrate to and pretend that she’s 20 years old. They actually need songs. I’m partly responsible for that return-to-values thing,” he explained.

Speaking to FL ahead of his Australian return as part of the Sugar Mountain festival in January, Pink suggested the pop star needed to look to her past for inspiration and riffed about the kind of song he would write for Madonna. “I guess it’s called ‘throwback’, but the first record [1983’s Madonna ] was so good because of the songs,” he said. “It’s been a downward slide [since] … ‘Ray of Light’ is not cool. And all the other stuff she’s done after that, it’s not like it matters. It really shows a drain of values. People need more substance in their mac-and-cheese. People need more sugar or something.”

For MDNA Madonna worked extensively with French electro and progressive house DJ and producer Martin Solveig and Benny Benassi, a move which – despite the record shifting two million copies worldwide – Pink doesn’t think worked in her favour. “It’s not because of her age,” he offered. “It’s because of the things that she thinks she needs to do to stay in her narcissistic domination of the world. Which is totally hers to have. But it’s about not just being a yes person. I’m sure Interscope signed her like, ‘Okay, the last record didn’t do so well. We gotta do something about this. We’re gonna get all new songwriters together and we’re gonna try to come up with this thing. ’Cause she needs help with this.’ And she’s happy to let them do that for her.”

While he had a lot to say about Madonna, Ariel Pink also spoke at length to FL about his own forthcoming record pom pom, which is due out on November 18 through 4AD. Labelled a “solo album” the record follows 2012’s Mature Themes which was released under the Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti moniker. pom pom features 17 tracks including ‘Jell-O’ and ‘Plastic Raincoats In The Pig Parade’ which were co-written with the Runaways former manager Kim Fowley.

Gives Good Face...1985

Strike a Pose...2014

I'll Remember..1992

MTV Special - In Search Of Madonna with Ray Cokes

Madonna: The World's Biggest Star Is Just Hitting Her Stride

After more than three decades on top, Madonna has never been more relevant, more powerful or more interesting than she is at this very moment. How in the world does she do it? I'm writing about Madonna....Again.

In one of those full circle moments Oprah tends to get very excited about, my first professional journalism assignment came in the form of writing a review of True Blue, the Detroit native's album released in 1986. As an ambitious writer/editor of 21, I took the job very seriously. Just a day after turning in my earnest critique (a rave), I arrived in Manhattan to start my dream job at Esquire, magazine home to some of my writing heroes Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese and John Gregory Dunne. It had been a very good week.

Strike a Pose...2002

Instagram: Madonna Defends Rocco's IG Post

Madonna has defended her son Rocco Ritchie after he posted what appears to be footage of terrorist killings on Instagram.The 14-year-old earlier today (October 9) uploaded a graphic video showing a group of unarmed people being shot by individuals in hoods.Alongside the video, he wrote: "I think if your still being a dick to people, I would stop. We've got a little worse of a problem on are hands here guys. We don't need more negative ass holes here."
Madonna has since 'applauded' her son in her own Instagram post, saying he was expressing that "our problems are nothing compared to whats going on around the world".

Strike a Pose...2010

Billboard: Madonna's 'Bedtime Stories' Turns 20

Twenty years ago this month, Madonna released her sixth studio album,Bedtime Stories, a classic that came out at a strange crossroads in her career.

While Madonna certainly didn't lack for fame in 1994, the button-pushing Eroticaalbum had soured many critics and fans. For the first time in a decade of superstardom, people weren't shocked by her antics anymore -- even worse, they often seemed exhausted by her.

Artistically speaking, she'd spent the last four years challenging and subverting America's sexual puritanism. But after releasing an entire book called Sexfeaturing nude pictures of herself and other celebrities, there didn't seem to be anywhere else to go in that realm. 

It didn't help that she'd detonated 14 F-bombs on a March 1994 episode of The Late Show With David Letterman, an infamous appearance that racked up FCC complaints and distanced her from Middle America. Evita was two years away and the overt sexuality of Erotica was growing stale -- so when Bedtime Storieshit, Madonna's career was at a strange point.

Kickstarter campaign launched for ‘Encyclopedia Madonnica’

A Kickstarter campaign is currently running to fund a special 20th anniversary edition of 1995’s unofficial ‘ultimate Madonna guide’ Encyclopedia Madonnica. Originally published by Boy Culture author and Madonna fan Matthew Rettenmund, the original Encyclopedia Madonnica was an exhaustive 200-page A-Z on the life and career of Madonna, which Matthew hopes to add to significantly in the new edition.

“As a fan of Madonna and as the owner of a massive archive of magazines, clippings and “Madonnabilia,” I felt compelled to document the incredible phenomenon of the girl from Bay City who in her first 13 years on the pop scene had become one of the greatest music icons (and one of the most controversial public figures) of all time,” says Rettenmund on the campaign’s Kickstarter page.

On the Cover of a Magazine...1996

I'll Remember...October 6, 1982

Madonna Covered: Physical Attraction

“Physical Attraction” is a great song. A deep cut of Madonna’s self-titled debut album, it’s a modern classic that holds up brilliantly over 30 years on. Seattle’s Fly Moon Royalty and Taryn Dorsey have put their own unique spin on the track, amping up the electric flourishes and imbuing the number with some blues flair. The duo, made up of vocalist Adra Boo and DJ/Producer Action J, turn the pop track into a soulful, grind-worthy slow jam.

“Physical Attraction” is just one of the pair’s stellar covers. Boo and J have covered Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” and Duran Duran’s “Read My Lips.” The duo released their latest EP, Unfinished Business earlier this year. Check out the Madonna cover below: 

I'll Remember...1986