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Full dress rehearsals taking place Saturday in Los Angeles

The full dress rehearsal of Madonna's "Confessions Tour" show will take place today, Saturday May 13 in Los Angeles.

Jean Paul Gaultier talks about the costumes and the full dress rehearsal in an article printed in 'Liberation', a french newspaper.

400 costumes were produced for Madonna, her dancers and her band have been shipped to L.A. last Thursday, and they have been entirely created at the Gaultier maison with the exception of some other costumes that have been produced by Hermès, where Gaultier is responsible of the design of the female collection.

The rehearsals taking place over the weekend will be entirely filmed to let the team double check if everything goes on smoothly. During one of the rehearsals, one of the choreographers is going to trade places with Madonna on stage, to let her able to have a final look at the show from the audience's point of view.

(source:Liberation-Madonnatribe)

Tour Book Cover Revealed

Madonna's official Tour website ConfessionsTour.com just premiered the artwork of Madonna's Confessions Tourbook.   The Image is  from Steven Klein's 'W' photoshoot. 

"Confessionstour.com is happy to premiere the artwork of Madonna's Confessions Tourbook. This fabulous new photographic tribute, designed by Giovanni Bianco, contains pictures from Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor album as well as Madonna and Steven Klein's latest photoshoot. The Confessions Tourbook will be available on merch stands from May 21.

Go to www.confessionstour.com to see the cover!

(source: Confessionstour.com)

Madge admits career hits home life

MADONNA has confessed she is a "crap other" whose career has put huge pressure n her family life.

The Queen of Pop said she finds it difficult to juggle work and home life - and often feels torn between the two. "It is a struggle to balance my career with my children," she said.  "I'm always going, 'Oh God, I'm a crap mother'. I ant to get home and put my kids to bed.  And then sometimes, if I'm spending a lot of time with my children, I think, 'Oh God, I just want to be an artist'. And you know, it's hard."

She went on: "I have a tremendous pain threshold. I work with a lot of amazing people willing to put in he extra hours, seven days a week.

"I guess I always feel like there is so much more to do, so much to learn, so much to know."

Madge, 47, made the astonishing admission to fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.  In a frank interview, she revealed her daughter Lourdes, nine, often gets frustrated by her fame.  She said: "Sometimes she doesn't want me to come to certain things because she knows everyone is going to pay attention to me and then they'll treat her differently. I took her to school on the first day last year, and all these kids were buzzing around.  She came home that day and she was really irritated and kind of bummed out, like people were playing this contest - what would it be like to be Madonna's daughter?"

The multi-millionaire singer, who also has a son Rocco, five, said her daughter was old beyond her years. "She's nine going on 19. She's a bit of disco queen herself," added Madonna, who has been battling marriage problems with film director husband Guy Ritchie, 37.

There were fears Madge's working relationship with record producer Stuart Price, 26, was putting pressure on her five-year marriage.  Guy's father John then claimed only the couple's children were keeping them together.

Madonna's interview on ISAAC is on E! Entertainment Television on Wednesday, May 17 at 12.30pm.
(source: fcummins-mirror.co.uk-3am)

Madonna at Coachella

MADONNA warmed up for her world tour with a raunchy, guitar-strumming performance at American festival Coachella.  Madge strode the California stage in velvet bondage-style trousers and trademark leotard.
And she teased fans by yelling “Do you wanna see my a**e?” – before whipping off her strides, stripping to just her leotard and frolicking with a feather boa.  She set the tone for her tour – which starts in Los Angeles on May 21 – by jumping on her political soapbox to berate the US President.

As she grabbed a guitar to sing I Love New York from her album Confessions On A Dance Floor, she raged: “You can suck GEORGE BUSH’s d**k!”
 

Not ideal language for the ears of her kids LOURDES and ROCCO. They were in the audience with Mr Madonna, movie director GUY RITCHIE, who wore all white in an outfit that matched Rocco’s.
(source: SunOnline-VNewton)

                      _____________________________

HER Confessions world tour kicks off in three weeks and, if Madonna's raunchy half-hour gig at the Coachella Valley Music Festival in Indio, California, was anything to go by, we're in for a treat.

The Queen of Pop, 47, emerged from a giant disco ball on Sunday night and kicked off with Hung Up. "She stormed through five songs and the crowd loved her," says one fan.  "First she wore a purple leotard and fishnets combo then added velvet trousers and knee-high boots. She was grinding against her dancers and made some moves with her purple feather boa that you'd be more likely to see in a strip club."

And those arms! The Kaballah devotee has always been buff but those biceps are looking bigger than ever. Well, if hubby Guy Ritchie likes it...

(source:UK Mirror-3am)

I'm Going To Tell You a Secret DVD to have Xtra's

Details and artwork of the long awaited "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret" DVD have finally been made available to the media, and one exciting news for Madonna fans is that the new release will feature a special jem in its extra bonuses.

The commercial release of the re-Invention tour documentary directed by Jonas Akerlund will not only include never-before-seen footage in its bonuse features, but also the director's cut of the American Life video will finally see the light of day.

Back in December 2005, we had the chance to report that the tentative release date for "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret" was listed as a DVD+CD set. It has now been confirmed that "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret" will be made available in three formats: DVD, CD and Digital Music Download.

The DVD will contain the documentary movie and includes live and stage performances of:

Vogue
American Life
Mother and Father
Nobody Knows Me
Music
Hollywood (Remix)
Lament
Like A Prayer
Holiday
Imagine

Bonus Features include:
Never before seen footage
American Life video (director's cut) The CD will feature live songs from Re-Invention Tour and highlights from the documentary soundtrack:

01 The Beast Within
02 Vogue
03 Nobody Knows Me
04 American Life
05 I Love New York
06 Hollywood (Remix)
07 Die Another Day
08 Lament
09 Like A Prayer
10 Mother and Father
11 Susan MacLeod/Into The Groove Medley
12 Music
13 Holiday
14 Imagine

(source: Madonnatribe.com)

Third single release

Madonna's official website, Madonna.com , officially confirms today that Madonna's next single taken from Confessions On A Dance Floor is the song Get Together , adding that remixes of the track were commisioned to the likes of Jacques Lu Cont, Danny Howells, Tiefschwarz and James Holden .

These remixes will appear on the Maxi Single.

German ticket prices

Eventim.de has sent out their " Ticketalarm " email messages to those who registered in the past weeks. The info contains the ticket prices for the German dates of Madonna's Confessions Tour for Friday's general public sale, that are a little lower than those applied in the Icon pre sale as the special fan club handling fee is not include this time.

Cat 4: 79,00 euro
Cat 3: 10700 euro
Cat 2: 140,50 euro
Cat 1: 191,50 euro

Madonna plans stunts for world tour

Madonna is planning to perform dangerous stunts while on stage during her new world tour.

The singer has become interested in Parkour, or "free running", which includes jumping and climbing techniques, and has met up with the sport's founder Sebastien Foucan.

"She's only learning the most basic elements so far," a source told the Daily Star. "It's incredibly dangerous. She's learning how to fall properly first. Seb is a great guy and they've really hit it off."

source: DigitalSpy thanks to drownedmadonna

The business plan behind the Confessions Tour

To plot what could be the top-grossing trek ever by a female artist, Madonna`s Confessions tour strategists had to navigate a global landscape in a narrow window of time.
Initial on-sales for Madonna`s outing, which starts May 21 in Los Angeles,saw quick sellouts with shows added in the United States and Europe for markets fortunate enough to snag dates.

The tour is produced worldwide by Arthur Fogel, president of TNA International, Live Nation`s global touring arm. (Madonna will also perform April 30 at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.)

Following the model of the $125 million Re-Invention tour in 2004 and the $75 million Drowned World tour in 2001, both also produced by TNA, Confessions will play a limited number of performances - up to 60 - rather than visit 100 global markets a la U2`s Vertigo tour.

Despite the short schedule, with a gross potential in the $200 million range, Madonna`s closest rival in terms of the top gross ever for a female artist would be fellow icon Cher, whose never-ending farewell tour grossed $192.5 million from an endurance-testing 273 shows between June 2002 and April 2005.

Put simply, fans often must come to Madonna rather than she to them. And come they will: In the first four days of ticket sales, she sold out four shows in Paris, seven in London, two in Amsterdam and five at New York`s Madison Square Garden, as well as doubles in Los Angeles, Montreal, Miami, Chicago and Fresno, Calif.

There has apparently been no 'sticker shock' from fansto ticket prices that top out at $385. 'Our rationale was to keep the prices consistent with the last tour,' says Guy Oseary, who co-manages Madonna with Angela Becker. 'I`ve never heard a complaint that people didn`t get their money`s worth from a Madonna show.'

TNA`s track record with Madonna was a major factor in the company nailing down the global promotional rights for the tour. 'There`s no question that our prior history with Arthur Fogel and TNA have inspired us to continue the winning team,' Becker says.

Fogel and his team began laying out the tour last fall while still deeply entrenched in their role as worldwide producers of U2`s massive Vertigo tour. All TNA decisions are made based on parameters set forth by Madonna.

'The `when` is certainly her call,' Fogel says. 'If you look at the last two tours and this one, the time frame is pretty consistent, late May through early September. That`s the time that works for her.'

It turns out the values of the once self-described Material Girl may have changed. 'Madonna`s family commitments are a priority,' Becker says. 'Her children`s school schedules needed to be factored into the tour plans.'

Once the commitment for the time period is in place, 'we [submit] ideas of where we might go and go back and forth any number of times while the process of the routing evolves,' Fogel explains.

With a limited time frame and workload, the idea is first to maximize draw and revenue, and second to hit markets Madonna may have missed on previous tours.

For Confessions, Madonna will play Fresno; Phoenix; Atlantic City, N.J.; and Montreal, but skip East Rutherford, N.J.; Toronto; Worcester, Mass.; and Atlanta.

'We basically traded a few markets we didn`t play last time, if ever, for markets we did play last time,' Fogel says.

The best an arena manager can do to secure a date is try to stay in the loop and hope for the best. After previously reeling in tour stops for Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and U2, the new Charlotte (N.C.) Arena was on the TNA radar but could not nail down a Madonna date. 'We certainly would love to host her, and we told TNA that, but ultimately in terms of how they route it, that`s TNA`s call,' arena GM Marty Bechtold says.

In Canada, Toronto lost out to Montreal this time around. TNA VP Gerry Barad 'was upfront with me from the beginning,' says Patti-Ann Tarlton, director of event programming at Toronto`s Air Canada Centre. 'We did hold dates for a minute, but Madonna goes where Madonna wants to go, and I have to respect that.'

Conversely, the SMG-managed Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, with a capacity of 12,800, was able to capture a first-ever Madonna date. 'We took a shot at it, we made the numbers work and it paid off for us,' says Greg Tessone, the venue`s assistant GM. 'Being the smallest venue on the tour, I`m thrilled to have it.'

In Europe, Madonna will play several stadiums, following a trend of acts like U2 and Bon Jovi of playing arenas in North America and stadiums in Europe. This time, Madonna opts for U.K. venue Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and eschews the Manchester (England) Evening News Arena. Japan`s dates in Osaka and Tokyo will follow Europe in mid-September.

Madonna says, 'This summer, I`m going to make the world my own private disco.' Becker adds that the tour has a mission statement: 'The soul objective of the Confessions tour is to get the audience up on their feet from the start of the show until the end of the last song,' she says. 'No resting allowed!'

source : music.monstersandcritics.com

Mad about Madonna

We make fun of her age, religion, politics, workout ethic and even that mysterious English accent of hers. But when-ever Madonna tickets go on sale, they disappear faster than diet pills at a Lindsay Lohan look-alike contest.

On April 10 at 10 a.m., tickets went on sale for two shows at Madison Square Garden in Maddy's upcoming "Confessions on a Dance Floor" tour. Ten minutes later, all 40,000 ducats disappeared. That prompted the announcement of two more shows, whose tickets vanished just as briskly.
Tomorrow at 10 a.m., tickets to a fifth, and perhaps final, Garden date go on sale (for a show to be given July 18).  Whaddya think is going to happen?

Which only begs the question: Why do people all keep rushing into the clutches of Madonna's live shows while pretending to be utterly aloof?
Of course, it wouldn't be the first time humans have displayed a contradictory tussle between lust and contempt. Here are the more specific reasons for our behavior.

WE ACTUALLY LIKE THE MUSIC. (REMEMBER THAT?)
Especially for this tour. Conceived as a nonstop ode to club culture, the "Confessions" tour promises to bring Madonna back to her early dance scene days, reminding us of why we loved her in the first place. While cultural windbags may concentrate on her persona - and pretensions - fans know that Madonna has put out more great dance records than any pop star in the last 20 years. Except, of course, for the Pet Shop Boys.

HER TOURS ROCK!!! (EVEN WHEN THEY'RE REALLY SELF-IMPORTANT.)
Yes, Madonna's shows always go for some Grand Statements, none of which have quite connected, or achieved coherence, since her peak tour (1990's "Blonde Ambition"). But despite the riot of information and "messages" she infuses every show with, her core production always looks smashing. And her choreography never descends into the Vegas tackiness of some other female pop stars we won't stoop to mention. (Okay: Janet Jackson). Better, on Madonna's last road show, 2004's "Re-Invention Tour," she proved how much stronger her vocals have become over the years. At this point, not only can we dance to her music, she can sing it too.

WE WANT TO SEE IF THE OL' GAL CAN STILL DO IT.
As she approaches 50 (well, 48), it's a bigger and bigger dare for Madge to do the kind of nose-bleed headstands, body-bisecting leg splits and yoga-inspired pretzel twists we expect from her - and that she ruthlessly demands of herself. Madonna's insistence on keeping such a dizzying level of physical engagement at her shows means she's now defying age in the same way she once did sexual taboos. And that desire has a cultural resonance: As our whole boomer-defined culture grays, we all have a stake in Madonna's mission to hold back the clock.

WE'RE FASCINATED BY HER CONTINUED NEED TO WHIP UP SUCH AN INSANE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AROUND HERSELF.
Madonna's greed for recognition has always drawn a crowd. That her need hasn't abated after more than 20 years in the punishing media light only underscores the "me-me-me-ness"of it all. Which speaks to the inner egoist in us all.

(source: NYDailyNews-JFarber)

Presale Today

Madonna's official fanclub Icon has announced they  will offer more pre-sale tickets to all qualifying members who were enrolled prior to Sunday, April 2 at 11:59 PM (PST) for the following shows:

The Icon pre-sales for the above shows will begin on Tues, Apr 18th at 9 AM local time (where the venue is located) and end on Wed, Apr. 19th at 5 PM local time. (iconmadonna)

More Dates Added in U.S.

LA Forum May 24th

San Jose May 31st

Philadelphia - July 13th

New York - July 18th

Upon review the open dates, expect a few more dates to be added in the US.  Then we should hear more about additional Europe dates.

Miscellaneous Tidbits

* The NY Daily News reports that the Confessions stage will be awesome.  She will descend to the stage on a glittering ball covered with diamonds and Swarovski crystals. The ball supposedly costs $10 million and is being constructed in a well-guarded airplane hangar in L.A. "It'll create a blinding light. Like she's landing on the spaceship from E.T.

*It has been confirmed that Donna DeLory will indeed be one of the backup singers on Madonna's tour.  The other backup will be a newcomer to Madonna's tours, Nicki Richards.

Tickets for Germany onsale date

According to German tour sponsor Radio NDR2 tickets for the German shows in Dusseldorf and Hannover will be available to buy on the Friday 28 April.

Stadio Olimpico ticket info

Here are the prices and the on sale dates for the Confessions Tour stop at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on August 6, 2006:

Tribuna Monte Mario Centrale Numerata: 117 euro + charge
Tribuna Monte Mario Laterale Numerata: 77 euro + charge
Tribuna Tevere: 64 euro + charge
Field/GA: 64 euro + charge
Curva Nord: 47 euro + charge

Tickets will be available as follows:

Tuesday April 18 9:00 AM: Icon pre sale, ending on April 19 at 5 PM.

Thursday April 20 9:00 AM online sale on www.ticketone.it.

Thursday 20 Aprile 12:00 noon: sale start at the Ticket One boxoffices nationwide.

Thanks to Madonnatribe.com

Coachella performance

The AT&T blue room will be bringing you hours of free uninterrupted live streaming coverage from Coachella.

The webcast will feature live performances from your favorite Coachella artists as well as exclusive live performance footage that will be available on the blue room after the show

link: http://blueroom.att.com/events/index.php?event=coachella

according to their wesite , this is the order of performances for:

SUNDAY APRIL 30, 2006

Tool
Massive Attack
Madonna
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bloc Party
Paul Oakenfold
Scissor Sisters
Matisyahu
James Blunt
Sleater-Kinney
Mogwai
Coheed and Cambria
Wolf Parade
Gnarls Barkley
Phoenix
Coldcut
Digable Planets
Amadou & Mariam
Louie Vega
Mylo (DJ Set)
Seu Jorge
Ted Leo & Pharmacists
The Go! Team
Kaskade
Metric
Editors
Art Brut
Dungen
The Dears
Jamie Lidell
The Magic Numbers
Los Amigos Invisibles
Jazzanova
stellastarr
Michael Mayer
Murs featuring 9th wonder
Mates of State
Gilles Peterson
Infadels
Gabriel & Dresden
The Subways
Minus the Bear
OneRepublic
Be Your Own Pet
Chris Liberator
Youth Group
Giant Drag
Kristina Sky
The Octopus Project

Confessions Tour Selling Out Faster then a Ray of Light

Yesterday, some of the remaining US dates were put up for general sale and within minutes, they were sole out.  More dates were added, as the frenzy for tickets bombarded Ticketmaster.

New York's Madison Square Garden sold out 4 shows.  Later that evening, another date was added a few weeks after her initial appearances at the Garden.  The NY Daily News reports that Madonna will come back to MSG on July 18th.  Another date will probably be added as that show sells out. 

Other venues selling out and adding dates are:

LA Forum

Glendale Arizona

Boston

Miami

Chicago, Hartford, and San Jose will have an announcement shortly with added dates to go on sale within a few days. Staples Center will also be announced for June 3rd.

Madonna madness continues

Madge: Staying For The Kids?

Are Madonna and Guy Ritchie staying together for the sake of the children?
We'd heard the speculation that their marriage might be in trouble...

But now Guy's dad, John Ritchie, has shed some light on things.

Talking about their son, Rocco, five, and Guy's stepdaughter Lourdes, nine, he told Closer magazine: "It's the children that will keep them together. The children are everything to them."

John also revealed that Madge and Guy have left London for LA to spend some quality family time.  He said: "LA seems to have helped them. It's easier out there because there is less pressure. They seem to have left the bumps they were having over here behind them.  You can never know that things will work, but they do seem to be fitting into each other a lot more.
They have put everything behind them and have gone to LA to enjoy themselves. They're able to go home at night and be together. They both want to see the children. They are going to have a good time out there and be a family."

Rumors that the marriage was in trouble surfaced in February when friends told the Daily Mirror that Madonna was spending too much time working with her producer Stuart Price.

(source:Ananova)

Amsterdam 2nd show added

A second concert has been added to Madonna's Confessions Tour schedule as the Queen of Pop will also play the Amsterdam Arena on Monday, September 4, 2006 .

Both released on June 6th.

I'm Going To Tell You A Secret (DVD)
http://tinyurl.com/o3es7
List Price: $19.98

I'm Going To Tell You A Secret (CD)
http://tinyurl.com/p6ufx
List Price: $27.98

Upcoming Ticket Sales this week

More dates will be added, as these cities go on sale this week.

Sunday April 9th, Forum, La

Monday April 10th HP Pavillion, San Jose CA

Monday April 10th Glendale Arena, Phoenix AZ

Monday April 10th Hartford Civic Center, Hartford

Monday April 10th Madison Sq. Garden, New York, NY

Monday April 10th TD Banknorth Garden, Boston MA

Monday April 10th Wachovia Center, Philadelphia PA

Monday April 10th Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City NJ

Monday April 10th American Airlines Arena, Miami FL


Madonna Madness continues.

Ticket info and sales

Check out our forum for all the latest info on ticket sales dates and means to buy your ticket for the Confessions Tour.

Icon members will be able to buy 2 tickets through the website iconmadonna.com from April 4th 10AM with a unique member code.

this code will be given to you when you log in at the site as a member.

People who have bought the COADF ltd edition and have activated their trial membership before April 2nd and upgrade to a full membership will also have the opportunity to buy tickets at the pre-sale.

Check the MP forum for more up-to-date info on tickets and tour

Official Tour dates

NORTH AMERICA :

May 21 Los Angeles Forum
May 27 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 30 San Jose HP Pavilion
June 5 Fresno Save Mart Center
June 8 Phoenix Glendale Arena
June 14 Chicago United Center
June 21 Montreal Bell Centre
June 25 Hartford Civic Centre
June 28 New York Madison Square Garden
June 29 New York Madison Square Garden
July 08 Boston TD Bank Garden
July 12 Philadelphia Wachovia Center
July 16 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
July 22 Miami American Airlines Arena

EUROPE :

July 30 Cardiff Millenium Stadium
Aug. 1 London Wembley Arena
Aug. 3 London Wembley Arena
Aug. 6 Rome Olympic Stadium
Aug. 20 Dusseldorf LTU Arena
Aug. 22 Hannover Niedersachsen
Aug. 24 Horsens (Denmark) Forum Horsens Outdoor
Aug. 27 Paris Bercy Stadium
Aug. 28 Paris Bercy Stadium
Sept. 3 Amsterdam Arena

Official Tour Press release

Madonna will be dancing and singing across the stages of the world this spring and summer, it was announced today. The “Confessions Tour” with concerts across major US cities, Canada, Europe and Japan will begin in Los Angeles on May 21st. “Confessions” tour dates were officially confirmed by Madonna's managers Angela Becker and Guy Oseary, along with Arthur Fogel, President of The Next Adventure (a Live Nation Company), the tour's worldwide promoter.

Tour stops in North America for the “Confessions Tour” will include arenas in Chicago, Boston, San Jose, Phoenix, Fresno, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Miami, Montreal and New York. Overseas appearances will take place in arenas, stadiums and outdoor venues in Paris, France; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cardiff, Wales; Rome, Italy; Dusseldorf and Hannover Germany; Horsens, Denmark; Osaka and Tokyo Japan.

The “Confessions” Tour will be directed by longtime Madonna collaborator Jamie King with Stuart Price once again on board as Musical Director. Arianne Phillips and Jean Paul Gaultier, long standing members of Madonna's creative team, will respectively oversee and design costumes for the tour.

Madonna's previous tour, the 2004 “Re-Invention Tour” was the most successful tour of that year, according to Billboard Magazine.

The Warner Bros. Records mega star, whose current CD “Confessions on a Dance Floor” debuted at No.1 in 29 countries, has already begun rehearsals in Los Angeles with her talented troupe of musicians and dancers. With a staggering 35 No. 1 hits on Billboard's dance charts during the course of her unparalleled career, it's no surprise that Madonna issued the following mission statement regarding the “Confessions Tour”: “I'm going to turn the world into one big dance floor,” exhorted the Material Girl.

The multi-Grammy Award winning artist, songwriter, children's book author, producer and video visionary with an unrivaled reputation for astonishing stage spectacles, has made musical history many times over including international record sales of over 200 million albums. A cultural innovator of astonishing diversity and enduring appeal, Madonna has defined our era with a sound, style and vision that has inspired countless artists and millions of fans around the globe. In the process, she has pioneered a new model of creative empowerment, overseeing a multi-faceted career that encompasses virtually every aspect of contemporary culture.

Existing Madonna Fan Club Icon Members will receive a special pre-sale opportunity prior to the public sales dates outlined below. Members can check www.madonna.com for complete details.

Press Contact:
Liz Rosenberg
Warner Bros. Records
212-275-4616
liz.rosenberg@wbr.com

About Live Nation
Live Nation is a leading live content and distribution company focused on creating superior experiences for artists, performers, corporations and fans. Live Nation owns, operates or has booking rights for 150 venues worldwide and promoted or produced over 28,500 events in 2005. Live Nation is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Live Nation is listed on The New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV”. For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses, please visit the company's web site at www.livenation.com .

Official Announcement on Tour Dates

Finally, after many rumors, the long awaited official announcement of the 'Confessions World Tour' will be made on Monday, April 3rd.  Posters promoting the tour, have begun to appear.  Below is two of those posters, one for Madison Square Garden in New York City and the other for Bercy in Paris.  Madonna is expected to visit numerous countries on this world tour, such as UK, France, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, with other rumored tour stops from late May through September.  We should have all confirmation on Monday.

Stage Setup Includes Three Catwalks

The stage setup for Madonna's upcoming world tour is going to have three catwalks, including one huge one in the center.  Ticketmaster has the seating charts already posted for some of the arenas.  Below is the map of Miami's American Airlines.

Tour Details

Sun Exclusive-Victoria Newton

If you thought re-Invention was special, this one is shaping up to be even more spectacular.  Her Madjesty is recreating wild scenes from notorious New York nightclub Studio 54 — famous for its debauched antics and drug-fuelled dancing in the Seventies.

The Queen of Pop is even learning to krump — a cool hip-hop dance based on body-popping and breakdancing.  And I reckon krumping — also known as clowning after its inventor, hip-hop dancer Tommy The Clown — could be as big as the Vogue craze she started in the Eighties.  The dance featured in Rize, a documentary by film-maker David LaChapelle.

A source said: “Madonna has been practicing krumping ever since she filmed the videos to Hung Up and Sorry.  “It started as un underground dance in gangland LA and Madonna now wants to make it her own.  Madge has ordered a unique spinning platform to be designed so she and her dancers can recreate Studio 54’s extravagant scenes.  She has also ordered dozens of disco balls to decorate the stage with authentic Seventies lighting.”

The show will open with a Disco Queen section, featuring girls in sparkling suits, male dancers dressed as pimps and more dancers roller-skating.

Another section, American Land, will indulge Madonna’s obsession with horses, with video walls showing footage of her riding scantily clad in the pouring rain.

A third part, Oriental And Eastern, will see Madonna joined on stage by a Kabbalah singer to perform a remix of her brilliant album track Isaac.

One section will have a Parkour specialist — the wacky sport on the BBC promotional film with a bloke running across London rooftops. Madge will also showcase some new music, if her label Warner give the go-ahead.

And I have the provisional setlist on above right to prove it.

Producer STUART PRICE has been working on Keep The Trance and History, which I hear are both killer tracks, and he has completely reworked Erotica and Who’s That Girl, which are almost unrecognizable. 

Madonna has had her wardrobe designed by old allies Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana, with her jewelry and accessories by Lacroix.

Madge has been locking herself away for 13 hours a day perfecting her routines for her most dance-oriented show ever.  She has also started a strength-building diet and is jogging to get into shape for the grueling two-hour shows which kick off in LA this May. (editor note:Below is the setlist as of now, which could and probably will change.)

(source: VNewton-Sun)

Liz Rosenberg Discusses U.S. Radio

Madonna's spokesman, Liz Rosenberg, said yesterday: "Dance music isn't getting the recognition that it deserves on radio stations in America right now, but Madonna really doesn't evaluate the success of a record by its chart position. She likes to come out of a studio feeling she has done the very best work she can and earning the respect of her peers.

"She would love American radio to come on board in that way and show the same sort of commitment that European radio has done, but that is not a decision for her. She is about to go on tour and when radio stations are reminded that she is the most phenomenal performer of our time, I am sure they will tune into her again."

(source: telegraph uk)

Tour designing News from Madonna.com

Madonna.com is thrilled to confirm that the creative collaboration which brought the world Confessions on A Dancefloor, have teamed up again! Designing genius Giovanni Bianco from Studio 65 in New York will again work with Madonna as she prepares to dance her way across the globe for the upcoming tour! Stay tuned to Madonna.com for more news about this summer's tour!
(source: madonna.com)

Tour Costume Rumors

Rumors about the tour continue, as the word is that the theme for Madonna's costumes for will be 'English riding clothes, lots of black, including black riding coats.' She will re-team with fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who created the singer's famed conical bras for her Blonde Ambition tour.

(source: ContactMusic)

Superpop Tour (Rumor)

Taken from http://www.perezhilton.com/index.php?page=1:

While there is no official confirmation, we keep hearing very loud rumblings that her Madgesty's summer tour will be called the Superpop tour.

Sorry Director's Cut

Madonna flips the bird in this one.

http://www.marcopuig.com/

Jump out May 29th in UK?

According to http://www.dvdfever.co.uk/music.shtml#NRS, Jump is to be released in the UK on May 29th.

Help Sorry climb the charts, please

REQUEST MADONNA'S "SORRY" in NEW YORK CITY!!!

OK, we have ALL been doing a great job requesting "Sorry" by Madonna on MTV's TRL because it's #1 yet again. NOW (and this is important), we must request it in New York City because NYC is a huge market for how successful a single will be. Even if you don't live in New York you NEED to vote anyway, just like you do for MTV. Remember, airplay plays a huge part of single rankings on the Billboard charts. This song is #1 all over the world and we have to show America that this should be at #1. If we ALL email MTV and email these radio stations EVERY DAY, we will get this song to #1. It must be a daily thing. Wake up, brush teeth, shower, eat, go to work, and email to request "Sorry" by Madonna...it's that easy!!! :) If you request it...they will play it...it will be number 1 !!!

Email Z100 (the #1 station in NYC) at: z100@clearchannel.com (MOST
IMPORTANT)
Email KTU (the #1 dance station in NYC) at: 1035KTU@clearchannel.com Email the new mix station in NYC at: webmaster@wnew.com

Also, keep voting on TRL:
http://www.mtv.com/onair/trl or call 1-800-342-5688.

"I was way too chubby"

Taken from http://www.perezhilton.com/index.php?page=4:

Madonna, talking about the state of the music biz, claims that she wouldn't have made it as an artist if she had started out today.

"I would have been too fat," she says. "When I started out I was kind of zaftig (Yiddish term for plump). I would have had to get anorexia. They would have said: 'She is way too chubby'."

Madonna related to Camilla

Madonna surprised Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall when she phoned to tell the British royal they are distantly related.

The 47-year-old Hung Up hitmaker, who has also discovered blood-links with Canadian singer Celine Dion, is urging her 'relations' to join her and genealogist William Addams Reitweisner in their quest to trace their entire family tree.

Reitwiesner explains: "Camilla and Madonna are both descended from Zacharie Cloutier, who lived from 1617 to 1708, and Camilla and Celine descend from Jean Guyon, who lived from 1619 to 1694.

"Both Jean and Zacharie died in Chateau-Richer, Quebec. Because of their unusual French-Canadian ancestry, they are all blood relations.

"Madonna is absolutely fascinated by this."

Madonna wins two Echo awards (Germany)

Madonna won two Echo awards at the show on the weekend:

• International female artist

• Single of the year

Confessions Remixed Triple Pak out in April

The release schedule for "Confessions On A Dance Floor" is not complete yet!

After the regular CD, the Special Edition Boxset and the Limited Edition Double Vynil, Warner Music Group has another great version of Madonna's latest album set to hit the stores in April 2006.

Scheduled for release with the name of "Confessions Remixed Triple Pak (U.S. 12" Maxi)", this will be for sure another great addition to the collection of worldwide release of this incredible dance album.

The 3-Disc vinyl set will be released in the US on April 11 with a retail price of 29.98$ and will be limited to 3,000 units only.

Coming with a special jacket and a catalogue number of 0-9362-42916-0-2 , the set will feature the following Stuart Price remixes from Madonna's latest album, including unreleased mixes for "Get Together" and "I Love New York":

A1. "Hung Up" (SDP's Extended Vocal)
B1. "Hung Up" (SDP's Extended Dub)
C1. "Sorry" (Man With Guitar Mix)
D1. "Get Together" (Jacques Lu Cont Mix)
E1. "I Love New York" (Thin White Duke Mix)
F1. "Let It Will Be" (Paper Faces Mix)

Re-invention on DVD in July

After Sam Goody including "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret" in their upcoming releases list for April 25, 2005, it's now the turn of UK retailer HMV to add a Re-Invention Tour

DVD to their pre-order list with a release date as of July 3, 2006.

Please keep in mind that at the present time there is no official announcement yet about the long awaited releases of the documentary and/or the concert DVDs.

Madonna Explains Britney Kiss to Lourdes

Madonna says she had some explaining to do when her daughter, Lourdes, asked about that kiss with Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

"(Lourdes) is really obsessed with who is gay," says Madonna in an interview in Out magazine's April issue. "And she even asked, 'Mom, you know they say that you are gay?' And I'm, 'Oh, do they? Why?' And she says, 'Because you kissed Britney Spears.'"

"And I said, 'No, it just means I kissed Britney Spears. I am the mommy pop star and she is the baby pop star. And I am kissing her to pass my energy on to her."

Madonna, 47, famously locked lips with Spears, 24, while performing her songs "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" at the awards ceremony.

The pop diva, considered by some to be an icon in the gay community, tells the magazine her 9-year-old daughter likes to guess who is gay: "Oh, and the other thing she likes to do when we go out, she says, 'Mom, do you want me to point out who the gay men are?' And I say, 'Okay, but I think I already know.'"

Madonna also addresses her feud with Elton John, who in 2004 accused her of lip-synching.

"He seems to be angry," she says. "I seem to have become a target. It's not very gentlemanly or gracious. But he did send me a letter apologizing for his last outburst, right before his wedding." (John and filmmaker David Furnish took civil-union vows in December.)

Lourdes is Madonna's daughter with actor/fitness instructor Carlos Leon. She has a 5-year-old son, Rocco, with husband of five years, filmmaker Guy Ritchie.

(From AP)

MADONNA SEEKS HOLY LAND 

Madonna is shopping for a posh Israeli home to be a center for the study of the mystical Jewish text of kabbalah - in a town where some believers think the Messiah will return to earth.

Residents, and their real-estate agents, in the Galilee town of Rosh Pina say representatives of the Material Mom have been looking for renovated stone villas and checking out high prices. Shiri Hazkin, daughter of a well-known Israeli singer, said she has been contacted by Madonna's people several times recently about selling her five-bedroom, 100-year-old home. "I don't want to sell this house," she said. "But for Madonna . . . "

The area, named after the Hebrew word for "cornerstone," was founded by Zionist pioneers in the 19th century and backed by Baron Edmund de Rothchild.  Today it's a fashionable community of pricey homes used as weekend getaways for wealthy Israelis.

Madonna - who has adopted the Hebrew name Esther - made a much-publicized trip to Israel in 2004 to check out kabbalah sites and named one of her recent album's tracks "Isaac" after a 16th-century kabbalah rabbi who lived near Rosh Pina. Her interest in Rosh Pina was piqued because, according to some kabbalists, the Messiah will return to Galilee by going past a wadi, or gully, in the town. All of the properties her representatives inquired about look out on the gully. Real-estate dealer Avi Ben-Porat said: "They came to my office two or three days ago. They were looking for an old, authentic house which looks out on the wadi, to be bought for a public figure.But in the course of the conversation, they said it was Madonna who wanted it for a kabbalah center," he told the newspaper Yediot Achronoth.

Neighbors in Rosh Pina gossiped about the prospect of Madonna knocking at their door to borrow a cup of sugar. They also said they've been getting big-money offers they wouldn't refuse. But Hazkin's home seems to be the front-runner. Hazkin said she's asking $1 million.  "I thought they were joking, but then I heard from neighbors and real-estate dealers that they were approached, too," Hazkin said.

Madonna, born Catholic, has not converted to Judaism but has extensively studied kabbalah and reportedly observes the Jewish Sabbath.
(source:NYPost-UDan)

Madonna tops World Chart with top two

For the first time since the start of the track chart, an act sits at #1 and #2 in the same week:

Madonna overtakes herself with her new smash hit "Sorry", which shoots to the summit on a 57% increase to 272,000 points, and ends the 15-week reign of "Hung Up", which slides to #2 on a 12% decline to 243,000 points.

(source: UnitedWorldChart)

Madonna still on top for TRL

For the 5th day in a row, Madonna's single "Sorry" has reached #1 on the TRL countdown.

Madonna to Perform at Coachella Festival

After months of rumors, Madonna has confirmed she will perform April 30 at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. The artist will appear backed by a live band in the festival's dance and electronica-oriented Sahara Tent, which has been headlined in past years by Kraftwerk, Underworld and Fatboy Slim, among others.

"I've never performed at a festival," Madonna says, "and I'm especially excited about playing at Coachella before I start my own tour."

That trek is expected to begin in May and visit much smaller venues than the artist has frequented in the past. It comes in support of Madonna's 2005 album "Confessions on a Dance Floor," which has sold 1.29 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Madonna joins recent additions Daft Punk and Massive Attack on the bill for Coachella, which will be headlined on April 29 by Depeche Mode and April 30 by Tool.

(source: Billboard)

Intimate tour

Madonna plans to hit the clubs for her upcoming summer tour, because according to her tour director, it wouldn't be the disco queen's kind of dance floor if it wasn't a bit confessional too.

"A typical Madonna show is quite produced," said Jamie King, who has been the creative director for Madonna's last two tours. "She likes things large, she likes things theatrical, but this time, being that "Confessions on a Dance Floor" is an intimate album, we want to try to make people have an intimate experience as well as a big produced theatrical experience. So look for us doing some small venues, some smaller venues."

To achieve that intimacy, Madonna will have to be able to get close to everyone, so the tour is also going to be more interactive. "I would like to put her as close to her people - her fans, her dancers, her fellow supporters - as possible," King said.

While that effect was achieved via the pit and the catwalk on her re-Invention Tour, don't expect Madonna to merely reinvent that tour and trot out all the hits. The set list has been confirmed, King said, and it's definitely Confessions-heavy, with "some familiar faces" popping up from the past two dance-themed videos, "Hung Up" and "Sorry." That said, there will be a few yet-to-be-revealed fan favorites on the set list as well.

"Listen, I love old Madonna songs - I don't know one person who doesn't," King said. "But we want to focus mainly on this album. I think people love it and they want to hear it, so expect a lot of the songs from Confessions on a Dance Floor."

Tour dates have yet to be announced, but rehearsals begin March 1.

(Source: MTV.com )

Sorry #1 single in UK

Queen of pop Madonna stormed to the head of the singles charts on Sunday, registering her 12th British number one.

Madonna's "Sorry" debuted in the top spot matching the success of her previous release "Hung Up," the Official UK Charts Company said.

(Source: Yahoo )

Madonna marriage fine

MADONNA has admitted she and hubby Guy Ritchie have “clashes” and “petty fights” – but she lashed out at rumors of marriage trouble. 
The Queen Of Pop has been at the centre of speculation that her friendship with music producer Stuart Price has put a strain on her relationship with Guy.  But the singer and her film director husband put on a united front at the Brit Awards this week.

On Thursday night they arrived for dinner arm in arm at posh London restaurant Cecconi, just down the road from their £10million Mayfair home.
Madonna, dressed in a purple coat and boots, spoke exclusively as she said: “I must admit, I have to pat myself on the back. It’s not easy to be married, to have a successful career, to have children, to be with someone who is as strong-willed and ambitious as I am. Guy’s not a househusband and I’m not a typical wife. So you can imagine, we have our clashes.  But I think we always keep our eye on the ball — that is our marriage — the union of us, the things that we create together, are bigger than the petty fights we have.”

The couple plan to go to LA in March with kids Lourdes and Rocco so Madonna can start rehearsing for a world tour. I told you yesterday that she is planning to kick off a series of dates on May 21 in Los Angeles before heading to Europe and possibly Australia.

Madonna admits she is a workaholic and a bit of a control freak. She says: “I probably work too much. Probably my most annoying habit is that I’m too organised. If someone throws something on the floor or over a chair I have to pick it up and hang it up.”

Madonna won the Best International Female award at Wednesday night’s Brits and her latest album, Confessions On A Dance Floor, has been a huge hit around the world.  But she admits 2005 was a tough year after she fell off her horse, breaking nine bones, and she feared she would never perform again.  She says: “I didn’t know if I would be able to dance again. When I shot the video for Hung Up none of the bones had gone together. Pharmaceuticals and my will got me through the shoot.  So to come out of that I felt so much inspiration and so much joy just to have my body back and to feel strong again.”

(source:SunOnline-VNewton)

Vote for sorry on TRL

Madonna's video for Sorry premiered on MTV's TRL this week. Your mission now is to drive the video to the top of the countdown!

To do so, visit the following url and cast your vote: http://www.mtv.com/onair/trl

You can also call 1-800-342-5688. You can call and vote as many times as you want.

The Hung Up video spent several weeks and retired at number one. Go ahead and support Madonna by giving her new video the same treatment!

Don't just stand there, click or pick up the phone and VOTE!

MADONNA DOES BRIT FLIT AND STAYS JUST 30 MINUTES.. (..BUT AT LEAST GUY CAME)

MADONNA dragged reluctant Guy Ritchie to last night's Brits - but left after 30 minutes to keep him happy.  The pop queen, 47 - keen on a united front amid fears for their marriage - dashed off with him after picking up a Best International Female gong.  Guy, 37, was initially unwilling to attend the showpiece event and had insisted on the quick getaway.  But he looked miserable during their brief stay while she put on a forced smile.

A Brits source revealed: "Organizers were informed at the last minute that Guy would join his wife at the ceremony but they would spend no more time there than absolutely necessary. Even though she won one of the most important awards, it was pretty clear she was using the event to prove they're still together."

Guy and Madge, recovering after a hernia op last week, even sneaked in through a side door to avoid photographers.  And the mum-of-two just had time to hand out an award before their hasty exit. The source added: "Everyone hoped she'd go down the red carpet to be photographed, but she refused point-blank.  "She made it clear they would take their seats, she would present the Best Album prize, collect hers, then leave. On TV it will look as though they've been there all night, but that's nowhere near the truth."

Madge, who was also up for top pop act and best international album, also ditched plans to perform current hit Sorry. Last weekend, the Mirror revealed how Guy planned to snub the Brits as he saw the event in Earls Court, London, as a marketing stunt for her album and single.  And two weeks ago we revealed how her close working relationship with her record producer Stuart Price, 28, had sparked fears for her five-year marriage.

Meanwhile, the star had hernia surgery in LA after her performance at the Grammys in New York, it emerged last night.  Her spokesman insisted the op was "minor" and she had fully recovered.  The condition, where intestines burst through the abdominal wall, hits one in 10.  Dudley Rogg of the British Hernia Centre in London said: "It's just the luck of the draw. Some are excruciatingly painful but most don't hurt at all."

(source:Mirror's 3am-ESimpson-CHedley)

Madonna Wins Best International Female Artist (Brits)

Madonna, looking very elegant in a strawberry dress attended the 2006 Brit Awards ceremony tonight with her husband Guy Ritchie at London's Earls Court arena.

James Blunt won the Pop Act award, one of the three categories Madonna she was nominated in this year.  Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys presented the International Female Solo Artist award and the winner is.... Madonna! Accepting her award Madonna said it was a bit ironic to receive an "International" solo artists award, as she's from the US but the artists who contributed the most to her music are all from the UK, from David Bowie to the Pet Shop Boys.  She then tanked her loyal British fans saying "Without you I would just be another singer across the pond".

The award for Best International Album - the third category Madonna was nominated for, went to Green Day's "American Idiot".  Later on during the show Madonna presented the Best British Album award won by Coldplay.

Madonna has been interviewed by BBC Radio Two's Dermot O'Leary, and told him she was enjoying the free champagne and that she is about to start rehearsing for her tour.  She explained she didn't perform at the Brits because she just had surgery on a hernia that she has had for 10 years. She said she got it through having babies and since she was about to go on tour she sould take care of it. Madonna also "sang" a bit of "Sorry" with Neil Tennant! (source:ITV-Madonnatribe)

Madonna Has Minor Surgery

Pop queen Madonna was treated for a hernia last week.

The news came as the 47-year-old mother of two attended the biggest event in Britain's music calendar, the Brit Awards.

The singer is thought to have had what her spokeswoman described as "a minor operation" in the United States last week following her show-stopping performance at the Grammys.

The spokeswoman said the star had fully recovered.

The New York Post reported that the London-based star went from the Grammys to Cedars Sinai Hospital in LA last week.

Dudley Rogg, clinic director of the British Hernia Centre, said that having a hernia had no connection to age or physical activity. He said: "A hernia is a mechanical breakdown of the tummy muscles.

"The abdominal wall is nature's corset. It is tough stuff but full of natural weaknesses like the perforation in a postage stamp. When you get a hernia one of these windows opens a little too wide and the corset effect is lost. The intestines come through and force their way through the wall."

He added: "Some are excruciatingly painful but most don't hurt at all. Unfortunately that's part of the problem, people don't tend to know it's happening.

"It's just the luck of the draw. It's nothing to do with physical fitness.

"One in 10 of us will get it. It's the most common of surgical procedures. The truth is it's a design fault. We're all riddled with this natural weakness in the abdominal wall, it's just a matter of luck."

(source: Yahoo)

More Gossip on Madonna & Guy's Marriage

GUY Ritchie is fed-up being bossed around by superstar wife Madonna, an insider claimed yesterday.  This is why the film director, 37, is refusing to go to the Brits in London on Wednesday.  Madonna, 47, wants husband Guy to accompany her to the awards to nail rumors their showbiz marriage is in trouble.

The singer told him she would like them to put on a united front at the most important night of the music calendar. But sources said Guy has told Madonna he won't be used by her as a marketing tool to promote her album and new single.

And in an unusual step Madonna has shunned the offer of a table for her and her guests because she doesn't know if Guy will give in to her pleas and come along on the night. The singer - nominated for Best International Album and Best International Female - is likely to only come out to present a gong and to collect any prizes she wins. Yesterday an insider said: "There is a real power struggle going on with Madonna and Guy.  She wants the whole world to see they are together.  But Guy clearly has other ideas. Like all relationships, theirs is going through a bit of a bad patch but he doesn't see why he's to pretend everything is OK just to keep her happy. He wants them to deal with their problems in private and not put on an act for the cameras. It's a game he's just not willing to play."


Two weeks ago the Mirror revealed Madonna had struck up a close relationship with her record producer Stuart Price, 28.  Last week Guy didn't go with Madonna to the Grammys in Los Angeles. Yesterday a source said: "If Guy does turn up at the Brits it will be under duress."

Madonna Confirms her Summer Tour

Madonna announced on Ellen's show, her big secret, which all of us already knew..... She is Going on Tour this Summer.

Ellen interviewed Madonna backstage on Grammy night, and the interview ended with Madonna and Ellen dancing. 

Grammy Performance Reviews

All of these people might profitably contemplate the opening performance by Madonna. Here's a woman who has never made a fetish of vocal technique — her larynx is only a part of her artistic arsenal, not the sole point of her existence. Madonna cares about songs and about creating a musical experience with them. This is what she did last night, rising up onstage with the ABBA sample burbling away and those cruel thighs flashing and the usual contingent of funky folk slinking and twirling around her. It was the Madonna experience. Mariah Carey, whose awkwardness onstage is almost touching, will never have this power to command as a performer. Carey may sell twice as many records as Madonna these days (more than that, actually), but as they never say in the record business, sales aren't everything.

(source:KurtLoder-MTV)

                 ___________________________________

Madonna channeled Studio 54 and the Gorillaz a high-tech animation studio in a clever opening medley at the Grammy Awards.
Gorillaz, a studio concoction represented by cartoon videos, replicated the animation while "performing" their Grammy-nominated hit "Feel Good Inc." with the real-life De La Soul. Unlike the song itself, the effects were quite stunning, with the "singer" checking his cell phone during an instrumental break and stumbling as he attempted to sit on a stool.

The hulking "drummer" spun a drumstick on one finger like a propeller and even appeared to drift off to sleep before being jolted awake by Madonna's emergence on the stage.

With her flip hairdo, Madonna's "Hung Up" hearkened to the classic days of disco. She writhed onstage with her background dancers, male and female, as a gigantic mirror ball loomed in the background.

It was a fun, frivolous choice. And a special shout-out to Madonna's personal trainer, who had the bare-legged Madge, age 47, sculpted and toned to perfection.

(source: AP-DBauder)

                    __________________________________

In a night full of big-budget, big-name performances, the Gorillaz collaboration with Madge - a mash of "Feel Good Inc." and her "Hung Up", was powered by 3-D holograms and an army of histrionic dancers.  It was one of the show's most talked-about moments, and despite the whole thing looking quite choreographed, the Gorillaz insist it all came together at the last moment. In fact, they claim not to have known about Madonna's involvement until she appeared onstage.

"The whole thing was a shocker, wasn't it? I tell you, I don't scare easily but she gave me a real jump when I saw her suddenly appear like that. I was miles away!" bassist Murdoc told MTV News. "'But it was great. 'Feel Good' meets 'Hung Up' - the 'Feel Up' mix - was a real clash of the titans."

"Madonna, like Gorillaz, has always been someone who likes to push boundaries, and has been open toward experimentation and not afraid of challenges or competition," guitarist Noodle added. "I feel that's why the collaboration between us worked so well." (source: MTV)

      _____________________________________________

All those hours spent working out do more than just make her look good.
As these eyewatering poses show, Madonna has developed amazing flexibility and strength as well.

The 47-year-old mother of two bends over backwards (and ties herself up in knots) to demonstrate her gymnastic skills in the video for her latest single, Sorry. She also shows off backflips and somersaults in her most physical performance for some time.
"Madonna was cutting the most incredible shape across the dance floor," said an onlooker.  Some of her moves were gravity-defying, let alone age-defying. She was dancing solidly but didn't once look even remotely out of breath. She may be three years off her 50th birthday but she has the flexibility of a pre-pubescent gymnast."

In the four-minute video, Madonna is squeezed into a white leotard and matching tassled corset as she performs in a cage. With her hair in a 1970's-inspired flicked style and a pair of knee-high silver platform boots, she looks a disco diva of the highest order.

The singer, whose album Confessions on a Dancefloor has been a critical and commercial hit, is certainly going through a leotard phase at the moment.  On Wednesday night she opened the American Grammy awards in a skin-tight lilac all-in-one.

(source: Madonnatribe)

Madge claims 'so not true'

MADONNA and hubby GUY RITCHIE have put on a show of togetherness and stepped out in public – to prove their marriage isn’t falling apart.  The Queen Of Pop booked a table at a posh Mayfair restaurant on Thursday amid claims their relationship has reached breaking point.  Madge, wrapped in a warm tweed coat, smiled as she and the Lock Stock director turned up at pal Marco Pierre White’s eaterie Luciano for a slap-up meal.

The singer had been left fuming after it was claimed she was enjoying a “special working relationship” with her musical collaborator STUART PRICE.
Stuart, musical director on her Re-Invention tour, co-wrote much of her current album, Confessions On A Dancefloor.  Reports suggested his friendship with Madonna was driving her and Brit flick filmmaker Guy apart.

But last night a spokesman for the Hung Up star insisted “She and Guy had a big laugh over the recent reporting of the special friendship with her songwriting/producing partner, dance music genius Stuart Price.”  And she added the persistent rumors of trouble in the Ritchie marriage are “so not true.”

There’s no doubt that Madonna is working overtime in the run-up to her world tour — which will kick off in the US in early summer.  She has also been spending up to 15 hours a day rehearsing for her duet with the GORILLAZ at next week’s Grammys.  So while Guy has been kicking around the house being bored, Mrs Ritchie has been prancing about in her pink leotards rehearsing dance moves.  A source told me: “Madonna and Guy’s marriage has always been extremely fiery — but they make no secret of that. She was attracted to Guy because he is his own man and he stands up to her.  “She is a strong, bossy person, too, and she likes to have things her own way. Often it’s fireworks between them.  It is fair to say their relationship has been under huge strain because of Madonna’s excessive workload recently.  She has thrown herself 100 per cent into promoting her album and has little time left to spend with Guy.  But he’ll get over it. He is going to the Grammys with her next week and he will be at her side at the Brit Awards the following week.”

Perhaps it might be a good idea to say “Sorry” to Guy now, Madge — even if you don’t mean it!

(source: SunOnline-VNewton)

    __________________________________________

MADONNA and Guy Ritchie's marriage is under massive strain, one of her aides admitted last night. The Mirror revealed yesterday that the couple's relationship was suffering because the singer is spending much of her time with her record producer Stuart Price, 28, working on her music.  And an aide said: "It is fair to say their relationship has been under huge strain because of Madonna's excessive workload recently. She has thrown herself 100 per cent into promoting her album and has little time left to spend with Guy. He'll get over it."

Madonna, 47, went into spin overdrive yesterday to present a united front with film producer Guy.  Her PR machine was desperate to play down our pictures of the star leaving Stuart's London home - which doubles as his recording studio - after two and a half hours there.  He worked on her hit album Confessions On A Dance-floor and they hope to collaborate again.

But there was a posse of photographers there to capture the moment when they turned up at an Italian restaurant in West London.

However the strained look on Madonna's face as she waited for Guy, 37, to get out of their car at Luciano's will do little to convince fans that all was well.  Grim-faced Guy followed behind as Madonna walked briskly to their table.  The singer's aide said: "Madonna and Guy's marriage has always been extremely fiery - but they make no secret of that. She was attracted to Guy because he is his own man and he stands up to her.  She is a strong, bossy person too, and she like to have things her own way. Often it's fireworks between them."

Earlier Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg had played down any talk of a rift.

"Her relationship with Guy is quite good, they're quite happy. They're certainly not estranged," she said.

The couple married in 2000 and have a son Rocco, five.  Madonna also has a daughter Lourdes, nine, by a previous relationship with her personal trainer Carlos Leon.  She said recently: "I got married for all the wrong reasons. My husband did not turn out to be everything I'd imagined."

A source close to Guy said on Thursday: "He's spending a lot of time at home alone."

(source: psamson-mirror.uk)

Liz Rebuttal: Madonna is "happy"


Madonna has denied claims that her marriage is in trouble, amid growing press speculation about her relationship with producer Stuart Price.

Her official spokeswoman today moved to deny that the Queen Of Pop and husband Guy Ritchie are having problems, insisting the couple are "happy".
The comments come after a UK tabloid splashed a shot of Madonna leaving the flat of Price, aka Les Rhythms Digitales, earlier this week.

The story was accompanied by comments from 'a source', speaking about Madonna and Price, who produced her last album, "Confessions On A Dancefloor" and worked on her "Re-Invention" world tour.  The source told The Mirror: "It's no secret that Madonna and Stuart have developed a special working relationship.  They enjoy each other's company and respect each other. She confides in him and regards him as one of the most important people in her life."

Meanwhile, Madonna spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg commented: "There's no strain in Madonna's marriage. Her relationship with Guy is good. They are happy.  "She treats him (Price) like a little brother. They have fun and talk a lot."

Madonna's Strong Bond With Stuart Price Causing Rift In Marriage?

MADONNA'S friends last night told of her "special working relationship" with her producer Stuart Price that has sparked fresh fears over her marriage.
The star, 47 - pictured leaving his flat after nearly three hours there behind closed blinds - is said to chat to him on the phone several times daily, often for long periods.  Stuart, 28, masterminded her Confessions On A Dancefloor album. She has likened working with him to chosing a new boyfriend and is now a regular visitor to his home.  And as speculation mounts in music circles that she and husband Guy Ritchie, 37, are drifting apart, her pals call the young studio expert her "Rock".

One said: "It's no secret that Madonna and Stuart have developed a special working relationship. After all, they worked together very closely on her album. They enjoy each other's company and respect each other.  Madonna's always asking Stuart's advice and opinions on things and obviously trusts him without question.  She confides in him and regards him as one of the most important people in her life."

Sightings of mum-of-two Madonna and movie director Guy in public together have become increasingly rare. Although her career remains strong, his has nosedived. Guy's friends say that with his wife determined on even more success, the increasing time she spends with Stuart is pushing the married couple further apart.  One said: "He feels totally hemmed in by her career at the moment. It's as if work is the only thing that interests her.  He's spending a lot of time at home alone, except when the children are around."

Last month her publicist took the unusual step of denying the marriage was in trouble.  Madonna frequently calls at Stuart's one-bedroom flat in Maida Vale, North West London, often in her chauffeur-driven Audi.  Shortly after she was seen arriving earlier this week, her chauffeur brought them two coffees before driving off, leaving them alone.  She and Stuart spent two-and-a-half hours in the flat with the blinds pulled down.  When she was ready to leave, he poked his head out of the door to look out.  As she finally emerged to walk down the steps to her waiting car, he stood at the door and waved goodbye. Stuart returned inside the property, which doubles as his studio, to pull up the blinds.

Evidence of their close bond was clear last October, when she partied and looked totally carefree while helping him DJ at a New York club. In contrast, she and Guy appeared solemn when they were pictured on a rare night out in London last week.  The superstar ditched previous producer Mirwais Ahamdzai to work with Stuart - and compared it to landing a new boyfriend.
She explained: "You meet somebody and you are already going out with somebody else, so you say, 'Hi' and you have this fantastic date.

AND when you are back with this other person you are with, all you can do is think about this that other new person. I couldn't stop thinking about what fun it was to work with Stuart. It took me a minute to decide which boyfriend I wanted to have."

Madge also has previously described Stuart's home as "a magical place". She added: "I've told him he has to keep this place because so many great things have happened here. It feels historical to me."

Madonna and Guy had a fairytale wedding at Scotland's Skibo Castle in December 2000 shortly after the birth of son, Rocco. But she lifted the lid on her marriage in last year's Channel 4 documentary, I'm Going To Tell You A Secret.  The chart-topper confessed: "I got married for all the wrong reasons. My husband did not turn out to be everything I'd imagined him to be. I just wanted to end everything."

And Madonna, previously married to Hollywood star Sean Penn, added there was no such thing as the "perfect soulmate".  In the documentary, Stuart made clear his affection for her.  He said: "Hopefully people will realize Madonna is one of the kindest and most reasonable people you could hope to meet."

Last October Guy hinted at tensions at home. He said: "Do I listen to the wife's music? Do I have a choice?  "I like to think she values my opinion - although I'm not sure she does."  Last night Guy's dad John said the marriage had its problems but remained strong.  The retired adman, of Chelsea, West London, said: "My wife Shireen and I had supper with them a fortnight ago and it all seems to be very amiable.  "But they both work very hard, so they are both separate quite a lot of the time."

Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg insisted: "There's no strain in Madonna's marriage. Her relationship with Guy is quite good. They're quite happy."
She said the star and Stuart were just friends and added: "She treats him like a little brother. They have fun and talk a lot."  Stuart's dad David said: "I'm aware he worked with Madonna on her last album but anything else is nothing to do with me."

(source: UK Mirror-GBrough/FCummins)

Madonna to be opening act at Grammy Awards

It has been confirmed from multiple sources, that Madonna will indeed be performing live at the 2006 Grammy Awards, which will air February 8th.  She will be the opening act, with the Gorillaz.

Gorillaz with De La Soul will actually open the show with the song "Feel good inc" and right after them the Queen of Pop will do "Hung Up". Everything will look and sound amazing as both songs are mixed together. Madonna has been rehearsing this performance for the whole past two weeks with the "Gorillaz people" in London.

(source: ET, Madonnatribe, Madonna.nu)

'Sorry' Maxi Single Information

Information about the 'Sorry' Maxi Single, was revealed in an email sent to fanclub members.

Madonna has spent the recent days filming her video for ‘Sorry’, which will premiere next month. Be prepared for an amazing state of the art video! In the meantime, don't forget to vote for 'Hung Up' on MTV's TRL.

‘Sorry’ will be released as a maxi-single on February 20 in the UK and on February 28 in the U.S. It will feature remixes by Man with Guitar, The Pet Shop Boys, Green Velvet and Paul Oakenfold! Here is the full tracks-listing:

1. Sorry - Single Edit
2. Sorry - Man With Guitar Mix
3. Sorry - PSB Maxi-Mix
4. Sorry - Paul Oakenfold Remix
5. Sorry - Green Velvet Remix

A commercial 12” vinyl single will also be released on February 28, while the remixes will be sent to clubs on February 14. It seems that Madonna fans won’t feel sorry in February, right?!

Madonna Buys More Property in London

MADONNA has bought a second house next to her London mansion.

She has forked out £900,000 for the gaff in one of the capital’s smartest addresses so she can move in more staff. The stunning mews property is at the end of the garden of the Queen Of Pop’s £7.5million Georgian terrace pile.

The singer already owns the mews property next door to the latest addition to her property empire. She lets her manager lives there.

Madge can now lay claim to owning a very considerable slice of Mayfair, London’s most exclusive borough. The singer, who considers London to be home, lives at the five-storey main house, which is near Oxford Street, with hubby GUY RITCHIE, daughter Lourdes and son Rocco.

It is just round the corner from the home TONY BLAIR and wife CHERIE bought on posh Connaught Square. The new property was built in the 19th century and has open living space, three bedrooms, an office and a garage.

Madge has apparently had her eye on the place for a while.

A neighbor in the exclusive street told me: “She loves her home in London but has always wanted more space. “Properties here often aren’t as big as the enormous places you can get in Los Angeles. She had been after the mews house next door for a couple of years. She asked the banking consultant neighbor who owned it if he was prepared to sell and eventually he agreed. Although I’m told she drove a hard bargain, both sides are happy with the deal.  Madonna likes the added security she will have owning the house next door. She has had big security problems in the past. She plans to move in more of her staff next door now and she said she could do with the extra office space.”

Madonna, returning from Paris to London yesterday, also owns a country estate in Wiltshire, and homes in New York, Miami and LA.

(source:SunOnline-VNewton)

Madonna 4th on Top Selling Artists

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has just published its updated list of the 150 highest selling artists ever. Madonna appears at number 4, right behind the Beatles, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley, with a total of 275 Millions records sold worldwide from 1984 to late 2005. Congratulations to our queen of the dance floor!
(source: madonna.com)

Tour Rumors

The first details of Madonna's 2006 world tour have been leaked on the internet, with full confirmed dates expected to be announced this week, Yahoo! Music reports.

According to unsubstantiated claims appearing online, the pop superstar will play shows throughout June and July in America, including five dates at Shea Stadium in New York City. The news comes amid industry reports that promotional king-pin Arthur Fogel has been signed for the live follow-up to last year's "Re-Invention" tour.

Fogel, who put together the "Re-Invention" jaunt and the 2002 "Drowned World" tour, is said to be fronting the 2006 outing, which will promote last year's "Confessions On A Dancefloor" album, reports Billboard.

The tour, which is set to commence in America, apparently spans the globe, concluding with shows in Australia in mid to late September.

(source:Yahoo! Music-madonnatribe)

Madonna & Guy-Trouble in Paradise??

Madonna's spokeswomen in the US and UK have dismissed claims that her marriage to film director Guy Ritchie is in trouble. Both have released statements following speculation in the UK press.

Speaking about the video shoot to Madonna's new video, "Sorry", her US spokeswoman commented: "Guy came to the set to visit - once with the children Rocco and Lourdes, and once without. Mr and Mrs Ritchie seemed perfectly comfortable and adoring of each other. My sense is that they're quite a happy, content couple."

Her UK spokeswoman added: "There have been a lot of silly stories which are all untrue."

(source:Yahoo! Music-madonnatribe)

Grammy Rumors

By far the juiciest bit of info we've extracted from Sundance has nothing to do with the film festival. Instead, it is all about the woman that has changed the landscape of pop music and defined a generation, Madonna.

We have it on VERY GOOD AUTHORITY that her Madgesty is flying out to Los Angeles for the Grammy awards, and you know we're going to be all over that.

What more, M. is going to not only make an appearance at the show, but she will also make a cameo at our friends at Warner Bros.' official post-Grammy party.

Plus, and this is where it gets very interesting. We also hear that Madonna's business partner, Guy Oseary, is throwing a Grammy after-party solely for the Queen of Pop.  Now, call us conspiracy theorists, but...if Madonna is not nominated for a Grammy (her brazilliant album didn't come out in time) and they are still throwing a party for her, that must mean only one thing: bitch is performing!
(source:perezhilton)

Sorry is Smaakmaker

M's new single is this week's Smaakmaker at Belgian radio station Donna. This means the single will be played regularly throughout the day to promote it.

You can also win a copy of the single on their website. More info (in Dutch) here.

Madonna confirmed for Brit Awards

Madonna.com has confirmed that Madonna will be at the Brits Awards in London on Wednesday, February 15th as a presenter.

No word if she will perform.

(source: Madonna.com-Madonnalicious)

"Sorry" Remixers Announced

The remixers for "Sorry" have just been confirmed and include:

Pet Shop Boys

Man With Guitar

Paul Oakenfold

Green Velvet.

Tracklisting coming soon!

(source: Icon)

CD & DVD release for I'm Going To Tell You A Secret

The following has just been listed on the Warner Belgium's upcoming releases list :
May 2006 cd + dvd I'm going to tell you a story (not : secret ).

Nothing has been confirmed.

Win a visit to the set of M's new video

For the first time in 23 years Madonna is inviting a member of Icon, The Official Madonna Fan Club, to come to the set of her new video for "Sorry".
The contest begins today - don't miss your chance to win this rare opportunity.

For more details, go to iconmadonna.com and sign in using your username and password.

From Madonna.com

Sorry to be released on DVD single

News is coming in from Warner Music UK that "Sorry" - Madonna's second single from "Confessions On A Dance Floor" - is also going to be released as a DVD single.

PALTROW'S BABY LOVES MADONNA

GWYNETH PALTROW's young daughter APPLE is huge fan of her mother's celebrity pal MADONNA.

The 20-month-old tot, whose father is COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN, prefers the MATERIAL GIRL's number one hit HUNG UP to her dad's rock sounds.

Paltrow says, "Apple loves to dance. She absolutely loves Hung Up by 'Dadonna' - that's how she pronounces Madonna.

"We have it on repeat in our house. She demands to hear it over and over and over." (source:ContactMusic)

Madonna will fight back

Belgian TV show "De rode Loper" has showed Madonna saying that she will fight the lawsuit against the plagiatisme for her hit Frozen.

They say it could take months before we will know