Spiritual Madonna still puts on quite a show

Madonna spent more than two decades cultivating a larger-than-life persona, but in real life, she stands only 5-foot-4 in her bare feet - "a midget," she says, jokingly, when compared to most professional ...

[Michael McCarthy]

"Almost every summer, there are more acts touring than the public can possibly support," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, the concert industry trade magazine. "Mariah Carey and the Dixie Chicks have already had to reschedule some dates because of weak sales. But you won't see any rescheduled Madonna dates. She's got the kind of following where her success doesn't depend on the new record."
In another aspect of her new down-to-earth sensibility, Madonna, known for her Jean Paul Gautier stage outfits and her Versace couture, has teamed up with high-fashion, low-priced retailer H&M. She will design a track suit that will be on sale only at H&M in August, as well as be part of the company's fall ad campaign with her entire touring crew.
H&M will also outfit her crew in "Madonna and Crew H&M" T-shirts and hoodies, as well as give them shopping sprees in the stores, said Jennifer Uglialoro, H&M's U.S. spokeswoman. "Partnering up with H&M feels like a perfect fit," Madonna said in a statement. "We'll all get to express ourselves in our own individual ways. The dancers and I are excited to go shopping together."
Uglialoro said Madonna's favorite jeans are a pair that Stella McCartney designed for H&M and that she wears other pieces from the chain. "She could be wearing any brand she wants," Uglialoro said. "She is a fashion icon. What she is saying is it's not about the label, it's about dressing high fashion, and we're all about dressing high fashion and quality at the best price. It's about expressing yourself and showing your unique personal style. Most people mix and match designer pieces with H&M, and she does that, too."
Even Madonna's music reflects a more of-the-people style than previous albums. In a career filled with grand gestures and serious artistic statements, "Confessions on a Dance Floor" doesn't really have one beyond "Let's dance."
To promote her album, Madonna went to the tiny West Village lounge Luke and Leroy to connect more closely to her fans. It's a move that Vic Latino, WKTU/103.5 FM prime-time DJ and artist, said shows that she hasn't forgotten her roots.
"It's almost like a big 'thank you,' a way to be humble," said Latino, who recently landed a Madonna remix of "Sorry" for his "Thrive Mix 2" (Thrive) album, the first time she has licensed one of her songs for a dance compilation. "She could do something far more major to get attention, but I think this has more of an impact - even if there were only 1,000 people actually in the place.

[Michael McCarthy]

Continued...
"It makes her seem more approachable," he continued. "Like when she's seen riding her bicycle through Central Park or walking down the street, it's like a mirage - but people will spend time looking for her when they're walking around."
Latino said that musically, Madonna is a trendsetter. "She's on top of her game and she knows where she wants to be," he said. "Three years from now, when this sound she has created is everywhere, people will all be saying,'Remember when Madonna started this?' She doesn't have to sell 10 million copies of it right away, because it will have longevity."
Truly in control
In a photo spread in the June issue of W magazine, Madonna is symbolically posed as both show horse and rider - a pretty good metaphor for her career, one of the first (and still one of the few) pop stars to truly be in control of what she puts out there and what she doesn't.
She told the BBC that when she was starting out, her focus wasn't on sex. It was on paying the rent.
"I realized that I wanted to be a singer, but I didn't want to be made into a singer," she said. "I didn't want to be part of a factory. I wanted to go back to New York and learn how to write music and play an instrument myself, without all these rich people behind me pulling my strings like a marionette. I wanted to earn it."
Latino, who will DJ before a few of Madonna's shows in the area, said that now that she has earned it, it seems like she has started to relax a bit more.
"When you're trying to make it in the entertainment business, you work really hard, you have to hustle," he said. "But then what? You can't get bigger than Madonna. What more can she do? An extra million or two won't really make a difference to her. Once you become that big, you have to just enjoy life.
"That's the point that Madonna is at," he continued. "She doesn't do this to pay the rent anymore. She has kids now. Like any parent, she'd be happy staying home with them. She goes on tour as a gift to the fans. And she's doing that because she enjoys it and that's it."
WHEN&WHERE
Madonna plays Madison Square Garden tomorrow, Thursday, Sunday, July 3, 18 and 19. Limited tickets may be available for $60-$350 through Ticketmaster, 631-888-9000.

[Michael McCarthy]

"Almost every summer, there are more acts touring than the public can possibly support," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, the concert industry trade magazine. "Mariah Carey and the Dixie Chicks have already had to reschedule some dates because of weak sales. But you won't see any rescheduled Madonna dates. She's got the kind of following where her success doesn't depend on the new record."

In another aspect of her new down-to-earth sensibility, Madonna, known for her Jean Paul Gautier stage outfits and her Versace couture, has teamed up with high-fashion, low-priced retailer H&M. She will design a track suit that will be on sale only at H&M in August, as well as be part of the company's fall ad campaign with her entire touring crew.

H&M will also outfit her crew in "Madonna and Crew H&M" T-shirts and hoodies, as well as give them shopping sprees in the stores, said Jennifer Uglialoro, H&M's U.S. spokeswoman. "Partnering up with H&M feels like a perfect fit," Madonna said in a statement. "We'll all get to express ourselves in our own individual ways. The dancers and I are excited to go shopping together."

Uglialoro said Madonna's favorite jeans are a pair that Stella McCartney designed for H&M and that she wears other pieces from the chain. "She could be wearing any brand she wants," Uglialoro said. "She is a fashion icon. What she is saying is it's not about the label, it's about dressing high fashion, and we're all about dressing high fashion and quality at the best price. It's about expressing yourself and showing your unique personal style. Most people mix and match designer pieces with H&M, and she does that, too."

Even Madonna's music reflects a more of-the-people style than previous albums. In a career filled with grand gestures and serious artistic statements, "Confessions on a Dance Floor" doesn't really have one beyond "Let's dance."

To promote her album, Madonna went to the tiny West Village lounge Luke and Leroy to connect more closely to her fans. It's a move that Vic Latino, WKTU/103.5 FM prime-time DJ and artist, said shows that she hasn't forgotten her roots.

"It's almost like a big 'thank you,' a way to be humble," said Latino, who recently landed a Madonna remix of "Sorry" for his "Thrive Mix 2" (Thrive) album, the first time she has licensed one of her songs for a dance compilation. "She could do something far more major to get attention, but I think this has more of an impact - even if there were only 1,000 people actually in the place.

[The Candy Perfume Girl]

Michael McCarthy wrote:

"Almost every summer, there are more acts touring than the public can possibly support," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, the concert industry trade magazine. "Mariah Carey and the Dixie Chicks have already had to reschedule some dates because of weak sales. But you won't see any rescheduled Madonna dates. She's got the kind of following where her success doesn't depend on the new record."
In another aspect of her new down-to-earth sensibility, Madonna, known for her Jean Paul Gautier stage outfits and her Versace couture, has teamed up with high-fashion, low-priced retailer H&M. She will design a track suit that will be on sale only at H&M in August, as well as be part of the company's fall ad campaign with her entire touring crew.
H&M will also outfit her crew in "Madonna and Crew H&M" T-shirts and hoodies, as well as give them shopping sprees in the stores, said Jennifer Uglialoro, H&M's U.S. spokeswoman. "Partnering up with H&M feels like a perfect fit," Madonna said in a statement. "We'll all get to express ourselves in our own individual ways. The dancers and I are excited to go shopping together."
Uglialoro said Madonna's favorite jeans are a pair that Stella McCartney designed for H&M and that she wears other pieces from the chain. "She could be wearing any brand she wants," Uglialoro said. "She is a fashion icon. What she is saying is it's not about the label, it's about dressing high fashion, and we're all about dressing high fashion and quality at the best price. It's about expressing yourself and showing your unique personal style. Most people mix and match designer pieces with H&M, and she does that, too."
Even Madonna's music reflects a more of-the-people style than previous albums. In a career filled with grand gestures and serious artistic statements, "Confessions on a Dance Floor" doesn't really have one beyond "Let's dance."
To promote her album, Madonna went to the tiny West Village lounge Luke and Leroy to connect more closely to her fans. It's a move that Vic Latino, WKTU/103.5 FM prime-time DJ and artist, said shows that she hasn't forgotten her roots.
"It's almost like a big 'thank you,' a way to be humble," said Latino, who recently landed a Madonna remix of "Sorry" for his "Thrive Mix 2" (Thrive) album, the first time she has licensed one of her songs for a dance compilation. "She could do something far more major to get attention, but I think this has more of an impact - even if there were only 1,000 people actually in the place.

"She is a fashion icon". Karl Lagerfeld, the CHANEL designer, presented a book about Madonna photographed by Bruce Weber in 1990. The man knows what he's talking about. He acknowleged using Madonna's songs for his fashion shows. I once saw one on TV, the music was "Angel" from the Like a Virgin album.

[Michael McCarthy]

The Candy Perfume Girl wrote:

<quoted text>"She is a fashion icon". Karl Lagerfeld, the CHANEL designer, presented a book about Madonna photographed by Bruce Weber in 1990. The man knows what he's talking about. He acknowleged using Madonna's songs for his fashion shows. I once saw one on TV, the music was "Angel" from the Like a Virgin album.

I love Angel. It is a smashing song. Do you know all the songs from the first album from 1983 - my favourite tracks are Think of me, Physical Attraction, Burning up and the lyrics "I don't know why I thought that we were getting somewhere, But you grabbed your coat and you were out the door and now I know you don't care - I know you're gonna take your love and run"... Classic...

[The Candy Perfume Girl]

Michael McCarthy wrote:

<quoted text>
I love Angel. It is a smashing song. Do you know all the songs from the first album from 1983 - my favourite tracks are Think of me, Physical Attraction, Burning up and the lyrics "I don't know why I thought that we were getting somewhere, But you grabbed your coat and you were out the door and now I know you don't care - I know you're gonna take your love and run"... Classic...

When I was 13 , I taught the Pretender track to my little sister " don't say that I am blind, I know all about your kind." My mum didn't exactly appreciate!I love her little girl voice on that track. It's very sexy!

[Michael McCarthy]

The Candy Perfume Girl wrote:

<quoted text>When I was 13 , I taught the Pretender track to my little sister " don't say that I am blind, I know all about your kind." My mum didn't exactly appreciate!I love her little girl voice on that track. It's very sexy!

"He's a prtender, he knows just what to say"... I love her voice on that track too. Am gonna listen to that album in the morning !!!:)