James Franco wants to be Madonna

Swide: You appeared on the cover of Candy Magazine in drag resembling a beautiful muse of Pedro Almodovar. If you could be reincarnated as one of history¹s great divas who would you be and why?
James Franco: Madonna. She rules.

Get the Look: Madonna at the MDNA Tour Documentary Premiere

Madonna’s makeup artist, Sammy H. Mourabit, used Votre Vu products to create her look for last night’s premiere of the MDNA Tour documentary in NYC. He drew inspiration from Marlene Deitrich’s iconic 1930’s look from the movie “Morocco.”






To achieve Madonna’s flawless complexion, Sammy first hydrated her face with Votre Vu Attentive Crème de Jour for Sensitive Skin without forgetting the neck with Portrait Collar Restorative Neck Crème. He then dabbed Votre Vu’s Love Me Deux Concealer in Champagne under her eyes and also on the darker areas of her skin, to even out her skin tone.



One of the tricks he used was mixing the Love Me Deux Nourishing Moisture Tint in Champagne with the Attentive to achieve a dewy look. Next, he accentuated her cheekbones by contouring them with Votre Vu’s Beaute en Bronze Tantalizing Bronzer Duo.



To create a 30s eyebrow, he first groomed the brows with a brush, and then applied the Arch de Triumphe Daily Brow Definer in Warm inside the natural eyebrow line. The thinner line captures that 30’s look. To cover the excess natural hair, he dabbed some Votre Vu’s Love Me Deux Concealer in Champagne, giving the illusion of a clean groomed eye without the need for over-plucking.



For the lips, Sammy first contoured them in a heart shape reminiscent of the 30’s style with the Drawmatic Lip Liner in Naked (coming out in September). He followed by mixing two shades of the French Kiss Moisture Riche Lipstick (coming out in September) for a luminous and voluptuous effect. He applied the darker tone, Margaux, to the outer lines of the lip and the lighter tone, Annette, to the inner lip.



On the lashes, he used Eiffel Power Mascara only in the center of the eyelashes. To intensify the 30s look, he added some false lashes to the outer corner of the eye.



All products can be found on www.Votrevu.com



Source: This That Beauty

Arianne Phillips on Dressing Madonna.....

You’d think that, after working with Madonna for 15 years, Arianne Phillips would have seen it all. But Phillips, the stylist and costume designer behind a decade and a half of Madonna videos and performances, as well as films like Walk the Line and W.E., says that the pop star’s 2012 MDNA world tour was like nothing she had ever experienced. “There were an epic amount, a tsunami, of costumes,” Phillips told Style.com of the show’s wardrobe, which included an updated iteration of Madonna’s iconic cone bra by Jean Paul Gaultier. “And we aren’t talking tennis shoes and sneakers—it’s costume and fashion.” Prior to the premiere of Madonna: The MDNA Tour, a documentary that airs on Epix tonight at 8 p.m., Phillips, who’s currently in London working on a new film, talked to Style.com about the MDNA costumes, Madonna’s collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier, and what it takes to put on an unforgettable show.



Interview by Katharine K. Zarrella for Style.com...



Where do you begin when designing costumes for Madonna?

"Well, it always starts with the music, of course, and usually Madonna crafts a set list that’s part of a narrative. It’s a story with a beginning, middle, and end. This show was really about transformation. Each act had a different theme and costume had a purpose. This tour with her was definitely the biggest undertaking I have been a part of—on the technical side and on the conceptual side. It’s one thing to just design a costume for Madonna herself, but if you think about it, we had 23 dancers, five band members, and two background singers. And everyone requires multiple costume changes."



How do the costumes help express the show’s narrative?

"We think of it as characters, and [Madonna] is playing a part. That character requires development and visuals in addition to the songs she’s singing. In the beginning of the show, she comes out dressed like a queen in a crown with a machine gun. She takes that off to reveal this super-vixen character that we kind of debuted in the “Girl Gone Wild” video. The next act is all about expression and having a message, and it opens up with “Express Yourself.” She’s wearing this homage to a forties majorette. The third act is “Vogue,” and it’s all about identity and gender-bending—iconic Madonna. She’s trying to figure out who she is again. And in the end, it’s a celebration, and she transforms into this powerful Joan of Arc character. Everyone is wearing mesh T-shirts, and it’s just like a really fun party. The tour gave her an opportunity to take classic songs like “Papa Don’t Preach” and give them a new twist. She has been performing these same songs forever, but she’s the queen of reinvention, and she creates an entertaining concept for the shows that keeps it interesting and relevant. The costumes have to underscore that, and they have to provoke and entertain."



How many costume changes did Madonna do throughout the course of the show?

"The costumes are part of the choreography, so we have a lot of quick changes, and people are literally changing clothes under the stage. Madonna changes full costumes about four times. But then, for instance, for the “Vogue” act, she comes out in the Gaultier corset and then she disrobes. So by the end of the act, when she sings “Like a Virgin,” she is in a corset and a bra, and she has done different songs in different deconstructions of the outfit. So her costumes change for almost every song."





Were there any wardrobe malfunctions?

"Everything goes wrong daily. Shoes break, bras break, but that’s what keeps a live show interesting. When the adrenaline of the audience kicks in, there’s almost like a langue between the audience and the performers. And that’s when seams pop off and crystals fly."



You’ve worked with Madonna for 15 years. Did you feel any pressure to top yourself with this tour?

"This is not like anything I have ever done before, or like she has ever done before. The great thing about working with Madonna for 15 years is that every project is a new and different challenge. She has to raise the bar to keep herself interested. The great thing about her is that she is not nostalgic; she is not looking to redo something she has done in the past. But it takes us 12 weeks in preparation and rehearsals before we open the show, and I was still tweaking things into the first five or six shows, partly because I used materials that are not traditional for performing onstage."



What kinds of materials?

"For instance, all that metal mesh and the crystals that she wears in the final act—that was physically heavy. That costume weighs around 15 pounds, so she had to do all of that rigorous choreography with extra weight. Most people would never do that or be able to take it, but she wanted to wear the real thing because she liked the way it looked. And she took a beating while she was dancing and sweating in it, but it looked beautiful."



You mentioned that Madonna is not nostalgic, but she did have one nostalgic moment on this tour with the Gaultier cone corset. Why did you decide to bring that back?

"At this point, Madonna has created her own language with fashion and music. There is a kind of DNA of Madonna in terms of what we love about her. I have been working with her for a long time, and one of my favorite things that I have ever done with her is the collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier. He is so lovely to work with, and their friendship predates me. It seemed like a no-brainer. That whole piece is about gender-bending, and you know, both Gaultier and Madonna are provocateurs. Gaultier is such an important person in our fashion history and culture, and the things he and Madonna have deserve to live on as part of her visual legacy."



In addition to Gaultier, you worked with Jeremy Scott and used some pieces from Alexander Wang. How did you decide what designers to feature in the tour?

"Alexander didn’t make anything specially for us; we just responded to some of his pieces. Jeremy is a longtime collaborator of ours. What Madonna loves about him so much is his connection to his audience. His collection is so connected to street and club culture, and we always have a place for him on tours. He is our go-to innovator. He did custom shoes for us, and he did these amazing, Indian-inspired tracksuits for the dancers for “I’m a Sinner.” Then we used J Brand jeans; Agent Provocateur made some amazing bras; and we used a lot of independent New York designers. Michael Schmitt, who we’ve worked with forever—he does tour stuff for everyone from Rihanna to Cher—collaborated with us on the Joan of Arc costumes for the last act. He specializes in metal mesh. He is actually famous for doing Tina Turner’s metal mesh costumes back in the eighties. I designed tons of stuff, and Prada and Miu Miu made most of Madonna’s shoes—they’ve been making shoes for Madonna’s shows for a long time. She also wore her own Truth or Dare shoes."



Are you two always on the same page when it comes to the costumes, or do you butt heads?

"I mean, she is the director, and she is constantly evolving her ideas, which makes it more interesting for me. But of course we butt heads. It’s a process. She has me there for an opinion—I’m not there just to say yes. It would be boring if we agreed all the time. Sometimes she pushes me or I push her, and there are certainly times when I compromise my ideas. She is the boss. It’s her show and no one knows it better than her. But in the end, we agree. Trust me."



What kind of research do you do for a tour like this?

"We look at the past, the present, and the future, and everything informs our ideas. It’s no-holds-barred. It would be ridiculous not to look at her past. We are paying homage with a wink and a nod in the whole gender-bending act with the Gaultier corset. Everything is fair game, really."



Is shock factor something you think about when you’re designing the costumes?

"The beauty about working with Madonna is that she isn’t thinking about what people are thinking about when they see the show; she is thinking about what is true and authentic to the idea. She has proven time and time again that she is a provocateur, and what is shocking to you might not be to her. To invest in shock—no. That’s not part of our language."

Pictures: Madonna in New York (June 22 2013)

Madonna arriving at the Kabbalah centre in New York (June 22 2013)

NEWS: MADONNA’S A GIRL GONE WILD IN “MADONNA: THE MDNA TOUR”

The Material Girl can still get into the groove.

Since her self-titled first album dropped in 1983, Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and embarked on 10 concert tours, including last year’s The MDNA Tour.

Today at 8 p.m., cable’s Epix network will premiere the film “Madonna: The MDNA Tour,” which showcases footage from New York, Miami and some of the other 88 tour stops.
“Three decades is a long time to have a job,” Madonna told the audience at the movie’s New York premiere Tuesday night. But the exhaustive — and exhausting — film proves she’s still going strong.
At 54, Madonna keeps pace with her youngest peers in the two-hour spectacle; even hardened non-fans will marvel as she performs strenuous choreography alongside the show’s 27 nubile, youthful dancers.

The documentary (or is it one long music video?) showcases her knack for religious iconography, politically-tinged lyrics and sexual wattage.

Here are our picks for the film’s top five moments.

1. “Gang Bang”
Set in a seedy motel room, Madonna exacts revenge on ex-lovers using a stash of guns. With each shot, disturbingly realistic “blood” splashes across a video screen towering behind her. It’s a bit much in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shootings last December, but the ultra violent message is loud and clear: guys, don’t piss off Madonna.

2. “Express Yourself”
Wearing a majorette uniform, Madonna swings a verbal slap at her pop nemesis, Lady Gaga, whose 2011 gay rights anthem, “Born This Way,” is suspiciously similar to this 1989 hit. Madonna samples Gaga’s lyrics in lock step with her own song’s backing track, while video behind her depicts Pac Man-esque “little monsters” (as Gaga fans are called) gobbling up conical bras, blond ponytails and other props Gaga seemingly procured from the Material Girl.

3. “Vogue”
A Madonna concert wouldn’t be the same without her iconic 1990 club hit. Her body moves to the music and as she strikes many a pose in a gender-bending black-and-white fashion show with couture by Jean Paul Gaultier (who designed many of the tour’s 1,500 costumes). Ladies with an attitude, indeed.

4. “Like A Virgin”
Madonna spins a melancholy take on her perky 1984 hit. Wearing butt-baring lingerie and fishnets, she drapes herself atop an upright piano, flashes her barely-covered private parts and tells the crowd, “If you’re gonna look up the crack of my a–, you might as well give me a tip.” The audience litters the stage with cash, which was later donated to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. A down-tempo version of her “MDNA” album track “Love Spent” — a snipe at ex-husband Guy Ritchie — follows with a dancer excruciatingly tightening a corset around her waist.

5. “Nobody Knows Me”
Projected on stage as a musical interlude, this controversial video that includes swastikas and other Nazi imagery steals the show with a message about intolerance. Lyrics like “It’s no good when you’re misunderstood” send viewers a jolt when melded with portraits of gay teens — including Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi — who have committed suicide.

by ERIC HEGEDUS
nypost.com

Madonna Interview On Good Morning America! 6/21/13

Madonna -- the queen rules at 'MDNA' premiere! By Liz Smith

By Liz Smith

2:30 am, June 20, 2013
"IN MY book, if you don't leave a pound of flesh on the stage floor, you haven't done your job properly!"

That was Madonna at the chaotic premiere of the film version of her record-breaking "MDNA" tour last year. After the film, Madonna took questions from the audience -- made up of die-hard, totally hysterical fans. She was charming. It has not always been so. Madonna can be icily monosyllabic or just plain bored with whoever is interviewing her, and doesn't bother to hide it. But at the "MDNA" event, she was the Madonna I know, personally -- smart, funny, appealing. She was even dressed in my idea of glamour: a black tuxedo, a white silk shirt, a black top hat, just like Marlene Dietrich in "Morocco" In fact, Madonna said her choice of outfit was inspired by the Paris Theater, where the premiere was held. "In 1948, Dietrich cut the ribbon when this theater opened. So I pulled out my Marlene drag for this night."

Now, not that the night, sponsored by The Cinema Society, Dolce and Gabbana and Epix, was without hitches. There was madness in front of the Paris. It was raining and unbearably muggy. People were desperate to get inside. Some of those waiting on the VIP line were annoyed when Madonna's fans were allowed in first. "Why are they getting in?" asked one woman whose coif was collapsing. "Maybe because they are the ones who made her a star," came the reply.

But even after the VIPs were seated, there was a loooong wait for Madonna. Like, an hour. The theater was almost as muggy as it was outside. Finally, Madonna and her entourage arrived. This included all her dancers from the tour, and her son Rocco, who also appeared onstage with his legendary mom. However, as Madonna remarked later, with a laugh: "He doesn't look like he did then. He's grown three inches, he's almost six feet tall and frankly, he kind of frightens me."

As for the film, if you thought the concert itself was intense, seeing and hearing it up close, pitches it to a new level. Madonna does some amazing -- and genuinely brave -- stuff here. A lot of it is not for the faint of heart. But, if you're going to accept the moniker of "The Queen," you've got to own it, and Madonna owns every bit of it! And even at a film premiere she knows how to put on a show. As the credits rolled, the lights went up and a full marching band with drums and cymbals appeared in both aisles. It was impressive, funny and ear-shattering. (It was also a way to keep everybody from leaving until Madonna took the stage.)

The party afterward was at Harlow, and the late hour had no effect on Madonna's energy -- she danced until 2:30 a.m.! Among the throng watching were John Travolta, Andy Cohen, ageless Debi Mazar, Adam Lambert, CNN's Alina Cho, ballet's handsome Roberto Bolle, Lee Daniels, Rachel Roy, the Cinema Society's Andrew Saffir (holding up surprisingly well amid the chaos) and Kelly Osbourne.

Best exchange of the night came when "Boy Culture" writer and Madonna historian Matthew Rettenmund approached Kelly O. for a photo. (She was chatting with Cosmo's sexy Sergio Kletnoy.) Rettenmund said, "I'm on your side in the stuff between you and Lady Gaga." Kelly replied rather tartly, "There are no sides. I just think it's disgusting to use gay people for making money!" This left Rettenmund momentarily speechless, but a friend standing behind him chirped up, "Well, it's better than using them for firewood, honey."

Miss Osbourne seemed not to be amused.

I HAD A really swell time this week lunching at the popular Michael's with my Texas friend -- one Jane Hickie, one time aide to Gov. Ann Richards. (I wrote about Jane here and her life between big-city ideas and Stephenville, Texas, where she has a ranch.)

Jane told me all about taking two 16-year-old champion gigglers to Europe and said, "I now know why I never had children."

It seems Jane quizzed these bright young things asking if they recognized Andy Warhol's big portrait of Elizabeth Taylor when they came upon it in Paris.

They hadn't a clue as to the identity of either famous person. They admitted they "thought" they knew who Hitler was, but not exactly what he did. At a London theater, where they saw Helen Mirren at her best, their verdict after the play was -- "Oh, she was OK."

This was so depressing that I questioned the future of the human race. But I kept right on eating those tempra soft-shell crabs anyway and then -- Steve, the guy who runs Michael's -brought over a photo of himself with the late Ann Richards.

Also, I ran into one of my true heroes, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. He was wearing a bright green tie to go with that morning's bright green assessment of certain controversial matters of national security. Ray was lunching with his lawyer, Richard DeScherer. I asked why the head cop of NYC needs a lawyer? "He needs me!" quipped Ray. (Not really, they are old friends.)

Also glimpsed philanthropist Pete Peterson, Joel Klein, now of the Murdoch empire, Peggy Siegal working the room in white organza, Tiffany's Linda Buckley and hard worker for charity Gillian Miniter, plus Richard Koshalek who oversees the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.

Michael's! Eclectic like always.

(E-mail Liz Smith at MES3838@aol.com.)

Madonna Tells a New York Crowd Why Her 'MDNA Tour' (Airing on Epix) Was the Hardest She'd Ever Done

"That was a load off my back," said a clearly relieved Madonna to a crowd of fans, friends and celebs last night at New York's famed Paris Theatre minutes after the world premiere screening of her "MDNA Tour" (hosted by The Cinema Society and Dolce & Gabbana), set to air on Epix this Saturday. "I can now honestly say that my tour is over."



Sporting trousers, a tailored tuxedo jacket and a top hat, Madonna (who said she was channeling Marlene Dietrich's iconic "Morocco" look in honor of the opening of the Paris Theater in 1948, during which Dietrich was present) looked like her iconic self onstage at the event for what was described in the press invite as a "Special Q&A." It delivered on the "special." Before making herself known to her adoring masses, a full marching band invaded the theater's two aisles and performed a blaring set as the concert's credits rolled. The star then took to the stage sans moderator and proceeded to direct the Q&A herself, urging folks to only ask "intelligent, interesting and inspired questions."



Below are the highlights from the informal chat. Her "MDNA Tour" airs on Epix at 8pm ET on Saturday, June 22nd.



On the strenuous nature of touring the world...

"First of all, thank god I didn't have to do it every night. I did four or five shows a week. It was hard, yeah. That was probably the hardest tour I've ever done. I was a mess. Just talk to my manager (laughs). But in my book if you don't leave a pound of flesh on the stage every night, you did not do your job. Go hard or go home.



On what she demands of her dancers...

"I force everyone to go outside their comfort zones. So straight boys wear high heels. And gay boys have to, you know, man up! I think it's important for everybody to understand that they're playing characters when they come into my realm and that they're telling stories. They're stories that hopefully everyone can relate to."



On how she stays fit while on tour...

"I hate those questions. I did the show every fucking night, OK? Is that a workout? I mean, did you watch? In all honesty, my workouts got smaller and smaller as the tour went on because I became more and more exhausted. There's your answer."



On touring with her son Rocco, who was featured in the concert...

"Well, he was going to go on my tour whether he liked it or not. He's a Leo, what can I say. He's very -- he's disconcertingly comfortable on stage. I was thrilled to see him every night; he gave me a little boost of energy. So, go Rocco, wherever you are. However, he does not look like that. In one year he's grown, he's six feet tall, his voice has deepened -- and I'm a little bit scared of him."







On the massive undertaking of editing down a ton of footage into one streamlined concert experience...

"Basically, me and the editor just strangled each other for five months. You have to understand there was a lot of work put into this because we filmed all over the world. The base of the show is in Miami but we used footage from France, from England, from Argentina, from New York. Imagine all that footage and all that time code that didn't match up. It was a lot of hard work. Hard work baby."



On what inspired her concert looks...

"I create a character for each session. The first section of the show is angry girl, in case you didn't notice -- angry girl wants revenge. I was inspired by Russ Meyer films -- ones like "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" I take a lot of ideas and references from films, or archetypical characters.



"The third section of the show is kind of obvious. I collaborated with Jean Paul Gautier who I've been collaborating with for years. He's an amazing designer. He loves to push the envelope and play with gender confusion -- and it all looks pretty sexy and hot."



"The last section of the show was a strange marriage between martial arts and Joan of Arc. There's something wrong with me obviously."



On pushing on, despite herself...

"I'm a human being like everybody else so I would have my bad nights and I would cry and say, 'I don't want to do this.' But I sold the tickets and I can't let my audience down. At the end of the day, even if I hadn't slept the night before and I was exhausted, before every show everyone came into my dressing room and we'd hold hands and say prayers. 49 percent of the time I was crying, usually because of exhaustion. But there's something about pushing yourself out there, whether it's pouring rain, or it's freezing cold, or you don't feel well, or something really shitty, crazy happened in the world like Hurricane Sandy.



"As we were traveling around the world there were so many crazy things happening. From the trial of Pussy Riot, to gays being arrested at my concert in St. Petersburg, to the election of Obama, to Hurricane Sandy -- the world was changing rapidly. It was just a crazy time and I was personally affected by all of it. Sometimes I didn't feel I had the strength to go and sing and dance and pretend that crazy shit wasn't happening in the world. But then I thought I have to do it. By the end of the show I felt victorious, that I had pushed through something. The world needs to be inspired."



And what she has planned next...

"Start a revolution of love baby."



Source: Indiewire

Madonna Shines At MDNA Showing In NYC Pics!!

Perfect! Love the "Baby Dietrich" look!

RITA ORA IS OFFICIALLY THE NEW “MATERIAL GIRL”...

Madonna and Lola are excited to introduce Rita Ora as the newest face of the Material Girl Collection

MADONNA'S "MDNA TOUR” PREMIERE IN NEW YORK PREMIER DETAILS

Enter for your chance to win two tickets to join EPIX and Madonna for the World Premiere screening of MADONNA: THE MDNA TOUR on Tuesday, June 18th at 8pm in NYC.

Plus a special Q&A with Madonna, the Queen herself immediately following the film.
And don’t miss the world television premiere on EPIX, Saturday, June 22nd at 8p. EPIX. We Get Big Music.

Source: z100.com

Madonna attends Stella McCartney's Spring Line Opening June 10/13 In NYC Pics!

Madonna attended the Stella McCartney Spring 2014 Collection Presentation at West 10th Street on June 10, 2013 in New York City.

Madonna out in NYC 6/8/13 pic!

TOP 10 FUN “MDNA TOUR” ACTS FROM EPIX

01. A seasoned pro: this is Madonna’s ninth concert tour, in support of her 12th studio album MDNA.

02. Famous firsts: the MDNA tour marked Madonna’s first performances in the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Scotland and Colombia.

03. Deep, but with plenty of dancing, too: Madonna divides the MDNA show into sections titled Transgression, Prophecy, Masculine/Feminine and Redemption.

04. She’s still got it (duh): Billboard ranked this as the highest-grossing tour of 2012, with over $305 million grossed from 88 sold-out shows.

05. Double whammy: the MDNA tour’s success makes it the second highest grossing tour of all time by a female artist. Number one? Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour.

06. Fashion forward: Madonna’s long-time designer Jean Paul Gaultier created the costumes for this tour.

07. Can you blame them? Fans lined up 24 hours in advance to score tickets for Madonna’s first-ever show in Abu Dhabi.

08. Annnnnd go! 60,000 tickets for Madonna’s performance at Yankee Stadium sold out in just 20 minutes, prompting concert promoters to add a second NYC date.

09. Not to be outdone by the Big Apple, Madonna’s Kansas City fans snapped up tickets so fast the show sold out in a mere 12 minutes.

10. For those about to rock: tickets for the show at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa sold out in 21 minutes to become the fastest-selling concert in the venue’s history, knocking off previous record holders AC/DC.

Official Press Release Confirms MDNA Tour DVD/Blu-Ray Release date in August 2013

Madonna’s groundbreaking, critically acclaimed, controversial and visually stunning MDNA concert will be available in the US on August 27th (August 26th globally), it was announced today by Universal Music. The two hour MDNA extravaganza was the most successful tour of 2012. Presented by Live Nation Global Touring, the tour included 88 sold out shows in 29 countries. Madonna and her ten member band lead by musical director Kevin Antunes and troupe of 25 dancers performed a wild two hour spectacle that fascinated, enthralled and entertained 2.2 million fans.

“Madonna spent six months personally editing the video footage from 30 cameras and many different shows to put together the MDNA DVD. Her attention to every frame, every detail and nuance and total commitment to show her creative vision has been done to perfection. Each song is like a short movie. One minute you are in an action movie and the next you’re at a golden era musical before shooting across to India and back for a house party to finish. It’s better than any 3-D Imax movie out there and at a break neck pace that would make any Olympian struggle for breath,” commented the show’s co- director and supervising editor, Danny B. Tull .

Songs included “Girls Gone Wild” and “Gang Bang” from Madonna’s MDNA CD which debuted at No. 1 in 35 countries as well as fan favorite classic Madonna songs such as “Hung Up”, “Express Yourself,” “Vogue,” “Open Your Heart, “Like A Prayer” and “Celebration”.

“My show is a journey.. the journey of a soul from darkness to light. It is part cinematic musical theatre, part spectacle and sometimes intimate performance art. I know people can relate to it. It’s very important to me as an artist that my show not be taken out of context. It must be watched with an open heart from beginning to end.. I am sure if it is viewed this way, the viewer will walk away feeling inspired, invigorated and will want to make the world a better place.. And this of course is my intention,” remarked Madonna in her manifesto about the show.

Amongst the glowing reviews, the Daily Mail raved, “The queen of pop’s latest album MDNA provided the bedrock for a two hour show that sent out a powerful message to any young pretenders eyeing up her crown.. She remains one of the greats.”

“Madonna’s sold-out concert was a jaw-dropping sequence of stunningly designed set pieces; including an aeriel drum crops, a battalion of dazzling dancers, an explosively bloody gangster fantasy and a surreal spiritual voyage,”remarked The Miami Herald.

“The Material Girl proceeds to take us through a song cycle that examined sex, liberation, sin, empowerment, love, addiction, rebellion and finally redemption.. She did it all in classic Madonna style – controversial and eye-popping,” commented The Dallas Morning News.

The MDNA DVD was directed by Danny B. Tull and Stephane Sennour and was produced by Madonna..
Executive producers: Arthur Fogel , Guy Oseary and Sara Zambreno.
Tour wardrobe was created by Arianne Phillips.
Supervising Editor Danny B. Tull.
Director of Photography Mark Ritchie.

Guy O tweets MDNA News....

Fierce!

MADONNA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR GIRLS’ EDUCATION AT “THE SOUND OF CHANGE LIVE CONCERT

On June 1, 2013 Madonna announced her plans to support girls’ education in Pakistan and Afghanistan through her Ray of Light Foundation at The Sound of Change Live concert which was presented by CHIME FOR CHANGE, a campaign for improved Education, Health and Justice for women and girls worldwide.

Madonna took the stage with Humaira Bachal, the courageous young Pakistani woman who has overcome extreme adversity to educate girls in Pakistan. During her speech, Madonna challenged everyone to join her “Revolution of Love” to “end violence, promote peace, demand justice and help ensure education for girls everywhere.”

She asked viewers to help contribute to the building of a new and bigger school for Humaira’s students and personally committed to funding the completion of the school’s construction if viewers funded the first floor.

To help build Humaira’s school, visit: http://ichime.in/madonnahumaira

Madonna also announced her plans to support Afghan women through the Afghan Institute of Learning and has offered to match donations 2:1 in support of this project. To donate, visit: http://www.catapult.org/team/madonna

To learn more about the Ray of Light Foundation and Madonna’s Revolution of Love, please visit http://www.rayoflight.org

Source: Madonna.com

Madonna's Speech Chime For Change London 6-1-13

Keith Urban inspired by Madonna

Country music singer, songwriter and guitarist Keith Urban says he was inspired by Madonna’s “Don’t tell me” for his latest single “Little Bit of Everything”.

He told USA Today…

She had a staccato acoustic guitar part in there that I thought was very cool.

On the demo that Kevin [Rudolf] did, it was more of a strummed part, just a straight-up Hey Soul Sister thing.

Nathan [Chapman] was playing an arpeggiated piece, which I thought was kind of cool, and then he hit the mute button accidentally and I said, ‘Oh, I like that!’