all about Madonna

Undettered by failures past, Madonna is apparently making a new movie “

Steven Klein and Madonna’s X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS exhibition will be on show in London from 15-30 October at Scout gallery. The gallery sent this press release:
This collaborative project between Madonna and renowned New York photographer Steven Klein was based around the loose narrative of ‘a performer in her rehersal space where she creates and brings her ideas to life or death’. Scout will be screening the film and also showing editioned photographs not seen before in the UK that capture this idea of the creative process.
source : madonnalicious.com

While every Madonna fan can’t wait to buy the official Dvd of the re-Invention tour, we add another piece of info to the cauldron of speculation. Our collaborator from Portugual Silly Thing got infos from a reliable source from Portuguese Radio who says the DVD will probably be released in March 2005. The working title is now “The Re-Invention Tour – Live In Lisbon”. As usual these are the cases to just wait and see.
source : madonnatribe

01 Madonna / Paris, France / Sept. 1-2, 4-5, 2004 / $7,357,529 / Attend : 68,000/68000
02 Madonna / Arnhem, The Netherlands / Sept. 8-9, 2004 / $6,759,661 / Attend : 73,300/73000
03 Madonna / Meath, Ireland / Aug. 29, 2004 / $6,575,339 / Attend : 62,275/70000
04 Madonna / Lisbon, Portugal / Sept. 13-14, 2004 / $3,286,166 / Attend : 33,460/33,460
source : billboard.com

Egyptian Parliament members have submitted an order to Government demanding that American singer Madonna be prohibited from entering Egyptian soil. Parliament members also included a number of other international singers on their list of people forbidden from entering Egypt and called on all their embassies abroad to not grant any of them visas into Egypt or be allowed to shoot any of their music videos on Egyptian soil.
The demand came after Madonna announced that she will celebrate the Jewish New Years in Israel and that she had converted to Judaism. On a similar note Arab Parliament member, Ahmad Al Taibi, in the Israeli Knesset turned down an invitation from Madonna to an event she held after she showed inconsideration for the sufferings of Palestinians, especially children, under the occupation of Israeli soldiers.
Ahmad had stressed that he wished the singer would try and learn from other international stars like Richard Gear and Julie Christie who came to the occupied lands and showed their support for the suffering of Palestinians.
Madonna had announced that she has changed her name, which has become a marker throughout her career, and now demands to be called by her new Jewish name Esther. The singer who has adopted the Jewish sector “Kabbalah”, revealed that she has become so affected by her religion that she felt she must change her name to go with her belief. The well known Material Girl was named after her mother who died when the singer was young and said she wanted to be attached to the “energy” of a new name.
During an interview in the United States, the Catholic born singer said that since following the teachings of the Jewish mystical faith Kabbalah – whose principles she said were very “punk rock” and anti-establishment – Madonna has learned to follow new directions.
Adopted by gurus of popular culture, the Kabbalah, an ancient Hebrew mystical system of thought, embodies the mystical side of Judaism and teaches one to embrace small sparks of daily experiences and the seemingly insignificant moments of life.
Madonna stressed that she will not answer to her old name and will only accept being Called Esther from now on. One of the key changes to date has been her name, “I was named after my mother. My mother died when she was very young, of cancer, and I wanted to attach myself to another name.
source : albawaba.com

A sexy piece of pop history, once worn by none other than Madonna, is one of the many items fans can pick up at a Christie’s music memorabilia auction next week.
The exotic black leather one-piece outfit, sported by Madonna in her 1992 book Sex, is one of the prize lots up for grabs, expected to fetch upwards of GBP6,000. Comprised of a backless bra and thong connected with a network of straps, the naughty ensemble is signed by the pop star, along with an affectionate XOXOX, in a not-so-discreet spot.
Madonna’s risqu, leather costume joins decidedly less racy items going under the hammer on September 29 in London. Other standouts for sale include an elaborate Black Sabbath stage cape worn by frontman Ozzy Osbourne in 1974 , estimated to bring in GBP4,000, as well as a 1960s-era striped satin jacket owned by Rolling Stone Keith Richards, a steal at GBP500-700.

source : hellomagazine.com

Great news for end-of-season holidaymakers – Madonna is to play Ibiza. The 46-year-old mum-of-two is expected to perform with Groove Armada at the closing party at Space nightclub on the island this week.
The Armada – who lit up the charts with I See You Baby – recently remixed Madge’s single Music. Our source tells us: “No one knows what they’ll be performing together but as long as the final arrangements are made then it’s sure to be a spectacular show.”
The mother of Re-invention strikes again.
source : mirror.co.uk

Whether she goes by Madonna or her recently adopted Hebrew name, Esther, a mere mention of the pop superstar’s name has the power to inspire a following throughout the Western world. Last week, Madonna did just that when she spent the Rosh Hashana / Jewish New Year of 5765 in Israel. Eager to study Kabbalah and experience the roots of its mystical tradition, Madonna made a pilgrimage to Israel along with 2,000 of her fellow students of Kabbalah from 22 countries.
Her visit included a quick stop at the Western Wall, a trip to the grave of the great Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag, and a special bequest of a Byzantine-era oil lamp and a coin by Israel’s Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra.
Madonna is flanked by Israel’s Minister of Tourism, Mr. Gideon Ezra (right) and Minister of Industry, Mr. Ehud Olmert. Mr. Ezra presented her with an antique coin and oil lamp from the Byzantine-era on Sunday.
“I would like to say how happy I am to be back in Israel,” Madonna said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to end my tour, and I promise not to stay away for another 10 years. To be perfectly honest, I was a bit hesitant to come here after seeing so many news reports about terrorist attacks and reading countless travel safety warnings about how dangerous it is to be here if you are an American. I realize now that it is no more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York. And I would like to emphasize the fact that I feel very safe and very welcome. The most dangerous thing that I have encountered since coming here are a few very naughty paparazzi waiting outside my hotel.”
Dani Shahal, Director, Israel Government Tourist Office – Canada, commented, “I praise Madonna’s passionate comments about how warmly she was welcomed and how safe she felt while on her visit”?. Rami Levi, Head of Marketing Administration – Israel Ministry of Tourism, echoed Madonna’s sentiments and extends a welcome to other celebrities to follow in her footsteps. “We are thrilled that a cultural icon like Madonna chose to visit Israel, and that she felt secure, despite some initial apprehension,” he said. “Over the past year, we have welcomed Chris Noth, Richard Gere, Eric Braeden, and Whitney Houston, to name a select few. And upon their return, each has marveled at his or her profoundly, life-altering experience in the Holy Land. We will continue to embrace celebrities who come forth and testify to the magnificent beauty, hospitality and sense of safety that Israel and its people have to offer.”

source : travelvideo.tv

Pop icon Madonna was reportedly reduced to tears after being hounded by the paparazzi during her pilgrimage to Israel, while her husband, British director Guy Ritchie, called the photographers “f-ers”.
Not only was she surrounded by photographers throughout her Kabbalah trip, she also had to cancel a visit to the Western Wall, which is one of the holiest Judaism sites in Jerusalem, and was forced to visit the tomb of a Jewish mystic in the middle of the night.
“Madge was in tears, she was devastated,” the New York Daily News quoted an insider as saying.
source : ani

Madonna wanted to see Israel, and Israelis yearned to see Madonna. But in the end, each side managed only a glimpse of the other.
Madonna came to Israel with some 2,000 fellow followers of cabala, a form of Jewish mysticism, and spent most of her five days here holed up in the luxury David Inter-Continental Hotel, across the street from the Tel Aviv beachfront.
Her planned tour of Jewish holy sites was curtailed, most notably in the early hours of Sunday, when her heavily guarded convoy pulled into the stone plaza near the Western Wall in Jerusalem around 1:30 a.m. Despite the hour, a large gathering of Jewish worshipers were taking part in prayers linked to the Jewish New Year, which fell last week. In addition, several dozen photographers were prowling the grounds. Madonna looked out the darkened windows of her van for several minutes as the crowd gathered around. The van then drove off without Madonna’s ever opening the door.
Secular Israelis have been starved for big-name international acts in recent years and were ready to embrace Madonna, who sang here in 1993. But she came to pray, not to perform. She and her husband, the British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, took part in cabala sessions in the hotel’s conference room, which was converted into a synagogue, with segregated men’s and women’s sections.
Madonna’s only formal public appearance came Sunday night, when the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center, which organized the trip, staged a children’s program at the hotel that featured Jewish and Arab youths and drew more than 1,000 guests, including Israeli government officials.
“I was a bit hesitant to come here after seeing so many news reports about terrorist attacks,” said Madonna, wearing a low-cut dress with a black and white leopard print. “I realize now that it is no more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York.”
Madonna has been exploring cabala since 1997 and now dresses and often performs with symbols of Judaism and cabala. She sometimes wears a Jewish star and often has a red thread on her wrist, a cabala trademark intended to ward off the evil eye.
When she visited a Tel Aviv restaurant, she wore a glittery necklace with a large letter E, apparently a reference to her recent adaptation of the biblical Jewish name Esther. But Madonna said she was not representing a religion. “I’m here as a student of cabala,” she said. “A cabalist sees the world as a unified whole. A cabalist asks why. A cabalist believes that he or she has the responsibility to make the world a better place.”
The Israeli government seized on the singer’s visit for tourism promotion, and Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra presented her with a Byzantine-era oil lamp and a coin on Sunday. Earlier he had suggested that it would be helpful if Madonna would pose for a picture with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, though there was no sign that this materialized.
Madonna arrived in Israel on Wednesday night, at the beginning of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and organizers had announced planned visits to several religious shrines. But whenever she tried to venture out, she found herself surrounded. After the Friday night dinner in Tel Aviv, two of her bodyguards were arrested after scuffling with and injuring two photographers.
Just after midnight Saturday, she made a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem grave site of the cabalist sage Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag. Madonna and her husband, with police and photographers in tow, spent more than an hour inside the stone mausoleum. She prayed, chanted and placed candles on the tomb, and shortly before leaving wiped tears from her eyes.
Afterward, she made her abbreviated trip to the Western Wall, the holiest site for Jewish prayer. Other planned visits, including a trip to the tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel, which is in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in the West Bank, never took place.
While Madonna has studied cabala for seven years, there are still plenty of skeptics questioning her commitment to a form of study traditionally reserved for men over 40 who have mastered the Torah and the Talmud. “It is forbidden to teach a non-Jew cabala,” Yitzhak Kadouri, a leading cabalist, recently told the Israeli newspaper Maariv.
But the Kabbalah Center says the cabala is open to all.
source : nytimes