all about Madonna

The Queen of Pop sent over 200,000 Live 8 music fans into delirium this evening, performing three souped-up versions of her biggest hits.
Before the hits though, we got a glimpse of Birhan Woldu, the child featured in the 1985 Live Aid film, which touched the world. Recently qualified as an agricultural student, Woldu was just weeks from death when featured in ‘85, according to Geldof, who used her appearance as an example of how just one life had been saved due to Live Aid.
Taking to the stage in a silver satin suit, Madonna was rousing, passionate and demonstrated clearly why her ‘Queen of Pop’ tag is so deserved. Opening with ‘Like A Prayer’, the star questioned the crowd ‘Are you ready to start a revolution!’, ‘Are you ready to change the world’. Accompanying her was a full choir, also dressed in white.
By the time ‘Ray Of Light’ and ‘Music’ came, the mix had changed into a bass-heavy breakbeat hybrid, with a myriad of b-boy dancers invading the stage. ‘Music’ weighed in at six minutes running time, with an extended chorus of ‘Music, makes the people, come together’ in which Madonna convinced pretty much every one of Hyde Park’s 200,000 crowd to clap along. The 15-minute set was received by many as the day’s standout performance – so far that is.
Madonna also performed at the first Live Aid concert in 1985. Then, the set list included ‘Holiday’ and ‘Into The Groove’.
source : soundgenerator.com

Madonna wowed crowds at LIVE 8 this evening with a spectacular performance.
The star kicked off her set with ‘Like A Prayer’, backed by the a full choir, who – like the star and her band – were dressed completely in white. Madonna was also joined onstage by an Ethiopian woman who had been, in Bob Geldof’s words “10 minutes from death,” until the money raised at the first Live Aid concert helped save her.
“Are you ready to start a revolution,” Madonna asked the crowd. “Are you ready to change the world?”
Running through ‘Ray Of Light’ she finished with an extended version of ‘Music’ bringing break-dancers to the stage and leading 200,000 fans in a singalong. The concert marked a return to the Live 8 stage for the singer.
Madonna performed at the American leg of the first Live Aid concert in 1985 where she played ‘Holiday’, ‘Into The Groove’ and ‘Love Makes The World Go Round’.
Speaking about her involvement with the 2005 concert, which aims to raise alleviate developing world debt and establish fairer trade, she said she wanted to thank Bob Geldof for making the whole thing happen.
The singer is currently working on the follow-up to 2003’s ‘American Life’ album and her appearance marked her first live engagement of 2005.
Next up on the bill will be Snow Patrol who are expected to play their festival anthem ‘Run’.
Meanwhile, Razorlight earlier raised the tempo of the early evening with one of the performances of the way.
Live 8 is set to close tonight with Sir Paul McCartney leading an all-star band, which is rumoured to feature Mick Jagger and George Michael.
source : nme

Click here to download BBC interview with Madonna
(video files are hosted by Rapidshare and courtesy of Robster from MadonnaMad).

The centrepiece of Live 8 day is the star-studded concert to be held in London’s Hyde Park. The official running order has not been revealed, but an unofficial order and set list has been printed in a number of UK media.
The BBC News website has compared the lists and the below is a fair indication of what to expect from 1400 BST onwards.
# Sir Paul McCartney and U2: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
# U2: One
# Coldplay: In My Place, Fix You
# Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft: Bitter Sweet Symphony
# Sir Elton John (introduced by Little Britain’s Matt Lucas and David Walliams): Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, The Bitch is Back
# Sir Elton John and Pete Doherty: Children of the Revolution
# Dido: Life for Rent, White Flag, Thank You
# Stereophonics: Songs to be confirmed
# REM: The One I Love, Losing My Religion, Imitation of Life, Everybody Hurts
# Ms Dynamite: Dy-na-mi-tee, Judgement Day, Redemption Song
# Keane: Everybody’s Changing, Somewhere Only We Know
# Travis: Sing, Turn, Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
# Annie Lennox: Walking on Broken Glass, Sisters are Doin’ It for Themselves, Sweet Dreams
# UB40: Food for Thought, Red Red Wine
# Snoop Dogg: Songs to be confirmed
# Razorlight: Somewhere Else, Golden Touch, Vice
# Madonna: Like a Prayer, Music, Ray of Light
# Snow Patrol: Chocolate, Run
# Joss Stone: I Had a Dream, Super Duper Love
# Scissor Sisters: Laura, Take Your Mama
# Velvet Revolver: Songs to be confirmed
# The Killers: Songs to be confirmed
# Sting: Every Breath You Take, Message in a Bottle, Desert Rose
# Mariah Carey: Make It Happen, Vision of Love
# Robbie Williams: Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ, Feel, We Will Rock You
# The Who: Won’t Get Fooled Again, Baba O’Riley
# Pink Floyd: Money, Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here
# Sir Paul McCartney: The Long and Winding Road
# Finale: Sir Paul McCartney joined on stage by George Michael and Sir Mick Jagger
source : bbc.co.uk

Madonna wants organisers to keep Mariah Carey as far away from her as possible backstage.
She wants a changing room near sir Paul McCartney’s but can’t stand the thought of bumping into the diva.
source : thesun.co.uk

Madonna’s got another lawsuit on her hands. This time, she and her Maverick film company are being sued by two men, Jim McLay and Barry Kohout, who claim the Material Girl’s company defaulted on a $100,000 loan. The suit was filed in Camden, New Jersey’s federal court earlier this week.
source : mtv

Final preparations are continuing for the Live 8 concert in London’s Hyde Park tomorrow.More than 200,000 people have tickets for the event, which kicks off at 2pm.It is one of a host of concerts around the world aiming to draw attention to poverty.
Organisers predict the gigs will attract a global audience of 5.5 billion.
In Hyde Park, a crew of around 2,000 are putting the final touches to the specially constructed stage and arena.
Among the 25 artists and bands taking part will be Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna, Robbie Williams, U2 and Coldplay.
Scotland Yard confirmed about 1,000 officers will be on duty in a huge operation to manage the crowds.
Chief Superintendent Helen Ball said it was one of the biggest policing operations of recent years.
Music fans have been told not to take any alcohol to the event and it has been confirmed none will be available to buy inside the park.
Officers will also be on the lookout for any ticket touts attempting to make a profit from the event.
Those attending have been reminded to be prepared for the expected hot weather.
Other free concerts will take place in Philadelphia, Paris, Moscow, Rome, Berlin, Johannesburg, Tokyo and Toronto.
source : skynews

GoTV Networks, the innovative, on-demand mobile television provider, announced today that it will broadcast coverage of Live 8, the worldwide concert event created to raise awareness of poverty in Africa, on its new alternative music channel, ALTitude. The broadcast will be available beginning on July 2, 2005 at 1 p.m. EDT to coincide with the concert kick off.
GoTV’s Live 8 round-the-clock coverage will include shows in London, Philadelphia, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Johannesburg, Tokyo and Toronto, as well as behind-the-scenes artist interviews. Musicians, including Elton John, Madonna, Paul McCartney and U2, will come together just days before world leaders will gather at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, United Kingdom to discuss issues in Africa.
“Live 8 is one of the most important music events of our time,” said Rick Friedman, vice president, news and production, GoTV Networks. “By providing continuous Live 8 coverage to mobile users in the United States, GoTV will allow people everywhere to experience this landmark concert series.”
source : BusinessWire