all about Madonna

British designer Matthew Williamson was so star-struck when he met Madonna he had to take a walk to calm down.
The flamboyant style guru regularly creates clothes for celebrities like Sienna Miller and R&B beauty Kelis, but became a starstruck mute in the presence of the queen of pop.
And he was surprised to discover she is much milder than her fearsome reputation lead him to believe.
He says, “I went to dinner with Madonna at Le Caprice (London restaurant) and I was s**ting myself. I had to walk round the block to get my bearings.
“Afterwards she took me to a private screening of Angela’s Ashes. I was touching her knees !
“She is not this brazen, crazy, over-bearing character. She’s diminutive, laid back but in control, very sharp. And, she remembers everything.”

source : contactmusic

TV host Jonathan Ross is perceived to have the happiest home life of all.
Chef Jamie Oliver’s family came second in the happy stakes, followed by footballer Jamie Redknapp, his singer wife Louise and their baby son.
The Beckhams were tenth in the survey of 2,000 Britons, with only one family set-up thought to be more fiery, that of the fictional Slaters in EastEnders.
TV cartoon The Simpsons came fourth, followed by TV chat show hosts Richard and Judy.
The Osbournes, famous for their bust-ups on their MTV show, came sixth ranking above newlyweds Prince Charles and Camilla and the Blairs.
Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie are ninth in the poll, which was carried out for Norwich Union.
1. Jonathan Ross 29.3%
2. Jamie Oliver 21.7%
3. Jamie Redknapp 12%
4. The Simpsons 10.8%
5. Richard and Judy 9.7%
6. The Osbournes 5.1%
7. Prince Charles and Camilla 3.4%
8. The Blairs 2%
9. Madonna and Guy Ritchie 2%
10. The Beckhams 1.2%
11. The Slaters (EastEnders) 0.7%
12. Other

source : u.tv

Madonna in Los Angeles (August 06 2005)

Want to see Madonna with bright pink hair? A forthcoming photo book called “Maripolarama” features Polaroids taken in New York’s Lower East Side during the early ’80s of the scene’s emerging artists ” including the future Material Girl as well as Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, Grace Jones, Sade, Naomi Campbell, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Klaus Nomi, Vincent Gallo and even David Lee Roth. Designer Anna Sui wrote an essay for the collection, due in November. … Another trip down memory lane is in store with the book “Where They Were at 22,” which profiles celebs such as P. Diddy, Pam Anderson, Bill Murray and even Karl Rove and shows where they were at this turning-point age. The essays will be compiled by Court TV editor Brad Dunn for publication next spring.

source : mtv

Seymour Stein co-founded Sire Records in 1966. His philosophy then is his philosophy now: Find good artists with good songs. That simple directive helped Sire build a roster that has featured the likes of Madonna, the Ramones, Talking Heads, Lou Reed, the Pretenders, the Smiths, My Bloody Valentine and k.d. lang. With the three-CD, one-DVD box set Just Say Sire: The Sire Records Story (due September 13th), Stein — who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year — chronicles his label’s storied history.
…
What was your first meeting with Madonna like?
There was this great DJ, Mark Kamins, who I would follow around to whatever club he was playing. He wanted to become a producer, and I said, “Look, I could introduce you to some of my artists, but you have no track record so they’re not going to want to work with you. You better go out and find the acts yourself.” So I gave him some money, a budget enough to make six demos by six different acts. And the third or fourth thing he brought me was Madonna. I was in the hospital at the time, and I had an infection. It was not life-threatening or anything, but I had to stay in the hospital and be on a penicillin drip. When I heard Madonna’s demo that he made of “Everybody” I got so excited, I said, “I want to sign her right away. I want you to bring her to the hospital.” He said, “I can do it tonight. She really wants to get signed.” I got off the phone, and I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing the hospital garb, with the slit up my ass, and I needed a haircut, a shave and a good shower. I got a barber to come cut my hair, and I got my secretary to come with a pair of pajamas and a bathrobe. I wanted her to look at somebody who she thought would be around for a few years to help guide her career — not somebody who was in hospital on the way out. I managed to get it all together by the time she got there. But, to my amazement and disappointment, as anxious as I was to sign her, she was just as anxious to jumpstart her career. If I was lying in a coffin on top of the bed and could get my hand out to sign a contract, she would have been happy. I’m glad I made a presentable appearance, but it was absolutely unnecessary.

source : rollingstone

Word has it that a Sri Lankan group called the United Artists of Sri Lanka is in talks with the Indian Performing Rights Society to bring down Western artists of the calibre of Madonna, Sir Elton John and Ricky Martin for an event that is aimed at giving musicians from all over Asia — in this case Indian musicians — a platform to meet Western artists.
The idea is “to give Indian music a boost and a wider reach,” says US-based Sri Lankan Asoka Gunawardena, a member of the United Artists of Sri Lanka who was recently down in Mumbai on a business trip. “People all over Asia can name a litany of Western stars. But if you go to a kid in America and ask them whether they’ve heard of composers from here, no one really knows about anything apart from the odd bhangra track. Hopefully this will go towards changing that equation more in our favour,” continues Asoka.
He met up with Rakesh Nigam of the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) for this purpose. “He wanted to bring down artists composers, artists and musicians from all over Asia for an event over here, perhaps a benefit concert or some kind of a quasi-cultural ceremony. Things are in its infancy, but we have a firm plan in place, it can be done as it’s a good idea,” ends Rakesh.

Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri is impressed by Madonna’s directness when she wants to get to know somebody, because she simply phones them.
The Ray Of Light superstar hates relying on celebrity parties to meet new pals – she prefers to invite stars she has admired from afar to an evening of fine cuisine and conversation, and Spiteri was on her list.
Spiteri recalls, “Madonna just rang up and said, ‘Do you want to come to dinner?’ and it was either a yes or a no and I said, ‘Yes.’
“That’s just an easier way for her to meet people she thinks she might want to meet because there is always such a fuss around her when she is in a public place.
“I enjoy her company, her conversation. She’s lovely.”

source : contactmusic

A few weeks ago Madonna.com reported that Hung Up is going to be the first single off the new album. We are now happy to tell you that Hung Up will debut at radio on October 17th!
Not only that, but Madonna.com is pleased to announce the release date for Madonna’s new All Dance Album. Madonna fans all over the world can rejoice, because the album release date is currently scheduled for November 15, 2005! Put your dancing shoes on and plan a date with your best friends to the clubs, because October & November are going to rule!

source : madonna.com

Who are the happiest music executives in the land these days? The big guys at Warner Records. All who have heard Madonna’s coming CD, “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” have been blown away. (Including WR’s movie-star handsome CEO Tom Whalley.) “Confessions” is entirely a dance-driven pop disc. No message. No ballads. All fun. These days M seems serene as the chatelaine of an English manor, feeding the chickens, riding, tending to her children, etc. (She, her home and her kids are gorgeous in Vogue for August.)
But the once-shocking icon can still get into the groove. And she wants her fans to know it. The album hits stores in November

source : drownedmadonna/nypost