all about Madonna

Picture courtesy of MadonnaTribe

A song on Madonna’s upcoming album dedicated to a Kabbalist rabbi is drawing criticism from some rabbis, the Israeli Maariv daily reported Sunday. The album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” is to be released on Nov. 15 and features a track entitled “Isaac” about Yitzhak Luria, a 16th century Jewish mystic and Kabbalah scholar.
Rabbis who oversee Luria’s tomb and a seminary in the northern town of Safed are unimpressed with Madonna’s musical tribute and see the inclusion of the song about Luria on the album as an attempt by the pop star to profit from his name.
Madonna made a much publicized visit to Israel in 2004, when she visited many sites important to Kabbalah, but she did not travel north to Luria’s grave.
The singer and actress was raised a Roman Catholic but has become a follower of Kabbalah in recent years. Madonna has adopted the Hebrew name Esther, wears a red string around her wrist to ward off the “evil eye” and reportedly refuses to perform on the Jewish Sabbath. She is one of a group of non-Jewish celebrities who have taken an interest in Kabbalah in recent years.
The movement has sparked skepticism and criticism among many of the rabbis who specialize in studying and teaching Kabbalah. Jewish tradition holds that Kabbalah is so powerful and complicated that students may not begin to approach it until after age 40. Among the elements of Kabbalah are mystical meanings drawn from holy books by recombination of letters and other signs.
Rabbi Rafael Cohen, head of a seminary named after Luria, suggested Madonna’s actions could lead to divine retribution.
“Jewish law forbids the use of the name of the holy rabbi for profit. Her act is just simply unacceptable and I can only sympathize for her because of the punishment that she is going to receive from the heavens,” Cohen told Maariv.
Another rabbi called for Madonna to be thrown out of the community.
“Such a woman brings great sin on kabbalah,” Rabbi Israel Deri told Maariv. “I hope that we will have the strength to prevent her from bringing sin upon the holiness of the rabbi (Yitzhak Luria).”
source : ap

You can’t keep a good woman down for long… especially Madonna.
The Queen of Pop broke her ribs, shoulder blade and little finger out riding on her 47th birthday in August.
But just two months later she is back in the saddle with the help of Olympic horseman William Fox-Pitt, 36, and was yesterday also fit enough to do a pilates class. My spy tells me: “Madonna is taking it one step at a time following her accident. But she has always been very ambitious when she has her heart set on something. Following her accident, she’s decided to get some extra help from William Fox-Pitt as he’s one of the best riders and trainers in the country.
“She’s passionate about riding and knows that he is the man who can help her master the craft.” Husband Guy Ritchie, 37, was said to be “mortified” after her accident – the horse she fell from was a birthday present from him.
But just days later, Madonna insisted: “As soon as the doctors give me the OK, I expect to be right back on a horse and ride again. I’m grateful and overwhelmed by everyone’s good wishes.”
Last year Fox-Pitt and the Great Britain team won a silver medal at the Olympics in Athens. He was also crowned champion at Badminton. She couldn’t be in better hands…
source : sundaymirror

Groovevolt.com has learned that Apple will introduce a Madonna-branded iPod nano Thursday (October 12) when the company makes several major product announcements. The company, which entered into a similar agreement with U2 last year, is expected to introduce the pink-colored version of the nano…
source : groovevolt

Get ready for a major Madonna blitz on MTV and MTV2:

- Download the “Hung Up” ringtone for your Virgin Mobile phone now!
- Listen to your favorite radio station to hear “Hung Up”, the first single off Madonna’s upcoming new album, starting 10/17
- Go to MTV’s Overdrive on 10/19 to catch a 10 minute preview of Madonna’s documentary
- Tune in to MTV at 10pm on Friday, 10/21 for the world broadcast premiere of Madonna’s documentary, “I’m Going To Tell You A Secret”
- Tune in to MTV2 at 3pm on Thursday, 11/3 to catch Madonna performing “Hung Up”, the first single off her new album, for the first time live at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Listen to Madonna’s new album, “Confessions On A Dance Floor” a week before it hits stores on The Leak on MTV.com, starting 11/7 as part of Spankin’ New Music Week.

source : mtv.com (Thanks to Humble Neighbourhood)

After 2003’s underwhelming disc of electronic folk, American Life, the Material Girl returns to the dance floor with Confessions. The disco-friendly vibe is announced by the first single, “Hung Up,” which samples the opening keyboards from Abba’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” Madonna recruited Stuart Price — a London DJ and the keyboardist on her Re-Invention tour — to produce the disc, but don’t think she didn’t express herself during the recording process. “People always think that it’s just some guy behind her coming up with all the ideas,” says Price. “She’s very underrated as a producer.
source : rollingstone (Thanks to Hector)

Madonna’s got a new tour documentary coming out, and she’s given MTV a special fans-only screening that you can’t pass up. Get a sneak peak of Madonna’s new behind-the-scenes and on-stage film “I’m Going To Tell You A Secret” in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 18th. Even better, Madonna herself will host the screening!
Just enter MTV’s “Tell Me A Secret” Contest and you could be one of the lucky fans to see Madonna’s new tour documentary before anyone else! These tickets are not for sale (and travel to New York is not included). There are only a limited amount of tickets to win, so act now…and of course, you can bring a guest!
Click here for more info.

1. Hung Up – Album Version
2. Hung Up – Radio Version
3. Hung Up – Tracy Young Get Up and Dance Groove Mix
4. Hung Up – Get Up and Dance Groove Mix Edit
5. Hung Up – SDP Extended Vocal Mix
6. Hung Up – SDP Vocal Mix Edit

source : madonnatribe.com

The album “Confessions on the Dancefloor “is not the only new Madonna creation this fall, Madonna.com & ICON are getting a complete new design make over. That’s right! All new content and special features will be available starting October 17, 2005! To make the launch of the new site and fan club even more special, ICON has teamed up with Motorola to bring ICON members an exciting new contest! Can’t give you anymore details right now, but stay tuned because Madonna.com & Motorola have a “secret” to share …
source : madonna.com

CL got a sneak peek at Madge’s new English Roses clothing line – her daughter, Lourdes, helped create it!
Where has style icon Madonna been getting her best fashion tips lately? From someone who hasn’t even hit her teens yet! The pop superstar’s 8-year old daughter, Lourdes, is the muse for Madge’s The English Roses line of girls’ apparel, which is inspired by (and named after) her smash 2003 children’s book by the same name. Lourdes has “tons of input on the design,” says the 47-year old Material Girl turned Mom-of-two, who also has a son, Rocco, 5, with her filmmaker hubby, Guy Ritchie, 37. The fall 2005 collection, featuring fun and floral clothing, footwear and accessories, has everything budding fashion stars need to win raves from their peers and their moms! “I wish I could fit into an English Roses outfit,” says Madonna. “I tried to squeeze into one of my daughter’s shirts, and looked ridiculous. No fair!”
source : madonna.com