all about Madonna

One ticket to the Super Bowl: $2,000. Thirty seconds of advertising during the Super Bowl: $2.7 million. Five seconds' worth of Madonna in a Super Bowl ad: A heck of a lot more than that.

Sources tell E! Online that the Material Girl was paid $10 million to appear in a new advertising campaign for Sunsilk hair-care products, including a commercial that will premiere during the the fourth quarter of Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants (most of whom do not make $10 million in an entire season).

In the 30-second spot, old stock footage of Madonna, Shakira and Marilyn Monroe is woven together in a Warholian, pop art-inspired montage touting Sunsilk's new "Life Can't Wait" global campaign.

"Make your hair happen," the ad urges, to the closing strains of Madonna's "Ray of Light."

Shakira did herself a nice--although not as nice--turn, as well, collecting $2.5 million from Unilever, which opted to use its only Super Bowl buy to spotlight the Sunsilk brand. (For those who don't want to wait for the two-minute warning, the commercial can be previewed at lifecan'twait.com.)

Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, had no comment on her client's reported payday.

"I have not seen the commercial nor do I have any information on the financial part of the deal," she told E! News.

Even if she did the work gratis, however, Madonna would still be the richest gal in the business. The Confessions on a Dance Floor artist banked $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007, according to Forbes.com's new list of the top 20 "Cash Queens of Music."

source : eonline.com

New IconMadonna.com, Madonna's Official Fan Club website, is now online.

Los Angeles - "It takes a really big man to fill my shoes," Madonna once quipped. Apparently, it also takes a really rich man to fill those formidable size eights. The 49-year-old pop superstar tops Forbes' first-ever Cash Queens of Music list of the top-earning female musicians, banking $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007.

Madonna earned much of that from her landmark Confessions tour, the highest-grossing tour for a female artist, earning $260 million worldwide. During that time-frame, Madonna also enjoyed income from record sales, her deal with hipster retailer of choice H&M and payment from NBC for rights to broadcast her concert performance at London's Wembley Stadium.

The Material Mom isn't slowing down one bit as she swings toward her 50th birthday this August. In October, the famously shrewd musician ditched Warner Music Group, her record label of 20 years, for an unprecedented 10-year deal with concert promoter Live Nation worth an estimated $120 million.

To compile the list, Forbes examined concert grosses, merchandising revenue, album sales and additional revenue streams from ancillary businesses: clothing lines, fragrance deals and endorsements. Only "active" artists were considered--those who had released an album or film or toured during the specified period. These are gross income figures, with no deductions for taxes, management or agent fees.

here's the list :

1. Madonna - $72 million
2. Barbra Streisand - $60 million
3. Celine Dion - $45 million
4. Shakira - $38 million
5. Beyoncé - $27 million
6. Gwen Stefani - $26 million
7. Christina Aguilera - $20 million
8. Faith Hill - $19 million
9. Dixie Chicks - $18 million
10. Mariah Carey - $13 million
11. Hilary Duff - $12 million
12. Avril Lavigne - $12 million
13. Martina McBride - $12 million
14. Britney Spears - $8 million
15. Carrie Underwood - $7 million
16. Nelly Furtado - $7 million
17. Fergie - $6 million
18. Jennifer Lopez - $6 million
19. Sheryl Crow - $6 million
20. Norah Jones - $5.5 million

Chicago (January 29, 2008) / PRNewswire / - Hair care brand Sunsilk hopes to inspire women around the world to leap from their couches and live life to the fullest with the debut of their massive "Life Can't Wait" Campaign during the broadcast of Super Bowl XLII on February 3. The Sunsilk "Life Can't Wait" Campaign features three of the world's most iconographic females - Madonna, Shakira and Marilyn Monroe - all of whom symbolize the power of expression and making life happen. The campaign aims to inspire women from all over the globe to live their own lives to the fullest.

Spanning three continents and fifteen countries, the campaign showcases these universal icons and reveals significant and life-defining moments in their lives - moments which inspired them to discover themselves, their identities and their always-evolving styles. The series of ads represent three artists who embody making life happen and seizing the moment.

"We're proud to unveil a powerful global campaign that features three truly inspirational icons," said Stan Cook, Vice President of U.S. Hair Care Operations, Unilever. "They're celebrated not only for their accomplishments but for living with passion and urgency as well as having the confidence to take leaps of faith - with their lives and their looks. Our hope is to inspire a new generation of women to do the same."
About the Campaign

Created by DeGrippes Gobé in Paris, the "Life Can't Wait" Campaign was born from the global insight that hair, more than any other physical attribute, plays a crucial role in a girl's power of transformation and self expression. Research conducted in six countries with 3,000 women revealed the universal truth that twenty-something women find having "good" hair can be a trigger for seizing opportunities.

The campaign will roll-out worldwide following its Super Bowl debut, premiering in countries including India, Brazil, Thailand and Mexico. To continue the momentum domestically, beginning on February 4, "Life Can't Wait" will have a presence on marquee billboards in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as a robust TV plan. It will also be supported by homepage takeovers on key Web sites including AOL, TMZ.com and MySpace.
What's Your Story? Share it at lifecantwait.com

Sunsilk is not only sharing the stories of Madonna, Shakira and Marilyn Monroe, but is also looking to hear the inspirational stories of women around the world, who have their own "Life Can't Wait" moment - an example of living life with spontaneity, courage and without regret - ultimately creating a global network of women who are making life happen and inspiring each other in the process.

Starting February 1, women can visit lifecantwait.com and post their "Life Can't Wait" moments. A selection of global winners, including one from the U.S., deemed the most inspiring, will become international Sunsilk icons, and will represent the U.S. in the global campaign.

"This contest allows girls to be part of a global make-it-happen movement," said Cook. "It gives them the opportunity to have their voice heard around the world while sharing with women everywhere how our campaign is personally-relevant to them."

For more information on the "Life Can't Wait" Campaign, to view the ads or enter the contest, visit lifecantwait.com starting February 1, 2008.

British pop star Mika is baffled by claims he turned down the chance to collaborate with Madonna on her new album.
The Grace Kelly hitmaker was reported to have refused an offer from Madonna to work on her forthcoming LP - but he's adamant the rumours are not true as she's never approached him about a collaboration.
However, the Lebanese-born singer would definitely consider working with the Like A Virgin star if she ever asked him.
He says, "I'm not working with her (Madonna). Believe me, if I got asked to work with her, I certainly wouldn't turn it down. Of all the women I'm fascinated by, she's certainly up there."
source : prnews

Filth And Wisdom
D: Madonna
United Kingdom 2008, English
C: Eugene Hutz, Holly Weston, Vicky McClure, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Graham, Inder Manocha, Shobu Kapoor
Panorama Special

Date - Showtime - Venue

Wed - Feb 13 - 21:30 - Zoo Palast 1
Thu - Feb 14 - 10:30 - CinemaxX 7
Fri - Feb 15 - 14:00 - International
Sat - Feb 16 - 21:30 - Zoo Palast 1
Sun - Feb 17 - 14:30 - Cubix 9

source : berlinale.de

Rolling Stones' Readers' Best Eighties Movie Themes

1. Simple Minds -- "Don't You Forget About Me " from The Breakfast Club
2. Prince -- "Purple Rain" from Purple Rain
3. Survivor -- "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III
4. Berlin -- "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun
5. Joe Esposito -- "You're The Best Around" from The Karate Kid
6. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes -- "I've Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing
7. Lindsey Buckingham -- "Holiday Road" from National Lampoon's Vacation
8. Peter Gabriel -- "In Your Eyes" from Say Anything
9. Yello -- "Oh Yeah" from Ferris Bueller's Day Off
10. Kenny Loggins -- "Danger Zone" from Top Gun
11. Oingo Boingo -- "Weird Science" from Weird Science
12. Madonna -- "Into the Groove" from Desperately Seeking Susan
13. Duran Duran -- "A View to a Kill" from A View to Kill
...

full list

Justin Timberlake and Timbaland are off to London to appear in Madonna's new video for the song "4 Minutes to Save the World." The two cowrote and coproduced the track, which is the first single off her forthcoming album (the last full LP she'll release for Warner Bros.), due out this April. Queen M also recently shot the cover art for the album (believed to be titled Give It To Me) with renowned fashion photographer and frequent collaborator Steven Klein. As fans clamor for a glimpse at the superstar's latest reinvention, details are starting to emerge about her new look and sound. Madonna's stylist, B. (yes, she just goes by the initial), told Women's Wear Daily at Chanel's couture show on Tuesday that "Madonna's look is going to be more edgy, more fresh -- no more disco." And Warner Bros. staffers who heard the record at a listening session last month describe it as "very now." Says an insider: "For the first time, [Madonna's] not chasing the next new sound. She's embracing what's happening today."

source : ew.com

Madonna leaving her gym in London (January 25 2008)

Madonna, together with Marilyn Monroe and Shakira, will front the first global advertising campaign for Sunsilk. The campaign aims to convince twenty-something girls around the world that "Life Can't Wait".

These three powerful fashion and beauty icons embody the spirit of living life with passion and urgency. They have made their lives happen and Sunsilk hopes millions of girls will be inspired to do the same.

Due to launch during the American Super Bowl on February 3rd, the Life Can't Wait campaign aims to encourage women to live their lives to the full by making the most of every minute.

The new Sunsilk campaign tells each icon's unique story through the lens of their changing hair - each look inspiring a new chapter in their lives, revealing the power of hair as a tool of self-expression.

For more info, visit www.lifecantwait.com

source : madonna.com

Perhaps someone should tell Madonna that walking counts as exercise, too.

The singer - famous for her punishing daily workouts - has to stroll just 20 yards from her front door to her own personal gym.

She has bought the £6 million house next to her main London home and converted it into a fitness centre.

It is thought she intended to knock the two properties together to avoid being seen in her less-than-glamorous gym gear.

But she has not obtained planning permission, meaning she is forced to come out of her house and walk 20 yards down the public street every day.

Her exercise routine is so regular that crowds have started to gather on the quiet road, waiting for her inevitable appearance.

When the 49-year-old superstar emerges, she often cuts a very homely figure in sensible trainers and lycra outfits.

Yesterday, her knee-length jogging bottoms revealed two exceptionally pale shins, one of which appeared to have a mysterious groove running down it.

The singer also showed that a star is never off-duty by carrying a mobile phone with her to her workout.

Madonna might be hoping to recoup some of the £6 million outlay on the converted house by saving a fortune in parking tickets.

She used to make her chauffeur wait on yellow lines outside the St John's Wood studio of her personal trainer James D'Silva twice a week while she did yoga inside.

Sadly, the local traffic wardens soon cottoned-on and the singer was hit with £2,500 in parking fines just over six months.

Her chauffeur at first tried to plead his case with officials but soon resorted to moving the vehicle backwards and forwards constantly to avoid the fines.

After a while, Madonna - who is worth an estimated £235million - clearly decided enough was enough and stumped up the cash for the ten-bedroom Georgian house.

She and husband Guy Ritchie already own five other properties around central London, as well as homes in Wiltshire, New York and Los Angeles.

It is understood that Madonna and the 39-year-old director fought off competition from Ab Fab actress Jennifer Saunders and celebrity photographer Mario Testino to get hold of the property last June.

source : dailymail

Madonna leaving the gym in London (January 23 2008)

Chanel's couture show Tuesday attracted an eclectic mix of women from film and music...
Madonna's stylist, who goes by the name of B., was also in the audience. Having just wrapped up working on Madonna's next album cover, shot by Steven Klein, the trendsetter said she was returning to London the next day to style a music video featuring Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. "Madonna's look is going to be more edgy, more fresh--with no more disco," she said.

source : wwd.com

source : berlinale.de

Madonna leaving her second home in London (January 22 2008)

Official Promo Site

Madonna leaving the Claridges Hotel in London (January 21 2008)

Britney Spears has been voted the world's most attractive woman by readers of Hello Magazine.

Over 110,000 people voted in the poll - which saw the troubled pop princess, 26, beat Angeline Jolie to the top spot - after receiving a whopping 29 per cent of the vote.

The magazine also conducted polls for Most Attractive Man and Most Elegant Woman.

Madonna, who celebrates her 50th birthday later this year was voted the year's most elegant woman - after impressing readers with her impeccable sense of style - and received well over a third of the vote.

And British actor Sean Bean was voted the most attractive man for the second year running, after garnering over a quarter of the votes cast.

949,800 were made in the three categories.

Here's the top fours -

Most Attractive Woman:

1. Britney Spears
2. Delta Goodrem
3. Mel C & Athina Onassis
4. Angelina Jolie

Most Attractive Man:

1. Sean Bean
2. Hugh Laurie
3. David Tennant
4. Nick Carter & Brad Pitt

Most Elegant Woman:

1. Madonna
2. Christina Aguilera
3. Sarah Michelle Gellar
4. Princess Mary of Denmark

The Return Of The Spice Girls tour got an extra boost of Girl Power this evening when the queen of pop herself came to watch the show. That's right, Madonna and her family were in the audience at The O2 Arena in London to watch the fab five perform their power-packed song and dance spectacular.

It's not the first time Madonna has seen the Spice Girls in concert, and the girls were delighted once again to perform in front of one of pop's biggest icons.

The Return Of The Spice Girls tour is directed and choreographed by Jamie King, who has worked with Madonna since 1996 and has directed her last three world tours.

source : thespicegirls.com

The Hills star Heidi Montag plans to dominate the music charts across the globe - insisting her career will rival that of superstar Madonna.

The 21-year-old aspiring singer has been using the "Like a Virgin" hitmaker as an inspiration during work on her debut album.

She says, "But it's not like with most pop artists, where they have a song sent to them that has nothing to do with their emotions or lives. It's all about me and my life. I'm taking my time to make sure it's a classic.

"I don't want to be the next pop person who's in or out. I want to be like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Stevie Wonder - all the greats."

The big question is - will Spencer Pratt sing backup or is he gone for good?

source : teenmusic.com

A hair-care brand is hoping to generate some attention through a worldwide campaign that gets under way with a star-filled commercial during Super Bowl XLII on Fox on Feb. 3.

The commercial will present three famous, fabulous females -- Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Shakira -- to promote the Sunsilk line of hair products sold by Unilever. The 30-second spot is scheduled for the fourth quarter of the game.

Some Super Bowl commercials that have been much blogged and buzzed about in recent years have been for products aimed at women. It may seem counterintuitive, but it can make sense if you consider that about 40 percent of the audience for the game is female.

Indeed, the Super Bowl is typically the No. 1 show for women each year, or No. 2 (after the Academy Awards).

Among the other advertisers in Super Bowl XLII that are taking advantage of the size of the female audience are Procter & Gamble, with a commercial for Tide to Go stain remover, and Limited Brands, with a spot for Victoria's Secret.

Unilever has capitalized on the female viewership during previous Super Bowls, advertising its Dove brand of skin- and hair-care products. Now it's time for Sunsilk, which the company brought out in the United States in mid-2006, 50 years after it was introduced in its first market, the Netherlands.

"We felt like a campaign of this magnitude deserved a very big stage," Sarah Jensen, marketing director at the Unilever hair-care division in Chicago, said Monday.

The campaign carries the theme "Life can't wait" and urges women to "make your hair happen." The commercial will direct viewers to a Web site (lifecantwait.com), which is scheduled to go live on Feb. 1.

Visitors to the site will be asked to share personal stories about how they -- like Madonna, Monroe and Shakira -- try to live life to the fullest.

Or, in the case of Monroe, who died in 1962, lived life to the fullest.

The commercial features snippets of songs associated with each star. Madonna sings "Ray of Light," Monroe sings "I Want to Be Loved By You" and Shakira sings "Whenever, Whatever."

After the spot appears in the Super Bowl, the campaign will migrate around the world, to 15 markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Sunsilk is sold by Unilever in about 80 countries.

Starting "in the toughest arena, which the Super Bowl is," is a "statement we want to make" about the importance of the campaign, said Andrei Gemeneanu, Sunsilk global brand director in London.

The campaign is intended as a worldwide reintroduction of Sunsilk, which is aimed at women in their 20's.

The campaign is being created by the Paris office of Desgrippes Gobé, an agency that specializes in brand identity and design. AKQA, a digital agency, is working on the Internet aspects of the campaign.

The worldwide creative agency for Sunsilk, JWT, part of the WPP Group, is helping to produce elements of the campaign that will appear in the United States, Ms. Jensen said.

Among the other advertisers in Super Bowl XLII are Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Walt Disney, FedEx, General Motors, PepsiCo and Toyota Motor.

Fox, part of the News Corporation, is charging an estimated average of $2.7 million for each 30 seconds of commercial time in the game.

Demand for spots in the Super Bowl, usually strong, has been particularly robust in recent months. Unilever decided in the fourth quarter of 2007 to devote the spot it bought in the game to Sunsilk, Ms. Jensen said.

source : nytimes

Darren Hayes covered Madonna's Dress You Up during his New Years Eve Show in London

Mumbai, Jan 11: Pop Diva Madonna got a taste of Mumbai's melting pot of culture when she stopped by at the city's oldest Jewish synagogue, a Afghan church and Haji Ali Dargah capping a ten-day visit to the country.

On an extended New Year break in India, the 49-year-old 'Material Girl" flew out of the country after spending her holiday in the desert towns of Rajasthan and Mumbai. Accompanied by her husband Guy Ritchie and children she arrived in Udaipur on December 31.

During the whistle-stop tour of the metropolis on the third day of her visit, the singer also headed to Moshe's restaurant located at upmarket Cuffe Parade for some Mediterranean food. On Tuesday, she savoured some south Indian delicacies like idli, vada and masala dosa for lunch at a road-side Udupi eatery.

'Shantaram' author Gregory David Robert accompanied the celebrities on their tour which culminated in a visit to his home at Khola Gada.

A priest at the heritage Afghan church said the singer was impressed by its structure.

"She was amazed at the structure of Afghan church. She read out the names of soldiers who died in Afghan war during 1838-43. She really liked the church," said priest Sunil Awale.

source : saharasamay.com

Madonna has been accused of conning fashion giant Gucci into raising money for the Kabbalah Centre, under the guise of her Raising Malawi charity.

A foxnews.com report on Wednesday says an event to be held February 6 in New York City is actually going to benefit Kabbalah and the Berg family, and Raising Malawi is a front for the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles.

Spokesperson for Madonna, Liz Rosenberg called the claims "outrageous, they are incorrect, inaccurate, hurtful and malicious," and told WWD "The reality is -- and it's never been a secret -- that the Raising Malawi organisation was co-founded by Madonna and Michael Berg, who is one of the spearheading executives of the Kabbalah organization. The Raising Malawi organisation is completely separate from the Kabbalah, and they are run as two separate organizations."

The report also indicated that Raising Malawi was attempting to teach the religion to Malawian orphans and was training teachers at the Kabbalah Centre to teach the religion to orphans in the poverty-stricken country.

These claims were also vehemently denied by Rosenberg who said "There are no religious lessons being taught to the children of Malawi"

She also said that fund raised at the event will benefit UNICEF and Raising Malawi and will used to build a school in Malawi.

"Accountability will be very clear and very specific, and all funds will be accounted for," she said.

source : nme

Madonna is "a symbol of modern womanhood", according to Donatella Versace.

The 'Hung Up' star - who was the face of Versace's Spring/Summer range in 2005 - has been branded a "true icon" by the famous fashion designer.

Donatella said: "The word 'icon' is overused, but in the case of Madonna I believe it has some meaning. She is a true icon. She has become a symbol of modern womanhood - confident, ambitious, dynamic, constantly reinventing herself.

"In 2005 Versace was involved in a process of reinvention with me, a blonde woman, at its helm, so I thought it would be appropriate to have Madonna as the representative of the brand.

"She is also a friend of mine and my late brother Gianni so there is a sense in which she symbolised the way in which Versace was staying true to its DNA, while evolving for the 21st century."

Donatella, 52, also revealed her current celebrity muse is 'Enchanted' heartthrob Patrick Dempsey.

She told Britain's The Independent newspaper: "Patrick's charisma, which defines him both on and off screen, was what led me to choose him to represent Versace menswear. That, and his classic good looks, of course. He has a real masculinity about him."

source : thecheers.org

Snoop Dogg is showing his R&B side on his latest single, "Sensual Seduction," but what about his rock edge? The West Coast mic maven stopped by the MTV offices recently and said he would like to collaborate with some icons to help him bring out that rarely seen side of his music.

"I want to work with Madonna, Bono or Mick Jagger," he said. "I'm on some rock sh--, man. Snoop Dogg, man! Rappers don't really move me too much. They can't do what I did. I'm trying to get down with something that's outta the box and bigger than me."

source : mtv

Madonna spends $10,000 a month on specially blessed Kabbalah water.

She reportedly cannot get enough of the $5-a-bottle beverage, and makes sure she always has a regular supply to hand.

A close source told In Touch Weekly magazine, "Madonna drinks a lot of water - that's one of her fitness secrets. And Kabbalah water is the only stuff she will touch.

"She also makes sure she always has some to hand, and has it regularly shipped to wherever in the world she is staying at the time."

A description of the blessed water on kabbalahwater.com reads, "The Kabbalistic blessings and meditations that are used to create Kabbalah Water bring about elegant and balanced crystalline structures in water, while negative consciousness has an opposite effect.

"This is hugely important. In a very literal way, Kabbalah Water is life's original blueprint information brought into the modern world."

Some leaders from the Kabbalah Centre are said to have claimed the water has the power to cure diseases including cancer and AIDS.

Madonna has been a devout follower of Kabbalah, a mystical off-shoot of Judaism, since the late '90s.

In 2006, it was revealed the 49-year-old singer - who has a son, Rocco, 7, and adopted son, David, 2, with husband Guy Ritchie, and daughter Lourdes, 11, from a previous relationship, had spent $2.4 million promoting the faith around the world in the previous four years.

source : azcentral

Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie spent the better part of Wednesday doing a pilgrimage of the holy shrines of various faiths. Beginning with the Jewish synagogue in Kala Ghoda and going on to Afghan Church, the American popstar skirted the shrine of Haji Ali before winding up with a shopping trip.

Gregory David Roberts, author of 'Shantaram' and her constant companion through her Mumbai tour, is reported to have helped her draw up her itinerary, although the popstar is known for her spiritual leanings. On Wednesday, her first stop was at Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue at Kala Ghoda. Madonna is one of the more famous propagators of Kabbalah, a mystical offshoot of Judaism, and has persuaded the likes of Demi Moore and Britney Spears to take it up.

Preparing to welcome her around 1 pm, synagogue officials were busy discussing arrangements with policemen who had cordoned off the lane. "Last week, David Roberts called us to say Madonna would like to look around our 124-year-old house of worship, although it was only after he made a formal application that we permitted this visit," said Solomon Sopher, chairman and managing trustee of the synagogue.

source : timesofindia

Lunch was rava cheese dosa, sev puri, jeera rice and dal makhani which the singer greedily licked off her fingers at the Udupi restaurant Saurabh in Colaba; but dinner was more eclectic for the Material Girl at Salt Water Grill in Chowpatty.

The company at the table provided the sparkle and fizz for Gregory David Roberts's dinner for Madonna. There was Queenie and Raja Dhody, Deveika and Suresh Bhojwani, Bandana Tiwari and Ravi Krishnan, designer Pria Kataria Puri, and Bollywood hunk John Abraham. Somewhere between the main course and dessert, Sanjay Dutt who was shooting next door gate-crashed the dinner, said hello, and gracefully exited. But Madonna stayed on till 12.30 am.

Queenie Dhody, who has wined and dined with the world's snootiest and best, thought Madonna was very relaxed and comfortable with herself. "For a global star, she was so basic and normal, so approachable, that it came as a shock," said Queenie later. The other diners, too, found Madonna to be "very chilled out", "without starry airs", and one gent even said she was "cool". All agreed that she was in fantastic shape and looked far younger than her 49 years.

The conversation over dinner was light and easy, there was no question of the air being 'My God this is Madonna' at the table, and the singer herself seemed familiar with Indian music and Bollywood. Unusually for Mumbai, nobody disturbed the table, no paparazzo flashed lights in their faces, and if other diners recognised Madonna they chose to bury their noses in the soups and souffles they had ordered. Maybe that is why Madonna said she wanted to return to Mumbai... but as a singer, to perform. Rock stars generally have their own idiosyncrasies because they are hounded by millions, but Madonna was neither jaded nor standoffish. "She was like any other person you meet," said a restaurant employee who did not even ask for her autograph.

source : timesofindia

Madonna leaving Keneseth Eliyahoo synagogue in Mumbai, India (January 09 2008)

Madonna with Guy Ritchie in Mumbai, India (January 09 2008)

Madonna and Guy Ritchie began their visit to India with a few days in Rajasthan. January providing them ideal weather to explore the state, the pop megastar and her family started out her stay at Udaipur's regal Rohet Garh -- a 17th century heritage resort -- by camping in two luxury tents at the resort's wilderness camp, 17 kilometers away from the resort itself.

"She went riding everyday," says Thakur Manvendra Singh, the owner of the hotel. Madge has always been into horses, despite having broken three ribs from a fall back in 2005. "She rode to the different settlements, to the rural areas where the Bishnois and other local communities live. She rode all the way to Loni Fort, and each ride was about 25 kilometres."

The family -- Madonna [Images] and Ritchie came with children Lourdes, Rocco and David -- are very private people, says Singh, not wanting to divulge much personal details. "The security was very tight, and they didn't want anybody to know about the visit.

"She's a reserved person," Singh says of the 49-year-old legend. "It took her a little while to open out. After which she was very nice indeed. Her husband is very nice as well."

Rajasthani food, heavy on spices, takes some getting used to, especially for foreigners, but Madonna dove right in. "Oh, she was eating only Rajasthani cuisine, with a few minor exceptions from time to time. It isn't about the stereotypical Rajasthani dishes, she was having proper family food prepared at home with all of us, and loving it."

While in the resort, there was no exposure to the media. Not that the paparazzi was throwing in the towel, of course. "She went riding and the paparazzi stalked her in a jeep and took photographs of her," marvels Singh. "They just don't give up.

"It is a demanding experience," Singh admits after having hosted the Ritchies. "You have to be on your toes. They are high profile guests and you have to be prepared for any unexpected demand they make."

The Ritchies enjoyed their Rajasthani sojourn considerably, though. While Madge's son Rocco and David played football with Singh's grand-nephew and the local village lads, the star herself made the most of it with the Singh's annual traditional evening. This is a lavish event involving the Singhs' personal family and close friends, and the Ritchies were invited -- and had a blast.

"One thing I can say about her is that she is an incredibly good dancer," Singh grins, not surprising anyone with his statement. "She took one look at the traditional folk dance steps and joined right in! It isn't easy to pick up the dance, and she did that immediately! It was fantastic."

source : rediff

Madonna with Guy Ritchie in Mumbai, India (January 08 2008)

Pop star Madonna toured the Mumbai slums on Tuesday with Gregory David Roberts, the convicted robber who turned his time spent there following an escape from an Australian prison into the best-selling novel "Shantaram".

The singer, who is on an extended New Year's break in India with family, walked around Cuffe Parade, a seafront neighbourhood where million-dollar high rises sit next to fishermen's huts, typical of the gulf between the city's richest and poorest.

Madonna was seen entering a fisherman's hut in Cuffe Parade with a woman companion and later walking into a roadside vegetarian restaurant, warding off eager journalists and photographers.

Her chaperone Roberts, who fled from an Australian jail in 1980 after being convicted of bank robbery, appeared to take them to places mentioned in his novel, which is due to be made into a film by Mira Nair, starring Johnny Depp.

They visited a motorcycle mechanic's garage and a market of old curios in a grimy Muslim quarter where she looked at the shops from inside her car. Roberts has set up a free health service for some of Mumbai's poor, and also does some teaching.

Madonna ushered in the New Year along with Guy Ritchie, her film director husband, and their children in the deserts of Rajasthan state before reaching Mumbai.

source : reuters

Palace-hopping can be gruelling business. So, Madonna chose to pamper herself in five-star comfort on Monday.

Sitting by a banyan tree, the pop star got an oil massage at the spa of the Udaipur hotel where she has put up with her husband and two children.

Madonna has been soaking in the lush green hills, lakes, palaces and temples that dot the Rajasthan city since her arrival on Sunday (picture on top by Tuklak Bhanawal shows the pop star at the Shrinathji temple with her husband).

Soon after checking in to the hotel, Madonna took a boat ride on the Pichola Lake, making a stop at Jag Mandir in the middle of the lake (in picture with her daughter and husband)

Madonna then went to the City Palace, where she found the crystal section outstanding, sources said.

Holiday, of course, is no reason to take it easy. The 49-year-old Queen of Pop spent an hour at the hotel's gymnasium before the massage, the sources said.

Madonna's mother-in-law would be happy to know that the she also visited the Saas-Bahu ki Mandir.

source : telegraphindia

After having spent her New Year in the picturesque region of Jaisalmer and Udaipur, Madonna [Images] has arrived in Mumbai today.

The pop diva is accompanied by her director husband Guy Ritchie and their children Lourdes, Rocco and David. Madonna reached Mumbai around noon, in a chartered flight from Udaipur.

Surprisingly, not many security guards followed her car -- a golden Innova -- to her destination in Colaba, South Mumbai.

This is not the first time that the singer has come to India. Before this, she had visited the holy city of Varanasi for her yoga classes.

source : rediff

Rocker Sting's wife Trudie Styler is responsible for introducing Madonna to her director husband Guy Ritchie. The 54-year-old - who was an executive producer for the filmmaker's hit movies Snatch and Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels - felt the pair were well-suited for romance, and invited both to a dinner party in 1998. She says, "Oh, God! Yes, I had a sense that they'd really like each other and really complement each other and I think they do - they're fantastic parents, and they sparkle when they're together. But I'm not a kiss and tell!" Madonna and Ritchie named Styler godmother to their son Rocco John after he was born in 2000.
source : contactmusic

Pop diva Madonna is absorbing every bit of the scenic beauty and traditional magic of Rajasthan. The 'Material Girl' paid a visit to the state's famous Nathdwara temple along with her husband Monday afternoon and prayed at the revered shrine.

Madonna, who has extended her stay in Rajasthan, visited the Srinathji temple in Nathdawara, around 50 km from here.

'She stayed at the Hotel Oberoi Udaivilas till lunch and afterwards left for the Nathdwara temple, from where she also went to the temple of Eklingji. She is expected to stay in Udaipur for at least one more day,' a source told IANS.

'She arrived at the temple around 3.40 p.m. along with her husband. She spent around five minutes praying with folded hands, after which she was also felicitated by the temple authorities and given prasad,' a temple source said.

The pop star, after spending a week at Jodhpur, landed in Udaipur early Sunday morning.

Nathdawara is famous for its Krishna temple, which houses the 12th century idol of the Shrinathji, or Krishna. The idol was moved in the 17th century from Govardhan hill, near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, to protect it from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's campaign against Hindu worship in his empire.

Millions of devotees come to the temple every year.

After spending some time at the temple, Madonna drove back to Udaipur. On her way back she also prayed at Eklingji, dedicated to Lord Shiva, about 20 km from here.

'She is enjoying her Rajasthan holiday very much and it seems she does not want to miss any of the important places in the state,' the source added.

Madonnna, accompanied by her husband, son and some family friends arrived in Jaipur Dec 31 from the Maldives.

From Dec 31 to Jan 5, she was staying at heritage hotels near Jodhpur. She went horse riding, danced the ghoomar attired in traditional folk dress, and joined folk dancers in singing 'Nimbura, Nimbura' and other songs.

source: earthtimes

After spending seven days in and around historic city of Jodhpur, Madonna Sunday landed in Udaipur, a city of majestic palaces and beautiful lakes in Rajasthan.

"She came early in the morning at around 11.30 a.m. and straight away drove to Hotel Udai Vilas," informed sources told IANS.

Adorning the banks of Lake Pichola and standing witness to the historic City Palace, The Oberoi Udai Vilas captures all the romance and splendour of a royal era.

The hotel, rated as one of the best in the world, has premier rooms, luxury suites and private pool.

And if sources are to be believed Madonna - who has come on a private visit - is staying in the Kohinoor suite of the hotel. The suite, a 2,650-square-feet of palatial comfort, has fountain courtyards, a massive private pool, and a sitting room with real fireplaces.

She is likely to spend at least a night here and is expected to go on a sightseeing tour of the historic tourist city and would also take a boat ride Monday, sources said.

She has liked Rajasthan so much that she has extended her stay in the state by two more days.

"Earlier she was expected to leave the state Jan 5 but now she is slated to leave Jan 7 and chances are high she may further extend it by a day or two," the sources added.

The Material Girl accompanied by her husband, son and some family friends arrived in Jaipur Dec 31 by a chartered flight from the Maldives.

After spending a few hours at Jaipur airport, she flew to Jodhpur. And from Dec 31 to Jan 5 she was staying in heritage hotels near Jodhpur and enjoying horse riding among other things, the sources said.

source : hindustantimes.com

Madonna told last night how she sang karaoke for an Indian Maharaja after a royal feast at his desert fort.

The pop queen, accompanied by her kids Lourdes, ten, and Rocco, seven, put on an impromptu show to thank Maharaja Gaj Singhji II for his hospitality.

She said: "It was great to be in royal company.

"Lourdes and Rocco were in awe of him - they kept hugging him. It was fabulous, we sang karaoke for him."

Madge, 49, revealed she and hubby Guy Ritchie took a family holiday to the Rajasthan desert to get over the stress of their battle to adopt David Banda, two.

She has enjoyed long horse rides and had dance lessons from local entertainers.

The Material Girl singer, whose new album is due out next month, added: "Indian music is very groovy. I might release a fusion track."

source : thesun

Madonna arrives at the airport in the western Indian city of Jodhpur (January 6 2008)

Madonna and her family go on a boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India (January 06 2008)

It's not every day that Warner Bros. Records gets a visit from the Material Girl herself. Well we didn't exactly roll out a red carpet - but we did build a plastic brick path inspired by the Candyland game that Miss M. happily strolled down on the way to our conference room which was completely transformed into a palatial pink and white candy emporium. All we knew was there was a song on her upcoming CD that mentions a candy shop - henceforth our theme. And of course, Madonna's love for candy - especially hot tamales is pretty well known. This was strictly for the Warner Bros. Records employees - no press, no photographers, no cell phones. Madonna, always the perfect hostess screamed out different song choices to our resident dj by numbers. "Jesse, play no. 5 next" and so on. We were treated to l0 songs with comments by the artist on some of her collaborators Pharrell, Justin, Timbaland, an appearance by Kanye West, etc.

Every song was a knock out with two apparant favorites being Four Minutes to Save The World and Candy Shop or Candy Store (not decided)...Madonna mentioned she was a little nervous as it was the first official playing of the music. Thankfully it was a room filled with Madonna fans who cheered after every song was played. Champagne and soda and lots of candy later, we all agreed that we felt blessed that we worked at Warner Bros. Records.