all about Madonna

Madonna going to / leaving the her gym in London (April 04 2008)

Madonna has dramatically scrapped her two-year bid to adopt a Malawian girl.
Instead she will support the orphan financially from Britain.
The 49-year-old singer told aides she has been left “exhausted” by a mountain of red tape.
Her adoption of Malawian son David Banda, two, was finalised this month. Pals were sure she would be bringing home Mercy, also two, as a sister for him.
But Madonna – who has two other children and is wed to Brit film director Guy Ritchie – feared another two years of legal wrangling.
A family friend said: “Madonna wanted to adopt a boy and a girl.
“But Mercy’s relatives objected and she had a complete turnaround.
“Everyone was stunned. Normally nothing will stop her.
“She now believes David will be the last child she adopts. Instead she will support orphans through her charity.”

source : the sun

Pop star Madonna should be allowed to adopt Malawian child David Banda, the country’s government has recommended ahead of a court hearing.

An official who visited the singer’s London home last year has told Malawi’s high court that adoption is “in the best interests” of the two-year-old.

The boy has lived with Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie since October 2006 after they met him in an orphanage.

An adoption hearing is scheduled to take place in Malawi next week.

‘No interference’

But the singer’s lawyers have asked for the hearing to be delayed until the end of April because she has another engagement in the US.

A court official said on Monday that a judge would give an answer later in the day.

Last year, the Malawian child welfare ministry confirmed that Madonna had been funding a member of ministry staff.

The singer was said to have paid for tuition and living expenses while an employee was studying in Britain.

But Madonna has denied using her celebrity status to evade Malawian laws during the adoption process.

Her spokeswoman has said there has been “absolutely no interference” with government officials and “no use of Madonna’s celebrity’” to speed up the adoption process.

source : bbc.co.uk

Madonna leaving out for a photoshoot in London (April 03 2008)

Madonna — “4 Minute” Fever Spreads Across the World — Victims Can’t Stop Dancing

New Video Makes Exclusive World Premiere on iTunes April 3rd; Song to Be Featured in Warner Bros.-Village Roadshow Pictures Film ‘Get Smart’; Single Exploding at Radio and Digital Sales; International Response Huge

“4 Minutes,” the pulsating and hypnotic debut single from Madonna’s 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records, “HARD CANDY,” is off to a roaring start with explosive exposure in a wide range of mediums.

The breathtaking new video for “4 Minutes” featuring a propulsive performance by Madonna along with appearances by the song’s co-writers and co-producers Timbaland and Justin Timberlake will make its world premiere and be available for sale exclusively on iTunes for 48 hours beginning April 3rd. The video was filmed in London in February and directed by French wunderkinds Jonas and Francois (Justice and Kanye West). The single, “4 Minutes,” is currently #1 on iTunes.

The upcoming Warner Bros.-Village Roadshow Pictures action comedy “Get Smart” is on board to include ‘4 Minutes’ in the film. In theatres nationwide on June 20th, “Get Smart” stars Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway as secrent CONTROL operatives Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 on a mission to thwart a plan for world domination by the evil crime syndicate KAOS. The film also stars Dwayne Johnson as superstar CONTROL Agent 23, Alan Arkin as the Chief, Terence Stamp as notorious KAOS kingpin Siegfried and James Caan as the President of the United States.

On the international front, “4 Minutes” is already Top 3 across Europe in airplay and Top 10 around the world. Already playing in heavy rotation on radio stations across the US, the single in Canada is the fastest selling song in the history of the Canadian music charts. The song can also be heard as part of Sunsilk’s multi-million dollar ad campaign.

“HARD CANDY” will have a global release on April 28th and a US release on April 29th and is a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode but adds an urban hip hop beat. “4 Minutes” is Madonna’s 26th Top 40 chart hit in the US. Her previous album, “Confessions On A Dance Floor,” debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and sold over 8 million copies.

Madonna, a multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world renowned stage performer, video visionary, children’s book author, director and documentary film maker, has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade plus career and has just been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

When asked about the “4 Minute Fever Phenomenon,” Madonna commented, “Goody goody gum drops.”

source : marketwire