madonnalicious

Postal Service to put living Americans on stamps

Could Bruce Springsteen bail out the U.S. Postal Service? How about Oprah? Is the twisted allure of using Madonna to send out your Progress Energy bill enough for you to ditch online banking and bust it old school?
In a move to stave off financial woes and death-watch buzz, the U.S. Postal Service on Monday announced that, for the first time, living Americans will be eligible to have their proud visages smacked on stamps.
Surely you remember stamps: tiny, sticky, square-y. Before we all filed our taxes electronically and wrote love letters with our thumbs, we used to do things the old-fashioned way. You know, mail stuff.
Originally, someone would have to be dead 25 years before they were considered for grand stampitude. The Postal Service eventually dropped that time limit to 10 years and then, in January 2007, to five years.
Now, in hopes of reviving business - the USPS lost $2.2 billion in the second quarter of this fiscal year - select famous folks will enjoy their postage prestige while they can still hear people complain about the choice.
'The main criterion (for the honor) is outstanding contribution to the U.S.,' says Stephen Kearney, executive director of stamp services for the Postal Service.
'We tried not to limit it up front,' he adds, 'although it is unlikely we would consider any politician currently serving in office or running for office.'
So President Barack Obama is out, and probably Sarah Palin, too. You have to be American. So bye-bye, Canada's Justin Bieber.
Such luminaries as Michael Jordan, Ellen DeGeneres and Rush Limbaugh, as well as the Boss, Oprah and the Material Girl, have been suggested on the USPS Stamps Facebook page.
The Postal Service gets 40,000 suggestions for stamp honors every year; typically 50 finalists are selected, with the ultimate vote going to the postmaster general. Postal officials aren't sure how this gambit will pan out, but they're excited about the reaction.
'It's not that there aren't enough deceased people to honor,' laughs Kearney. 'We're just hoping to be more timely, relevant and meaningful.'

From St. Petersburg Times - thanks to Michael

German Magazines: Grazia

The 22 September issue of German Grazia magazine features this three-page interview with Madonna - click on the article to enlarge.

Thanks to Kirsten

Frida Giannini: Madonna cures my stress

Frida Giannini knows how relax. In a period when pressure on designers has become the subject of fashion debate, the Gucci creative director seems to have struck a perfect balance between work and play.
'In the summer, my hair is curly, I get my guitar and I do Robert Plant [impressions],' she said. 'Or sometimes, after I have had a nice glass of wine, I do Madonna, Like A Virgin - that's one of my best ones. I can only be like that when I am in a very tight, cosy environment. That is the only way I can relax.'

From British Vogue

Madonna one of the most well-liked stars

Superstars Bono, Angelina Jolie, and Madonna are among the most well-liked and trusted public figures in the world, according to a new international poll.
Each year The Reputation Institute evaluates politicians, sports stars and celebrities to determine who ranks best in the eyes of the public, and this year Salt star Jolie, U2 frontman Bono and veteran entertainer Madonna made the cut.
The total list of 54 was compiled using information from the general public and measured by the degree to which a person was liked, respected, admired, and trusted.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela topped the list, tennis ace Roger Federer came in at number two, and music mogul/entrepreneur Richard Branson also made the top five.
Beloved TV host Oprah Winfrey and rocker Bono came in at eight and nine, respectively, while Jolie beat out U.S. President Barack Obama (14) and the Dalai Lama (13) for a spot at number 12.
Soccer hunk David Beckham was 24th on the list and Madonna was 29th. Lady Gaga also just made the cut - at 41.

From the Calgary Sun

Merchandise: Miss Selfridge Vest Top

This top featuring Madonna and her lollipop is available to buy both in store and online at www.missselfridge.com - the top is priced at £24.

German Magazines: OK!

Two articles were featured in the German version of OK! magazine (08 September issue) looking at Madonna and Brahim's night in a club and the Venice premiere of W.E. - click on the articles to enlarge.

Thanks to Kirsten

Madonna helped dress actors on W.E. set

Madonna's daily routine on the set of 'W.E' included helping to dress the actors and actresses.
The singer wrote the script for and directed the new movie - a two-tier tale about the life of Britain's King Edward VIII and his American wife Wallis, and a modern-day woman called Wally - and said her on set rituals included dressing the stars including Andrea Riseborough and Abbie Cornish.
She explained to flicksandbits.com: 'One of my rituals, one of the most important rituals for me was to help finish dressing the actors or the actresses. I loved putting the finishing touches on them, and feeling a connection with them before we began the day of shooting. So putting on their necklaces and their bracelets, fine-tuning their hair and clothes and kind of finding an excuse to touch them, basically, was my ritual.'
She also admitted that Wallis Simpson intrigued her because there is 'nothing fabulous about her background'.
Madonna said: 'She was and is a very provocative character in the history of world politics, in the world of fashion, in the decision that King Edward VIII made to leave the throne. I dont think it was ever done before. It changed the British Empire, it changed things enormously.'
'And she is a mysterious, enigmatic creature - not conventionally beautiful, not young, twice divorced, there's not anything fabulous about her background. Yet somehow she managed to capture the heart of the man who, at the time, held the most important position in the world. That story intrigued me immensely, I wanted to understand it.'

From BigPond News

Fan Pictures: Venice Film Festival

madonnalicious reader Bruno managed to take these fabulous pictures at the W.E. press conference and premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project: London Auditions

Madonna will attend the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project event in New York City on November 12, it was confirmed by Live Nation Entertainment. The event will include the search to find the most unique, and innovative dancer who performs in front of Madonna and her long-time choreographers, Rich + Tone. The last dancer standing at the end of the epic dance-off has the chance of winning the coveted prize and becoming part of her official dance crew.

To kick-off the competition in Great Britain, Smirnoff are teaming up with well known Pineapple Dance Studios to host open audition filming on Friday 23 September between 12:00PM - 9:00PM at Pineapple Dance Studios, 7 Langley Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JA. Whether it’s krumping, salsa, pointe, pop and locking, or lyrical, dancers are invited to put their skills to the test for the ultimate prize.

For those hopefuls unable to make the open audition filming, aspiring dancers are encouraged to upload a 60-second video of their most original routine by October 10 to be selected for one of the ten spots at the November live auditions. Entrants must be 21 years old and over. For details on the dance submission process and terms and conditions, visit www.smirnoff.com

Mexican Magazines: Quien

A picture of Madonna at the Venice Film Festival was featured on the front cover of Mexican magazine Quien (16 September issue) with a four-page article inside.

Thanks to Franco at www.madonnamexico.com

Madonna pictured in New York City

Visit Mail Online to view the latest pictures of Madonna and Brahim as they visited The Kabbalah Center in New York City over the weekend.

UK Magazines: OK!

The 13 September issue of OK! (number 793) magazine featured this one-page feature on highlights from Madonna's Venice Film Festival press conferences.

Mel C chooses her top ten female performers

Singer and former Spice Girl Mel C picks her most inspiring singers - and Madonna is included in her top ten:

I go way back with Madonna. I remember being embarrassed by the lyrics to Like A Virgin as a child, but I was secretly blown away. She’s the artist who made me want to be a pop star, and as a kid I learnt all the songs and routines. She’s a performer who really pushed the boundaries.
People compare Lady Gaga to Madonna, but while I have a lot of respect for Lady Gaga, Madonna did all the groundwork for artists like her. She’s completely in control of her career, has an amazing work ethic and pays real attention to every aspect of her image.
Her videos have always been spectacular; her shows are massive events. I’ve seen her several times – the first was The Girlie Show in 1993. That was a really breathtaking show. If I had to pick one of her albums it would be Ray Of Light.

To read the rest of Mel's list visit: www.dailymail.co.uk

Merchandise: H&M Tshirt

madonnalicious reader Orlando spotted this Herb Ritts shot True Blue era tshirt in the H&M store in Pforzheim, Germany - the price was €16.

A makeover for Madonna's movie?

Madonna is being quietly urged to re-edit some scenes of her movie about the love affair between King Edward VIII and Mrs Wallis Simpson, who later became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
If Madonna wants W.E. to be a contender this awards season, she must act fast and have a new version ready by the UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 23.
An executive close to the film said that, now it has been shown at the Venice and Toronto festivals, Madonna has a brief window of opportunity to decide how to shape her movie to best advantage.
‘We see shots of a lot of corridors, so they can go, and other scenes can be trimmed,’ the executive told me.
In fact, the picture could be cut by ten minutes without compromising the director’s vision, which brings a rock ’n’ roll sensibility to a love story we all thought we knew.
It has the advantage of being visually stunning and benefits from an excellent central performance by Andrea Riseborough as the Duchess.
Also, Madonna’s take on what Wallis had to give up to be with Edward (or David, as his family and mistresses called him) is incredibly moving. She was in a mink-lined prison: able to have anything she desired but, ultimately, lonely.
Madonna runs a parallel modern-day story featuring Abbie Cornish and Oscar Isaac that acts as a commentary on what the Duchess had to endure, and although it stops the film becoming a heritage picture, some critics feel it slows the narrative down.
When Madonna and I spoke in Venice, she acknowledged that ‘maybe it needs a bit of this and a bit of that, and maybe it is still a work in progress’.
She laughed and added, with a hint of frustration: ‘For God’s sake, I hope it’s over with soon!’
Films get re-cut all the time, so there’s no shame in going back to the editing suite. At least she hasn’t got to shoot additional scenes, a common practice in the movie business.
Madonna said she wouldn’t mind doing a special screening for the Royal Family. ‘Maybe if they saw them (the Duke and Duchess) as human beings, it might help.’
I doubt the Queen would ever command a performance and, if she did, it would never be publicly acknowledged. But if the director and Her Majesty were to meet, perhaps Madge could ask permission to do a movie on the Queen Mother.
‘That would be an interesting subject. She was a tough cookie,’ she told me.

From Baz Bamigboye / www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz

UK Magazines: Hello!

UK magazine Hello! (12 September issue 1191) featured two pages of pictures from the Venice Film Festival and Madonna's W.E. premiere - click to enlarge.

Berlusconi attacked by a new voice of opposition: Madonna

Madonna has weighed into the Italian political fray by launching a stinging attack on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, saying the scandal-bound premier is 'unsuited to govern Italy'.
The Italian-American singer and actor made her remark in an interview at the Venice film festival where she presented W.E., her much-panned biography of Wallis Simpson. Her comments were labelled as 'offensive' and 'communist' by irate Berlusconi supporters following their publication yesterday in Oggi magazine.
'What do I think about Berlusconi?' said the 53-year-old. 'I wouldn't like to talk about it now. But The Economist already said everything, didn't it?' referring to the publication's 9 June cover in which a picture of grinning Mr Berlusconi accompanied the headline, 'The man who screwed an entire country' - a not-too-subtle double reference to Italy's teetering economy and his alleged penchant for prostitutes.
Madonna said she would return to discuss the state of Italy after she'd finished promoting her film. But she could not resist adding her two cents worth, opining that gaffe-prone Berlusconi was 'unsuited to govern Italy'.
It was enough to enrage Berlusconi loyalists, including Carlo Giovanardi, an undersecretary in the Prime Minister's office. Demonstrating a level of skill with press soundbites on a par with the Queen of Pop's prowess in the director's chair, he said Madonna's opinion 'counts for nothing, because Italians know that she's a multi-millionaire and that people are not going to be influenced by these rich and spoilt would-be lords'.
Then realising, perhaps, that this might not be the best line of attack given the multi-billionaire premier, with assets of €5bn, was one of Italy's richest men, Mr Giovanardi changed tack, attacking her support of homosexual causes. But as the Italian media continued to run with Madonna's comments, another PdL party politician, Daniela Santanché, said the star had 'insulted millions of Italians'. Another PdL MP, former pop star Gabriella Carlucci, suggested that Madonna had employed a 'communist press office'.

From The Independent

German Magazines: Bunte and Grazia

German magazines Bunte and Grazia featured articles on Madonna's W.E. Venice premiere and a family arrival at the airport - click on the images to enlarge.

Thanks to Kirsten

Report from inside the Toronto press conference

madonnalicious reader Matt attended both the W.E. press conference and premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival - here is his report and review:

Madonna was radiant promoting W.E.; dressed in mint condition, agreeable, friendly, cordial, smiling. It was refreshing to see her be so kind and open. The conference lasted 45 minutes...which is the equivalent of 8 Madonna years. She took dozens and dozens of questions about her life, the movie, the process of filming and writing, and her career.
Obviously, I was in heaven; all right, I was having an out of body. But, I had to keep me cool; I pretended I worked for a film company so my friend could sneak me in. I was the youngest there by a longshot. The writers seem to be mostly older men and women who pounced on me; they were chatting me up and asking me to send them screeners of the movie.
My favorite quip from Madonna was in response to a statement made by a reporter likening Wallis' romantic experience to Madonna's: 'Madonna, I am sure you know what it feels like to be loved so much; I mean, any man would give up his kingdom for you.' She rejoinders:' 'I wouldn't count on it!'
Another clever reply came when she was asked: 'Madonna, what is in your jewelry box?' She replied coyly: 'I have a few nice pieces...but, the nicest things I have I gave myself.'
She slips in between 'Madonna dialects'; polished and faux British, mid Western twang, accentless American English. She bats her eyes a lot as she takes questions and formulates her thoughts. It is an affectation that lends import to every word she utters.
Her press agent was adamant that the reporters not photograph Madonna while she answered questions. Madonna kept shooting her knowing stares. Madonna piped up finally and insisted that the photographs 'were a distraction' going as far as to say, 'How close is that bulb?!' 'I can't concentrate.'
It really was too close; I agreed with her. I even liked how she tried to be diplomatic by saying, 'How about I answer a question. Then you can take a picture.' They feigned agreement. She beamed, 'Democracy!' But, the reporters did not let up. And, there was no way for her to get out of the pickle without looking like a controlling bitch. It made me realize that with this project she really is in the hands of the public. She laughed about the 'Hydrangea-incident' at Venice Film Festival, a nod to self-deprecation.
Following oodles of questions and photos of Madonna, her bodyguards escorted her out and Abby Cornish came in. Abby is beautiful; Nicole Kidman smile on a Kate Winslet body. She has a very fresh and pretty face. She is a curvaceous gal. Not a rail like some of the others.
The day of glory continued with the premiere of the film which started at 6:30; I was seated in reserved seating three rows behind Madonna and the cast. The audiences in Toronto are so respectful, courteous and genuinely excited to be a part of the magic. Madonna introduced the film saying, 'As many of you know, I am from Detroit, so I am practically Canadian...I love Toronto so much; even though they have tried to arrest me here.'
Just as I thought the crowd would continue it's demure attitude towards the stars, the crowd began screaming for her. You have never seen anything like the shouting: 'Madonna! Madonna! Madonna!' It was like they were seeing a saint. Religious zeal is what it felt like; you know when people go crazy and seem drugged up and nuts? That was the way these fans acted. These fans make me look like a calm cool collected wallflower.
What was great was that I was on the inside seeing the whole process unfurl. These stars are on a year long campaign to promote their movies, meet the press, get the word out, and aspire to some kind of lasting artistic glory. Madonna said that her musical performances are so 'primal, such an instantaneous give and take', while film is much more of an intellectual undertaking. Which takes us to the movie...

My read is: one part Kings Speech (history), two parts Single Man (styling), one part Julie Julia (narrative device). See it and tell me if you agree.
The film was beautiful; it has a modern plot that is used as a lens to understanding the romance of Wallis and Edward. My feeling is that the acting of Andrea Riseborough who played Wallis was outstanding. I bumped into Andrea at the Soho House after-party for W.E. and told her how much I loved her dancing and her Dolce and Gabbana dress. She was kind and took the time to ask me my name and really gave Madonna a lot of credit. (I overheard her introduce herself to Gerard Butler saying, 'Hi, I am Andrea.' He said, 'Oh, what are you here promoting?' She responded, 'W.E. You know, Madonna's movie.')
The score to the movie is sensational; the dialogue is a little contrived at times. Such a shame. I could have edited it college app-style and done some less cheesy transitions. I feel like the public will be hard on the movie and not appreciate the styling and the film techniques which were really beautifully interwoven into the story (because, like I said, it is told as a lens so the movie shifts through decades; a cup and saucer at the Sotheby's auction is a catalyst for a party at Bois Boulogne in 1936 Paris. it is a device that works, though, in my opinion and I never felt confused by it).
The costumes. THE COSTUMES! Jesus! The costumes are marvelous. There is a sexy silver dress Wallis wears as she dances. I hope my friend Tom Ford makes a dress like that next season; it would be perfect for his collection's aesthetic!

Madonna in talks to launch signature fragrance

Madonna is reportedly planning to launch her own signature fragrance.
The '4 Minutes' singer is in 'serious discussions' with cosmetics conglomerate Coty to create her own perfume, reports WWD.
Lady GaGa, Jennifer Lopez and David Beckham have previously partnered with Coty to release their own fragrances.
Representatives for Madonna and Coty haven't commented on the report.
Madonna and daughter Lourdes recently launched their own Material Girl fashion and cosmetics range, which has been marketed for teenagers.

From Digital Spy

UK Press: Metro

UK city newspaper the Metro picked up on the fact that Madonna's Toronto premiere shoes still had the price labels on the soles! Click on the image to enlarge.

Mexican Press: Toronto W.E. Premiere

Madonna's appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival to premiere W.E. featured in several Mexican newspapers on Tuesday - below are scans from El Universal, Milenio and Periodico. Click on the articles to enlarge.

Thanks to Franco at www.madonnamexico.com

Madonna Won't Eat Marmite

Madonna's worst nightmare would be to eat a Marmite sandwich.
The 53-year-old star is not a fan of the salty yeast spread - which has a very acquired taste and is popular in Britain - and even though 14-year-old daughter Lourdes is trying to get her to try one, Madonna is standing firm.
Speaking at the premiere of her new movie 'W.E.' at the Toronto Film Festival, Madonna is quoted by the MailOnline as saying: 'I would do anything for my children. For sure. Except have a Marmite sandwich. My daughter's insistent that I eat one, but I won't! Vile!'
Lourdes is thought to have developed a taste for Marmite - which has the slogan, 'You either love it or hate it' - while she was living in the UK during Madonna's marriage to British film director Guy Ritchie, which ended in 2008.

From contactmusic.com

Fan Pictures: Toronto W.E. Premiere

madonnalicious reader Ron attended the Toronto premiere of W.E. on Monday 12 September and shared these pictures of Madonna introducing the film.

Video: On the Toronto W.E. Red Carpet

Madonna hit the red carpet at TIFF and xtra.ca was there to hear about her new film W.E., why she is a great director and what kind of wine she would be...if she were a bottle of wine.