madonnalicious

Ritchie Doesn't 'Regret' Madonna Marriage

Filmmaker Guy Ritchie has opened up about his failed marriage to Madonna, insisting he doesn't regret his time with the pop superstar even though his life played out like a 'soap opera' while they were together.
The pair ended its eight-year union in 2008 and both Madonna and Ritchie have since moved on to find love with new partners Brahim Zaibat and Jacqui Ainsley, respectively.
However, the Sherlock Holmes director reveals he'd never take back those precious years with the pop star because he was given two special gifts - biological son Rocco, now 11, and the couple's adopted kid David, six.
He tells Details magazine, 'I enjoyed my first marriage. It's definitely not something I regret. The experience was ultimately very positive. I love the kids that came out of it, and I could see no other route to take. But you move on, don't you?'
But he admits the marriage had its challenging moments: 'I stepped into a soap opera, and I lived in it for quite a long time. I'll probably be more eloquent on it 10 years from now.'
And although the two eventually parted ways, Richie admits he's learned a lot from his time with Madonna.
He adds, 'When you end up with a lot of the things you set to out to chase and find that you've stumbled into all sorts of hollow victories, then you become deeply philosophical. I'm quite happy that that experience was accelerated for me. I'm glad I made money, in other words. And I'm glad I got married.'

From contactmusic.com

Russian Magazines: Tatler

The December 2011 issue of Russian Tatler magazine focusses on the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema that took place in Venice in September - click to enlarge.

Thanks to Elmira

Tour Preview: Why 2012 Is Shaping Up to Be a Monster Year

Rolling Stone magazine have published a guide to the biggest (likely) tours of 2012, Madonna is of course included:

Her new single recently leaked and she's rumored to be performing at halftime during this year's Super Bowl – so there's no doubt that the Madonna machine is gearing up for a big 2012. She stayed off the road for most of the 1990s, but in 2001 she came back strong with the Drowned World Tour. She followed it up with even bigger tours in 2004 and 2008/09. While it's impossible to say for sure, if she does perform at halftime, expect her to put the tour onsale the following morning. Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen saw big success with the same trick.

Likelihood: 90 percent. In 2007, Live Nation made a $120 million deal with Madonna. They aren't paying for her to sit home and not tour, especially when supporting a new album. A fake itinerary hit the web a few weeks ago showing Madonna at stadiums in America, but expect to see her at arenas. Also, expect to pay a small fortune for tickets.

Read more at: www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/tour-preview

Passionate director Madonna

Madonna was 'a joy' to work with on the set of 'W.E'.
Actress Andrea Riseborough - who plays lead Wallis Simpson in the movie, which was written and co-produced by the signer - found the star's 'passion and strength' in telling the tale of the American socialite 'infectious'.
Asked what Madonna was like to work alongside, she said: 'A joy. Her passion was infectious, her strength was admirable and we were complicit from the outset about how and why we wanted to tell this woman's story.'
The 30-year-old star has since been shooting new film 'Resistance' in Abergavenny, Wales, and admits after the landscape of her surroundings 'rubbed' off on her to the extent that she has now started speaking to her pet dog in Welsh.
Andrea explained to Total Film magazine: 'The DNA of the landscape rubs off on you. Every morning I'd be taken aback by how the light fell on the land. I didn't learn Welsh though, besides some words I say to my dog.'

From BigPondNews

US Magazines: People

The 28 November issue of US magazine People featured this picture of Madonna and Lil Buck at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project event in New York City that took place earlier this month. Click on the image to enlarge.

Thanks to Franco at www.madonnamexico.com

M.I.A summoned to NYC by Madonna!

M.I.A, one of Madonna's collaborators on her new album, published this tweet:

@_M_I_A_: summond to NYC by bitchesses > MADONNA and @NICKIMINAJ > cofffffiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee it iz a good day to get me tho trustttt bitches

Thanks to Shah

US Magazines: Us Weekly

US magazine Us Weekly (28 November issue) features this picture of Madonna and Lil Buck from the Roseland Ballroom earlier this month. Click to enlarge.

Thanks to Elmira

Open-air festivals for those without tickets to enjoy Games

A brief mention of the Madonna Hyde Park concert in July 2012 is featured in this article from www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics:

Three million people will be treated to music acts and live televised Olympic action in free open-air festivals during the Games.
Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and Victoria Park in Bow will host events which are intended to recreate the excitement of the Olympics for those who missed out on tickets.
The 14 days of free 'London Live' events will be book-ended by two paid-for 80,000-capacity concerts in Hyde Park on the nights of the opening and closing ceremonies.
Organiser Live Nation hopes to line up superstars for the concerts but will not sign up acts until shortly before tickets go on sale next year.
Hyde Park will be in the thick of the Olympic action next summer as it hosts the Olympic torch on July 26, the night before the opening ceremony.
Separately, Madonna will play a one-off show in Hyde Park on July 11 and Bruce Springsteen will headline Hard Rock Calling at the same location three days later.

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Fan Pictures: Madonna at Roseland Ballroom - Part 5

madonnalicious reader Matt flew all the way from Melbourne, Australia for the Roseland Ballroom show and took these great pictures at the event.

US Magazines: Star

The 28 November issue of US magazine Star featured this picture of Madonna and Lil Buck at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange event - click to enlarge the picture.

Thanks to Elmira

Fan Pictures: Madonna at Roseland Ballroom - Part 4

madonnalicious reader Michele was at the Roseland Ballroom for Madonna's appearance and took these pictures and video clip on the night.

W.E. Official Movie Website Launched

The official website for all things W.E. have just been launched. The site gives a plot synopsis, a Wallis timeline, pictures from the film and the new movie trailer.

Fans can view the website at www.we-movie.com

UK Magazines: Harpers Bazaar

The November 2011 issue of Harpers Bazaar (UK edition) featured this three-page spread about Madonna's appearance at the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema that took place in September in Venice. Click on the images to enlarge.

Thanks to Elmira

Fan Pictures: Madonna at Roseland Ballroom - Part 3

madonnalicious reader DJ Johnny Blaze sent in his report and pictures from Saturday night in New York City at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange:

Saturday night was a WOW @ Roseland for the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange w/Madonna. I had such a fantastic evening w/the fans of music, dance and the whole dance community. Madonna looked stunning w/her cheeky short giving some serious workout body.
The music was fantastic, dancers from around the world Jamaica, Taiwan, NYC. Madonna arrived around 11:45 pm she was in the VIP section upstairs w/her boyfriend, her manager Guy Oseary, Lola and her friends while Liz Rosenberg was seating on stage w/invited guests including the choreographers.
My fav moment was when Madonna made her grand entrance on stage that was legendary. It was a group of eleven dancers around the world from Japan, London, NY, Memphis and other countries. She had to pick one amazing dancer that has the elements of what she's looking for for her next world tour. It was cut down to four dancers to battle for their lives, at the end the winner was Lil' Buck from Memphis. Congrats.
My fav dancer of the night definitely was Skorpio from London, I thought he was amazing. Once again thank you to Madonna for a fantastic night of music and dance. A big thank you to Smirnoff for providing free drinks for the night and bringing music + dance together in NYC.
See you all next year for the tour....

Vote: Most Attractive Woman

Fans can vote for Madonna as this week's Most Attractive Woman in an online poll run by Hello! magazine. Madonna faces competition from Pippa Middleton, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gwen Stefani, Holly Valance and Lady Gaga!

To vote visit www.hellomagazine.com/vote - you can vote once every 15 minutes.

Thanks to Didier and Med-Jay

Madonna At Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project

Madonna may be 'very upset' over the premature leak of a demo track from her forthcoming album, but the pop diva was all smiles as she held court Saturday night at New York's Roseland Ballroom, where she handpicked a new dancer for her next tour as part of the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project.
The Material Girl made an appropriately regal entrance, rising from beneath the stage amid a dramatic flood of spotlights to the crowd's delight. Clad in a black Dolce & Gabbana bodysuit, white blouse and her now-trademark Miu Miu boots, she quickly made her way to an adjacent stage where daughter Lourdes Leon, boyfriend Brahim Zaibat, manager Guy Oseary, publicist Liz Rosenberg and a handful of choreographers all awaited her - no hydrangeas in sight.
Though rumors circulated through the crowd that Madonna would offer up a sneak preview of her highly-anticipated album (set for a tentative spring release), there was no mention of her upcoming music or directorial feature, 'W.E.' Instead, she sipped champagne while lying on her stomach atop a plush sofa as she watched the 11 uber-talented dancers bump, grind and strike gravity-defying poses in pursuit of the coveted tour spot. In the scope of Madonna-ology, it was a playful, at ease moment - the type of which Madge hasn't displayed much of since 1991's 'Truth or Dare.'
At the competition's finale, Tennessee-born Lil Buck was selected by Madonna and her choreographers as the winner. 'This has been an incredible journey and a dream come true,' the Memphis native gushed in response. Having earlier described dancing in New York City as 'my idea of a perfect evening,' Madonna quickly made good on her word, inviting her new dancer to join her posse in the ballroom's VIP section for a group boogie.
Though much of the celeb-studded throng (which included singer Natasha Beddingfield, 'Project Runway' designer Christian Siriano, drag queen Lady Bunny and transgender icon Amanda Lepore) left after the contest ended, those who did stick around got another surprise treat, as Madonna later shimmied her way into Martin Solveig's DJ booth, singing along as Solveig played her 2005 hit, 'Hung Up,' and mimicking the disco-like moves straight from the song's video.
As it turns out, the leak of 'Give Me All Your Love' wasn't too far from her mind - before departing, she called out 'L-U-V' from the song's cheerleader-like chorus (the response: a thunderous 'Madonna!')

To view lots of pictures from the event visit: madonna-smirnoff-nightlife-exchange

Article from www.huffingtonpost.com - thanks to Alex

Fan Pictures: Madonna at Roseland Ballroom - Part 2

madonnalicious reader Randy also attended the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange event at the Roseland Ballroom and shares these pictures that he took on the night.

Liz Smith: Madonna Holds Forth on Objectified Sexuality

US columnist Liz Smith tackles Madonna's Harpers Bazaar interview and the recent leak of Give Me All Your Love:

'My movie, ‘W.E.’ is all about the cult of celebrity. We like to put people on a pedestal, give them one character trait, and if we step outside of that shrine-like area, then we punish them. Wallis Simpson became famous by default, by capturing the heart of a king. But it is obviously a subject I’m constantly on the inside of, and on the outside of.'
That’s Madonna herself in Harper’s Bazaar for November. She appears on the cover with one of the stars of 'W.E.,' Andrea Riseborough, who portrays Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee who shook the British Empire, enticed a king to abdicate his throne and became the wandering, bitter, Duchess of Windsor.
Madonna is profiled by writer Naomi Wolf. It’s a good piece. When Madonna lets her guard down and really talks, one always comes away with a fascinating article. I was amused, however, that Ms. Wolf was surprised to find the powerful, formidable Madonna, 'open, even vulnerable.' I’ll say! But I’ve been telling the word for 20 years that M is a much softer, more tentative, more insecure and nicer person than she usually cares to let on.
Madonna talks here about her 'conditioning' as a young Catholic girl, raised in Michigan - how she rebelled and how she was 'tortured' for her refusal to be like other girls. She says, 'Straight men did not find me attractive. I think they were scared of me because I was different. I’ve always asked ‘Why? Why do I have to do that? Why do I have to look this way? Why do I have to dress this way? Why do I have to behave this way?’'
For Madonna, asking questions and defying convention worked - she remains an iconic and provoking figure on the world stage. (She’s got millions, too.) Her four children, her work, her inevitable maturity, and her choice of male companions continue to provoke - and often anger - those who dislike her. And even those who admire her. Everybody always thinks 'they' know what is best for Madonna. (I’ve given her advice myself, which I always laugh about. Poor thing can’t get on without wise words from Liz Smith!)
Because she remains so attractive and still enjoys showing what she’s got, the subject of sex is never far off. Madonna says: 'I think that the world is not comfortable with female sexuality. It’s always coming from a male point of view, and a woman is being objectified by a man - and even women are comfortable with that. But when a woman does it, ironically, women are uncomfortable with it - conditioning!'
Of her current man of the last two years, dancer Brahim Zaibat, who is somewhat younger, Madonna insists: 'Well, it can also be more than just sexual, um appendages. I don’t necessarily like to use the word ‘lover’ because it sounds like they just come over and have sex with you. I aspire for more than that. I need more than that.'
It should be noted that for all her racy reputation, Madonna has only married twice, to actor Sean Penn and then to director Guy Ritchie. She could not have been more in love or more serious about these relationships. And she was crushed when they didn’t work out. The break from Guy was especially painful. They had a child, Rocco, and were married seven years. When she says 'I do,' she means it. (And unlike today’s 'stars' there was no orgy of wedding photos, sold to the highest bidder. No photo has ever been published of her wedding to Mr. Ritchie.)

An unfinished version of a new Madonna song, 'Give Me All Your Love,' was leaked - much to her fury - on the internet last week. It is from her coming, as-yet-untitled album. It’s fun and danceable. But, there are those who say Madonna, at 53, is simply 'too old' to have fun and dance anymore. (Tell that to all those creaky male rockers and pop-stars, still grinding their hips on concert stages.)
Madonna shrugs the subject: 'I find whenever someone writes anything about me, my age is right after my name. It’s like they’re saying, ‘Here she is, but remember she’s this age, so she’s not that relevant anymore. Or, ‘Let’s punish her by reminding her and everyone else.’'
But her film, 'W.E.' still remains a top priority, though she is recording again, will tour next year and has had remarkable success with the clothing line launched with her gorgeous daughter, Lourdes (better known as Lola.)
Madonna is fascinated by Wallis Simpson - her compulsions and her fate. 'She wasn’t conventionally pretty, she had the body of a teenage boy, she was divorced twice - and by the time she married the king she couldn’t have children. What did she have to offer? She’s not pretty, fertile, or a virgin, so she’s useless. I was actually told once by a Japanese woman that there’s a phrase for women who are past the marrying age: ‘stale cake.’'
'W.E.' is now slated for a February release, and Madonna has a firm grip on her film. Indeed, she has final cut and will not relinquish that - ever. (I’ve seen 'W.E.' She knows her stuff. She is a remarkably gifted director.)
But no matter the fate of 'W.E.,' no matter how much dance music she makes - to the distress of those who want her to calm down and become a ballad-crooning, Dietrich-style chanteuse. And no matter who her man of choice is, Madonna will never ever be 'stale cake.'
She’s still fresh and the icing remains delicious.

From www.wowowow.com/liz-smith - thanks to Alex

Fan Pictures: Madonna at Roseland Ballroom - Part 1

madonnalicious reader Steven was at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on Saturday night and took these pictures of the event.

Video: Madonna Dancing in the DJ Booth at Roseland

Electro Nation TV were in the right place at the right time to video Madonna and Martin Solveig having the time of their lives in the DJ booth at Roseland.

Thanks to Vickster

'W.E.' Stills Photographer's Exhibition in London

An exhibition devoted to the work of photographer Anthony Souza will be held at London's 'The Little Black Gallery', from December 13 to December 20, 2011.
Souza was the stills photographer on 'W.E.', directed by Madonna and starring Andrea Riseborough as Wallis Simpson and James D'Arcy as Edward Simpson.
Souza said: 'I was visually inspired by the sets and costumes, and the romanticism and visual elegance of the scenes, which made me approach the photos as artistic works and not just publicity stills.'
For more info, please visit www.thelittleblackgallery.com

From Madonna.com / Picture by Anthony Souza

Madonna Selects Winner of Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Danceoff

At the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project's Global Dance Search which took place at Roseland in New York on Saturday night, Madonna chose the winner of a global dance contest awarding one lucky dancer the opportunity to join her official dance crew. With art direction and choreography by Shay Normann, the 11 finalists battled it out in front of over one thousand guests. Beating hundreds of online hopefuls and then competing against finalists live at the event, Lil' Buck from Memphis, TN was the announced winner of the coveted, life-changing prize.
'This has been an incredible journey and a dream come true,' said Lil' Buck.
'The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project has uncovered amazing dance talent from all over the world, but Lil' Buck was the best of all,' added Madonna.
Madonna, who watched the performances with choreographers Rich & Tone Talauega, handpicked DJ and Producer Martin Solveig to headline the event. Solveig has been collaborating with Madonna on her upcoming album. Hardy 'Indigo' Muanza and Vikter Duplaix were also at the event spinning custom mixes.
The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, including the exclusive dance competition to join Madonna's dance crew, is the first component of a multi-faceted agreement between Madonna and her partner Live Nation and Diageo, the parent company of The Smirnoff Co.

From Marketwire

Material Girl Christmas Tree at Macy's

Macy’s announced the launch of its Celebrity Tree Auction, an exciting new component of the retailer’s fourth annual 'Believe' campaign. Powered by leading charity auction website charitybuzz, Macy’s Celebrity Tree Auction features 14 fantasy Christmas trees inspired by your favorite Macy’s stars including Material Girl, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Sean John, Betsey Johnson, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Emeril Lagasse, Ralph Lauren, Martha Stewart, Greg Norman, Rachel Roy, Jessica Simpson and Donald Trump.

Bidders can visit macys.com/trees to preview and bid on the stunning creations, which are on display at Macy’s Herald Square in New York. Each winner will have the tree delivered to their doorstep complete with in-home set up, and bidders will have the opportunity to make special wishes come true as 100 percent of the funds raised will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Macy’s stars have also designed signature holiday ornaments that will be available at all Macy’s stores and online at macys.com. These exclusive celebrity-inspired ornaments retail for $9.99, with 10 percent of the purchase price benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Thanks to Kristina at Macy's

Madonna Delays 'W.E' US Release To 2012

It's been a big week for Madonna news. A version of her song 'Give Me All Your Love,' off her still-in-the-works next album, leaked, much to the Queen of Pop's dismay. And now comes word that her film 'W.E.' won't hit theaters until next year.
Directed by Madonna, 'W.E.' was originally slated to open around the holiday season on December 9, but now it will have only a limited, one-week run beginning on that date before opening wide on February 3, the Weinstein Company confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. The short theatrical debut does, however, qualify the film for any awards-show consideration.
The new February 3 release date would also coincide with a February 5 Super Bowl performance that Madge is rumored to be planning. In September, the singer screened the film at the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews. 'W.E.' follows the love story between American divorcee Wallis Simpson and Britain's Prince Edward, as well as that of a modern-day woman (played by Abbie Cornish) obsessed with the couple.
In addition to 'W.E.,' Madonna is set to release her album in the spring. Along with production assistance from Ray of Light producer William Orbit, rumor has it that both Nicki Minaj and rapper M.I.A. will make guest appearances.

From MTV.com