madonnalicious

Behold she is coming soon...

This picture of the MDNA tour stage being constructed in Tel Aviv was posted on Madonna's official facebook page earlier today. Not long to wait now!

Madonna Wants To Be US President

Madonna wishes she could be President of the United States.
The pop superstar believes she would do a great job if she was able to take control of the country and her main goal would be to stop the country wasting money on 'weapons of mass destruction'.
When asked what she would do if she was President of the United States for one day, she said: 'You can't really change much in one day. I think I would like to be president for a longer time. I wouldn't spend as much money for weapons of mass destruction but instead for education and art.'
Although she has achieved worldwide success, Madonna's ambition and drive has not diminished over the years.
The 53-year-old singer attributes her success to her thirst for reinvention and never taking 'anything for granted'.
She explained: 'It's harder to stay famous than become famous. I don't think there's a rule for that (staying successful). You have to really love what you're doing. You have to feed your soul with ideas and you're not allowed to stop growing as a human. That's what helps to create art. When it comes to my work I don't take anything for granted.'

From contactmusic.com

Even more tour rehearsal pictures

Madonna.com have published three more pictures from the tour rehearsals.

Brandon’s photo to appear in Madonna video on tour

It doesn’t get much bigger than Madonna picking up your cause.
A Swedish film company will use a photo of Brandon Bitner in a video it’s producing for Madonna’s upcoming world tour, and will donate $5,000 to the Susquehanna University scholarship in Brandon’s name.
Katie Goodling, Brandon’s cousin, confirmed Saturday a deal with Adamsky Film Production of Stockholm to use Brandon’s photo, one of seven portraits of bullying victims to run in the video.
Each will display with an RIP sign and the person’s name for about three seconds.
Goodling also administers BrandonBitner.com, a website dedicated to bullying prevention and Brandon’s memory. He committed suicide in November 2010, citing incessant bullying at Midd-West High School in the note he left.

From The Daily Item / BrandonBitner.com

Katie Goodling has confirmed on facebook.com/ripbrandonbitner that Brandon's picture will appear in the video sequence for 'Nobody Knows Me'.

'Truth or Dare' advert in Toronto

madonnalicious readers Derrick, Gabriel and Oscar snapped these pictures of a huge billboard advertising 'Truth or Dare by Madonna' in Dundas Square in Toronto, Canada - the billboard can even be seen all the way from College and Yonge street.

William Orbit Reveals How He Wishes Album Would Have Fared

Hopes that Madonna would re-claim her pop crown from Lady Gaga with 'MDNA' were dashed when the album plunged on the charts shortly after its March release - a victim of weak single choices and, some say, a lack of promotion on the Material Girl's part.
Now one high-profile producer is opening up about the experience on Facebook, saying he wishes 'MDNA' would've turned out differently and blaming the album's failure on rush marketing and timing.
'[Madonna] was on form and better than ever with her singing and writing and musicality, and was having a great time,' writes William Orbit, who previously collaborated with the pop star on her 1998 album 'Ray of Light,' which won four Grammy awards. 'We had songs lined up that were breathtaking.'
But then, from the sounds of it, things turned sour. After one fan comments on Orbit's page, noting that 'most people are writing off' the album and accusing Madonna's record company Interscope of 'gradually destroying' her career, the producer notes, 'All I will say is that certain thoughts about it that I see expressed online by committed fans such as yourself, were blindingly obvious to me from the very get go, well before the release.' He continues: 'But you won't see me exactly jumping up and down with delight over the way that things have panned out...we were very pushed for time.'
He doesn't mince words when it comes to working with Madonna herself, either, noting the 'various pressing commitments that took up the artist's limited time, such as perfume ranges and teen fashion contests and other such endeavors which are beyond my own limited understanding of pop star agendas.'
Claiming that he would 'lie down in the mud if she didn't want to get her shoes messed up,' he adds, 'It's hard to be an effective knight when your hands are bound.'
'The thing about having little appetite for riches and fame, and no great tower of expectations, you haven't got anything to be taken away,' he observes. 'And having always been an outsider, outside in the cold, It's always clear which way the wind is blowing.'

From www.huffingtonpost.com

Events: San Francisco Madonna Party

For more information on the event in San Francisco on Saturday 27 May visit www.facebook.com/events

Madonna to 'solve' city tram chaos in Edinburgh

They have caused chaos and forced shops to close, but now the answer to tram trouble in the West End has been revealed - a Madonna 'flashmob'.
Revellers heading to the Queen of Pop’s Murrayfield concert on July 21 are being urged to gather in the struggling district for an impromptu dance to her hits.
Tram chiefs are to hold the flashmob in an attempt to boost the fortunes of ailing businesses in the area.
Project bosses have released £70,000 from a contingency fund for a publicity drive to revive the area, with the event on the list of key pledges.
However, traders who have been pleading for signs to inform shoppers the district is open for business today urged them to sort out the signs first.
Traders said the simple option had been shunned in favour of staging a trendy event, at which prizes will be handed out.
Tram chiefs also plan to promote the West End through Facebook and intend to run an advertising campaign.

From www.scotsman.com

Madonna's Son Teaches Her To Breakdance

Madonna's son Rocco is teaching her how to breakdance.
The 53-year-old pop superstar has mastered numerous dance moves throughout her four-decade spanning career but she is struggling to copy Rocco's street-inspired shapes.
When asked if she teaches her 11-year-old son to breakdance, she replied: 'No, he shows them to me. But I'm pretty bad. My son loves breakdance!'
Madonna admits her kids - Rocco, Lourdes, 15, David, six, and Mercy, seven - keep her up-to-date on current music trends and she is a big fan of Dubstep.
She revealed: 'I love dubstep. My children have a very good taste. My children play new music to me.I play music from the 80s to them as well. For example Kurtis Blow. B-Boy music!'
As well as playing 80s music to her children, the 'Girl Gone Wild' singer has also introduced her brood to iconic French musician Edith Piaf.
She said: 'I play soundtracks to them. And stuff from the past, like Edith Piaf. We help each other mutually when it comes to music.'
'La Vie en Rose' singer Edith - who shot to fame in the 40s and 50s - is considered one of France's most culturally important figures and she had a turbulent personal life which saw her battle morphine and alcohol addictions.

From contactmusic.com

Remembering Donna Summer

In tribute to Donna Summer who died today - fans can relive Madonna's 'Future Lovers/I Feel Love' performance from 'The Confessions Tour'.

More tour rehearsal pictures revealed

Guy Oseary has taken three more pictures from the tour rehearsals - any guesses for the song they are from? Add your thoughts by hitting the 'Comment' button below this story.

Madonna's UAE concert details revealed

Organisers of Madonna's debut concert in the UAE are leaving no stones unturned as the pop queen prepares to wow more than 50,000 fans over two nights on June 3 and 4 in Abu Dhabi.
Flash Entertainment announced on Wednesday it was doing ‘extensive refurbishment work' to the newly named du Arena (formerly Yas Arena), to enhance every aspect of the venue for the MDNA Tour, one of the biggest it has hosted.
'This is one of the most significant events in the history of regional live entertainment. With over 50,000 people coming to Yas Island to enjoy the concerts and cross-Island parties, we really felt now was the time to enhance the venue and focus on every little detail, from parking and entrances, to walkways and sight lines,' said Flash Entertainment's Mira Sadek in a statement.
'Since March, work has been constant and we're sure people are going to appreciate the changes.'
Keeping the June weather in mind, multiple cooling domes and misting machines will be installed around the venue and water sold at special prices, Flash said, advising fans to wear light clothing.
Grass has been relayed, gravel removed and tarmac walkways laid down throughout the arena, it added. A central public plaza area featuring merchandise, retail and entertainment has also been installed along with multiple new entrances.
VIP ticket holders will get dedicated walkways, air conditioned lounges, food and beverage and a dedicated DJ playing in the lounge before Madonna takes to the stage.
Madonna's cantilever stage, at 23 x 54 metres, is of a size and scale never before seen in the UAE, Flash said. It includes a catwalk, a complex pyrotechnic and lighting system with giant LED screens mounted at the back.
The tickets to Madonna's June 3rd concert in Abu Dhabi were snapped up at supersonic speed, but there's still some ray of hope left. Organiser Flash Entertainment has announced that tickets for the Queen of Pop's second UAE date — June 4 — are still available, starting at Dh495.

From gulfnews.com

'Girl Gone Wild' released in the UK

'Girl Gone Wild' had it's official UK release this week - here are the details on where you can buy the various formats available.

CD Single (Amazon): www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Gone-Wild-Madonna

CD Single (HMV): hmv.com/hmvweb

12" Picture Disc (Amazon): www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Gone-Wild-12-VINYL

Remixes (iTunes): itunes.apple.com/gb/album/girl-gone-wild-remixes

Remixes (7Digital): www.7digital.com/artist/madonna/release/girl-gone-wild-2

Thanks to Ben

Tour posters in Rome train station

madonnalicious reader Gabriel spotted these large tour advertisments for the Rome, Miland and Florence dates on display in Rome train station.

'Stunning' nude shot of Madonna reaches almost £15,000

An 'absolutely stunning' photograph of Madonna posing naked on a bed while smoking a cigarette has sold for nearly £15,000 - nearly three times the estimate. This photograph, taken by Steven Meisel, is signed and annotated 'ed no.1' and was given an estimate of £5,000. The final price paid was $23,750 or £14,761.

Healthy Hollywood: Sweat It Out Like Madonna!

There's no denying Madonna is in rock-solid shape.
At 53, the pop icon is revving up to launch her worldwide tour at the end of the month. You can bet Madonna is in high gear getting ready for the highly anticipated concerts and that means endless hours rehearsing and getting her body in top condition.
Healthy Hollywood met up with Madonna's primary personal trainer, Nicole Winhoffer.
'It's a huge opportunity for me and I feel super blessed to be working with one of the biggest female icons in the world,' Nicole said. Madonna recruited Nicole to work her out prior to the tour and while they're on the road. Nicole, a trained dancer, reveals Madonna will do a series of cardio, stretches, toning, and endurance moves for an hour and a half - AND this is all before the singer's dance rehearsals.
'The biggest challenge is keeping her mind engaged and constantly changing the workouts while still targeting the muscles that we need to go after. Her body picks up really quickly so my challenge is to get those muscles continuously guessing what's going to come next without her knowing or getting bored,' she added.
Once Nicole hits the road, she and Madonna will be sure to schedule at least four or five workouts a week and will do a warm up before each show. 'She gets dressed in hair and makeup and then we'll do a warm up - warming up her joints. We'll do some trampoline work, some ab work, some stretches and just make sure she's ready and feeling good vibes.

To read the full article visit Access Hollywood Via Yahoo! News

MDNA Tour: 'Madonna wants the show to go on perfectly'

Over the years, events giant Flash Entertainment have brought some of the world's biggest music acts to the UAE shores. But the real test will come in the form of showgirl Madonna in June.
As they gear up to welcome the legendary hitmaker and her 50,000 fans who will descend upon du Arena over two nights (June 3 and 4), tabloid! sits down with John Lickrish, CEO of Flash Entertainment, to get the details that are being worked on.
Joining Flash in their mission is UAE's telecom provider du who have signed a four-year naming rights deal that has resulted in the re-christening of the former Yas Arena and Yas Forum. Both will now be known as du Arena and du Forum respectively.
Madonna's sole request to Flash, said Lickrish, is that the show "has to be perfect".

Are you all set for the Madonna concert?
Absolutely. It's a big act. We have been preparing since October but it's bound to be hectic at the last minute. It's going to be a life-changing experience.
Also, Madonna is very meticulous and I tell my team that any mistake made on this show, you will feel the after-effects ten times more. So everything has to run incredibly smoothly. There's no room for any technical glitches. It's a test for the city and for us.

What are the logistics involved?
We are expecting 50,000 people in total. We had to take out our stage because the Madonna stage is much bigger. Now, the stage is being pushed forward to the venue from underneath the roof to accommodate the size given. Last week we got the designs and the drawings. We have to make many changes and there's a lot of last-minute running around. We also want to make sure that people get in and out smoothly. Plus, it's going to be warm so we will have extra cooling fans. To put it simply, we want to be more than prepared this time.

Is it true that you have requested Madonna to tone down her performance keeping cultural sensitivities in mind?
It's incorrect. We don't speak to the artists directly but we know their brand and their performances. Yes, I have seen her rehearse in New Jersey just to have a look at the show. The artists are closed as far as content goes, yet they are aware of what the UAE is like and its tolerance levels. They understand that from a global perspective. It won't be an issue at all.

Do you feel you have come full circle with Madonna?
You never know what's the next big thing for us. When we started out, we missed out on Madonna by a few days because of the dates between her Greece and New York shows. It was a holiday date here. After almost four years, we are glad it's happening now as it shows the elevation of Flash. In the beginning, we would have been like how are we going to get around that etc.

Does Madonna have any demands?
No quirky demands. She just wants the show to go on perfectly. Everyone has a few demands, but she is a thorough professional so I am not expecting any sort of ridiculous requests.

From gulfnews.com

Madonna display at Virgin Megastore Paris

The Champs-Elysees branch of Virgin Megastore in Paris features this huge display of her current and previous CDs, 12 inches, singles and picture discs, and another display of the re-issue vinyl albums.

Thanks to Alexey

Buenos Aires Tour Posters

These tour posters for Madonna's 'The MDNA Tour' at the Estadio River Plate were spotted on the streets of Buenos Aires by madonnalicious reader Martin

Events: Donna De Lory performing in Los Angeles

Donna De Lory is performing in Los Angeles this week at a club called Zanzibar in a mainstream event that would appeal to Madonna fans.

Zanzibar, 1301 5th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
8:00 pm Wednesday 16 May
LUMINOUS MOVEMENT feat. DONNA DE LORY w/ special guest DJ DREZ

The Facebook invite link is: www.facebook.com/events

Italian Magazines: 'Vanity Fair'

The Italian version of 'Vanity Fair' magazine (09 May issue 18) that features Madonna on the cover is now available to buy in some selected UK newsagents.

Madonna’s U.S. Tour Dates ‘Inches From Sellout’

Madonna has sold 653,000 tickets to the 43 North American dates on her upcoming concert tour, an executive with concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment Inc. said, putting it on track to be one of the top-grossing outings on record.
About 30,000 tickets remain available for the tour’s 36 U.S. shows, Live Nation head of global touring Arthur Fogel said, adding most of those are either single tickets or seats that are set aside for disabled concertgoers.
'We are inches from sellout everywhere,' Mr. Fogel said in a telephone interview Thursday. Tickets for U.S. dates went on sale in mid-February and range in price from around $45 to more than $350. Some premium-priced ticket packages run $600 per person.
The North American leg of the tour is slated to begin Aug. 28 at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center arena and end Nov. 20 with two dates at Miami’s American Airlines Arena. Other stops include Yankee Stadium, Staples Center in Los Angeles and Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Mr. Fogel said that around 30% of ticket buyers had signed up for a free copy of the singer’s most recent album, 'MDNA' - an offer that was available only to customers in the U.S. He said that acceptance rate was on the high end for such offers.
Of the tickets sold in North America, Mr. Fogel said, 500,000 were in the U.S. Those free-album offers fueled a healthy first week for 'MDNA,' according to Nielsen SoundScan, which reported 359,000 copies sold in the U.S. In subsequent weeks, the album’s sales have slowed considerably, and it has now sold a total 456,000 copies in six weeks.
Mr. Fogel said that between 200,000 and 250,000 of those sales represented albums given away with concert tickets.
'MDNA' has not generated a significant hit on pop radio and was No. 65 on the album-sales chart released Wednesday by SoundScan. It has fared better on Billboard’s dance and electronic music char, where it was No. 2 last week. Two songs from the album, 'Gang Bang' and 'Girl Gone Wild,' have charted on the magazine’s electronic-music chart.
Madonna and Live Nation have an unusual 10-year contract that they struck in 2007, under which the promoter guaranteed the pop star $120 million in exchange for rights to a wide range of her business, including promoting her concert tours and releasing her albums. The company contracted out the distribution and promotion of 'MDNA' to Universal Music Group’s Interscope records.
The world tour is to kick off May 31 in Tel Aviv, followed by stops in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul and various European cities. It is scheduled to wrap up with a handful of dates in Latin America late November and December.

From blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy

Tom Sheehan Madonna tshirt in UK Primark stores

This Tom Sheehan vintage photograph of Madonna is featured on tshirts available from Primark stores now in the UK, and is priced at £8.00.

Pop Star's Empire Poised To Earn $500 Million in 2012

Madonna isn't called a 'Material Girl' for nothing. Here's a breakdown of what she's poised to pocket in 2012 - it could be as much as $500 million in one year alone.

- $300 million from her MDNA World Tour. Live Nation announced $240 Million in ticket sales before a South American leg was added, which could earn an additional $40 million-plus. An Australian leg of the tour is being announced shortly.

- Industry insiders say $75 million in tour merchandise sales is not unlikely. This has always been a huge moneymaker for Madonna, who will have an even bigger spread of merchandise available at her upcoming shows.

- $60 million is expected in sales for her new perfume, Truth or Dare, according to Women's Wear Daily.

- Insiders report that Madonna made $10 million from her recent deal with Smirnoff. The company has been hyping her tour with TV spots and has just released a special 'Madonna' edition bottle of their vodka.

- The Queen of Pop is hoping to rake in $10 million in TV and DVD worldwide rights for the broadcast of her upcoming tour.

- Retail experts say Madonna will earn $5 million in 2012 from her "Material Girl" clothing line and upcoming Macy's lingerie line.

It's good to be Queen!

From www.huffingtonpost.com

'MDNA Tour' Florence Posters

madonnalicious reader Gabriel spotted these posters for the Florence (Firenze) dates on the streets of Florence today.

'MDNA Tour' Argentinian Poster

This full page advert for Madonna's tour stop in Buenos Aires and Cordoba was featured in a Buenos Aires Sunday newspaper this week.

Thanks to Javier

Aussie nanny's life after Madonna

Enjoying the autumnal sunshine of a peaceful Swan Valley vineyard is a far cry from Angela Jacobsen’s former life in the heart of the frenetic, jet-set world of pop superstar Madonna.
Ms Jacobsen was nanny to Madonna’s son David Banda for 18 months after the singer adopted the little boy from Malawi four years ago.
Now back in her native Australia, Ms Jacobsen looks back on the surreal experience of a globe-trotting life with Madonna that saw entertained in Indian palaces, go to remote islands accessible only by seaplane and join the pop queen’s world tour for six months.
'It’s great to look back on now and reflect on. When you’re living in the bubble, it’s a lot more daunting. It was an amazing experience,' the 32-year-old said.
Ms Jacobsen was a nanny for former Swedish tennis player Thomas Johansson in London where the Swede was playing at Wimbledon when she got the call from her Australian agency that Madonna was looking for a nanny.
She describes the telephone interview with Madonna as 'the most intimidating interview of my life'.
'She was a great boss and I mean it was obviously quite a full-on experience. She was fantastic to work for and a big motivation for me. She’s very much a loving mother,' Ms Jacobsen said.
'I saw a different side to her on a personal note, how hard she works. I watched this girl power: you can do anything you want and there is no such thing as the word no. There is a way to get around that word at every opportunity.'

To read the rest of the story visit au.news.yahoo.com/thewest

Madonna VIP Access Limited Edition Smirnoff

The 'Madonna VIP Access Limited Edition Smirnoff' bottles have started to hit UK stores - most Sainsburys should be stocking it now, along with Morrisons later.

The packaging comes with a card containing a code for fans to enter on the dedicated Smirnoff facebook page to unlock some exclusive Madonna content.

'Truth or Dare' in Boots

UK fans can buy Madonna's 'Truth or Dare' perfume from Boots - and if they buy the medium or large size bottles - can get a free promotional tshirt too!

Malaysian Magazines: 'K PLUS'

The May 2012 issue of Malaysian magazine 'K PLUS' features Madonna on the cover and a three-page article inside. Click on the images to enlarge.

Thanks to Moderator PanDa

Vote: '6th Annual PopSugar100'

PopSugar just launched their 6th Annual PopSugar100! This year they are facing off some of the top celebs out there to determine who had the bigger year. By playing you can help Madonna make it to the top!

The number of PopSugar readers that select Madonna determines her placement in the final PopSugar100, so she needs your votes!

Check it out at: www.popsugar.com - and just by playing the PopSugar100, you can be entered for the chance to win $2,500!
Entering is easy - all you have to do is log into your PopSugar account and click to play our PopSugar 100.

UK Magazines: 'Out In The City'

The new issue of 'Out In The City' magazine – with Madonna on the cover – is out now in London! You can flick through the entire magazine online at www.outmag.co.uk or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/outinthecity

Thanks to David

Jean-Paul Gaultier: 'The clothes have to fit the story'

UK Grazia magazine spoke to Jean-Paul Gaultier (in the 07 May issue) and he said this little snippet about Madonna:

'When Madonna asks you to do something, it is because she knows exactly what she wants. The first time we worked together she was already wearing my corsets, so we worked up something more extreme. The clothes have to fit the story. This time, we are doing one scene of the show, I think. We shall see.'

'Truth or Dare' in London Debenhams

The Oxford Street Debenhams store has gone all out to advertise Madonna's 'Truth or Dare' perfume - from signs outside and a large window display to huge banners that fill the entire height of the central atrium in the store.

Customers who purchase a 50ml perfume (or larger version) can get a free 'Truth or Dare' promotional tshirt too (while stocks last)!

Madonna: Beastie Boys' Yauch was one of a kind

Madonna says Adam Yauch, the Beastie Boys rapper who died Friday, was one of a kind and that the group was important to her musical history.
The singer says the seminal hip-hop group was 'integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time.'
Yauch's representatives confirmed that the rapper, also known as MCA, died Friday morning in New York after a nearly three-year battle with cancer.
Madonna says she was sad to hear of Yauch's death and asked God to bless his family.
The Beastie Boys opened for Madonna on tour in the 1980s, and the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

From Associated Press Via Yahoo! News

Madonna is pictured below on stage with Adam 'MCA' Yauch and Mike D.

'Truth or Dare' in Glasgow

madonnalicious reader David spotted these Truth or Dare displays on the escalators in Debenhams on Argyle Street in Glasgow.

Madonna: 'I am afraid of ignorant people'

Madonna thinks the world is full of 'ignorant people'.
The pop sensation has been a lightning rod for controversy with her eccentric fashions and lively stage shows throughout her career. Most recently her music promo for Girl Gone Bad was banned from YouTube for being too racy.
The Material Girl star believes such attitudes have held her back. She has blamed narrow-mindedness for the problems in the world today.
'I am afraid of ignorant people, I hate the prejudices,' she told the Italian edition of Vanity Fair magazine.
'So I cannot foresee what will happen in my life because the world is full of ignorant people. We should destroy the prejudices if we want to live in a better world.'
The singer feels her own attitude has adjusted since she became a mother. She has daughter Lourdes, son Rocco and adopted children David and Mercy.
'Thanks to my children I am became a better woman. Now I am less serious, I have an elastic view of life. I am more permissive,' she said.
Madonna's children are already showing up their mother. She recalled a recent skiing holiday where she couldn't keep up with the young ones on the slopes.
'Last year I learnt to ski. It was a gorgeous experience. I had never done it before,' she said.
'My children are very good on snowboards and I was jealous. So the next step will be the snowboard. I hope to avoid the paparazzi though, because I will fall over a lot!'

From www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

'Truth or Dare' in Dundee

Here is a look at the Truth or Dare display at the Dundee Debenhams store - and the free tshirt given away with purchases of the medium and large size perfumes.

Thanks to Kevin

Madonna: Eyedrops burn

Madonna uses special Japanese eye drops that 'burn a lot' but help brighten her peepers.
The Material Girl star admits she has trouble going about her early morning tasks as she has a demanding work schedule.
The mother-of-four's solution to her morning blues comes in a bottle.
'I wake up when my children go to school,' she told Italian magazine Vanity Fair.
'Then I come back to bed because I usually get to sleep late at night. If I didn't have this second round of sleep I would remain nervous all day long. As soon as I get up I wash my face with very cold water and I use some sort of special Japanese eye drops. It burns a lot but it helps me to wake up even if I don't want to.'
Madonna sticks to her beauty routine even while juggling her career and raising her children - Lourdes and Rocco, and adopted kids David and Mercy. One of her biggest skin care customs is simple and no fuss.
'Before go to bed I always brush my teeth and take off the make-up. I never went to sleep without scrubbing my face,' she said.
Madonna, who recently launched her new perfume fragrance Truth Or Dare, looks to her mother for inspiration. Her mom died of breast cancer at age 30 in 1963.
'My mother was a real mother,' she said.
'She was sweet, very womanly, and friendly. She would always wear the Robert Piguet perfume called Fracas. I still remember it, it's pressed in my memory. I connect it with my childhood, when I got up early and I would run into my parent's bed just to receive some cuddles.'

From Belfast Telegraph Woman

Paris tour competition advert

This advert to win tickets to Madonna's show in Paris via a mainstream French radio station ran in the free daily newspaper Direct Matin Paris. Click to enlarge.

Thanks to Olivier

Who Are Madonna’s 'Old School' Beauty Icons?

She may be a Material Girl, but Madonna loves her budget buys, too. In fact, the singer told PEOPLE that when she’s hanging out at home, she wears basic Victoria’s Secret sweatpants.
However, Madonna does have some bigger beauty buys; she said she can’t live without Yves Saint Laurent mascara in aubergine (it highlights her favorite feature, her eyes) and often has to hide her makeup bag from her daughters. According to the star, 'Lourdes steals my tweezers, and Mercy [takes] my pink lip gloss.'
Though Madonna herself is a style icon, she draws inspiration from a roster of famous women. 'Wallis Simpson, fashion-wise,' she told PEOPLE at her recent fragrance launch in N.Y.C. 'Sophia Loren, what a great beauty. I’m old school - I like a lot of the actresses from days gone by, like Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis. Women who are strong and opinionated and hardworking, productive, resourceful, working girls, working mothers, but they manage to look good, too.'
Perhaps that’s where her current mantra comes from; when asked what she’d tell her younger self about life, she replied simply, 'Looks aren’t everything.'

From People.com

Madonna Tour advert in Kuwait City

madonnalicious reader Engineer waleed alawadhi spotted this large tour advert on a billboard in Kuwait City.

MDNA Tour - Get Ready Argentina!

Argentina! We are happy to announce that Madonna's MDNA Tour is to stop at Buenos Aires' River Plate Stadium on December 13 and at Cordoba's Estadio Kempes on December 22!

A devoted fan club pre-sale for both shows will start at 10am local time for Legacy members (11am for Live Pass members) on May 7th.

Public on-sale will start May 12 at 12:01AM local time for Internet sales and at 10AM local time for Phones, Outlets and Box Office.

From Madonna.com

'W.E.' Posters in Amsterdam

madonnalicious spotted these posters for 'W.E.' on Prins Hendrikkade outside the Grand Hotel Amrath - the display features three posters so you can view it from whatever side of the street you are on!

Madonna DA admits to goof

Manhattan prosecutors admit they made 'a dumb mistake' for letting a Madonna-besotted ex-firefighter slip through their fingers by waiting too long to try him - but they want another crack at him anyway.
Robert Linhart had been busted in September 2010 after he twice parked outside the singer’s ninth-floor, Upper West Side apartment, opened cans of paint and started crafting poster-board professions of love.
He was charged with felony weapons possession - for a gravity knife and an awl - and spent several weeks in Rikers, unable to post bail.
The case was dismissed last month for prosecutors’ failure to meet speedy trial deadlines.
A judge yesterday agreed to give the DA another shot.
'If this was John Q Public and not Madonna, they wouldn’t be pushing so hard,' Linhart’s lawyer, Kevin Kitson, told The Post.

From New York Post

Italian Magazines: 'Vanity Fair'

This great shot of Madonna on the set of the 'Truth or Dare' advert is featured on the front cover of the Italian edition of 'Vanity Fair' magazine (09 May issue) - for more information visit www.vanityfair.it/people - click on the image to enlarge.

'W.E.' in Denmark

The small local cinema 'Snurretopppen' in Store Heddinge, Denmark, is showing Madonna's 'W.E.' (renamed in Denmark as 'Wallis & Edward') on Sunday 06 May and Friday 11 May at 7:30pm.

For more information including location and price visit www.snurretoppen.net

Thanks to Henrik

More new tour rehearsal pictures

Madonna.com have published three pictures from the first day of production rehearsals - and we get our first look at the 'dance-pit' set-up. Exciting!

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William Orbit: 'A splendid frenzy'

William Orbit had clubbers at the Kee Club in a 'splendid frenzy' with a 15 minute mix of 'Gang Bang' as his latest facebook status update says:

Played my alternative version of Gang Bang at the Kee Club. Then the album version, then the alternative again.
Back to back.
15 minutes of Gang Bangin. A splendid frenzy. Had only played it to M and a few other friends so far and wanted to see how it would go down in a club.
In in honour of that steamy joy ride I will HAVE to call it the Kee Club mix!

UK Magazines: 'Now'

The 30 April issue of UK magazine 'Now' features Dan Wootton's interview with Madonna that was broadcast on ITV1's 'Daybreak/Lorraine' earlier this month.