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November 2009

Queen Celebration Book: Competition Update

Thanks to the hundreds of readers who entered the Queen Celebration book competition that was run last week. We will be selecting five random winners later tonight and the lucky winners of a copy of the book will be notified tomorrow.

The correct answers to the question asking the name the photographer of each of the four pictures were:

1 - Steven Meisel
2 - Herb Ritts
3 - Mario Testino
4 - Steven Klein


Official 'Music Skins' Merchandise

Madonna's official online store at Fanfire.com has just launched two new of music skins for iPhones, iPods and 13" and 15" laptops.

The two images featured are the classic Herb Ritts True Blue cover photograph and a shot from the Give It 2 Me video by Tom Munro.

These removable and reusable skins are made from premium grade 3M vinyl and adhesive technology so they apply easily and remove without leaving any residue. Also, a high gloss over laminate, which adds durability and a photo quality finish to is added to these skins.

Visit Fanfire.com to buy the skins - the full range can be viewed by selecting 'Music Skins' from the side menu on the Fanfire.com website.


Madonna loves Christian Audigier's label, but will we?

He is one of Hollywood's most popular celebrity designers, beloved by the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, David Beckham and Mariah Carey. Now Christian Audigier, the man behind the Ed Hardy label, is opening his first boutique in the UK, prompting the question: are we ready for his tattoo-inspired, crystal-encrusted clothes?
The popularity of the Ed Hardy range owes nothing to style magazines or fashionistas - it has become famous for its inclusion in celebrity wardrobes.
Although the designs of skulls, roses and tigers are the work of US tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy, they have been transformed into a global brand by French designer Audigier, who has covered a wall in his Los Angeles office with 70 paparazzi shots of Madonna wearing his clothes. Audigier says he is now working with the star to produce her own clothing range.
He was also meant to be working with Michael Jackson on a clothing brand at the time of the singer's death in June, and Audigier created stage outfits which were to be used in Jackson's comeback tour. The free publicity from these celebrity endorsements has proved a successful marketing plan - this month, Hubert Guez, chief executive of Ed Hardy, predicted that the brand would generate sales of $400m this year.
'I associate the brand with Madonna,' says Ellie Crompton, style editor of Heat magazine. 'It would make sense for them to collaborate on a project. He's a strong horse to back in fashion, and part of the interest comes from his personality. He's a crazy character and fashion loves a character.'
As Ed Hardy clothing has become more famous, so has Audigier. The designer, who started his career working for 80s brands such as Fiorucci and Naf Naf, is as flamboyant as the sparkling T-shirts and hooded tops that have made him rich. Britney Spears, Pamela Anderson and Michael Jackson were guests at his 50th birthday party last year.
In an interview with American GQ last month, Audigier said he was due to appear in a film with rapper 50 Cent and to record an album with Kanye West. He told GQ: 'Obama was 200% advertising. I promote myself to sell my brands. Because now I am a kind of celeb. I am in a different world than the fashion industry. I am with Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Madonna. I build me as a celebrity.'
But will his clothing range catch on in Britain when the store opens in west London's Westfield Centre this week? 'Stars like David Beckham and Madonna have a massive reach with the British public,' says Crompton, 'so I can see it having a far-reaching appeal to the mass market. But how long can Audigier make that last? The label's got a very strong image, but I don't see how he can diversify the brand. It might be this year's fad.'

From The Observer


UK TV: GMTV

UK breakfast morning show GMTV have started to run adverts to promote an interview Madonna gave to presenter Ben Shephard recently.

The interview will air during the 06:00-09:25am broadcast on Monday 07 December.

Thanks to mikey1981


Britney Channeled 'Classy' Madonna in Radar Video

Britney Spears has been compared to Madonna since she leapt onto the pop scene, dancing around in a schoolgirl uniform. The two did eventually hook up for 'Me Against the Music,' but Britney's video for 'Radar,' from her Circus album, really paid tribute to the pop queen and her ultra-glamorous Bedtime Stories period.
In the video, Britney is stuck in a love triangle with two very sexy polo players, who spend a good part of their time trying to woo Spears or riding their horses. Spears hooked up with 'Boys' director Dave Meyers for an ode to Madonna's 'Take a Bow.'
'That was the premise behind 'Radar.' [We were] looking for a way to take her into a contemporary, classy environment,' Meyers explained. 'I felt empowered by referencing Madonna's video. Britney hasn't done anything like that.'

From MTV.com


Win copies of Queen Celebration book

Fans have the opportunity to win one of five (5) copies of the new limited-edition book Queen Celebration that is published on Monday 30 November.

To win a copy of the book all you have to do is name the photographer of each of the four pictures below (numbered 1,2,3,4), and send the answers with your name and contact details by email to [email protected] - please make sure 'Queen Celebration Competition' is the subject title of the email.

The competition closes at 6:00pm (GMT) on Sunday 29 November. The winners will be randomly selected and a copy of the book sent to you by the publishers. The contest is open to fans worldwide.

Queen Celebration is a book showing the glorious musical career of the Queen of Pop. This book allows you to discover (or re discover) pictures that made Madonna the most celebrated female singer around the world.
You’ll see rare pictures and previously never seen before pictures all taken by the most talented and famous photographers.

Printed on glossy paper, its format (24 x 34cm) makes this book a truly unique and a must have collector item for any fan of the Queen of Pop.
Limited collector edition: 1000 copies only!

Part of the benefits of Queen Celebration will be donated to the Sidaction foundation.

Queen Celebration is avaliable for pre-order now at:
www.sunset-media.net/queencelebration and will be available only at Lucky Records in Paris (on Saturday 28 November 2009).

The publishers Sunset Media have provided this preview of the inside layout of the book.


Susan Boyle covers Madonna's You'll See

Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle released her debut album today (I Dreamed a Dream - the biggest advance CD seller in the history of Amazon.com) and was interviewed by Today's Matt Lauer in New York City.

Boyle also sings a Madonna tune, 'You’ll See,' that she said is her answer to the teachers who beat her regularly with a belt and the classmates who so cruelly taunted her when she was growing up.
'That was a statement I was trying to make, because I was bullied a lot at school: 'You may have done that to me when I was younger, but you can’t do it to me anymore. I’m grown up now,' ' Boyle explained softly.

From MSNBC.com


Fun Radio to become the Madonna station in France

Yesterday Fun Radio announced that they will become the radio partner of Madonna in France. An interview with Madonna will air on the station on Friday 04 December at 18:00. They will also launch a web radio station entirely dedicated to Madonna as of Monday 07 December.

Fun Radio will be promoting Celebration by putting the new Celebration remix by Akon and Revolver remix by David Guetta on rotation.
Madonna has made a television spot to announce the new partnership (see screen captures below) which can be viewed online at www.ozap.com/madonna


Meet Madonna's makeup artist Gina Brooke

If you missed Gina Brooke in June at Barneys, then meet her and the Shu Uemura atelier team this Saturday in New York City.

Saturday 21 November 2009
11am-7pm @ Barneys New York, 660 Madison Avenue

During this exclusive and rare in-store appearance, Gina will share with you her tips that she uses on some of the most famous people in the world - yes even including Madonna!
For your personalized look by Gina Brooke and to reserve your space for this exclusive appearance, simply call (212) 833-2007.

Gina will be personally signing any customized palettes created/purchased at this event using the Shu Uemura eyeshadows and/or glow on's, as well as purchases of the lashes she created for Toyko Lash Bar 2009.


From Elvis to Madonna, rare rock relics on sale

Have you ever had a burning desire to own a pair of Michael Jackson’s beaded socks? How about a suit tailor-made for John Lennon when he was a Beatle? Or you might like a size 42 jacket Elvis Presley wore in the film 'Speedway.'
Well, here’s your chance: Those items are among hundreds of rare rock relics being auctioned off this Saturday, Nov. 21, by Julien’s Auctions at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square in New York City and online at juliensauctions.com.

Another unique item is a demo tape an unknown performer named Madonna made in 1979 to send to record companies in an attempt to get a recording contract. Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, it’s just Madonna, her music unadorned by post-production magic and elaborate orchestration. The songs on the tape include 'All My Love,' 'Hear Me' (a song that evolved into 'Shine a Light'), 'Simon Says' (which became the familiar 'Love Express') and 'Little Lost Boy.'
Julien estimates the tape will bring $1,000 to $2,000, noting that the Material Girl still holds the copyrights to all the songs.

Play the video clip below to hear one of Madonna's songs or click here to view the clip.

From MSNBC.com


Madonna helps Brazilian kids

This report from contactmusic.com clarifies a report published yesterday stating that Madonna had received money from Brazil's richest man for the Raising Malawi charity - infact it was for a Brazilian charity project instead:

Madonna has secured a $7 million donation from Brazil's richest man to help set up a children's charity in the South American country.
Madonna is setting up a new Brazilian children's charity.
The 'Celebration' singer met with wealthy business people and politicians during her recent five-day trip to the South American country and managed to secure a $7 million donation for Success for Kids from Brazil's richest man, Eike Batista.
Madonna was invited to the father-of-two's estate on the island of Angra Dos Reis on Saturday (14.11.09) to discuss the project after Batista agreed to fund a large proportion of her latest charitable venture.
During dinner, Batista - who has an estimated $7.5 billion fortune - offered to give Madonna $7 million after asking how much more she needed to set up her charity's initial projects, leaving the pop superstar in tears.
At the meal, Madonna declared her love for the country, saying: 'I worship Brazil.'


Madonna raises $11 million for Raising Malawi

Madonna has raised $11 million from Brazilian millionaires for her Raising Malawi Foundation, the daily Rio O Dia reported on Monday.
The US pop star, who visited Brazil to stroke the country's wealthy into giving, notably won an unspecified pledge from the country's richest man, mining magnate Ike Batista, who has an estimated fortune of 7.5 billion dollars.
Madonna, 51, was accompanied during her fund-raising by 22-year-old Brazilian model Jesus de Luz, whom US and British gossip pages have referred to as her 'toy boy'.
Her Raising Malawi Foundation, started in 2006, finances humanitarian projects in Malawi, the southern African country where Madonna has adopted two children.

From AFP Via Yahoo! News


Madonna in tears after huge donation offered

US pop star Madonna broke into tears when Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista announced that he would donate $7 million for her welfare projects, a media report said.
During a dinner at Batista's home Thursday, the tycoon asked the singer how much money she collected and how much more she needed. When she answered that she had $3 million and needed to raise $10 million, the billionaire announced his readiness to complete the sum.
It was at that moment that Madonna was moved to tears, the Folha de Sao Paulo daily reported.
At the dinner were Rio de Janeiro State Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes.
The singer left Brazil Friday after a five-day visit seeking investments for a number of social projects that she wants to launch.
On Thursday before the dinner, the artist made a quick trip to Sao Paulo to meet a group of poor women, with whom she spoke about the positive values contained in the Hebrew doctrine of the Kabbalah, of which she herself is a follower.
The mayor told the media that the singer had accepted his offer for her to perform at the next New Year's festival, for which some two million people would gather on the Copacabana beach.

From malaysianews.net


Madonna visits the slums of Rio de Janeiro

Pop veteran Madonna has paid a visit to a Rio de Janeiro slum as part of an ongoing crusade to establish social projects in the impoverished region.
Joined by Rio's Governor Sergio Cabral, Madonna toured the favela and also visited social projects run by local NGOs.
During her week-long visit, Madonna met with local business people and officials in Brazil to collect donations for her.
Local residents admitted visits from celebrities like Madonna helped their cause.
'Her visit is very special to us, because like Michael Jackson and other artists who have visited the slum, for us it is always a great feeling to see artists here in the favela because many people outside discriminate us, while an artist, a governor, or a mayor don't discriminate us.' Michel Luz da Silva, a Dona Marta Favella resident said.

Report from Sky News Australia - Picture from O Globo


Madonna to sing on Copacabana beach?

According to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, Madonna has accepted the offer to perform at the 2010/11 New Years Eve celebration on Copacabana beach which can infront of about 2 million people. Madonna accepted the invitation yesterday night during dinner with the Mayor.

The Mayor also tried to get Madonna to agree that she would sing at the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro - this she did not confirm.

To read the full report visit http://musica.uol.com.br

Thanks to Rubens


Fabien Baron talks about Madonna picture retrospective

Jacob Bernstein interviewed Sex book art director Fabien Baron for The Daily Beast and managed to make Fabien say more than he probably should:

Fabien Baron has redesigned some of the most famous publications in the world, including Harper’s Bazaar and French Vogue. He talks to Jacob Bernstein about reinventing Andy Warhol’s Interview and doing a new book with Madonna.
Fabien Baron’s office on New York's Hudson Street is the cleanest thing you’ve ever seen. There’s a flat-screen TV on the wall in the waiting room and a couple of loveseats to sit on, but everything is white. The walls are white. The seats are white. The coffee table is white. It’s almost like a doctor’s office, except that the man who works here with his staff of 35 doesn’t diagnose illnesses: He cures design problems.
Baron’s said to be working on another coffee table book with the singer now - a massive retrospective of the queen of reinvention as photographed over the years by everyone from Herb Ritts to Steven Klein. 'I’m not sure I’m supposed to talk about it yet,' he says, with characteristic self-restraint.

To read the rest of the article visit www.thedailybeast.com


Vote: The World's Greatest Popstars

A quick reminder for fans to vote for Madonna in The World's Greatest Popstars poll that is being run by UK TV station Channel 4 / 4Music.

Madonna needs your vote and the poll closes on Wednesday 25 November - you are only permitted to vote for a nominee once per email address.

To place your vote for Madonna visit 4music.channel4.com/vote

Below is an advert for the show from UK magazine Grazia (16 November issue).

Thanks to Chris


More news on the D&G Spring Campaign

Hot on the heels of her campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Madonna has been unveiled as the newest face of Dolce & Gabbana.
The songstress is to appear in the Italian fashion house's Spring womenswear campaign presenting a Sicilian inspired range featuring corsetry, sheer lace fabrics, caged-skirts and structured tailoring.
The ad was shot this weekend in Brooklyn by renowned fashion photograher Stephen Klein.
Blogging from the shoot Stefano Gabbana said: 'We're on the last shot.... M [Madonna] is simply beautiful. We're very, very tired but very happy as well.... To have Madonna in our campaign is a dream come true.'

From hellomagazine.com


Madonna was shocked by donation response

Michael Berg, the co-founder of Raising Malawi has sent out this message about Madonna's reaction to donations to the charity so far:

Madonna and I just got back from an emotionally charged trip to Malawi.
It wasn't the poverty or hardship in Malawi that shocked Madonna - it was your response to it. When Madonna pledged to match $100,000 in your donations to Raising Malawi, she never dreamt that you'd crush that goal in just a few days!
After the news of your generosity set in, Madonna looked around and said, 'We must do more!' Madonna has upped the stakes and pledged to match an additional $150,000 in donations made in the next week.
Will you make a donation to Raising Malawi? Madonna will match your donation today at www.raisingmalawi.org/doubletheimpact


Madonna wants to help Rio slums, says governor

Madonna, who has promoted school building in the African country Malawi, is now turning her star power onto projects to improve the notorious slums of Rio de Janeiro.
The 51-year-old star is in Rio to visit some of the Brazilian city's slums, or 'favelas', and meet with one of the country's richest businessmen to discuss setting up social projects, said state Governor Sergio Cabral.
'She will get to know some social projects; she is enchanted with Rio and wants to help,' Cabral said. The beachside city has about 1,000 slums, many of them controlled by violent drug gangs or other armed groups.
A major outbreak of violence last month, which followed Rio's selection to host the 2016 Olympics, underlined its stubborn security and poverty problems.
Madonna last month launched the construction of a multimillion dollar girls' school she is funding in Malawi, from where she has adopted two children.

From Reuters Via Yahoo! News


Madonna states Brazil visit is 'strictly business'

Madonna has refuted reports she's jetted to Brazil to meet her boyfriend Jesus Luz's family - insisting her visit is strictly business.
The Material Girl landed in Luz's native country this week alongside her beau, fuelling speculation she is to step up the romance by meeting the model's relatives.
But Madonna is adamant she is only in South America for charity work - she plans to visit some of Rio de Janeiro's slums and to discuss setting up some 'social projects' with the city's governor Sergio Cabral.
She tells New York Post gossip column PageSix, 'I am going there strictly for fundraising and humanitarian purposes.'
The singer is also sponsoring a documentary on the children living in slums.

From contactmusic.com


Madonna celebrates the Yankees win

Just because Madonna isn't dating A-Rod doesn't mean she can't still be a Yankees fan.
A source says that the Queen of Pop celebrated the Bronx Bombers' World Series win on Saturday (a day after the big NYC parade) with boyfriend Jesus Luz, Jerry Seinfeld and even one of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner 's sons.
The group did some wining and dining at posh restaurant A Voce overlooking Central Park...
'Jerry got there first with his wife, and he wanted a private room,' a fellow restaurant-goer says. 'They didn't have anything available, so Jerry asked for the most private table in the place.'
Our eyewitness says a group of fellow diners was asked to move tables to accommodate Seinfeld, a die-hard fan who holds season tickets.
Madonna arrived with her Brazilian boyfriend on her arm. 'She looked great and very youthful…She was in good spirits and looked glad to see Jerry,' our source says. 'She ended up facing out toward the restaurant from a back corner.'
No surprise, but many others in the eatery gawked at the celebrity bunch for most of their meal. The group raised glasses in honor of their beloved home team and were 'laughing and smiling the whole time,' our source says.

From comcast.net - thanks to Lauren


Madonna finishes new screenplay

Madonna has confirmed that she has completed writing a new film script.
The popstar, who wrote and directed her first feature Filth And Wisdom in 2008, said that she is planning to relaunch her movie career.
The 51-year-old told Absolute Now: 'I just finished writing a script and I am trying to get funding and casting for it, believe it or not.'
'It's called We and it's a love story. It is two parallel love stories told from a woman's point of view, obviously. One is a historical story that took place with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. And the other is one I made up about a couple in New York.'
It is thought that Madonna will not star in the forthcoming film.

From Digital Spy


Madonna takes top honours at Billboard Touring Awards

Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour was the big winner at the sixth annual Billboard Touring Awards, taking home honors for Top Tour and Top Draw, which acknowledge the highest-grossing and highest-attended tours of the year, respectively. Madonna's manager Guy Oseary won the Top Manager award.
The Billboard Touring Awards are based on worldwide data reported to Billboard Boxscore for the period Oct. 1, 2008, through Sept. 30, 2009.

To read the rest of the article and view the complete list of winners visit: www.billboard.com/events/madonna-takes-top-honors-at-billboard-touring

From Billboard.com - thanks to Chico


Madonna's autographed shoes raise $16,600 USD for charity

Madonna's one pair of designer shoes reportedly fetched about $16,600 USD for Roma children at a Romania charity auction.
Madonna donated one of her favorite specially made pair of autographed designer skyscraper gold heels Christian Dior shoes to a charity supporting education of Roma children, which was auctioned off at the fifth annual Ovidiu Rom Halloween Charity Ball held in Bucharest (Romania).
One of the golden heels was reportedly marked with kisses and a heart by her while the other was autographed 'Love Madonna'. Oscar nominated Hollywood star Ethan Hawke (Training Day) reportedly spoke at the Ball.
A gold chain donated by Oscar winner actress Vanessa Redgrave (Mary, Queen of Scots) was auctioned off at about $8,300 USD. Money thus collected will be used to buy clothes and schoolbooks for Roma children, according to reports.

From ANI / newKerala.com