Madonna Music Video Shoot Shut Down By Cops for 'Loudness and Craziness'

Bodycam footage shows NYPD cops shutting down Madonna's music video shoot for the song "Hung Up" in September. Authorities said police were called by nearby residents over "loudness and craziness" outside their apartments. Madonna's representative dealt with officers while the "Material Girl" was nowhere to be found. Police said the issue was resolved with no issued citations for the disturbance.

Was so much fun to show up in Snoop Dogg's video for his song Gang Signs

Was so much fun to show up in @SnoopDogg video for his new song Gang Signs! 🐐 🐐!! pic.twitter.com/d43cMncaRm

— Madonna (@Madonna) May 7, 2021

From Madonna to Mank: Why David Fincher’s greatest film is an erotic pop music video

It was in the winter of 1993 that David Fincher murdered Madonna. The crime scene: a music video for one of the latter’s greatest singles, “Bad Girl”, and what would be the last of the pair’s four collaborations. In its wake, Fincher would become one of cinema’s most revered directors, the prickly genius behind Se7en (1995), The Social Network (2010), Gone Girl (2014) and the forthcoming Mank. But it’s “Bad Girl” that remains Fincher’s most important venture. It is a short, stylish erotic thriller that begins and ends with Madonna’s lifeless corpse; a video that nods toward the filmmaker Fincher would become, and a final act of artistic symbiosis between two titans of pop culture.

Back in the Nineties, Fincher was coming to the end of a luminous eight years as a music video visionary. The likes of Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun” and George Michael’s supermodel-filled “Freedom ‘90” were gorgeous exercises in style and short-form storytelling. Little was more thrilling, though, than his work with Madonna - from the grandiose myth-making of “Vogue” and “Express Yourself” to the richly personal “Oh Father”. They both recognised the cinematic potential of the form, even if it came at a cost - all of their collaborations rank among the most expensive videos ever made.

That trilogy of music videos – which came before “Bad Girl” and were shot over the course of 10 months between 1989 and 1990 – would reflect a fruitful creative tussle between the pair. Despite Fincher’s relative lack of clout in the industry at the time, and especially compared to Madonna’s cultural ubiquity, they would approach their work as somewhat begrudging - and almost flirtatious - equals.

In interviews, Fincher recalled expressing mock outrage when Madonna asked him if he had heard of Metropolis, the landmark sci-fi film she wanted to replicate for “Express Yourself”. Madonna sneered at his idea to have her crawl across the floor, lick milk from a bowl, and then pour it over herself in the same video, assuming it might look like a student film. It turned out to be one of the video’s most memorable set pieces. The visual for “Oh Father”, meanwhile, a psychological wormhole into Madonna’s childhood and the emotional toll of her mother’s death, only came about at Fincher’s insistence. Madonna had been unsure it would even work as a single. Fincher, though, saw it as ripe for visual accompaniment, and captured her vulnerability like no other.

Since then, Fincher’s work with Madonna has been all over his filmmaking, their music video collaborations regularly gesturing towards the movies that would make him internationally famous. The gorgeously monochrome “Oh Father” lifts a number of visual cues from Citizen Kane, which serves as the backdrop for Mank, starring Gary Oldman as its screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz. Mank also plunges into the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age, much like the video for “Vogue”, while the industrial, dystopian cityscape of “Express Yourself” was recreated in Fincher’s feature debut Alien 3 (1992). But it is “Bad Girl”, full of the psychological depth, visual symbolism and pulpy thrills that would dominate much of Fincher’s filmography, that is his unheralded masterpiece.

“Bad Girl” was an unexpected final chapter in the Madonna/Fincher saga, occurring two years after they had apparently drifted apart. His hiring seemed to come about as a last resort, Madonna having already approached Tim Burton, Mark Romanek and photographer Ellen von Unwerth to direct. She envisioned something that teased the links betwen sex and death, inspired by Judith Rossner’s novel Looking for Mr Goodbar. Published in 1975, it is a provocative thriller about a schoolteacher drifting through New York bars sleeping with strange men and winding up murdered. While neither Madonna nor Fincher have ever spoken about the circumstances behind their final collaboration, or what had changed in their personal dynamic since 1991, it is presumed Fincher ran with the idea.

Like “Oh Father”, “Bad Girl” feels like a personal exorcism for Madonna, of a kind only Fincher seemed to be able to coax out of her. Speaking to the BBC in 1992, Madonna dismissed speculation that “Bad Girl” was about sex work, and instead about a woman embroiled in a toxic relationship. “She really cares for this person and she’s having a hard time saying goodbye,” she explained. “She’s unhappy with her situation and getting drunk, smoking too many cigarettes ... because she’s trying to distract herself from reality.”

To read the rest of the article visit: uk.style.yahoo.com/madonna-mank-why-david-fincher

Madonna the first female with 100M views on videos from 4 different decades

Madonna, the iconic pop star of almost every decade since she began music, has officially become the first female artist to reach 100 million views on music videos from 4 different decades.

In case you’re wondering what exactly those videos are, we will be breaking down all four videos, which reached pinnacles of success in their time.

The videos are:

80s: ‘La Isla Bonita’
A classic in South America and a timeless hit all over the world, ‘La Isla Bonita’ from Madonna’s album True Blue still sounds as good as it did in the 80s.

The instrumental for this song was originally offered up to the talents of Michael Jackson, but was rejected.

Madonna accepted the instrumental, then wrote the lyrics and the melody for the classic hit. It currently sits at 105 Million views on YouTube.

90s: ‘Vogue’
With ‘Vogue’ only just recently hitting 100 Million views, Madonna was able to break the records for female artists. The only person who has broken these records before is Michael Jackson, with five decades in a row under his belt.

‘Vogue’ is endlessly iconic, from the black and white video to the song itself, which paid homage to black LGBTQIA history, hearkening back to the ball scene and culture, which is still prominent today.

00s: ‘Hung Up’
Time goes by so slowly for those who wait. This video has actually almost hit 200 million views, and it isn’t a surprise, it’s a song that is dearly beloved by both young and old audiences.

With a fantastic sample from ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’, Madonna managed to create a dancefloor hit that is still enjoyed to this day.

10s: ‘Bitch I’m Madonna’
Often misheard as 'Bitch i’m a donut', this song has smashed 300 million views on YouTube. It definitely isn’t one of Madonna’s best songs, but if features production from Diplo and SOPHIE, which is pretty incredible.

It also has a pretty sweet feature from Nicki Minaj to boot, which always helps with racking up views.

From tonedeaf.thebrag.com/madonna-the-first-female-artist

Medellin Video: Behind the Scenes

Madame ❌ behind the scenes with Medellin @maluma @nunoxico pic.twitter.com/Wi5FD0WEd5

— Madonna (@Madonna) 19 April 2019

Director Mary Lambert talks 'Like A Prayer' video

Director Mary Lambert is interviewed by the Los Angeles Times talking about all her work, just a small part of which is directing videos for Madonna:

Over the span of a few months in 1989 you drew the ire of the Catholic Church with Madonna’s 'Like a Prayer' video and directed 'Pet Sematary,' which featured a zombie cat named Church. Cosmic poetry, or coincidence?

It was just a perfect storm! Madonna and I, by that time we were really solid friends and we really trusted each other. We had dinner together one night and she said she wanted me to direct a video for 'Like a Prayer.' We got in whatever black Mercedes she was driving at the time and just drove around Hollywood. We drove up to Mulholland and we listened to the song, just driving around Hollywood, pumped up on her car stereo.

I’m like, ‘Wow, this is a song about how sexual ecstasy mirrors religious ecstasy.’ And she was like, ‘Yeah! And I want to [have relations with] a black guy on the altar!’

The resulting imagery ended up being groundbreaking as social commentary: The burning crosses, black Jesus, setting it in a church.

In the Catholic Church it has to go through the priest: You can’t even pray directly to God, you have to go through the priest and the priest prays for you. It’s all very patriarchal.... God talks to the priest, the priest talks to the man, and the man tells his wife what to do. The women are right at the very bottom, down there with animals in terms of any kind of freedom of speech or expression.

That was all part of the dialogue. We wanted to take certain things that are a given or a convention and say, why couldn’t it be this? Why couldn’t Jesus be black? Why can’t sexual ecstasy be equated with religious ecstasy? Is it wrong to enjoy sex? Is it wrong to enjoy prayer, for that matter? Why does it have to be a dull or confining thing? I knew there was going to be some controversy but I wasn’t prepared for how much. It was fun.

For the full interview visit: www.latimes.com/entertainment

Madonna celebrates Like A Prayer music video’s 30th anniversary and the ‘controversy’ that made it iconic

Madonna caused quite a storm with the release of her controversial music video for Like A Prayer, but she’s quite proud of the scandal as she celebrates the song’s 30th anniversary.

Back in 1989, the queen of pop sparked sheer outrage with the Mary Lambert-directed visuals, which saw Madonna kiss a black saint alongside images of burning crosses and stigmata. Oh, the drama.

Reflecting on the controversy with fond memories, Madonna wrote in an Instagram post: ‘30 years ago today I released Like a Prayer and made a video that caused so much controversy because I kissed a black saint and danced in front of burning crosses. I also made a commercial with PEPSI that was banned because my video was seen as inappropriate. Happy Birthday to Me and Controversy! #likeaprayer.’

Before Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball or Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines, Madonna’s Like A Prayer was at the centre of one of the biggest scandals pop had seen at the time. In January 1989, two months before the video’s release, Madonna signed a staggering $5 million (£3.8 million) endorsement deal with Pepsi meaning she was deemed family-friendly enough to front one of the biggest brands in the world. However, it all came crumbling down just two months later when the full visual for Like A Prayer visuals were released. Madonna had initially teased a clip which showed her singing alongside a gospel choir, which seemed innocent enough. So it’s no surprise that Pepsi felt completely blindsided to see the pop star seducing a black saint and burning crosses.

An advert she had filmed with the soft drink brand, which featured scenes from the Like A Prayer video, did air following the controversy but Pepsi pulled the commercial after threats of a boycott. The brand quickly distanced themselves from Madge, 60, and promptly terminated the contract they’d signed just weeks before. Reacting to the controversy, Pepsi told the New York Times in 1989: ‘When you’ve got an ad that confuses people or concerns people, it just makes sense that that ad goes away.’

Naturally offended by the anti-religious imagery, the Vatican condemned the video. Still, Madonna managed to perform the song in front of the Pope in 2008. Gotta admire her tenacity. Despite the outrage, Like A Prayer spent three weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was voted MTV’s most groundbreaking music video of all time, proving the song’s weight amongst fans. When so many musicians play it safe, Like A Prayer perfectly symbolises the fearlessness that pop can and should represent.

From Metro.co.uk

Happy Birthday to Me and Controversy!

30 years ago today I released Like a Prayer and made a video that caused so much controversy because I kissed a black saint and danced in front of burning crosses! I also made a commercial with PEPSI that was banned because my video was seen as inappropriate. 🔥🔥🔥Happy Birthday to Me and Controversy! #likeaprayer meant to post this yesterday but was blocked! 😂 what a shocker!

30 years ago today I released Like a Prayer and made a video that caused so much controversy because I kissed a black saint and danced in front of burning crosses! I also made a commercial with PEPSI that was banned because my video... https://t.co/34W0xOWLQa pic.twitter.com/i3SdBxng5k

— Madonna (@Madonna) 4 March 2019

Madonna Recruits RuPaul's Drag Race Queens For New Music Video

Madonna has recruited some former stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race to appear in her upcoming music video.

The Queen of Pop is currently gearing up for her return to the music scene, with the lead single from her upcoming 14th studio album, which is believed to be called Magic, tipped for release in the coming weeks.

Earlier this week, Madonna revealed on Instagram that she was shooting the song’s music video, and it sounds as though she may have some surprise Drag Race cameos.

Among them will be the most recent winner of All Stars 4, Monét X Change, who is reported to have accepted a last-minute offer from Madonna, forcing her to miss a show in Denver.

As a result, Monét has been pulled from the Haters Roast US tour, with a statement from organisers saying: 'Sometime during the afternoon, we’re told [Monét] received a phone call from Madonna with an offer to be in an upcoming music video. Monét asked [organisers Murray & Peter] if it would be ok to leave the tour to accept the offer. We said no because it was too short notice to replace her on Haters. Just hours before the show was to start and without telling anyone including the other queens on the Denver show, Monet left the venue and flew to LA to accept Madonna’s offer. Therefore, we have decided that Monet will no longer be on any upcoming Haters Roast dates.'

From HuffPost UK

Madonna’s 12 Most Memorable Awards Show Performances

Celebrate Madonna's birthday today by taking a look-back at some of her most memorable award show performances, from cape-gate at the Brits, to the wedding dress at the MTV VMAs.

To see the clips visit: huffingtonpost.co.uk/madonna-awards-show

Madonna’s ‘Make My Video’ MTV Contest Winner, 30 Years Later

Thirty years ago, MTV actually played music videos. And the network played a lot of Madonna videos. So many, in fact, that it devoted an entire day - Oct. 30, 1986, also known as 'Blue Thursday' - to Madge’s 'Make My Video' contest, running a marathon of fan-made 'True Blue' music videos that ranged from semi-professional film-school projects to amusingly amateurish camcorder clips of tots in ballet-recital tutus or tweens in Desperately Seeking Susan lace hair-bows lip-synching into hairbrushes.

A week earlier, the top 10 contest entries even took over the cable channel’s regular Dial MTV countdown show, and one of those contenders - a sepia-toned depiction of ‘60s malt-shop romance, lensed by Venezuela-born, Miami-based college student Angel Gracia on a $600 budget - won the $25,000 grand prize, and became the official video for 'True Blue' in the States. And MTV history was made.

'It’s a bit shocking, actually. S—, I’m getting old,' Gracia laughingly tells Yahoo Music when he realizes he won the 'Make My Video' contest three whole decades ago, when he was just 21. Gracia credits 'True Blue' with launching his legitimate film career, which has included shooting commercials and even working with Ridley Scott. But he recalls that his video almost didn’t make it past MTV’s submission process at all.

To read the rest of the article visit: www.yahoo.com/news

Mike Tyson films Iconic video

Mike Tyson’s career as an actor has landed him a special appearance alongside one of pop music’s most celebrated icons.

During last weekend’s annual Comic-Con, the former heavyweight boxing champ dished to TVLine.com on details surrounding his cameo in Madonna’s forthcoming music video, 'Iconic.'

'I’m in a cage. I’m a hostage. I’m chained. It’s just crazy. I’m naked. I just look like a savage,' he stated before adding, 'but it looks intense, and it’s like ‘whoa.’ But when I [shot] it it didn’t seem that intense. But then you watch it and go, ‘Whoa.’ It looks like one of those [books] National Geographic or something… I need to be tamed.'

While Tyson stated that he doesn’t know if he’s 'going to get some slack' from critics for the clip, it appears recording his vocals for the track - which is featured on the Material Girl’s latest album 'Rebel Heart' - was also an 'intense' experience. Earlier this year Tyson explained to Rolling Stone how his role in the song came to be during a visit to one of Madonna’s recording sessions.

'I didn't know what the hell I was going there for. I'm just there having a good time and hanging out with Madonna,' he recalled during the interview. 'She has her producer there and I go into the studio and I didn't know if she wanted me to talk or rap.'

'I just go in there and start talking. I'm talking about my life and things that I have endured. I'm saying some really crazy stuff. It was really intense.'

From The Huffington Post

'Bitch I'm Madonna' Remix Video Online

The Bitch I'm Madonna (Sander Kleinenberg Remix) video has just been released online today:

Jonas Akerlund reflects on collaborations with Madonna

Director Jonas Akerlund has worked with Madonna on some of her most iconic music videos, bringing 'Ray of Light,' 'American Life' and 'Music' to life. After he ​shared behind-the-scenes stories from her most recent video, 'Bitch I’m Madonna,' Akerlund gave EW the inside scoop on what it was like to put together the rest of their greatest collaborations.

To read the article visit: www.ew.com/jonas-akerlund-madonna-greatest-collaborations

'Bitch I'm Madonna' video on Vevo!

After 24 hours on Tidal the 'Bitch I'm Madonna' video is now available to watch via Vevo!

Madonna brings star power, children to new video

Madonna has brought out some of the biggest fellow names in pop - and two of her children - in a new video she debuted Wednesday on the fledgling streaming service Tidal.

Beyonce, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Kanye West all make cameo appearances in the video for 'Bitch, I'm Madonna,' off her latest album 'Rebel Heart.'

Madonna released the video initially on Tidal, where it will appear exclusively for one day before wider distribution.

But a number of users reported technical problems, saying that the video froze up when they first tried to watch.

'We apologize to all the fans excited to watch the #BitchImMadonna video, we're working on a fix,' said a Tidal message on Twitter before later reporting smoother streaming.

Tidal - led by rap mogul Jay-Z with participation of Madonna and other stars - has promoted exclusives in a bid to win subscribers.

But despite a splashy launch on March 30, Tidal trails more established players in the growing field of streaming, led by Spotify.

The video - which also features hip-hop star Nicki Minaj, who collaborated on the song originally - depicts a party atmosphere and was shot at the Standard High Line, a hotel in New York's Meatpacking District known for its nightclub with a jacuzzi overlooking the city.

'Bitch, I'm Madonna' also includes rare appearances by two of the Material Girl's four children, 14-year-old Rocco and nine-year-old David.

From Press Association Via Yahoo! News

'Bitch I'm Madonna' video premieres on Tidal

The 'Bitch I'm Madonna' video has finally premiered - but on Tidal at http://listen.tidalhifi.com/video/46995201

However here is a behind-the-scenes clip from the video shoot which anyone can watch, including some great cameos from Madonna's sons Rocco and David!

Bitch I'm Madonna BTS from TIDAL on Vimeo.

'Just tryin to make it perfect for all of you!'

Video coming soon! Just tryin to make it perfect for all of you❤️😄❤️😓❤️😁 we are hard werking bitches! #bitchimmadonna pic.twitter.com/BCPuVK5lHJ

— Madonna (@Madonna) June 16, 2015

'Bitch I'm Madonna' video to premiere Tuesday!

💘 #bitchimmadonna 💘. Video Premieres on Tuesday!!! We Go Hard or We Go Home! ❤ #rebelheartBitches https://t.co/N4KjZ7JQJD

— Madonna (@Madonna) June 13, 2015

Rita Ora teases star-studded Madonna video

Rita Ora has spoken about Madonna's highly anticipated new video.

The singer is due to premiere her 'Bitch, I’m Madonna' clip soon and it will feature the likes of Beyoncé and Katy Perry.

Another star set to make an appearance is Rita Ora, who previously modelled Madonna's Material Girl line.

Speaking to On Demand Entertainment, the 'Hot Right Now' star said that she was under strict orders not to divulge details of the video.

Ora said: 'She’s the queen! Well for me there’s two, there’s Beyoncé and then there’s Madonna. I did her Material Girl campaign a few years ago. So when I first met her I couldn’t feel my feet, but she’s one of the nicest, coolest, most work-driven people I’ve ever met.'

'To be a part of this kind of video it’s awesome. [I won't reveal any details because] I do not want Queen Madge coming up to me and telling me off!'

From Pressparty.com

Madonna teases 'surprise guests' for her 'Bitch I'm Madonna' video

Cool Fan Art!! #bitchimmadonna video coming soooooooon !! 💘💘💘 with many surprise guests! Stay tuned......... ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NZAopR5Y1g

— Madonna (@Madonna) June 4, 2015

Madonna Survives Destruction with Terrence Howard in 'Ghosttown'

We have yet to see a Madonna guest appearance on Fox's smash drama Empire, but the closest we have come thus far is the new music video for her latest Rebel Heart single, 'Ghosttown.' Yes, that's Terrence Howard, better known as Lucius Lyon, surviving the apocalypse and pointing a sniper rifle at the Queen of Pop before elegantly busting a move with her.

After waking up in the scourge of a nuked-out world, Madonna feels her way through the deserted society, I Am Legend-ing it up while Terrence Howard's brooding loner suspiciously looks on. Eventually the two humans come into contact, inching toward each other until clasping their hands and dancing the forbidden dance of the last man and woman on earth. 'Ghosttown' makes for a fitting soundtrack to the impressive choreographed sequence, although the image of a weary Howard proudly grasping the hand of a boy at the end of the video makes one long for a few seconds of 'Drip Drop' as well.

Jonas Åkerlund helmed the new music video after directing the clips for Madonna singles like 'Ray of Light' and 'Music,' among others. 'Ghosttown' is the second single from Madonna's Rebel Heart, which was released last month and was blocked from the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart by....the soundtrack to the first season of Empire.

A behind-the-scenes companion to the 'Ghosttown' video is currently available of Tidal. Madonna kicks off her Rebel Heart World Tour on Aug. 29.

From www.billboard.com

Video: Ghosttown Premiere

The video for Ghosttown was premiered today. Forget Mad Max, this is Mad Madonna in a post-apocalyptic steam-punk world, beautifully shot video.

Ghosttown video should premiere today!

'When it all falls, When it all falls down, I'll be your fire when the lights go out....'

Join us on Meerkat (http://mrk.tv/1HNKsng) at 10am PST WEDNESDAY for the world premiere of the full ‪‎Ghosttown‬ video!

Also, visit TIDAL.com tomorrow for some exclusive behind the scenes footage!

'Ghostown Video premiers WEDNESDAY ‪#‎meerkat‬ 10 am west coast 1pm east coast! ‪#‎apocalypticlovesong‬ ‪#‎ghostown‬ ‪#‎rebelheart‬"

Ghosttown: Full Video and Behind-the-scenes Wednesday!

Madonna has just posted this news that the 'Full video and exclusive behind the scenes from 'Ghosttown' coming tomorrow...' and posted a teaser clip online:

We are not sure what happened to the Meerkat App premiere of the video today, but the site seems to have crashed!

Madonna uses Meerkat app to debut new video

Soon, there won’t be a social app left that Madonna hasn’t used to promote her new album. Live video broadcasting app Meerkat is the latest, following the star’s use of Instagram, Snapchat and Grindr in the campaign for Rebel Heart.

'Be here at 10am PST Tuesday for the world premiere of Madonna’s Ghosttown video!' explained a message on Madonna’s official Meerkat profile, which at the time of writing has just under 1,000 subscribers.

Meerkat launched in February as the latest app enabling people to broadcast video live from their smartphones to their followers on Twitter. It has since been joined by Periscope, an app owned by Twitter that fulfils the same function.

Madonna is the biggest star yet to use Meerkat, after a bruising few weeks for the app, which saw Twitter turn off Meerkat’s access to its social graph, then saw it plummet down Apple’s App Store chart following Periscope’s release.

It is unclear how Madonna will use Meerkat to debut a music video as the app works by the broadcaster pointing their smartphone’s camera at whatever they want to stream.

If Madonna is able to air pre-recorded footage it will be an interesting departure for Meerkat. Allowing users to stream pre-recorded video would give it different functionality in its battle with Periscope.

Madonna’s decision to use Meerkat may come as a surprise to some fans, since she is now one of the 16 co-owners of streaming music service Tidal, which is planning to use similarly-exclusive video premieres to promote itself.

Fellow co-owners Beyoncé and Rihanna have already debuted videos on Tidal before other services, but Madonna chose to make a 16-second teaser of the Ghosttown video available on Tidal ahead of its full premiere on Meerkat.

Visit: http://meerkatapp.co/madonna/ to view Madonna's profile.

From theguardian.co.uk

Ghosttown Video Teaser on Tidal

Tidal has been busy Sunday! Just hours after Rihanna premiered her new track, 'American Oxygen,' exclusively on Jay Z's new music streaming service, Madonna has dropped a tantalizing new teaser for her upcoming music video for 'Ghosttown.'

The 16-second, black-and-white clip shows a ferociously clad female form (three guesses who!) running through a bleak, seemingly apocalyptic landscape. Images of religious and earthly symbolism (what appear to be an immaculate heart and animal carcasses, respectively) flash across the screen as the woman picks up speed, her long cape trailing ominously.

Watch the teaser on Tidal at http://listen.tidalhifi.com/

Madonna also posted this picture from the set of the Ghosttown video on her Instagram page: 'Shut up complaining beyatches!!#ghostown #rebelheart'

'Living for Love' video on Vevo

Madonna's Living for Love video is now available to watch (constantly) on Vevo.

Madonna releases Living For Love video on Snapchat

Madonna premieres the first music video from her new album, Rebel Heart, on Snapchat. The singer's shared the video for Living for Love, the album's first single, on the new Snap Channel alongside a behind-the-scenes clip from the video shoot.

It all follows a leak of the star's 13th studio album ahead of its planned release on 10 March. This is the first music video to be published since the launch of SnapChat's 'Discover' service.

Snapchat has partnered with media companies to feature videos and news articles on the app. After 24 hours the stories disappear, in keeping with Snapchat's trademark feature of private messages that vanish a few seconds after being viewed by users.

Snapchat, which reportedly turned down a $3bn (£1.2bn) buyout offer from Facebook, has been valued at around $10bn (£6.2bn).

From BBC News

Madonna to Premiere Music Video on Snapchat

Today, Madonna is set to premiere the first music video from her new album, Rebel Heart, on Snapchat, the picture messaging app that was recently valued at $10 billion. The video accompanies 'Living for Love,' the album's first single, and will be viewable on the app's 'Snap Channel.'

The video was directed by the French duo Julien Choquart and Camille Hirigoyen, together known as J.A.C.K., was edited by longtime Madonna collaborator Danny B. Tull, and styled by B. Akerlund - who also works wth Beyonce, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. It was choreographed by Megan Lawson.

To state the obvious, it's a major coup for the three-year-old Snapchat, which boasts an estimated 200 million users. CEO Evan Spiegel made headlines during last year's Sony hack when a series of uncovered e-mails revealed that he was at work on an in-app music feature, including negotiations with Vevo to bring music video viewing inside Snapchat's interface. Those talks reported stalled, but the music feature being discussed was likely tied to Discover, which was announced last month.

Discover feeds news and entertainment from 12 different companies directly to the user. Participating organizations include Warner Music Group, National Geographic, People magazine, ESPN and Vice, who enlist editors to select stories (which can include photo essays and videos) that are shared and refreshed every 24 hours.

From Billboard.com

Madonna teases with Living for Love video clip

Madonna shared a short teaser clip of her Living for Love video that she shot recently.

Let’s go behind the scenes of the #LivingForLove video... Get ready for the real thing! https://t.co/V7uWe0w01Z

— Madonna (@Madonna) February 4, 2015

Liz Smith: 'Living for Love' video shot in Brooklyn

Speaking of music, I called my friend Liz Rosenberg, who has long repped the likes of Stevie Nicks, Cher, Michael Buble and but of course, Madonna. So, what will The Big M sing on the upcoming Grammy telecast?

Liz could not reveal, but she did say: 'Madonna just shot a video for the first single from her ‘Rebel Heart’ album. It’s 'Living for Love' and we did it in Brooklyn. Lots of gorgeous men and incredible dancing and she looked very sexy. But I think the most important thing was how much fun she was having!' (Liz R. and I agree that Madonna needs more fun. Really. The woman never relaxes!)

'Living for Love' will be released February 12th. The album lands in March.

From: www.newyorksocialdiary.com/guest-diary/2015/liz-smith

Steve Barron: 'Madonna, f**k that's a hard word to yell....'

Steve Barron, who directed Michael Jackson's Billie Jean video (and Madonna's Burning Up video), talks to Rupert Hawksley of the Daily Telegraph about working with the Eighties' biggest music artists and his new memoir, Egg n Chips & Billie Jean: a Trip Through the Eighties.

Here is an excerpt from the book of how he got the directing job for Burning Up and how he met Madonna for the first time:

No, I'm not going to New York on my own to meet some blonde chick called Madonna who Warners think is going to be massive, even if they are stumping up a bit more cash than usual for a first time artist.

"Come on. You managed to drag yourself out in front of the Nolan Sisters," Simon chortles. "I promised Warners you'd at least meet her. Then if you don't like we can wriggle out of it. She's a very cool dancer apparently."

I can't believe he's promised them. I'm on holiday.

"Oh, she's been practising in front of the mirror then?" It might be enough of the sarcy cynicism. Starting to hear myself whining.

"Actually, she saw the MJ video and she thought it was genius and she really wants to meet you."

"Yeah, well, I'm on holiday."

F---ing annoying. What am I doing here? Where is this bleeding apartment block? How did I agree to this? I'm burning up alright! That biting wind is bouncing off those stone Soho buildings right into my grumpy face. What number was it? That doesn't make sense. Where's the number on that building then?

This must be it. Smelly corridor. Crapped-out lift. Where's the penthouse suite then? There's seventeen buttons of floors but not a dicky bird about 'the penthouse suite'. How would she have a penthouse suite anyway? Nobody knows her from Adam.

Maybe a rich boyfriend? Maybe just rich. Never mind, you're here. Must be on the 17th floor then.

Ping.

Woah.

The 17th floor looks derelict. This can't be right; there's masonry and s--t all over the floor. Oh, look. Now I get it. There's a paper plate taped to the flaking wall with an arrow pointing up the crumbling staircase, which says 'Penthouse Suite' in biro. Penthouse Squat is what it'd say if it was being truthful.

Climb those stairs. And more stairs. And what's that thumping sound? And more stairs. And that music is pumping out up there. Dance music. That's f---ing loud. Now I'm out of breath in front of an apartment door with no bell and no knocker and nothing but another paper plate with 'Penthouse Suite' in blue biro stuck to it.

"Hello?"

Loud music.

Louder: "Helllooo?"

'Hello' isn't working. Door doesn't even shut properly. A hole where a latch might have been. I can push it open. A sort of kitchen area on the right. A couple of very grungy pots and pans by an old stove that's caked in many years of grime. There's not a stitch of furniture in the place.

"Hello?" is still being smothered by boom boom boom coming from down a narrow corridor with a very worn carpet. Is this a wind-up? She knew I was coming. She knew what time. I'm walking along the corridor. Another door. The source of the loud. Even this door has the inviting sliver of slightly open. I'm going to try shouting again. The music is deafening but I can't just walk in, can I?

I mean, this must be the bedroom.

"Hello? M – M – Ma – donna?"

F--k, that's a hard word to yell. That just doesn't feel like a name. It's feels like a thing. Or a feeling.

Or a phenomenon.

To read the rest of the article (scroll to the bottom of the page for the full Madonna excerpt) visit: www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures

The 'Kindergarten Vogue' kids are back!

Mr Avina (the Madonna-crazed teacher - his words not mine!) shares this latest class project with madonnalicious readers:

We've been up to our shenanigans again and I wanted to share them with you. Being the Madonna fan that I am, I could not help infusing our latest project with plenty of Madonna. The kindergarteners and I finished up a film last week based on the book 'Miss Nelson is Back'. This time we featured 'Bedtime Story' as a nightmare sequence and an instrumental of 'Dress You Up' as a makeover-type sequence (complete with a Truth of Dare perfume plug!).

25 Years Ago Controversial 'Like a Prayer' Pepsi Ad Aired

Madonna recently made waves for posting an Instagram photo of her teenage son posing with bottles of gin and vodka. And 25 years ago, she was stirring controversy over another beverage: Pepsi.

In January 1989, the pop provocateur inked a $5 million endorsement deal with the soft-drink brand. On March 2, 1989, Madonna debuted 'Like a Prayer,' the title track of her fourth studio album, in a two-minute television commercial called 'Make a Wish.'

The flashback-fueled spot saw her watching a black-and-white home movie of her 8th birthday, and interspersed footage of the young girl with shots of adult Madonna dancing in the street and in a church with a gospel choir. The fairly innocuous ad aired during NBC's The Cosby Show, and it seemed unlikely to offend anyone. But when Madonna premiered the actual music video for 'Like a Prayer' on MTV the following day, viewers were singing a different tune.

The video's imagery, which included burning crosses, stigmata and the seduction of a saint, drew the ire of religious groups and customers, who assumed it was part of the Pepsi ad.

'When you've got an ad that confuses people or concerns people, it just makes sense that that ad goes away,' Tod MacKenzie, a spokesman for Pepsico Inc., told the New York Times. And go away, it did. Though the commercial was canceled, 'Like a Prayer' spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that spring, and Madonna reportedly kept the $5 million fee.

The once-incendiary hit went on to become one of the most celebrated songs in Madonna's canon, and it was even featured in her 2012 Super Bowl halftime performance – no small feat in the post-Nipplegate era. But one thing that hasn't changed is the Material Girl's earning power: According to Forbes, Madonna was the highest paid musician of 2013.

From People.com

Video: Billboard Music Awards Backstage Photocall

Here is video footage of Madonna backstage at the Billboard Music Awards for the press photocall (or photoshout as the footage suggests).

Video: Madonna's Billboard Awards Acceptance Speech

Here is a video clip of Madonna's full acceptance speech at the BillBoard Awards in Las Vegas last night - where she was given the Top Touring Award by Will.i.am.

'This Used To Be My Playground' By Kindergarten Class

Art Arturo shares with madonnalicious his latest Madonna homage from his kindergarten class.

The kindergarten teacher who directed his students in spirited performances of Madonna's "Vogue" and "Material Girl" is now having his class offer an homage to the Queen of Pop with another of her smash hits.
This time, Arturo Avina's class perform "This Used To Be My Playground," the 1992 song used in the movie "A League of Their Own," in which Madonna starred alongside Tom Hanks and Geena Davis.
Avina, who teaches a general ed curriculum at the Olympic Primary Center in Los Angeles, opted to dispense with the baseball theme. Instead, he based his class's clip on the popular children's book "Miss Nelson Is Missing" with several nods to Madonna's original music video, which also featured a scrapbook feel.
"Sometimes a good pop song is better at telling a story than a typical nursery rhyme," Avina told HuffPost Gay Voices in an email last year. "And it's a lot more fun to teach when you teach what you love."

From www.huffingtonpost.com

More from Steven Klein's #secretproject

Steven Klein posted this teaser trailer for the #secretproject online last night.

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.

Video: Madonna's Birthday Party

POPSUGAR.tv have published this video clip of Madonna, Jesus and Lourdes arriving at Shoreditch House for Madonna's birthday party on Saturday 14 August.

Gaga's Alejandro Video: A Guide To Its Madonna References

MTV.com writer Kyle Anderson has highlighted the Madonna references featured in the Steven Klein directed video for Lady Gaga's Alejandro:

When the brief preview for Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' video appeared during the singer's appearance on 'Larry King Live' last week, many people immediately noticed the nod to Madonna's 'Vogue.' It was all there: the sharp black-and-white photography, the muscular dancing, the spartan set, the iconic hairstyle.
But as it turns out, the full version of 'Alejandro' - which premiered Tuesday (June 8) - is a healthy combination of a number of different references, nods and homages to a bevy of Madonna videos. (One MTV News writer says 'Alejandro' is more than just an ode to Madonna - check out his counterpoint in the Newsroom blog.)
The 'Vogue' references are certainly there, as Gaga spends a large chunk of the video in that same spartan set in black-and-white. But the rest of the clip features Gaga in a number of different costumes - including a red nun's habit and some sort of steampunk headgear - in a handful of different scenarios (some of which involve Nazi imagery).
In addition to 'Vogue,' the opening sequence seems to recall Madonna's 'Evita' period (when she made 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' a hit). Gaga is dressed to mourn whomever is in the casket behind her - perhaps the titular Alejandro? - and it would be easy to assume that she's attending a state funeral, which would mean Gaga flipped the gender roles in the original story of the Peróns (in reality, it was Juan who buried Eva).
Later, Gaga strips to her underwear and dominates a scantily clad dancer tied to a bed. While Madonna is no stranger to the imagery surrounding bondage and submission, that image most faithfully recalls the Material Girl's 'Human Nature,' which saw her dressed in black pleather and dancing seductively with the assistance of ropes and a riding crop.
But the biggest nod to Madonna's past certainly comes with all the religious imagery. Gaga dresses as a nun, swallows rosary beads and stands in front of a row of crosses at various points during the clip, which brings to mind Madonna's classic video for 'Like a Prayer.' In fact, there are even video clips of flames in the background of one of the dance scenes in 'Alejandro,' which could easily have been lifted wholesale from the moment in Madonna's clip when she sings among a field of flaming crosses.
There are a number of other cultural references that slip out of 'Alejandro' (Gaga clearly enjoys the work of film director Fritz Lang), but even the gun-barrel-sporting bra she wears at the end could be mistaken for that conical top Madonna made famous during the Blonde Ambition Tour.
Of course, 'Alejandro' director Steven Klein has worked as a photographer for Madonna over the past few years, so it's quite possible that these are merely the influences he has picked up while working with her. But if Gaga really is making an attempt to define herself as a next-gen Madonna who also pays homage to her elders, then there are worse paths to follow.

Madonna: New footage, same attitude

Advocate.com have published a clip that just looks like an outtake from the shooting of the Vogue video. Their sources say it is from an unreleased Nike commercial:

The clip finds the Madonna making fun of her late ‘80s Pepsi scandal. In the video footage Madonna has her arms covering her bare chest, looks at the camera smiling, and says, 'I wear what I want and I do what I want. Ask Pepsi.'
With the last remark, the entertainer references the 1989 controversy, in which she was paid a then-record $5 million as part of an endorsement deal, that included the filming of a commercial for the soft drink. The deal was scrapped by Pepsi executives due to threats of protests from right-wing Christian groups, such as the American Family Association, due to perceived sacrilege in her 'Like A Prayer' video, now considered one of the creative high points of Madonna’s storied career. The singer was allowed to keep the $5 million and her commercial aired only once on network television.

Video Shoot Barcelona - Madonna.com Want You To Join

Madonna's official website are on the look out for fans in Barcelona to take part in the video shoot for her next single:

Madonna.com are looking for you - amazing fans to be in Madonna's next video, which will be a celebration of her music and fans.
If you would like to join us, send us your best picture to impress us for a chance to get picked.
We want to see it! We are looking for real fans, look-a-likes, you must come dressed to impress, bring all your Madonna Memoribilia (do you still have 80's stuff?) and be ready to PERFORM, dance or just be yourself.

**If you want to be picked, make sure to bring out your best Madonna Fan look!**
If you get picked you need to check the following:
* confirm you are over 18 yrs old
* you must bring a Photo ID to our shoot for entrance
* you can be at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday the 21st of July

Please note that Madonna will not be in the video shoot this day

SEND US YOUR PICTURES: e-mail [email protected] now!
By e-mailing you acknowledge you will not receive a payment for this and you will sign necessary release forms and confidentiality agreements on the day.

It's a Celebration and ICON wants you to join!

Madonna's official fanclub ICON are running a great chance for fans to appear in Madonna's video for her new single.

Madonna and her team are currently filming the video to her next single in Milan and they want for you to be part of it:

'We are looking for you die hard fans to be in Madonna's next video, which will be a celebration of her music and fans. We need you to come dressed to impress, bring all Madonna memorabilia, t-shirts or Madonna outfits you have and be ready to perform, dance or just be yourself.

If you would like to join in, please check the following details:
- Confirm you are over 18 years old
- You must bring your photo ID to the filming location
- Must have your country of residence (residenza) and tax number (code fiscale) available
- You can be in Milan at around 9pm on Saturday 18th July. We will not reveal the location until just before this time.

If you agree, come and celebrate: Please e-mail [email protected] with a recent picture attached (No picture, No invite), as well as your full name, mailing address and phone number.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MADONNA WILL NOT BE AT THE FILM SHOOT, WE ARE ONLY SHOOTING EXTRAS THIS DAY.
Please note that we will not be able to pick everybody that replies.

If any madonnalicious readers get picked for the video we would love to hear your story from the shoot - email us at [email protected]

Give It 2 Me: Video Online and Onsale

The Give It 2 Me has now been officially released on Yahoo! this morning.

The release had originally been scheduled for Monday 09 June but due to the video leaking onto the internet last week the premiere date was pushed forward to today.

The video was directed by Tom Munro and shot during the Elle photoshoot. The video is now also available to buy in iTunes stores today.

Thanks to Peter and Sarah

Behind the scenes of 4 Minutes

What exactly is the crazy idea behind Madonna's hit video? Get the answer from the innovative directors themselves: French duo Jonas & François at www.popeater.com

Thanks to Kelly

Madonna's message to YouTube fans

Madonna has filmed a funny video clip message to fans who make their own videos to 4 Minutes - the clip was filmed on the set of the video for her second single Give It 2 Me.

Check out Madonna's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/madonna

4 Minutes Video Stills

Here is a first look at some stills from the 4 Minutes video starring Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. The clip is directed by Jonas and Francois.

4 Minutes Video Release Date

The video for 4 Minutes is now available to pre-order on iTunes sites - with an expected release date of Friday 04 April.

Thanks to Mikey