Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone (Bay City, Michigan, August 16, 1958), known simply as Madonna, is a singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and American icon.

Madonna spent her childhood in Bay City and in 1978 moved to New York City to pursue a career in contemporary dance. After participating in two musical groups, Breakfast Club and Emmy, in 1982 she signed with Sire Records (a subsidiary of Warner Bros.) and released her debut album Madonna the following year. He went on to release a series of albums in which he found immense popularity, pushing the limits of the content of his song lyrics, and exploiting imagery in his music videos, which throughout his career have become pieces of art. Many of his songs reached number one on the music charts in various countries around the world; His biggest hits include songs like "Like a Virgin", "Material Girl", "Papa Don't Preach", "La isla bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Express Yourself", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up" and "4 Minutes". Madonna has been praised by critics for her musical productions and staging, giving her the title of the "Queen of Pop".

His career has been bolstered by roles in a number of films for which he received mixed reviews. The leading role of her most praised is that of Eva Perón for Evita (1996), for which she even won a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical; however, she has received negative reviews for other roles.Madonna's other occupations include being a fashion designer, book writer, film director, and record producer, in addition to being the owner of the Maverick record label. She is also an acclaimed businesswoman, and in 2007 she signed a $120 million contract with Live Nation.

Madonna has sold more than 300 million musical productions, setting the world record for "the most successful and best-selling solo artist of all time", included in the Guinness Book of Records. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) she is the best-selling solo artist of the XX century, and the third-highest-selling single in the United States (behind Barbra Streisand and Mariah Carey) with 64.5 million certified albums. In the United Kingdom, she is the highest-selling female solo artist of singles in history, with 17.6 million for June of 2012.

In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked Madonna at number two, behind The Beatles, on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, making her the most successful soloist on that list, as well as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same year. In general, various biographers, writers, journalists and other media consider her the most influential and successful woman in the history of contemporary music. In addition, she is recognized for continually reinventing both her music and image, as well as being a source of inspiration for various artists and for their legacy in pop culture.

Life and career

1958-1981: Childhood and artistic beginnings

Silvio Ciccone, father of Madonna, with his wife Joan Gustafson in a photograph taken in 2009

Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in Bay City, Michigan, United States, on August 16, 1958. Her mother, Madonna Louise Fortin, was of French-Canadian descent, and her father, Silvio Anthony Ciccone, is Italian-American. The Ciccone family is originally from Pacentro (Italy); her father emigrated from Europe to get a job in the United States as a design engineer at Chrysler and General Motors. Madonna was nicknamed "Little Nonni" to distinguish her from her mother. She is the third of six children, her older siblings are Martin and Anthony and her younger siblings are Paula, Christopher and Melanie. Madonna has been raised in suburban Rochester Hills, Michigan, an affluent community not far from the Bloomfield Hills neighborhood of Detroit.

Her mother died of breast cancer at age 30 in 1963, when Madonna was five years old. Months before her death, Madonna noticed changes in her mother's behavior and personality, though she did not understand why. At the moment of trying to explain the medical condition that her little daughter suffered, Mrs. Ciccone began to cry, to which Madonna responded with a hug. "I remember that I felt stronger than her, I was so small and yet I felt as if she were the girl." Later, she admitted that she had not understood the idea that her mother was dying: "There was a lot that was not said, so many repressed and unresolved emotions, the regret, the guilt, the loss, the anger, the confusion. [...] I saw my mother, she looked so beautiful just lying down like she was asleep in the open coffin. Then I noticed that her mouth looked weird. It took me a while to realize that she was stitched up. In that horrible moment I understood that she had lost her forever. The last image of my mother, both peaceful and grotesque, still scares me today."

Madonna eventually learned to care for herself and her siblings, and she returned to her grandmother hoping to find some solace and some kind of mother figure in her. The Ciccone brothers kept their house in order and invariably rebelled against anyone who came into their home to take their beloved mother's place. In an interview with Vanity Fair magazine, he commented that in his youth she saw herself as a “lonely girl who was looking for something. I was not a rebel in some way. I was worried about being good at something. I didn't shave my armpits and I didn't wear makeup like the other girls. But I studied and got good grades... I wanted to be somebody." Frightened by the thought of her father leaving too, she often couldn't sleep unless he was near her. Her father married the housekeeper family keys, Joan Gustafson, and they had two children: Jennifer and Mario Ciccone. At this point, Madonna began to express feelings of anger toward her father, which lasted for decades, and developed a rebellious attitude. She attended elementary schools from St. Frederick and St. Andrew, and upon completion, to West Middle School. He achieved a high GPA in school and achieved notoriety for his unconventional behavior: he cartwheeled and pirouetted in the hallways between classes, hung from his knees on the monkey bars during recess, and hiked up his skirt during class, all so the boys could see her underwear.

Bay City, birthplace of Madonna

Later, she attended Rochester Adams High School and was a model student as well as a member of the cheer team. After graduation, she received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan. allow her to take ballet classes, and her teacher, Christopher Flynn, persuaded her to pursue a career in the world of dance. In 1978, Madonna left school and moved to New York City, settling in the neighborhood Alphabet City. She had little money, so she got a job as a waitress at Dunkin' Donuts and contemporary dance groups Madonna said of her move to New York: "It was the first time I traveled by plane and the first time I traveled in a taxi. I came here with 35 dollars in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I've ever done.” She began working as a substitute dancer for other artists. During one night, while she was returning from a rehearsal, a couple of men dragged her into an alley and forced her to perform fellatio. Madonna commented that "the episode was a test of my weakness, it showed me that I still couldn't save myself despite all the strong girl look. I can never forget it." While performing as a dancer for French singer Patrick Hernandez on his 1979 world tour, Madonna was romantically involved with musician Dan Gilroy. Together they formed their first rock band, Breakfast Club, in which Madonna sang and played guitar and drums. In 1980 she left the Breakfast Club and, with her then-boyfriend Stephen Bray as drummer, they formed the band Emmy. Her music impressed DJ and producer Mark Kamins, who arranged a meeting between Madonna and Seymour Stein, founder of Sire Records.

1982-1985: Madonna, Like a Virgin and first marriage

Madonna, accompanied by her band, in 1985 during the tour The Virgin Tour

In 1982, Madonna signed a contract with Sire Records, a record label owned by Warner Bros. Records. She released her first single, "Everybody", in October of that year and her second, "Burning Up", in March. of 1983. Both have been successful in the United States, reaching number three on the Hot Dance Club Play chart of Billboard. After this success, he began working on her debut album Madonna, mainly produced by Reggie Lucas. She had a meeting with Lucas at the apartment of her then-boyfriend, the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and he brought her some songs for the album. However, the interpreter was not happy with the finished tracks and had several disagreements with the songs. Lucas's production techniques, so he decided to seek additional help. Madonna turned to her new boyfriend, John "Jellybean" Benitez, for help to finish production on the album. Benitez mixed most of the tracks and produced the song "Holiday", which was her third single and first international hit. In general, the sound of Madonna is "dissonant", whose style resembles upbeat disco music combined with the synthesizer, using some of the recent technologies of that time, such as LinnDrum drum machine, Moog bass, and Oberheim OB-X synthesizer. Madonna released the album in July 1983 and it reached number eight on the Billboard 200 six months later on 1984. He also released two more singles, "Lucky Star" and "Borderline".

Gradually, Madonna's looks, dress, performances, and music videos began to influence women and girls. Her style became a women's fashion of the 1980s, which jewelry designer and stylist Maripol created for her. This look, a mix of punk and new romantic aesthetics, consisted of lace tops, skirts over capri pants, fishnet stockings, jewelry (which included a crucifix and bracelets) and bleached hair. Madonna achieved worldwide recognition after the release of her second studio album, Like a Virgin in November 1984. It topped the charts in several countries and became their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. six consecutive weeks, and attracted the attention of family organizations, who complained that the song and its video promoted premarital sex and undermined family values, which is why they tried to censor them. Madonna fueled the controversy when she performed the song at the first installment of the MTV Video Music Awards, where she appeared on stage atop a giant wedding cake, wearing a wedding dress and veil, adorned with her signature "Boy Toy" belt buckle. Surprising the technicians who moved the cameras, Madonna improvised part of the choreography of her lying on the ground and moving sensually. This performance is recognized as an iconic performance in MTV history.In later years, Madonna commented that she was truly terrified of the performance. She said, "I remember my manager Freddy yelling at me, 'Oh my gosh! What were you doing? You were wearing a wedding dress. My God! You were rolling on the floor!' It was the bravest and most sexual thing I'd ever done on TV". The next hit was "Material Girl", promoted by the music video that was an imitation of Marilyn Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl& #39;s Best Friend" from the 1953 film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. While filming this video, Madonna began dating actor Sean Penn, whom she married on her 27th birthday in 1985. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Like a Virgin with a record diamond and has sold more than 21 million copies worldwide. In 1998, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ranked it as one of the top 200 albums all times.

Madonna was married to actor Sean Penn.photographyfrom 1985 to 1989

Madonna entered the world of film in 1985, beginning with a brief appearance as a club singer in the film Vision Quest, a romantic comedy. The film's soundtrack contained two new singles, the number one hit in the United States, "Crazy for You" and also "Gambler". But his breakthrough as a film figure was thanks to the comedy Desperately Seeking Susan from 1985, a film featuring the song "Into the Groove", the singer's first number one hit in the UK. Although she was not the lead actress in the film, her involvement was such that the film was widely viewed (and marketed) as a Madonna project. The film received a César Award nomination for Best Foreign Film and was regarded as a of the ten best films of 1985.

In April 1985, Madonna undertook her first North American music tour, The Virgin Tour, with the Beastie Boys as her opening act. Madonna commented, "The whole tour was crazy, because I went from singing in small venues like CBGB and the Mudd Club to perform at sports arenas. I performed in a small theater in Seattle and the girls wore lapel skirts, knee-high stockings, lace gloves, beads, bows, and large hoop earrings. [...] After Seattle, all the shows were moved to stadiums." At that time, she released two more singles from the album, "Angel" and "Dress You Up." In July, Penthouse and Playboy magazines published a series of nude photos of Madonna, taken in New York in 1978 as art photos, not intended for any magazine. She had posed for them because she needed money at the time, even though she received only $25 for the shoot.The publication of the photos caused an uproar in the media, but Madonna remained defiant and unapologetic. The photographs have sold for over $100,000. At the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert, Madonna referred to this experience when she said she would not remove her jacket because "[the media ] could claim it from me in ten years".

1986-1991: True Blue, Who's That Girl?, Like a Prayer and Dick Tracy

Madonna during one of the Who's That Girl World Tour concerts in 1987

In June 1986, True Blue, Madonna's third studio album, was released, which was inspired by and dedicated to Sean Penn. Three singles that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 followed: "Live to Tell", "Papa Don't Preach" and "Open Your Heart"; in addition to two singles that were placed within the first five positions of the same list: "True Blue" and "La isla bonita". The album topped the popularity charts of more than 28 countries around the world, an unprecedented achievement. at the time and is the best-selling studio album of his career, with worldwide sales of 25 million copies. Critics from Rolling Stone magazine were impressed with this production, writing that the album "it sounds like it's coming from the heart". That same year, Madonna also starred in the film Shanghai Surprise, which received several negative reviews, while also making her theatrical debut in a David Rabe production, Goose and Tom-Tom, both co-starring with Penn. The following year, Madonna's second feature film, Who's That Girl?, was released. Although the film was not well received, the performer contributed four songs to its soundtrack, most notably "Who's That Girl" and "Causing a Commotion".

In June 1987, she embarked on the Who's That Girl World Tour, which continued through September. Regarding the tour, Madonna commented: "I realized that I could stop being unmolded clay, and with time and with the help of others, I could become something more. This tour is a reflection of that belief and it's like he said to me 'Who are you girl? Hence the name, something new for me." Later that year, he released a remix album of past hits, titled You Can Dance, which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200. Following a quashed divorce petition in December 1987, Madonna and Penn filed for divorce in January 1989, citing irreconcilable differences. Madonna's lawyer pointed to Penn's alcohol problem and her aggressive nature. Of her marriage to Penn, Madonna later said, "I was completely obsessed with my career and was in no way ready to be generous."

In January 1989, Madonna signed an endorsement deal with soft drink maker Pepsi. Her song "Like a Prayer" debuted in one of the company's commercials. The corresponding music video featured many Catholic symbols, such as the burning stigmata and crosses, as well as a dream about making love to a saint, leading the Vatican to condemn the video. Various religious groups tried to ban the commercial and boycott Pepsi's products, who pulled the commercial and canceled its endorsement deal. However, Madonna was allowed to keep her $5 million fee for the commercial. The song was included on her fourth studio album of the same name, which was co-written and co-produced by Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray. it received good reviews and Rolling Stone hailed it as "...as close as pop music can get to art". Like a Prayer reached number one. on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, with four million sold in the United States alone. Six singles were released from the album, highlighting the eponymous song, which reached number one in several countries; "Express Yourself" and "Cherish", which reached number two on the Hot 100. In the late 1980s, Madonna was named "artist of the decade" by various media outlets. media, such as MTV, Billboard and Musician. In addition, during the first seven years of her career, in the late 1980s, Madonna had sold around of 75 million records worldwide.

In 1990, Madonna starred as Breathless Mahoney in the film Dick Tracy, opposite Warren Beatty in the lead. To accompany the film, she released the soundtrack I'm Breathless, which featured songs inspired by the film's theme set during the 1930s. It also featured the US number one hit "Vogue" and "Sooner or Later", the latter it brought composer Stephen Sondheim an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1991. While filming the film, Madonna began a romantic relationship with Beatty, which dissolved in late 1990.

In April 1990, she began her Blond Ambition World Tour, which continued through August. Regarding the tour, Madonna said "I know I'm not the best singer and I know I'm not the best dancer. But, I can screw people over and be as provocative as I want. The whole point of the tour is to break useless taboos". Rolling Stone called it an "extravaganza with elaborate choreography and sexually provocative" and proclaimed it "the best tour of 1990 ». The tour was met with strong opposition from religious groups for the performance of "Like a Virgin", during which two dancers caressed her body before she simulated masturbating. The Pope called on the general public and the community Christian not to attend the concert. A private association of Catholics calling itself Famiglia Domani also boycotted the tour for its eroticism, while the Vatican called it "one of the most satanic shows in the history of mankind." ». In response, Madonna commented, "I'm Italian-American and I'm proud of it. [...] The tour in no way hurt anyone's feelings. It is for people with an open mind and that makes them perceive sexuality differently »; he also stated that the Church "completely prohibited sex... except for procreation". A concert was recorded for release on Laserdisc format, which brought Madonna a Grammy Award in 1992 for Best Long Form Music Video..

In November 1990, Madonna's first greatest hits album, titled The Immaculate Collection, was released. It included two new songs, "Justify My Love" and "Rescue Me". The album was certified diamond by the RIAA and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling compilation album by a soloist in history. "Justify My Love" reached number one in the United States and the top ten in other countries around the world. The music video made for its promotion featured scenes of sadomasochism, bondage, same-sex kissing, and partial nudity. The video was deemed too sexually explicit by MTV and was banned from distribution. Madonna responded to the censorship: "Why is it that people are willing to go see a movie about someone being beaten up for no apparent reason, and nobody wants to see two girls kissing and two men caressing each other? [...] MTV has been good to me and they know their audience. If it's too strong for them, I understand. Although part of me thought I was going to go far with this." At the time, the second single, "Rescue Me", became the highest-debuting single by a solo artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, entering at number 15 and reaching number nine.

In December 1990, Madonna decided to leave the Jennifer Lynch film Boxing Helena, which she had previously signed on to star in, without any explanation to the producers. From late 1990 to early 1991, Madonna Madonna dated Tony Ward, a model and porn actor who appeared in the music videos for "Cherish" and "Justify My Love." She also had an eight-month relationship with rapper Vanilla Ice. Her first documentary, Madonna: Truth or Dare (known as In Bed With Madonna outside North America), It was released in mid-1991. The documentary narrates her Blond Ambition World Tour and gives a glimpse of the singer's personal life.

1992-1997: Maverick, Erotica, Sex, Bedtime Stories, Evita and motherhood

Madonna during a concert of her tour The Girlie Show in September 1993

In 1992, Madonna landed a role in the film A League of Their Own as Mae Mordabito, a baseball player. This production grossed more than $100 million and became the tenth highest-grossing film of the year in the United States. In addition, he recorded the film's theme song, "This Used to Be My Playground", which became a hit. number one on the Hot 100. That same year he founded his own entertainment company, Maverick, made up of a record company (Maverick Records), a film production company (Maverick Films) and various divisions associated with music publications, television, books and merchandising. The deal was a joint venture with Time Warner, who had already paid Madonna a $60 million advance. The singer received 20% of royalties from the sale and promotion of her music, one of the highest percentages in the industry, which at the time equaled Michael Jackson's royalty rate, set a year earlier with Sony. The company's first release was the first book written by herself, titled Sex, which consisted mostly of sexually explicit and provocative images, photographed by Steven Meisel. The book caused a strong negative reaction in the media and the general public, but it sold 1.5 million copies in a matter of days. At the same time, Madonna released her fifth studio album, Erotica, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The song of the same name peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Erotica also produced five more singles: "Deeper and Deeper", "Bad Girl", "Fever", "Rain" and "Bye Bye Baby".

Provocative imagery became his trademark, which he continued into the 1990s with Body of Evidence, a film featuring scenes of sadomasochism and bondage, which received negative reviews. He also starred in the film Dangerous Game (Dangerous Game ), directed by Abel Ferrara, which was released directly to video in North America. The New York Times described the film as "angry and painful, and the pain feels real". In September 1993, Madonna embarked on The Girlie Show, a tour in which she dressed as a dominatrix surrounded by topless dancers. The show faced negative reactions, specifically in Puerto Rico, where Madonna rubbed that country's flag between her legs. In March 1994, she appeared as a guest on the show Late Show with David Letterman, where he used profanity that needed to be censored on television and handed Letterman a pair of underwear asking him to smell it. coupled with Letterman's controversially aggressive appearance on the show, led to Madonna being identified as a sexual renegade. She faced an intensely negative reception from critics and fans, who commented that she "had gone too far" and that she had ended her career.

According to biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, the ballad "I'll Remember" (1994), was an attempt to soften her provocative image. The song was recorded for the Alek Keshishian film With Honors. realizing that she needed to change her musical direction to maintain her popularity. With her sixth studio album, Bedtime Stories (1994), Madonna used a softer image to reconnect with audiences in The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and produced four singles, including "Secret" and "Take a Bow", the latter topping the Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks, the longest period for a single by Madonna. At the same time, she began an affair with personal trainer Carlos Leon. Something to Remember, a collection of ballads, was released in November 1995. The album featured three previously unreleased songs: "You'll See", "One More Chance", and a cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You". In later years, Madonna commented that she was very fond of the albums released between Like a Prayer and Something to Remember, "although I agree that all of these albums were pivotal moments for me".

In 1996, the film Evita premiered, in which Madonna played the role of Eva Perón. Madonna had long wanted to play Perón, and even wrote a letter to director Alan Parker, explaining why she was perfect for the part. After securing it, she attended music classes to improve her voice and learned about the history of Argentina and Perón. During filming she fell ill many times, commenting that "the intensity of the scenes we have been filming, the amount of emotional work and the concentration required to finish the day are so physically and mentally exhausting, that I am sure that I will have to be hospitalized." when I finish.” Evita is a historical film where almost 6000 outfits were needed for the scenes. Madonna wore 370 different costumes, setting a Guinness record for the most costume changes in a film. Upon its release, Evita garnered critical acclaim. Zach Conner of Time magazine commented “it's a relief to say that Evita is really good, well cast and visually appealing. Madonna once again confuses our expectations. She plays Evita with a soulful effort and has more than just a bit of star quality. Love or hate Madonna-Eva, she's a magnet for the eyes." Madonna won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role as Eva Perón. Several were released from the Evita soundtrack. singles, highlighting "You Must Love Me" (which won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1997) and her version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina". On October 14, 1996, Madonna gave birth to to Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, her daughter with Leon. After Lourdes's birth, Madonna became involved in Eastern mysticism and Kabbalah, introduced to it by actress Sandra Bernhard in 1997.

1998-2002: Ray of Light, Music and second marriage

Madonna receiving a prize during the VH1 Fashion Awards in October 1998

Madonna's seventh studio album, Ray of Light (1998), reflected a change in her perception and image. She commented: "this record, more than any other, covers all the areas of life. I had recently joined the cabal and had put the partying aside, plus having just had a baby, so my joy was complete, and I found myself incredibly thoughtful, thinking back, and intrigued by the mystical aspects of the cabal. life". The album was critically acclaimed and was described by Slant Magazine as "one of the great pop masterpieces of the 1990s". Ray of Light It was awarded four Grammy Awards and was listed as one of Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It topped the charts in Australia, Canada, the UK and Europe. continental, the album also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The lead single, "Frozen", became the first single from Madonna debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, while in the US it became her sixth number two single, giving Madonna another record as the artist with the most hits to reach number one. two of the Billboard Hot 100 . However, the song was banned in Belgium, as it was considered a plagiarism of the 1993 song, "Ma Vie fout L'camp", composed by the Belgian Salvatore Acquaviva. The second single, "Ray of Light", debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. In December 1998, Madonna's relationship with Leon ended; she later stated that they were "better off as good friends". Following their breakup, Madonna accepted a role as a violin teacher in the film Music of the Heart, but left the project, citing "creative differences". with director Wes Craven. The success of Ray of Light was followed by the single "Beautiful Stranger", recorded for the 1999 film, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

In 2000, Madonna starred in the film The Next Best Thing and contributed two songs to the soundtrack: "Time Stood Still" and the international hit "American Pie". In September 2000, released his eighth studio album, Music, which contained elements from the Ray of Light era, inspired by electronic music and themes about his personal life. About On her collaboration with French producer Mirwais Ahmadzaï, Madonna commented: “I love working with eccentrics that nobody knows about, people who have raw talent and who are making music unlike anyone else out there. Music is the future of sound". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic felt that Music "is like a kaleidoscope of colour, technique, style and substance. It has so much depth and so many levels that it can easily be considered as detailed and serious as Ray of Light". The album peaked at number one in over twenty countries worldwide and sold four million copies. copies in the first ten days it was on sale. In the United States, Music debuted at number one and became their first number-one album in eleven years since Like a Prayer. The album produced three singles: the number one hit "Music", "Don't Tell Me", and "What It Feels Like for a Girl". The music video for "What it Feels Like for a Girl" depicted Madonna as a violent anarchist assailant who caused crashes and explosions, for which it was banned by MTV and VH1.

Along with the release of the album Music, Madonna became involved in a romantic relationship with Guy Ritchie, whom she had met in 1999 through Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler. On August 11, 2000, she gave birth to their son, Rocco Ritchie. In December, Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married in a private ceremony in Scotland. Her fifth tour, titled the Drowned World Tour, began in June 2001. The tour visited cities in Europe and North America and was one of the highest-grossing tours of the year, earning $75 million from 47 shows. He also released his second greatest hits collection, titled GHV2, coinciding with the release of the tour DVD. GHV2 debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200. In 2002, Madonna starred in the film Swept Away, directed by Ritchie. In the United Kingdom the film was released directly to DVD, but it became a commercial and critical failure. That same year, the single "Die Another Day" was released, the soundtrack to the James Bond film, Die Another Day, in which Madonna made a cameo appearance. The song elicited mixed reactions: it reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, but it was also nominated for a Golden Raspberry in the category of Worst Song..

2003-2006: American Life, children's books, and Confessions on a Dance Floor

Madonna during one of the Re-Invention World Tour concerts, the most earning tour of 2004

In 2003, following the release of "Die Another Day", Madonna collaborated with fashion photographer Steven Klein for an installation called "X-STaTIC Pro = CeSS". This included footage from a W magazine photo shoot and seven video clips. The installation lasted from March to May at the Deitch Projects gallery in New York, although it later toured the world in an edited form. In April of that same year, Madonna released her ninth studio album, American Life, which is based on her observations of American society, received mixed reviews. memories, looking back at all I've accomplished, all I've ever valued, and all the things that are important to me." Larry Flick of The Advocate considered that "American Life is an album that is among the most adventurous and lyrically intelligent. [...] It's like the B-side of Music and it turns out to be a half-hearted effort to sound and be taken seriously". The eponymous song reached number 37 on the Hot 100. The original music video for "American Life" was canceled because Madonna believed that the video, which included violence and images of war, would be considered unpatriotic since the United States had just started the war with Iraq. With only four million copies sold worldwide, American Life became the lowest-selling album of his career at the time.

Later that year, Madonna gave a provocative performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, performing the second single from her new album, "Hollywood," alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott. Madonna kissed Spears and Aguilera on the lips during the song, sparking a tabloid frenzy. In October 2003, Madonna collaborated with Spears on the single "Me Against the Music". This was followed by the release of Remixed & Revisited, an EP containing remixed versions of songs from American Life, as well as including "Your Honesty", a previously unreleased track from the Bedtime Stories recording sessions i>. Madonna also signed a contract with Callaway Arts & Entertainment to be the author of five children's books. The first of these books, titled The English Roses, was published in September 2003. The book tells the story of four English schoolgirls and the envy and jealousy they feel towards each other. Kate Kellway of The Guardian commented "[Madonna] is an actress playing something she can never be: a J.K. Rowling, an English rose." The book debuted at the top of the bestseller list. The New York Times and became one of the best-selling children's books of all time.

The following year, Madonna and Maverick sued Warner Music Group and its former parent company Time Warner, alleging mismanagement of resources and poor accounting, which cost the company millions of dollars. In return, Warner filed a counter-suit arguing that Maverick had lost tens of millions of dollars on his own. The dispute was resolved when Maverick's shares, owned by Madonna and Ronnie Dashev, were purchased by Warner. Madonna and Dashev's company became a subsidiary of Warner Music, but Madonna was still under Warner's label, under an independent recording contract. In mid-2004, Madonna began the Re-Invention World Tour., appearing in the United States, Canada and Europe. It became the highest-grossing tour of 2004, earning $125 million. Recordings of the tour's concerts were used to make a documentary called I'm Going to Tell You a Secret That same year, Rolling Stone ranked the singer at number 36 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In January 2005, Madonna covered the song John Lennon's song, "Imagine", in relief for the Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as appearing at the Live 8 benefit concert in London.

Their tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, was released in November 2005 and debuted at number one in all major music markets. The songs on the album began with a happy atmosphere, and as it progressed they became more intense, with lyrics that spoke more about personal feelings, hence "confessions". Keith Caulfield of Billboard commented that the album was "the return of the Queen of Pop". The album won a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. The album's lead single, "Hung Up", went to number one in a record 41 countries, earning a spot on the Guinness Book of Records. "Sorry", the second single, became Madonna's twelfth UK number one.

In this way, in May 2006 she embarked on the Confessions Tour, which had a global audience of 1.2 million people and raised more than 193.7 million dollars. Madonna used religious symbols, such as the crucifix and crown of thorns, at the performance of "Live to Tell", causing the Russian Orthodox Church and the Federation of Russian Jewish Communities to urge all their members to boycott their concert. The Vatican also protested the concert, as the bishops of Düsseldorf did. Madonna replied: "My presentation is neither anti-Christian, nor sacrilegious, nor blasphemous. On the contrary, it is my way of asking humanity to help each other and see the world as a whole." In the same year, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry announced that Madonna had officially sold more than 200 million records. copies of his albums around the world.

While on tour, Madonna participated in the Raising Malawi initiative, by partially funding an orphanage and traveling to that country. On October 10, 2006, she filed papers for the adoption of a boy from the orphanage, David Banda Mwale Madonna, later renamed David Banda Mwale Ciccone Ritchie. The singer defended herself on The Oprah Winfrey Show, saying that there were no adoption laws in Malawi regulating adoption by foreigners. In addition, she described how Banda had suffered from pneumonia after surviving malaria and tuberculosis when she met him.Banda's biological father, Yohane, commented: "The so-called 'human rights activists' have been forced to kill him." they are harassing me daily, threatening me and saying that I am not aware of what I am doing. [...] They ask me to defend their case in court, something I can't do because I know what I agreed with Madonna and her husband." The adoption was finalized on May 28, 2008. In 2006, the singer launched a clothing line internationally titled M by Madonna, in collaboration with the Swedish company H&M. The collection consisted of fur coats, sequined dresses, cream capri pants and jackets with patches. H&M stated that the collection reflects "Madonna's timeless and always glamorous style".

2007-2009: Live Nation and Hard Candy

Madonna and Nathan Rissman at the premiere I Am Because We Are during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival

In 2007, Madonna released the song "Hey You" for the Live Earth concert series, performing in London. The song was made available as a free download during its first week of release. Madonna announced her departure from Warner Bros. Records, signing a new ten-year, $120 million contract with Live Nation. She also produced and wrote I Am Because We Are, a documentary about the problems facing the Malawian population. The documentary was directed by Nathan Rissman, who previously worked as the singer's gardener.Shortly after, Madonna directed her first film Obscenities and Wisdom. The film tells the story of three friends and their aspirations. Madonna commented that it was Ritchie who inspired her to develop the script for the film. "What matters is that all the work I do is highly autobiographical, directly or indirectly, for who knows me better than myself?" The Times said she had grown "proud of herself." herself", while The Daily Telegraph described the film as "an unpromising first effort [but one] Madonna would do well to hold on to her work". In December 2007, the Salon de la Rock Fame announced Madonna as one of the five inductees for 2008. At the induction ceremony on March 10, 2008, Madonna did not sing, but asked The Stooges to perform the songs "Burning Up" and "Ray of Light". In her speech, she thanked Christopher Flynn, her dance teacher of 35 years before, for giving her the encouragement to pursue her dreams.

In April 2008, Madonna released her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. The record contained influences from genres such as R&B and urban pop and the lyrics were more autobiographical in nature, with Madonna collaborating with Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Nate "Danja" Hills. Rolling Stone praised it as an "impressive preview of their upcoming tour". The album debuted at number one on the charts in 37 countries and on the Billboard 200. ». His first single, "4 Minutes", reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was Madonna's 37th top ten hit on the Hot 100, surpassing the record for most top ten hits set by Elvis. Presley. In the UK, Madonna held the record for the most number-one singles by a female solo artist when "4 Minutes" became her 13th.er single to reach the top of the UK Singles Chart. After releasing the album's second single, "Give it 2 Me", Madonna embarked on the Sticky & Sweet Tour, the first tour of hers undertaken with Live Nation. With a net gross of $280 million, it became the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist, surpassing her previous record-setting Confessions Tour. The tour was extended into the following year, after adding new dates. European, adding a total of 408 million dollars.

Life with My Sister Madonna, a book written by Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone, debuted at number two on The New York Times Best Seller list. i>. The publication was not authorized by Madonna and led to a rift between the brothers. Problems also arose between Madonna and Ritchie and the media began spreading the news that they were about to break up. Ultimately, Madonna filed for divorce from Ritchie, citing irreconcilable differences, in a process that was finalized in December 2008. Madonna was honored with the Gold Award for International Artist of the Year at the Gold Disc Awards presented by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, for her album Hard Candy. In 2009, she decided to adopt another girl from Malawi. Initially, the High Court approved the adoption of Chifundo "Mercy" James; however, the application was rejected because Madonna did not reside in Malawi. Upon appeal by her lawyers, on June 12, 2009, the High Court of Malawi he granted him the right to adopt Mercy James. That same year Celebration was released, his third greatest hits album and the release of his contract with Warner Music. The compilation included two new songs "Celebration" and "Revolver", along with 34 career-spanning hits. A remix of "Revolver" by David Guetta won a Grammy Award for Best Remix. Celebration reached number one in the UK, tying Elvis Presley for the most number-one solo albums in British history. pop Michael Jackson. Madonna ended the 2000s as the artist with the most-selling singles in the United States. She was also named the most streamed artist of the decade in the United Kingdom.

2010-2013: W.E., Super Bowl and MDNA

Madonna acting along with LMFAO during the mid-time Super Bowl XLVI show

In January 2010, Madonna performed "Like a Prayer" at the concert Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief. In April she released her third live album, Sticky & SweetTour; although it was her first release under Live Nation, it was distributed internationally by Warner Music. That same year, she announced plans to direct her second feature, W.E.. Following the conclusion of filming, Madonna launched the line of Material Girl clothing, which she designed with her daughter Lourdes. This clothing line was inspired by 1980s fashion and was launched under the Macy's; months later, the brand was extended to include a set of cosmetics and other women's products. Madonna also licensed the rights to her music catalog to the US television show Glee, which were used for an episode that featured only Madonna songs. Entitled "The Power of Madonna", the episode was approved by the singer herself, who told US Weekly magazine that she found the episode "brilliant." on every level", and praised the choreography and the message of equality it conveyed. In November 2010, Madonna also opened the first gym in the Hard Candy Fitness franchise, a partnership between Madonna, her manager Guy Oseary and Mark Mastrov, the founder and CEO of 24 Hours Fitness. Madonna commented that "if any of you have seen my shows, you know I spare no expense, and the same goes for the gym. We spend what it takes to make a world-class gym."

In 2011 W.E., a biopic about the romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, premiered during the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews. Madonna contributed a new song titled "Masterpiece" for the W.E. Soundtrack, composed by herself, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry, for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. In December 2011, it was revealed that the singer had signed a three-disc deal with Interscope Records, which would act as distributor.

On February 5, 2012, Madonna performed at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, directed and produced by Cirque Du Soleil and Jamie King, with LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee Lo Green as guest artists. At the time it became the most-watched halftime show in history, with more than 114 million viewers, more than the game itself. His twelfth studio album, MDNA, was released on March 2012. For its production, Madonna met with William Orbit, as well as a variety of producers including Martin Solveig, The Demolition Crew, Benny Benassi, Alle Benassi, Indiigo and Michael Malih. The album received mostly positive reviews. Priya Elan of NME called it "a ridiculously enjoyable game", citing its "enlightening, psychotic stuff" as "some of the most visceral stuff he's done in his career".

Andrea Riseborough and Madonna during the 69th edition of the Golden Globe Awards on January 15, 2012, where the latter received the award for the best original song by "Masterpiece"

MDNA debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 and in many other countries. Madonna broke Elvis Presley's record for being the soloist with the most albums on the first position in the United Kingdom. The first single was "Give Me All Your Luvin'", featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. as featured artists, which extended Madonna's record to 38 top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Madonna was later criticized for her performance at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida for his reference to drug use while greeting the crowd. The MDNA Tour, which served to promote the album, began in May 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Madonna described it as "a journey from darkness to light ». The tour was well received, but touched on many controversial topics such as violence, guns, human rights, nudity and politics; even the performer received lawsuits. Even so, the tour was a commercial success, and several dates sold out as soon as tickets went on sale. Billboard named it the most successful tour of 2012, grossing $305.2 million from 88 sold-out concerts, the ninth highest-grossing concert tour in history, and surpassing to Celine Dion's Taking Chances Tour as the second most successful for a solo artist, behind only Sticky & Sweet Tour. Thanks to this, he won the awards for best touring artist, best dance artist and best dance album at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. In August 2013, Forbes named Madonna the top-earning celebrity of the year, after earning more than $125 million from the tour.

In conjunction with photographer Steven Klein, Madonna recorded a 17-minute short film called secretprojectrevolution. The BitTorrent company released it in September 2013, along with the option to make a donation to purchase the HD and 2K versions of the film, an interview she gave to VICE magazine, and a recorded message from Madonna. Along with the short, Madonna also launched the Art for Freedom initiative, which she helps promote " art and freedom of expression as a means to confront persecution and injustice around the world." As part of the initiative, he chose singer Katy Perry and illusionist David Blaine as curators. Since its launch As of September 2013, Art For Freedom has received over 3,000 submissions worldwide through its official page and social media platforms. By 2013, the Raising Malawi Foundation was reported to have built ten schools to educate 4,000 children. of the country, with an estimated value of US$400,000. When the singer visited the schools in April 2013, the then President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, criticized her, accusing her of exaggerating her contributions to the country. Banda referred to the singer as abusive and accused her of demanding special treatment during her visit. Madonna's representatives denied these accusations and claimed a "grit" against her and the foundation. Madonna issued a statement expressing her sadness over Madonna's "false" comments. Banda. Later, it was confirmed that Banda had not approved the statement issued by his press team − where Madonna was accused of being abusive − and that he was "incandescent with anger" about the confusion.

2014-2017: Rebel Heart and other projects

In early 2014, the singer made several media appearances: she made a surprise appearance at the 56th Grammy Awards on January 26 and performed "Open Your Heart" alongside Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert, who performed the single "Same Love", while 33 couples got married on stage, which was officiated by Queen Latifah. Days later, he accompanied singer Miley Cyrus on her MTV Unplugged , where Madonna he sang his song "Don't Tell Me" in a mash up with Cyrus's song "We Can't Stop". In February, he expanded his business ventures and introduced MDNA Skin, a range of products for skin care, in Tokyo, Japan. In May, after visiting her hometown of Detroit, she made donations to three charities dedicated to eradicating poverty. According to her publicist, they represented "the first phase of a long-term commitment to the city."Madonna herself said that "it was obvious that I had to get involved and be part of the solution to help Detroit recover."

Madonna also began work on her thirteenth studio album with collaborators including Avicii, Diplo and Natalia Kills. In December, The New York Times reported that she had been chosen as the face of Versace. for their spring/summer 2015 campaign. That same month, thirteen demo songs from their new album leaked online; the artist replied that half of the songs would not be used in the final release. Her thirteenth studio album, Rebel Heart, was released in March 2015. According to the singer herself, the Introspection was one of the predominant themes during the album's development. Upon its release, it received positive reviews from music critics; many of them called it her "best effort in a decade". Rebel Heart became Madonna's first album not to reach the top position of the Billboard 200 since 1998., but reached number one in other major music markets, including Australia, Canada, Germany and Italy. The album spawned the singles "Living for Love", "Ghosttown" and "Bitch I'm Madonna", from which which became her 46th number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart of Billboard.

In September of that same year, he kicked off the Rebel Heart Tour in the city of Montreal. The tour lasted until March 2016 and traveled throughout North America, Europe and Asia, marking the first visit of the singer to Australia at the age of 23. The show was met with critical acclaim, who praised the artist for having a "happy mood" at concerts, as well as incorporating her early hits. With 82 concerts, it grossed US$169.8 million with over one million tickets sold, extending her record as the highest-grossing touring solo artist of all time. During the tour, Madonna was embroiled in a legal battle with her ex-husband. Guy Ritchie, for custody of their son Rocco. The dispute began when the Rebel Heart Tour visited London, where Rocco decided to stay in the city living with his father, while Madonna wanted him to return to her. The hearings took place in New York and London; after several deliberations, the artist decided to withdraw the custody request for her and reach an agreement with Ritchie.

Madonna giving a speech at the March of Women in Washington on January 21, 2017

In October 2016, Billboard honored Madonna as Woman of the Year at its annual Women in Music gala. Her speech at the ceremony, which was described as "emotional", "forceful [ and] brutally honest", received wide coverage in the media. A month later, Madonna was among the artists who opposed the candidacy of Donald Trump and openly supported Hillary Clinton in her campaign for the presidency of the United States. On November 7, the singer held an outdoor performance in New York's Washington Square Park to show her support for Clinton. On that occasion, he performed his songs "Like a Prayer", "Express Yourself", "Don't Tell Me" and "Rebel Heart", as well as versions of "Imagine" and "If I Had a Hammer". One day after Trump was elected president, Madonna posted a video on her Instagram account with the caption "Don't lose hope! We will rise up!" On January 21, 2017, she made a surprise appearance at the Women's March on Washington where, after performing "Express Yourself" and "Human Nature" (1995), she gave a speech in which she revealed that she had "thought about blowing up the White House". This speech created great controversy in the media, with some personalities such as Cindy Lauper criticizing her and many Republican supporters calling for her to be investigated by the FBI. Newt Gingrich, spokesman for the White House White House, called for the singer's arrest, calling her part of an "emerging left-wing fascism". Trump himself called her "disgusting". The singer defended herself by saying that her words had been "fiercely taken out of context [... ] I am not a violent person, I do not promote violence and it is important that people listen and understand my speech in its entirety."

In February 2017, Madonna obtained permission from a Lilongwe court to adopt two girls, four-year-old twins Esther and Stella. In September of that year, the singer moved to Lisbon, Portugal. with her adopted children, the live album Rebel Heart Tour was released, which won the Best Music Video for Foreign Artists at the 32nd Japan Gold Disc Award, and launched MDNA Skin in some stores in the United States. A few months earlier, the Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction house had put the artist's personal items up for sale, such as a letter from Tupac Shakur, cassettes, underwear, and a hair brush. To stop the process, their representatives sued Darlene Lutz, an art dealer who had started the auction. Madonna commented that her celebrity status "does not obviate my right to maintain my privacy, even with respect to highly personal items". However, she lost the case and the judge who presided over the case, Gerald Lebovits, ruled in favor of Lutz, who was able to prove that in 2004 Madonna had reached a legal agreement with her to sell said items.

2018-2022: Madame X, biopic and return to Warners

In January 2018, Madonna announced on her Instagram account that she had started recording her fourteenth studio album, which would be influenced by Portuguese fado music and would be released in 2019. In March she confirmed that she would direct the film MGM's Taking Flight, based on the memoir of ballet dancer Michaela DePrince, as well as the film adaptation of the novel The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, by Andrew Sean Greer. Two months later, she appeared at the Met Gala and performed a medley that included "Dark Ballet"—known at the time as "Beautiful Game"—as well as "Like a Prayer" and a cover of "Hallelujah" (1984)., by Leonard Cohen. At the MTV Video Music Awards, held on August 20, he dedicated a few words to the singer Aretha Franklin, who had died the week before, and presented the video of the year category. In October, he collaborated with Cardi B on the song "Champagne Rosé", included on Quavo Huncho, the debut album by American rapper Quavo.

On April 14, 2019, she revealed that Madame X would be the title of her fourteenth studio album; three days later the lead single, "Medellín", a collaboration with Colombian singer Maluma, was released. Released in June of the same year, Madame X debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was Madonna's ninth number one —the first since MDNA (2012)— and Madonna's twenty-second top ten, making it her second female artist, behind Barbra Streisand, with the most No. 1 entries on that list. It received positive reviews, with NME's The Hunt calling it "bold, weird, self-referential and unlike anything else." what [she] has done before". The following singles were released from the album: "Crave", "I Rise" and "I Don't Search I Find"; the latter became her 50th number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs of Billboard , making her the musical act with the most hits. cumulative number one on that list.

Madonna presenting herself in London during a concert of her tour Madame X Tour

On May 18, 2019, the singer appeared in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Tel Aviv (Israel), where she performed "Like a Prayer", a fragment of "Dark Ballet" and " Future", the latter along with Quavo. The appearance cost the European Broadcasting Union $1 million, paid for by Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams. The ad caused controversy due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and even pro-Palestinian activists called for that the singer canceled her presentation; however, it rejected the boycott. The performance provoked negative comments from the national press, after two of the dancers appeared embracing and displayed the Israeli and Palestinian flags on their backs as "a message of peace". The Israeli Minister of Culture called it a "mistake and inappropriate" and noted that "things like this should not happen". In addition to this, the interpretation also received mixed opinions due to the singer's vocal performance and the use of playback in " Future". On June 30, she was in charge of closing Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, a festival organized in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in conjunction with WorldPride events. Held at Hudson River Park in New York City, she performed "Vogue", "American Life", "God Control" and "I Rise". On September 17, she kicked off her eleventh concert tour, the Madame X Tour, which continued through March 2020 and visited North America and Europe; played small venues for the first time since The Virgin Tour in 1985. The tour grossed over $36.8 million. singer Dua Lipa, and a month later confirmed that she was working on the script for a biographical film, which will be directed by the same singer and produced by Amy Pascal. In June 2021, she brought in writer Erin Cressida Wilson as co-writer of the film. Filmed during the concerts offered in Lisbon, the documentary Madame X was directed by Ricardo Gomes and SKNX, and premiered on the Paramount+ platform on October 8.

On her 63rd birthday, the singer officially announced her return to Warner Music Group in a "historic global partnership" that awards the label the artist's entire record catalog; "[Warner Music] has helped me bring my music and vision to my fans around the world [...] They have been incredible partners and I am delighted to embark on this next chapter with them," Madonna said in a statement. his entire catalog on the Sire, Maverick and Warner labels, as well as MDNA, Rebel Heart and Madame X, released by Interscope Records and which will form part of Warner's catalog in early 2025. It will also include "deluxe" reissues of Madonna's albums and singles, to follow in 2022 under Madonna's supervision. The first release in Warner's reissue campaign was Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones, a remix album featuring Madonna's 50 number one singles on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, released on August 19, 2022. The release peaked at eighth on the Billboard 200, making Madonna the first female artist to have multiple albums enter the top ten on the chart in the last five. decades.

In January 2023, Madonna announced The Celebration Tour, which will kick off in July 2023 with special guest Bob The Drag Queen and will be held to commemorate her 40-year musical career.

Work

Musical style

Madonna playing a riff guitar of the theme “A New Level”, by the band heavy metal Pantera, in 2008.

Madonna interpreting "Vogue", using a new model of the cones corset, in 2012.

Madonna dressed as a clown during the 2016 special concert, Tears of a Clown.

Madonna's music has been the subject of much scrutiny and scrutiny by critics. Robert M. Grant, author of the book Contemporay Strategy Analysis (2005), commented that what had led Madonna to success “was certainly not her exceptional natural talent. As a vocalist, musician, dancer, singer, or actress, Madonna's talent seems modest." She claims that her success lies in relying on the talents of others, and that her personal relationships have served as cornerstones for the many reinventions she has made. made in her long career. By contrast, Rolling Stone named Madonna "an exemplary songwriter who delivered catchy, indelible lyrics, and as her live shows attest, she's best as a singer of all time." studio". Mark Bego, author of Madonna: Blond Ambition called her "the perfect vocalist for 'lighter-than-air' songs", despite not possessing a "musical talent". heavyweight". Madonna has always been conscious of the quality of her voice, especially in comparison to her vocal idols such as Ella Fitzgerald, Prince and Chaka Khan.

According to Freya Jarman-Ivens, Madonna's talent for developing "unbelievable hooks" for her songs allows the lyrics to capture the audience's attention, even without the influence of the music. As an example, Jarman-Ivens cites the 1985 single "Into the Groove" and her line "Live out your fantasy here with me, just let the music set you free; Touch my body, and move in time, now I know you're mine" I know you're mine"). From 1983 to 1986, Madonna's musical productions tended to be feminine and naive in nature, focusing mainly on themes such as love relationships, romance, passion and courtships. This changed with the album Like a Prayer, when the lyrics became much more personal, such as in "Promise to Try", which references Madonna's lingering grief over the loss of her mother. Madonna's lyrics often suggest an identification with the gay community. Fouz believes that when Madonna sings "Come on girls, do you believe in love?" in "Express Yourself", she addresses straight women and her gay audience. Even in the era of Erotica, whose lyrics are oriented towards more adult themes, the songs are still simple and naive (" So won't you go downstairs, inside where it's hot», «Where Life Begins» from Erotica). Madonna's songwriting ability has been constantly criticized. For example, Maria Raha of Rolling Stone calls her lyrics “flippant and unsophisticated. Madonna can only bring a trunk full of trivial lyrics that speak of the great tradition of pop music, love; When she's not singing about love, she's singing about partying and dancing." Her lyrics were considered banal and her songwriting ability was ignored by critics until the release of Ray of Light and Music. According to Jarman-Ivens, lyrics like "You're frozen, when your heart isn't open" ("Frozen", 1998) and "I can't remember when I was young, I can't tell if it was a mistake" ("Paradise (Not for Me)", 2000) reflect an artistic palette, "embracing diverse musical, textual and visual styles in their lyrics."

On her 1983 debut album, Madonna's vocal abilities and artistic persona were not fully formed. Her vocal style and lyrics were similar to those of other 1980s pop stars such as Paula Abdul, Debbie Gibson, and Taylor Dayne. Madonna's songs reveal several key trends that continually defined her hits, including heavily dance-based language, catchy lyrics, elaborate arrangements, and Madonna's unique vocal style. On songs like "Lucky Star" and "Borderline," Madonna presented an upbeat style of dance music that would be particularly appealing to gay audiences. The high-pitched, feminine vocal timbre of the early years of her career was dropped from her later works, a change made deliberately, due to the fact that Madonna still remembers how critics had labeled her a "Minnie Mouse on helium", due to the timbre of her voice. Her second album, Like a Virgin (1984), contained the precursors of several trends that characterized her later works: references to classical works (such as the synthesizer pizzicato of " Angel"), songs that would generate backlash from various social groups ("Dress You Up" was blacklisted by the Parents Music Resource Center), and retro styles ("Shoo-Bee-Doo," Madonna's homage to Motown). Madonna's initial style and the change she made is most evident in the song "Material Girl". The melody begins with Madonna using the voice of a little girl, but after the first verse, she changes to a richer, more mature woman's voice.This artistic maturation was most visible on True Blue (1986). The song "Papa Don't Preach" was an important milestone in her artistic career. The classic introduction, the fast tempo and her lower voice were unprecedented in Madonna's work.

With Like a Prayer (1989), Madonna once again entered a new musical phase. The album features songs recorded live and incorporated different genres of music, such as dance, funk, and gospel. Madonna continued to compose ballads and uptempo songs on Erotica (1992) and Bedtime Stories (1994), both explored elements of new jack swing. She tried to update her repertoire by incorporating samples , loops and hip hop into her music. Her voice became much deeper and fuller, evident on tracks like "Rain" and "Take a Bow."During the filming of Evita , Madonna had to take singing lessons, which increased her vocal range. She commented on this experience, “I studied with a vocal coach for Evita and realized that there was a large part of my voice that I was not using. Before, I thought it was very limited in scope and I just had to get the most out of it.” Her musical evolution continued with Ray of Light; which included elements of electronic music; the song "Frozen" showcases her fully formed vocal prowess and various allusions to classical music. Her voice was limited and she sang the songs from Ray of Light without vibratos. However, the breaths in the songs became more prominent.With the new millennium, Madonna performed her album Music with her normal voice in a mid-range, sometimes getting an upper register for the choruses.. A change in the content of the tracks was also observed, most of these were simple love songs, but with an underlying tone of melancholy. As she explained, “I sing about breaking an image you have of someone, but I also sing about loving someone you wouldn't want to love. Because you know you're doomed, but you can't stop yourself."

That melancholy continued on their folk-influenced album American Life. According to Q magazine, American Life was infused with beats of techno rhythm, more fluid keyboard notes, acoustic choruses and bizarre rap on the namesake song. Conventional rock songs were interspersed with dramatic lyrics about patriotism and songwriting, including the appearance of a gospel choir on "Nothing Fails". Musically, things changed with Confessions on a Dance. Floor, which brought Madonna back to pure dance songs, disco beats, and retro music, but the lyrics continued to embrace paradoxical metaphors and included references to her earlier works. On her 2008 album, Hard Candy, the singer mixed R&B and hip hop with dance tunes. The album also had songs whose lyrics talk about peace movements and some that are autobiographical. Singing in a higher register continued, as well as the use of the double tracking technique. For MDNA he incorporated elements of dance, electronic music and dubstep; the lyrics of some songs dealt with her divorce from Guy Ritchie, while others dealt with personal themes such as betrayal, heartbreak, revenge, or regret. In addition, on some tracks the songwriters borrowed from the singer's previous work., including references to some of her most successful singles such as "Papa Don't Preach", "Vogue", "Beautiful Stranger" and "Sorry". Rebel Heart focused on mainly on two topics: listening to the heart and at the same time being rebellious. It was described as an "eclectic album" because it incorporated a wide variety of genres such as 1990s house, trap, and reggae. one of the fundamental themes that prevail in the album; according to Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine, "genuine" personal and professional statements can be found on tracks like "Bitch I'm Madonna" and "Unapologetic Bitch". Madame X is her most linguistically diverse work, as she sings in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and consists of three main sounds: Latin music, trap and art pop. According to Madonna, the album reflects "a melting pot of musical cultures" that she experienced while living in Lisbon, Portugal. Fouz-Hernández commented that "throughout her career, Madonna's manipulation of her voice shows us that by refusing to defined in a single way, a space was opened for new types of musical analysis".

Influences

Marilyn Monroe, in a movie scene Gentlemen prefer blondes., influenced deeply in Madonna

According to Taraborrelli, "surely the most defining moment in Madonna's childhood, one that had the greatest influence on the personality of the woman she is now, was the tragic and untimely death of her beloved mother." Psychiatrist Keith Ablow suggests that the death of her mother had an enormous impact on the girl, at a time when her personality was still being formed. According to Ablow, the younger a child suffers a serious loss, the more profound the influence of this event and the longer the duration of the impact. He concludes that "some people never come to terms with that loss at such a young age, Madonna is no different than them." In contrast, author Lucy O'Brien considers the impact of the rape she suffered to be, in Actually, the motivating factor behind everything Madonna has done, even more important than her mother's death: "It's not so much the pain of her mother's death that drives her, but the feeling of abandonment and lack of help." protection. She encountered the worst case scenario of her being a victim of male violence and subsequently used those experiences to the full in her work, reversing the problem at every opportunity."

When she grew up, Madonna and her sisters felt sad because the memory of their mother began to fade. They looked at photos of her and began to think that she looked like the poet Anne Sexton or some Hollywood actress. This would later increase Madonna's interest in poetry, with Sylvia Plath as her favorite writer. Madonna commented, "we were all hurt in one way or another, and then we spend the rest of our lives reacting and dealing with it." it and trying to turn it into something else. The heartbreak of losing my mom left me with a certain kind of loneliness and an incredible longing for something. If I didn't have that emptiness, I wouldn't have gotten this far. Her death had a lot to do with me saying — after getting over my sadness — I'm going to be very strong if I can't have my mother. I'm going to take care of myself." Taraborrelli felt that in time, no doubt because of the devastation she felt, Madonna would never allow herself, or even her daughter, to feel as abandoned as she did when her mother died.. "His death of hers taught her a valuable lesson, that she would have to remain strong on her own account, she fears her weakness — particularly hers — and she wants to be queen of her own castle.".

Madonna has been influenced by artists like Debbie Harry (left) and Chrissie Hynde (right)to those who called “[women] strong and independent who compose their own music and evolve at their own pace”

In 1985, Madonna commented that the first song to make a strong impression on her was "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". by Nancy Sinatra; she said the song epitomized her "take charge" feminist attitude.As a young woman, she attempted to broaden her taste in literature, art and music and during this time she became interested in classical music.. She noted that her favorite style is Baroque and that she loved the music of Chopin and Mozart, because she liked their "feminine quality". Other musical influences include artists like Karen Carpenter, Led Zeppelin, The Supremes, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde and dancers such as Martha Graham and Rudolf Nureyev. Madonna's Catholic upbringing and relationship with her parents were reflected in the album Like a Prayer, which is considered an evocation of the impact that religion had on his career. The video for "Like a Prayer" contains Catholic symbols, such as stigmata. During The Virgin Tour, she wore a rosary which she also prayed with in the music video for “La isla bonita.” The video for “Open Your Heart” shows her boss berating her in Italian. On the Who's That Girl World Tour, she dedicated the song "Papa Don't Preach" to the Pope.

During her childhood, Madonna was inspired by various actors: “She loved Carole Lombard, Judy Holliday and Marilyn Monroe. They were all incredibly funny... and I saw myself in them... my femininity, my conscience and my innocence". Her video for "Material Girl" recreated Monroe's look in the song «Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend», from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She studied 1930s comedies, particularly Lombard's, in preparation for the film Who's That Girl?. The video for "Express Yourself" (1989) was inspired by Fritz Lang's film Metropolis (1927). The video for "Vogue" recreated the style of Hollywood glamor photography, particularly those of Horst P. Horst, mimicking the poses of Marlene Dietrich, Carole Lombard and Rita Hayworth, while the song's lyrics reference many of the stars who had inspired her, including Bette Davis, whom she described as one of her idols. Other of her influences came from the art world, particularly through the works of the artist Frida Kahlo. for "Bedtime Story" features images inspired by the paintings of Kahlo and Remedios Varo. His video for "Hollywood" is a tribute to the work of photographer Guy Bourdin. The use of sadomasochistic imagery in Andy Warhol's films is reflected in the music videos for "Erotica" and "Deeper and Deeper". Much of Madonna's film career has been received negatively by critics. Stephanie Zacharek, reviewer for Time magazine, stated that, "[Madonna] doesn't look natural or comfortable when she performs, and it's kind of hard to watch, because she's clearly doing her best." According to her biographer Andrew Morton, "Madonna puts on a brave face in the face of criticism, but deep down she is deeply hurt." After the 2002 film, Swept Away, Madonna swore that she would she will never act in another film, hoping that her acting repertoire will never be discussed again.

Madonna practices the Kabbalah rite, and in 2004 adopted the name Esther, which in Persian means "star". The singer has donated millions of dollars to schools in New York and London., faced opposition from rabbis who thought Madonna's adoption into the cabal was sacrilege and a case of dilettantism. Madonna defended her studies, saying that "it would be less controversial if I joined the Nazi party", and that her involvement in the cabal "didn't hurt anyone". such as Ray of Light and Music. According to Bill Friskics-Warren, "The ethereal arrangement of the music on these albums and their philosophy, filled with references to gurus and the connection of fate and karma, may at first seem like new age song lyrics.", but a deep analysis gives a sense of connection that encompasses spiritual enlightenment and carnal ecstasy, giving the effect of blurring the distinction between the two, and is the effect of their Kabbalistic meditation on union and transcendence." During the Re- Invention World Tour, Madonna and her dancers wore T-shirts reading "Kabbalists Do It Better".

Music Videos and Performances

Madonna interpreting "Live to Tell" at the 2006 Confessions Tour, considered one of the most controversial presentations in her career

In The Madonna Companion, her biographers Allen Metz and Carol Benson noted that more than any other recent pop artist, Madonna had used MTV and its music videos to establish her popularity and enhance her musical work. According to them, many of their songs are strongly linked to the images in the music video. The reaction of the media and the public towards his most controversial songs such as "Papa Don't Preach", "Like a Prayer" or "Justify My Love", had to do with the videos created to promote the single and the impact they had, not solely because of the song. Morton felt that "artistically, Madonna's songwriting is often overshadowed by her amazing videos." glamour, whereupon he was able to convey his edgy fashion sense to the American public. The imagery and incorporation of Hispanic culture and Catholic symbolism continued with the videos of the True Blue era. >. Author Douglas Kellner noted, "This kind of 'multiculturalism' and her culturally transgressive moves proved to be a successful move to appeal to a wide and varied youth audience." The Spanish style in her videos became a fashion trend of the time, in the form of boleros and layered skirts, accessories like rosaries and a crucifix, as in the video for "La isla bonita". Several authors noted that with her videos, Madonna was able to subtly reverse the usual role of men as the dominant sex. This symbolism was probably the most predominant in the music video for "Like a Prayer". The video includes scenes of an African-American church choir, Madonna seducing a statue of a black saint, and singing in front of a series of burning crosses. This mix of the sacred and the profane upset the Vatican and resulted in Pepsi's commercial withdrawal. Madonna has received a record twenty MTV Video Music Awards, including the "Avant-garde Award" in 1986 for her contribution to the world of video. musical.

Madonna's appearance came during the advent of MTV and, according to The New York Times's Chris Nelson, "with her lip-synced videos, heralded an era in which the average music fan could happily spend hours a day, every day, watching singers just move their mouths." The symbiotic relationship between music video and lip syncing led to the initiative to move the show and the footage from a music video to a live stage. Nelson wrote: "Artists like Madonna and Janet Jackson set new standards for theatrics, with concerts featuring not only elaborate costumes and precisely coordinated pyrotechnics, but also highly athletic dancing. These effects came at a cost, the live vocals." Thor Christensen of The Dallas Morning News commented that while Madonna gained a reputation for lip-synching during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour, she subsequently rearranged her performances to "stand out even during the most difficult parts of a song and [leave] the dance routines to her backing dancers...instead of trying to sing and dance at the same time". With more movement while singing, Madonna was one of the first artists to use wireless microphones with the earpiece attached to the ears or the top of the head, and the capsule on a small arm that extends to the mouth. Due to its prominent use, the design of this microphone became known as the "Madonna mic".

Legacy

Madonna using the "micro Madonna" during the Blond Ambition World Tour of 1990. It was one of the first artists to use this type of wireless microphones

She was described by Rolling Stone magazine as a musical icon beyond compare and the most famous female pop artist who ever lived. Madonna has earned multiple entries in the Guinness Book of the records, highlighting the title of the most successful and best-selling solo artist of all time. On March 10, 2008, Madonna was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. She has been ranked by Billboard magazine as the most successful solo artist (and the second artist overall, behind The Beatles) on the Billboard Hot 100 Top Artists. many major chart hits around the world, including 13 number-one singles in the UK, 11 in Australia and 23 in Canada, more than any other solo artist. Madonna was also featured in the book of 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century, published by Ladies' Home Journal in 1998. In July 2003, he was ranked seventh on the list of the "200 Pop Culture Icons of All Time" compiled by VH1 and People. was placed at the top of VH1's list of "50 Greatest Women of the Video Age". In 2006, a new species of water bear, Echiniscus madonnae, was discovered. it was named in his honour. Zoologists commented: "It is with great pleasure that we dedicate this species to one of the most important artists of our time, Madonna Louise Veronica Ritchie". In 2008, the British tabloid The Sun included her in the first place of his list "the 50 singer-songwriters who will never be forgotten in history". last century" by Time magazine, for being an influential figure in contemporary music. In general, various biographers, writers, journalists and other media have named her the most influential and successful woman of musical history.

Throughout her career, Madonna has repeatedly reinvented herself through a series of distinct visual and musical personas, earning her the nickname "Queen of Reinvention". In doing so, she "exploits her sexuality in fashion a cultural and commercial icon who, for more than a decade, was the undisputed Queen of Pop". Fouz-Hernández agrees that these reinventions are one of her main cultural achievements. Madonna reinvented herself working with the future talented producers and unknown artists, remaining in the center of media attention. According to Freya Jarman-Ivens, "In doing so, Madonna has always set the example of how to maintain your career in the entertainment industry." Such a reinvention was considered by experts as the main tool for survival in the music industry. Like Ian Youngs of BBC News commented, "Her ability to follow the latest fashion trends and adapt her style has often been the reason her image is preserved." Madonna's use of shocking sexual imagery benefited her career. and changed public opinion on sexuality and feminism. The Times stated, "Madonna, like it or not, started a revolution among women in music... their attitudes and opinions about sex, nudity, style and sexuality forced the public to sit up and take notice." Rodger Streitmatter, author of Sex Sells! (2004), commented that "from the moment Madonna broke onto the radar of nation in the mid-1980s, she did everything she could to impress the public, and her efforts paid off well". it was largely responsible for blurring the line between music and pornography. He said: "Before Madonna, it was possible that women more famous for their voices than for their cleavage would emerge as music stars. But in the post-Madonna universe, even highly original artists like Janet Jackson now feel the pressure to expose their bodies on national television to sell records."

Britney Spears (left) and Christina Aguilera (right) are just some of the pop artists who have received great influence from Madonna

Madonna has influenced numerous artists throughout her career. Mary Cross, in her book Madonna: A Biography , wrote: “her influence on pop music is undeniable and far-reaching. New pop icons from Nelly Furtado to Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears owe much to Madonna, a debt of thanks for the template she forged, combining sexual allure and feminine power in her image, music and the lyrics". According to Fouz-Hernández, pop artists such as Spears, the Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue and Pink were like "Madonna's daughters, in the sense that they grew up listening to and admiring Madonna and decided that they wanted to be like her". Among them, Madonna's influence was most notable on Spears, who has been called "her protégé". Another of the artists who has received great influence from Madonna. Madonna is the pop and R&B singer Rihanna. Madonna is also credited for introducing European electronic music into American pop culture, and for launching the careers of European producers such as Stuart Price. and Mirwais Ahmadzaï. Known as "The Queen of Pop", Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) considers her the best-selling rock artist of the century. XX, and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States (behind Barbra Streisand and Mariah Carey), with 64.5 million certified albums. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, despite her high sales record, in 2001 Madonna was the artist who lost the most to piracy.

Madonna has been praised as a role model for women entrepreneurs in her industry, "for achieving the kind of financial control women have long fought for within the industry and generating more than 1.2 thousand million dollars in sales during the first decade of his career." After its creation, Maverick Records became highly commercially successful from his efforts, which was unusual at the time for an artist-created record label. Journalist Robert Sandall said that while interviewing Madonna, it was clear that being a "huge cultural icon" was more important to her than pop music, a career he described as "an accident". He also saw a contrast between her very sexual public persona and her reserved and "paranoid" attitude toward her own finances; she fired her own brother when he was accused of overcharging him for fitting out their London mansion. Professor Colin Barrow of the Cranfield School of Management described Madonna as "America's smartest businesswoman... who has ever He has managed to conquer the highest positions in his industry and stay there by constantly reinventing himself ». She also highlighted "planning, personal discipline and constant attention to detail" as models for all aspiring entrepreneurs.Academics at the London Business School called her a "dynamic entrepreneur"; they identified her vision for success, her understanding of the music industry, her ability to recognize her own performance limits, her willingness to work hard, and her ability to adapt as the key to her commercial success. Morton commented that "Madonna is opportunistic, manipulative and ruthless, someone who will not stop until she gets what she wants, and that is something you can gain at the cost of losing the people closest to you. But that clearly doesn't matter to him". Taraborrelli considered that this cruelty was visible during the filming of the Pepsi commercial in 1989. "The fact that he did not want to hold a can of Pepsi in the commercial, was the clue that Pepsi executives they needed to know that Madonna the pop star and Madonna the businesswoman weren't going to be run by someone else, she would do everything her way, the only way." Conversely, reporter Michael McWilliams commented, "The complaints about Madonna – which is cold, greedy and talentless – hide the bigotry and the essence of her art, which is some of the warmest, most humane, most deeply satisfying in all of pop culture."

Discography

• 1983: Madonna
• 1984: Like a Virgin
• 1986: True Blue
• 1989: Like a Prayer
• 1992: Erotica
• 1994: Bedtime Stories
• 1998: Ray of Light
• 2000: Music
• 2003: American Life
• 2005: Confessions on a Dance Floor
• 2008: Hard Candy
• 2012: MDNA
• 2015: Rebel Heart
• 2019: Madame X

Music tours

• 1985: The Virgin Tour
• 1987: Who's That Girl World Tour
• 1990: Blond Ambition World Tour
• 1993: The Girlie Show
• 2001: Drowned World Tour
• 2004: Re-Invention World Tour
• 2006: Confessions Tour
• 2008-2009: Sticky & Sweet Tour
• 2012: The MDNA Tour
• 2015-2016: Rebel Heart Tour
• 2019-2020: Madame X Tour
• 2023-2024: The Celebration Tour

Filmography

Companies and products