Sticky And Sweet Nothings
If this is an accurate list of Sticky And Sweet Tour songs, it sounds like it will be amazingly retro. Just count all the oldies-but-goodies in there, and all the massive hits. On top of all these, I hear "Vogue" and "Dress You Up" are both in the offing.
It's annoying that she would even consider "La Isla Bonita" AGAIN, and yet
that version really was pretty cool. I'm down for just about anything if she's willing to sing "Borderline." For me, the most surprising entry is "You Must Love Me." What a wild choice. She did it okay on the Oscars, but it's such a time-for-the-bathroom number. I think "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" would get such a raucous reception. But who am I to judge?
(Madonna didn't clear it with me first, but I hate this SAS image. Her nose is so badly PhotoShopped she looks like Michael Jackson.)
P.S. Brother Christopher's vindictive bio, Life With My Sister Madonna, will be excerpted in the UK Sunday Mail this weekend, so we can soon look forward to malicious quotes. If he hates her now—and he must, since he knows publishing this is a final act—I predict he'll hit her where she lives, attempting to spin tails that will disillusion fans and possibly gay fans in particular. Those who've always hated her will say, "See? She's evil." Those who've always loved her will say, "No! She's not!" And the beat goes on and on and on the beat goes, on and on and on...
i run the biggest bookshop in scotland - 22000sq feet and we've had 1...1! enquiry..... i think he's sadly wide of the mark on interest... once people read the tabloid excerpts even less likely to buy the book imho
Posted by: ian | July 03, 2008 at 06:53 PM
I don't think it will sell well at all. People only buy a biography about someone they are a fan of. People who are fans of Madonna don't want to read a book saying terrible things about her. So it will flop.
Posted by: Tommy | July 03, 2008 at 09:35 PM
One person should buy the book...put it all into a word doc and leak it onto the internet...then we all get to read it without anyone making much money on it....(but you didn't hear me say that)!
Posted by: John Logsdon | July 03, 2008 at 11:08 PM
That setlist looks so fakeishly fan made, more than a bogus single cover.
And count me in buying the bio! Madonna died when she stopped collaborating with her bro.
Posted by: Tomi Luka | July 04, 2008 at 12:47 AM
lol, one inquiry = not so hot. Well, I think part of it is people wouldn't be shocked if he said Madonna used to fellate ponies. The other part is that her fans, at least a percentage of them, won't want to indulge in a hatchet-job. On Amazon, the cover is listed as "to be unveiled," so I'm sure it's going to be an unflattering candid that he took or something else extremely attention-getting. I wonder, also, if he will use lots of childhood family photos throughout, things Madonna would be incensed to have out there. Maybe wedding pictures. The possibilities are endless.
I think the book can't help but flop—in the U.S.—with a print run of 350,000. Good luck selling a quarter of that here. In Europe, it might be a hit, no?
Yeah, I'd definitely read the book for free, though I'm sure he'll say some things I don't want to know.
I also wonder if he'll address things like abortions, relationship angst and the rumor that she once had cancer.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | July 04, 2008 at 09:54 AM
That set list sounds fake to me. I don't see her ending with Give It to Me at all. Borderline might be the encore a la Everybody in Girlie Show, but she won't end with Give It to Me, esp given that it seems to be flopping as a single.
Posted by: Ben | July 04, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Yes, I hope that set list is fake. I don't think it's a good choice at all. I'm bored with hearing Ray of Light and La Isla Bonita And nothing from Like A Prayer? That album is amazing!
She could end with 4 minutes, which was a huge hit but not Give it to Me.
Posted by: Tommy | July 04, 2008 at 10:44 AM
I told you it would flop. Let's move on to Miles Away already! Which I hope has an amazing video.
Posted by: Tomi Luka | July 04, 2008 at 12:58 PM
hi matt... so, i was able to read parts of the book already. you'll be shocked to find that in a way its a love letter to madonna. there is no "smoking gun" per se; just loads of things we already knew. she's a bitch a lot, she's had abortions, guy is a homophobe and an asshole, and she is blindly crazy about kabballah. mostly this seems to be HIS memoir, and when your life has been spent so close to one of the biggest superstars in history its only natural that is what you would write about. STILL: it's a smarmy thing to do and certainly the final nail in the coffin for their relationship so to speak, but its not horrible and let's get real: she doesn't hate gays. never has, never will.
Posted by: David | July 04, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Chris bio
I was rather hoping that was the case David. He might be a bit of a bitch - but I just don´t think a Mr.Anderson type autobiograohy would be his style. Perhaps I´m wrong. I´ve tried to not to judge Christopher to harshly.
I really enjoyed reading the hilarious chapter on Madonna in Rupert Everett´s book especially the New Years Eve bash and The Next Best Thing saga. It just makes me love her more. Especially the part where a certain Hollywood actress makes the effort to formally introduce herself (Julia R) and Madonna coldy replied: "I know who you are"!!!!:D :D Marvelous! I wish I could pull that off ha ha ha!
Rupert already confirmed Guy´s gay problem and most of us who were tuned in knew early on that this was the case with Ritchie. His snidey comments to the british press at the begining of the decade outed him.
I´ve never particularly liked him - or the image that he portrays in public ( he could be completely different in private)or his work, but I thought if he´s good for Madonna then so be it. It´s not like gay fans have much choice in the matter anyway.
What´s the worst thing Christopher could reveal: Well - she´s lazy, racist, homophobic, greedy,not as envolved in the artistic creation as she has made out to be, completely money driven, takes drugs or has had an addiction problem, emotionally abuses children, family and staff. These things would bug me. It wouldn´t bug me one bit if he dished some dirt on some of her former detractors, husbands, friends, boyfriends and associates. Nor would I get terribly upset if it was revealed that Madonna actually hates her fans, that she´s a tight arse, slept around with other men whilst being married to Sean or Guy.
It would annoy me if it came out that Madonna is actually a bisexual. Only because she could have at least have had the balls to come out to the world in the first place.
I genuinely look forward to reading his perspective on things, his work for Madonna, his art and interest in art, his personal life, coming out the other side of stardom. Also life in the Ciccone household, his strained relationship with Tony and his other siblings. Both Martin and Paula have said some rather catty things about Madonna on TV so I don´t see why Chris shouldn´t share his story either. They are not close anymore.
I hope it´s cram packed full of wit, charm and humour. But I doubt it.
p.s
I agree since Christopher left the fray, the Madonna world hasn´t been as exciting.
Set list
The set list is rather dull imo. I agree about Ray of Light, You must love me and La Isla Bonita (even though I loved the Lela Pala Tute version).
So no Angel then, well at least Vogue is there. I thought she was rehearsing Buenos Aires....must have ditched it quite recently.
Posted by: heph | July 04, 2008 at 01:57 PM
David: Thanks for the preview. Sounds about right. Glad there is nothing too shocking. (Imagine being someone's brother and writing about her abortions???) Perhaps the pre-press is a ruse to get interest drummed up since in no way will it sell 350,000?
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | July 04, 2008 at 02:21 PM
the thing is, no "press" have seen it yet. obviously the publisher is trying to trump up the idea of a "shocking" tell all so that people will spend their money on it... anyone remotely familiar with publishing knows that this book is NEVER going to sell 350,000. i mean, come on! the blind sell in they insisted on with retailers months in advance shows that they have no faith that the project will sell well once people actually get wind of what's inside it...
re: the set list - meh. where is Open Your (God Damn!) Heart!?
Posted by: David | July 04, 2008 at 03:06 PM
As a publishing nut, I did react with disdain that a "blind sell" was used. Who falls for that? And once it was determined that 350,000 were printed, that was a good sign that it would fail. If Madonna wrote her own autobiography she'd be lucky to sell that in the U.S. unless the book was said to be truly insightful, inspiring and dishy.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | July 04, 2008 at 04:23 PM
I really don't know that much about Guy Ritchie so I most have missed when he said something homophobic. I did see him in that Swept Away special with Madonna and I thought he was cool. She teased him about being gay or something and he was a good sport about it, he wasn't homophobic at all.
I like you, Matt. But I think it's a rather sad commentary on the gay community that the one thing that makes you dislike someone is if they are bisexual and not open about it. Sometimes it seems that in the gay community, it's almost okay if you are a totally horrilbe person and commit all kinds of crimes, but if you are supposedly in the "closet" you are the lowest form of human life on the planet and deserve no compassion or respect.
Posted by: Karen | July 04, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Karen: Hey, I'm not the one who is hating on the bi aspect! That was in the comments. I do think people who truly are in the closet, but not emotionally stunted (in other words, they are calculatingly in the closet for financial gain, to protect power) are gross.
(Also, I don't think gay people tolerate criminals and scoundrels but detest bisexuals. I do hear a lot of mean-spirited dismissals of bisexuality from gay people, but that is because so many gay people start out claiming to be bi then later realize they are not. Still, I'm pro-bi.)
But I would be disappointed if Madonna truly, privately identified herself as bisexual (as opposed to having had sex with women which I'm pretty darn sure she's done), for the reason mentioned—it would be so out of her character not to be more forthright about it. But I don't think she's truly bi.
Anyway, just a sidebar there.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | July 04, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Sorry I thought that it was from you. I think that most of the people are in the closet aren't doing it for financial reasons. That is a huge misconception perpetuated by the more militant part of the gay community. A lot of people do it because they will be rejected by their parents or friends or have deep feelings of shame. A little more compassion should be shown them instead thinking it's because of money.
And even if it's to advance their careers, why is that wrong? People have dreams of being successful, why should being a gay activist be more important than say someone's dream of being a successful musician. That is putting the rights of the community over an individual's freedom. I find that very fascist.
At the end of the day, whether someone is gay, straight. or bi is noone's business but their own.
I don't understand the distinction between being bisexual and having had sex with women. To me, if you have had sex with a woman once, that makes you technically bisexual.
There are a lot of bisexual people who label themselves as gay because it's more politically correct. George Michael says he is gay now but in the past he had tons of sex with many women.
I just think we all need to start labeling people and stop trying to peek into each other's bedrooms.
Posted by: Karen | July 04, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Matt: I don´t have her down as truely emotionally bisexual either.
Jenny Shimizu blabbed to the press about having sexual liasons with her. So Definately think Ingrid & Madonna have been more than just friends. Certainly not buying Ingrid story about being exclusively hetero either.
Totally agree with your comments btw here and on the Kate Perry thread.
Karen/Ann Widdecombe:
Wow, I´m a gay militant! I rather like that LABEL! Cheers!
P.s Are you a Clay mate or just a regular fan of Clay Gayken by any chance?
Posted by: heph | July 05, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Heph, you represent everything that is wrong with the gay community. I could care less about Clay Aiken. I hate his music and how he looks.
I happened to know someone who was in the closet. Do you know why he was so fearful and had such a hard time coming to terms with his sexuality. Because when he was younger, he was beat up and almost killed by a group of skinheads who called him a queer and a fag? But of course, you don't care about that, you don't try to understand, you just judge and dismiss people with a bitchy one liner.
I'm happy you like being gay, and your sexuality is so cut and dried. Not everyone is like that. Some people are more in the middle and have had relationships with both genders. We are sick and tired of being judged by everyone, the fundamentalist christians who say we aren't straight enough and the gay militants who say we aren't gay enough. Accept people as human beings and stop being so bitchy and judging people based on what they do in bed, but on what kind of people they are in their hearts..
Posted by: Karen | July 05, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Karen, you seem to be in awful rush to bitch, label and judge here. You´ve totally got the wrong end of the stick.
I´m not biphobic in the least, I support bisexuals and their struggle for acceptance. I´m glad that the bisexual community are becoming more vocal and making their voices heard in the gay community too. And I´m positive that more and more are joining the gay rights movement, under the bisexual banner on our quest for civil rights.
I´ve personally never experienced anyone being forcing to come out or being ocsterized for not coming within my community. That´s really terrible if that happens.
My beef is with gay & bi people who remain closeted once they have achieved a level of maturity, success, wealth, status and power where they are in a position of security and no risk of loosing home and income.
I hope you are not advocating the closet! This is 2008 and not 1980 where homosexuality has been decrimialised and taken off the list of mental health disorders in most western countries. There is nothing more destructive than having to conceal who you are. One only has to look to what has happened to the people (celebs & politicians) who have remained in the closet for to long.
P.s Madonna just recently revealed what her sex life is like with her husband. Now if she can reveal such private details to the world, I can´t see the harm in why her fans can´t discuss it either. After all she made a career out of sex in the early 90´s. She even released a book called SEX.
Posted by: heph | July 06, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Heph, I'm advertising the right of the individual to decide for themselves when and if to come out of the closet.
The gay press constantly criticizes those who don't want to talk about their sexuality and does try to out them. That is something I see all the time. They call people nasty names who they think might be gay and don't declare themselves. Don't you realize the nastier you are to closeted people the less likely they are to come out and join the gay community? Why come over to the side that seems to hate you as much as the homophobes?
As far as Madonna, in the Sex book, it is about her fantasies, not her real life. I don't recall Madonna going into any kind of detail about what sex acts she does with Guy. She said it was incredible! That's all.
Again, it's up to the individual, Madonna in this case, to discuss her own sex life if she chooses. It is not up to people to gossip about her without her permission. It's part of the same thing with forcing people to come out of the closet before they are ready. It can really cause emotional damage.
Posted by: Karen | July 07, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Karen are you refering to Anderson Cooper, Jodie Foster & ummm Tom Cruise?
I think we´ll have to agree to disagree on that one.
The real emotional damage is the closet.
Madonna is such a fascinating person and I think it´s up to the individual fan if they want to discuss or gossip about her sex life. We can discuss if it´s right until the cows come home.
Posted by: heph | July 08, 2008 at 04:36 AM
If you consider Madonna to be a true artist, as I do, I don't see how you avoid discussing her private life as well. I'd be curious to know about what made Michelangelo tick, who Murnau went to bed with, etc. You can take art for how you see it, for how the artist wanted you to see it and for how the artist may not have realized he or she was presenting it based on their personal histories. It's literally all good.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | July 08, 2008 at 10:19 AM