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• Maybe... We Should Feel Shame - By Dr. Joyce Brothers

from Parade Magazine

February 27, 2005

Summary:

Shame May Not Be So Bad After All

In trying to increase self-esteem, our society may have gone too far in the other direction, argues Dr Joyce Brothers.

Excerpts:

.... Letting Go Of Our Inhibitions

Carrying around the "baggage" of shame, inflicted in childhood, people could only feel bad about themselves, the gurus argued. To feel good, one had to forget the nagging voice of conformity, set one's own standards of right and wrong and send shame, with all its toxicity, packing.

But in liberating ourselves from an overdose of shame, we substituted something that hasn't worked out too well either. We've turned to shame's opposite: self-revelation.

Today, it's not uncommon to talk about things that were once considered intimate with those who know us only slightly. By showing ourselves to the wide world, warts and all, we seek to gain acceptance.

The model has been the media - not only performers but also those people who get their 15 minutes of fame by appearing on talk shows or reality shows.

Talking to the camera or letting the camera observe a private life inoculates both participants and viewers; self-exposure melts shame away like the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz.

But in order to keep shame at bay, we need to constantly expose more. Madonna was one of the first performers to discover this.

By openly declaring in 1983, "I have no shame," she [Madonna] made a career out of pushing the envelope.

Others have struggled to compete, but last year's Super Bowl flap over Janet Jackson's bared breast on national television may curtail the content.

Caption above reads: The Shameless One. In the 1980s, Madonna kept upping the ante on shamelessness, with S&M-inspired costumes and a book of soft porn.

The Jackson incident called into question the whole issue of self-exploitation and caused people to wonder whether shame should be making a comeback.

Positive Shame

.... [W]e can use the protective aspect of shame to nurture outselves. Human beings seem to need some kind of covering beteween themselves and the social universe, a barrier to intrusion we used to call privacy.

In fact, the root of the word "shame" means "to cover." Deep inside, we're delicate creatures, and injudicious exposure - shamelessness - can create wounds rather than heal them.

The fact is that most of us do not have the psychic makeup of Madonna, Paris Hilton, Howard Stern or any other celebrity who thrives on self-promotion [note from Flea: Dr. Brothers means most of us are not dirt bags like Madonna ].

... Today, it's lack of shame that appears to be the burden. Maybe it's time to invite the useful aspects of shame back into our culture. Shame is, after all, ultimately related to virtue, a word that also is not used much anymore but continues to have meaning.

"The only shame is to have none," wrote the philosopher Blaise Pascal centuries ago. We ought to keep his words in mind.

March/April 2005 magazine issue, pages 62, 63

The article states that Madonna has narcissistic personality disorder, and it says that traits of this disorder include,

Arrogant & egotistical, demanding & entitled, greedy & selfish, [and] lacking empathy.

by Fiona Cummins

from The Mirror (UK news source)

earliest story appeared around March 7, 2005; The Mirror story appeared on March 9, 2005:

BOY George has let rip at Elton John, Madonna, George Michael and Eminem in a bitchy outburst.

Boy George, who fronted 1980s band Culture Club, then had a go at Madonna. He said she used the gay community to boost her career but then converted to the Kabbalah religion which he claims is against homosexuality.

He said: "Her agenda with the gay community was always about, 'It's good for me'.

"It's ironic that she's joined an organisation that says homosexuality is a disease that can be cured and no one picks her up on it.

"After making all those millions of dollars out of gay people pretending to kiss girls, pretending to be a lesbian. I think she's cynical."

» See Also:

» 'Madonna, a 'hypocritical homophobe'! - Sify

» Boy George calls Madonna a 'hypocritical homophobe' !

March 10, 2005

Sean Penn has only bad memories of his stormy marriage to pop superstar Madonna -- he can't remember ever having a proper conversation with her.

The Oscar-winning actor endured a turbulent relationship with the Material Girl, now married to British film director Guy Ritchie, in the 1980s.

"It was a miserable marriage," he said. "I don't recall having a single conversation in four years of marriage."

» See Also:

» Contact Music: Penn: Madonna Marriage Was Miserable

March 11, 2005

Hollywood News > London, Dec 21 : pop icon Madonna recently had the crew of the Versace shoot that she is modelling for in a tizzy after she handed a huge list of diva demands.

The "Material Girl" singer is the face of Versace's spring summer collection and had teamed up with the designer exactly ten years back for a similar shoot, reports The Sun.

Her demands included large bottles of Kabbalah water, fresh yellow and white flowers and a series of drinks at specific temperatures among other things. (ANI)

March 25, 2005

HOLLYWOOD (Rotters) - A study conducted on the case of Madonna reportedly shedding tears a decade ago concluded that the event has no human explanation, a Los Angeles newspaper reported today.

The LA Shopping News said it viewed the document ordered by the Catholic Diocese of Hollywood to review the case from several different points of view and was assembled by doctors, historians and theologians. A summary of its findings were then published.

.... The Vatican has remained oddly silent on the case over the course of the years, and nobody was available to comment today.

When the event first occurred, investigators concluded the black liquid on the singer was a runny mixture of mascara and tears, even though Madonna's tear ducts had long been thought permanently sealed due to excessive amounts of makeup applied to conceal the lines and crevasses of time on her face. . . .

• Madonna Attacked By Animal Rights Group

from Digital Spy

March 14 2005

Madonna has come under fire from an anti-hunting group for allowing shooting to take place on her estate.

Following Madge's success last year in banning ramblers from her paths, FemaleFirst.co.uk reports that she earns £10,000 every time she allows hunters to shoot birds on her property.

The League Against Cruel Sports has dedicated a page of its website to the pop icon, accusing her of having birds reared in factory-farming conditions.

The site informs readers: "For the really rich, really keen and really star- struck, a day's shooting can be arranged on Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s Wiltshire, England estate for a mere £10,000.

"She has been fighting to keep ramblers off her footpaths, but is open for business to paying customers."

One of the only pages I see about Madonna at their site, though is this one, but it's an old one - maybe I have the wrong League site?

» From Gig-wise:

Madonna Under Attack From Anti-Hunt Campaigners

by Lowri Williams on 3/14/2005

Madonna has been attacked by anti-hunt campaigners for allowing clients to shoot birds on her country estate.

Last year Madonna won the right to ban ramblers from her footpaths, however, according to Female First Madge is making £10,000 every time she allows a party to hunt on her property.

The League Against Cruel Sports has now dedicated a page of their website to the Queen of pop accusing her of encouraging gamekeepers to rear millions of birds in factory-farming conditions and inviting shooting enthusiasts to kill predators and release animals in large and unnatural numbers.

They write on their website: "For the really rich, really keen and really star- struck, a day's shooting can be arranged on Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s Wiltshire, England estate for a mere £10,000.

"She has been fighting to keep ramblers off her footpaths, but is open for business to paying customers."

They don’t call her the Material Girl for nothing y’know…

•

Madge Answering Phone at Kaballah Centre

from The Mirror

March 18, 2005

click to view larger image

It seems not much is going on in Madonna's life right now - how else do you explain the pop queen answering phones at London's Kabbalah Centre?

The singer, married to wannabe cockney geezer Guy Ritchie, is rumoured to man the switchboard at the centre every Thursday.

Avid cult member Madge, 46, apparently wants to help attract new believers. Converting callers involves convincing them to hand over 180 pounds for an "enlightment course".
She has previous experience of persuading punters to part with cash for a long, teidious, and ultimately pointless experience, just listen to her latest album.

• Defense of Boy George's Anti Madonna Comments

» Straight talk from a queer boy

20 March 2005
By Julian Baggini

. . . . We have become so aware of how celebrities play the media game that we are justifiably sceptical of such claims to integrity. But George’s explanation of his behaviour makes simple, perfect sense. And his actions match his words. Now living in New York, he’s back in Britain to promote Straight – volume two of his autobiography – but there’s no PR minder on hand, and no conditions have been set for our conversation. He speaks freely, without stopping to check himself.

Much has been made of the singer’s mouthiness. But perhaps we owe him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he didn’t get it first time around, which may explain why he’s still making a fuss about homophobia.

.... .... He was also put off by observing the behaviour of other celebrities who went in search of spiritual enlightenment. “You get a lot of that pitying, aggravating attitude from some people who think they are so elevated, and that, I think, is very much the Madonna style.

I made a joke the other day that if Madonna doesn’t like what I say about her she can always rise above it – she’s very spiritual.

“She’s probably in denial that she’s a great big ball of insecurity and I’m quite well aware that I am one.”

He [Boy George] goes on: “I do think it’s a bit rich when someone like Madonna says in an interview that people who speak badly of her will get vengeance. Hello? Mother Teresa!” The barbed comments are back again, but George is unrepentant.

“I try to exist in a world where there is freedom of opinion, where you’re allowed to make jokes. I don’t want to live in some PC world where no-one’s allowed to say anything. People say things about me all the time and I get over it. I’ve had some appalling things told about me.

“All the people I’ve written about in the book are heavyweight s who can handle it. If I really thought Madonna was at home crying I’d be devastated. But I don’t think she is.”

» Boy George is Told Off By Mum

March 20, 2005

[Boy George's Mom said]
"I do tell him off sometimes for being rude about people, but I agreed with his criticism of Madonna. She has dropped so many people."

» Boy George Unleashed - from The Mirror

March 26, 2005

The bitch is back: "Hang on, who f*****g made Elton John the headmaster and who f*****g made Madonna the queen? I've got every right to say what I like, and if they want to say things about me, fine."

This is what we want. This is more in keeping with the title of his new book Straight, in which Madonna is renamed McDonna, "a living, breathing cash register" who, despite decades milking the pink pound, bought into a religion which believes homosexuality is a curable disease.

March 25, 2005

"The industry doesn't have a list price so everybody looks at what everyone else is doing and then assumes they can do that or better," says Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, the industry bible. "Clearly that wasn't the case last year and many of the tours overpriced themselves."

For the most part it was "mid-level" acts that overreached, but superstars like Madonna faltered, too. During her 2004 tour, the Queen of Pop charged her loyal subjects an average fealty of $175 per seat - a record in the business. Though her tour was profitable, Madonna struggled to sell seats with a $300 price tag.

Now Clear Channel, the country's largest concert promoter, is taking action to lower the face value of tickets on its end. The company, which was unable to provide an executive for comment, announced that it will no longer charge a "facility fee" at its amphitheaters.

(Emphasis below via bold faced type added by me)

March 26, 2005

In the late-night kingdom of shiny disco balls, Kristine W reigns as the undisputed queen of clubland.

Above: Kristine W.

The 6-foot-tall entertainer (whose last name is Weitz) has been in heavy rotation on DJ playlists since the 1996 release of her inspired debut album, Land of the Living, and its equally vibrant follow-ups: 2000's Stronger and 2003's Fly Again.

Weitz has racked up nine consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard's Hot Club Play chart, including the recent chart-topper The Wonder of It All. A CD maxisingle, complete with six remixes of Wonder, hit record stores this week.

To put it into perspective, every one of Weitz's singles from her three albums has zoomed to the top of the dance chart, breaking records previously held by Madonna and Janet Jackson.

.... Despite such glittering triumphs on the club circuit, Weitz isn't a well-known commodity outside dance-music circles. And that's perfectly fine with her.

"My accountant is like, 'What moves are you making to try to cross over?' Not a lot. I want to keep my guys happy," says Weitz, referring to the predominantly gay, male fan base that has supported her since the beginning of her career.

April 2, 2005

HindustanTimes.com

Book accuses Madonna of spreading 'godless worldview'
New York, April 2, 2005
A talk-radio host in his book has accused Madonna, who has adopted the Jewish mysticism Kabbalah, of being responsible for the spiritual weakening of the US.

In his Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder, Michael Savage was quoted by the New York Post as holding the pop diva responsible for spreading a "godless worldview".

"Here's a woman who made a career as a pseudo-pornographic belly dancer cavorting with a whip, and now suddenly, after having a baby, she pretends to be a holy woman riding her bicycle in England on her country estate with her buddy, Gwyneth Paltrow," the ultra conservative talk-radio host said.

"They both fled America because America wasn't clean enough for their offspring. In Madonna's view, we're a spiritually bankrupt nation - which she helped create. What could Madonna know about the sacred arm of Judaism? Answer: Nothing!"

» See also:

» Book accuses Madonna of spreading 'godless worldview'

» New York Post

» Madonna accused of spiritual weakening of America! - Kerala next

» Madonna accused of spiritual weakening of America

story reported on April 15, 2005 (this site entry posted April 21, 2005)

» Cannes Snubs Madonna

From Contact Music:

Pop legend MADONNA's hopes of securing a screening at the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL next month (MAY05) have been dashed after organisers snubbed her documentary movie.

The untitled film, which the MATERIAL GIRL hoped would premiere at the prestigious event, was described as "interesting" by a selection panel, but they judged the overall quality of the project failed to meet the festival's notoriously high standards.

But MADONNA remains undeterred, and is busy editing the production with Swedish director JONAS AKERLUND with a view to a premiere at the VENICE FILM FESTIVAL later this year (SEP05).

» See also:

» Madonna gets snub from Cannes - Hindustan Times

» Ireland Online: Cannes Snubs Madonna

April 18, 2005

From The Television Express section of The Daily Express (UK); this is a review of a British television show called "Madonna Mania":

... In reality, of course, Madonna made a splash in the Eighties, disappeared up her own conical bra in the Nineties, and then proved she was ancient history by marrying a mockney toff and reinventing herself as the wife of an English country squire. Her songs are greatly enjoyed by eight-year-olds at jelly-and-ice-cream discos.

... And so the Has Been received homage from the Never Will Be's.

Company Claims Madonna Owes Thousands of Dollars - USA Today

From USA Today:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A British director and several British companies involved in the creation of Madonna's European TV concert special have sued the singer, alleging she still owes more than $300,000 in directing and production fees.

The suit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that Madonna owes director Hamish Hamilton and The Rude Corp. $175,000 for work on a TV special of the singer's 2004 European Reinvention Tour.

Hamilton alleges in the suit that he traveled to shows in New York, Florida, California, Nevada, France and England as part of his contract and scouted locations in Portugal for the TV special.

The suit also alleges that Madonna owes Done and Dusted, Ltd., more than $155,000 for expenses incurred during pre-production and production work on the program.

Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

» See also:

» Madonna sued by British director - Ireland Online

» Director, production company claim Madonna owes thousands in fees - Tuscaloosa News

» British director sues Madonna - U.TV

» Madonna Said to Owe Thousands in Fees - Chicago Tribune

» Director sues Madonna over expenses - This is London

» British Director Sues Madonna over Non-Payment of Fees -
Scotsman

April 27, 2005

From Contact Music.com:

MADONNA SLAMS JEWISON FOR ATTACKING HER ACTING

Pop legend MADONNA has slammed director NORMAN JEWISON for his scathing criticism of her acting abilities.

The MOONSTRUCK film-maker attacked movie bosses for giving the MATERIAL GIRL a succession of coveted movie roles, despite her lack of talent.

But Madonna insists she wouldn't have achieved her superstar status is she wasn't a skilled entertainer.

Jewison says, "Madonna? It's all hype. Come on. How do you know whether anybody can act? You're told that they're a big star, you know, or somebody's got a cute ass or they've got great boobs.

"But Madonna has a small amount of talent when it comes to movies. And we're all being suffocated by talentless stars in films. I can't believe that people are obsessed like they are now with celebrity. I don't know what's going on."

But Madonna's spokeswoman LIZ ROSENBERG told gossip website THE SCOOP, "I completely disagree with his statement about Madonna making a lot out of a little talent.

"I don't think you can sell 100 million records and sell out arenas and stadiums for over 20 years just being a celebrity. Madonna is a GOLDEN GLOBE winner and a GRAMMY winner and has had an unprecedented career as an artist and actress."

The criticism comes at a bad time for Madonna, whose documentary movie RE-INVENTED PROCESS was recently snubbed by the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL.
27/04/2005 14:00

» See also:

» Madonna hits back at director's criticism

» Fed-up director takes it out on Madonna

» Some harsh words for Madonna

» Not exactly crazy for her - Miami Herald

» Famed director rips Madonna as untalented

» Director Jewison says Madonna's 'all a hype'

» Norman Jewison pans Madonna

» Madonna touchy about her acting

May 1, 2005

Contact Music (Boy George Slams Ruthless Madonna):

Veteran pop star BOY GEORGE has hit out at MADONNA for her ambitious streak - and insists the MATERIAL GIRL is as cold as ice.

George, 43, has a bitter and long-running feud with the famously business-minded Madonna, and has previously admitted to being jealous of the megastar.

He says, "If Madonna were a drag queen, she would be called Ruth Less. "I don't think the word 'warm' comes to mind with Madonna. Ice is the word that springs to mind."

» See also:

» Boy George slams 'ruthless' Madonna - Ireland Online

» Boy George brands Madonna 'cold'

» BOY GEORGE HITS OUT AT MADGE - Mirror.co.uk

May 11, 2005

» Madonna is Boring - from Contact Music:

Irish pop star BRIAN McFADDEN is amazed superstar MADONNA has remained in the charts for over 20 years, because she makes "rubbish" music.

The former WESTLIFE singer, who has only achieved one number one as a solo artist with REAL TO ME, has nothing but venom for the MATERIAL GIRL, claiming her talents are non-existent.

McFadden moans, "People are saying Madonna makes great music. It's really rubbish.

"She doesn't have a good voice, she's boring.

"Just because she's Madonna, everybody says, 'brilliant,' and 'genius'. I don't think she's ever been a good musician.

"I don't know what she's got. Maybe it's because she's been naked in some movies and excited a lot of men."

» See also:

» Brian McFaddden Slags Off Madonna!!! - Gigwise

» Brian slates Queen of Pop

» McFadden vs Madonna - Dot Music

» "Boring" Madonna Savaged By Brian McFadden

» McFadden slams Madonna - Megastar

May 17, 2005

Never let it be said that Madonna lacks persistence.

Despite having her new documentary about herself - Re-Invented Process - turned down by Cannes big-wigs, the queen of pop remains determined to get it screened... somewhere.

We're told that the mum-of-two, 46, will jet in to Cannes later this week for meetings with organisers of the Venice Film Festival, in an attempt to persuade them to include her Jonas Akerlund-directed documentary in their programme.

"Madonna was very disappointed when Cannes organisers decided against showing the film," a festival insider reveals. "Especially after she hired a top director and then re-edited it especially for the festival."

Now Madge will hold back-to-back meetings in the Hotel Du Cap with Venice organisers.

"She could have sent a flunkey but she knows that if anyone can twist their arms, it'll be her. She can't trust someone else with something this important." Let's hope they're Swept Away by her powers of persuasion...

May 19, 2005

Excerpts:

Brussels - A Belgian songwriter took Madonna to court on Wednesday claiming she plagiarised a tune he wrote with her worldwide 1998 hit Frozen.

Salvatore Acquaviva says that several bars of the song are lifted directly from a tune he wrote five years earlier called Ma vie fout l'camp (My life's getting nowhere).

"I was in the bath. I was listening to the radio, and thought that's strange, I know that melody. I said it's not possible," he told the RTL television station.

On Wednesday he had his day in court in the southern Belgian town of Mons, where his lawyers argued that Madonna may have heard his song because she met his producer in the late 1970s.

The US diva's lawyers rejected the claim, alleging Acquaviva was just trying to make a quick buck.

"Just because there are similarities between two songs it doesn't mean it has been plagiarised," said attorney Fabienne Brison.

. . . . The judge delayed hearings on the case until next month, after some of the lawyers were late arriving in court.

In the meanwhile royalties for the Madonna song in Belgium have been frozen, RTL said.

» See Also:

» Madonna Accused of Plagiarism in Lawsuit - KGET 17

» MADONNA ACCUSED OF PLAGIARISM IN LAWSUIT - Contactmusic.com

» Madonna sued over "Frozen" - DotMusic.com

» Madonna sued over "Frozen" - Yahoo Launch UK (same as DotMusic.com)

May 29, 2005

SIR ELTON JOHN has hit out at MADONNA again - by warning fans she will probably not perform at this year's (05) LIVE 8 charity concert because she would rather attend a Kabbalah meeting.

The ROCKET MAN criticised the MATERIAL GIRL last year (04) for miming during her RE-INVENTION tour.

And now he has resumed their war of words, by accusing Madonna of caring more about her religious meetings than aiding poverty relief in Africa by singing at the fund-raising gig.

He says, "She's probably got a bl**dy Kabbalah meeting instead."

» See Also:

» Elton John Spats With Madonna Again

May 31 2005

Exclusive Used undies taken off
By Beverley Lyons

INTERNET auction site eBay have refused to sell a pair of knickers once worn by Madonna.

The owner of an Aberdeen lap-dancing club tried to flog the silk girdle-style pants worn in the star's film Body Of Evidence.

But the internet site banned the sale because the underwear had been used.

Tony Cochrane paid £800 for the pants, which were won by the star during a steamy sex scene in the film.

He kept them in a glass case on the wall in his Private Eyes club, alongside an autographed picture of the famous scene.

But when he decided to sell them during a club refit two weeks ago, he was shocked to discover that eBay cancelled the auction.

Tony said: 'We bought the pants in 1998.

'We thought they would be good for the club, as we had a picture of Madonna wearing them.

'They fitted in with the theme of the club.

'Our customers were thrilled to see them alongside undergarments from Striptease, Showgirl, True Lies and Baywatch.'

Tony said he was flooded with offers when he put the pants up for sale on the net.

He said: 'After five days, we had an offer of £1000 from a buyer in the US.'

But his plans were scuppered when he received an email saying that the auction had been terminated, as the site 'does not permit the sale of any used undergarments'.

He said: 'I don't even think we can wash them and put them on sale. But we have received a private offer to buy them.

» See Also:

» Madonna's Panties Too Hot For E-bay - from Sound buzz via Yahoo Launch News

» Madonna's Panties Too Hot for E-bay from Contact Music

However...

» Madge's £1000 knickers - The Sun

Excerpts:

By BECI WOOD / Sun Online
A pair of Madonna’s knickers are being sold for £1,000, it emerged
today.

A lapdance club boss has struck a deal to sell the black lacy underwear to a Madonna fan from America.

Tony Cochrane, the owner of Private Eyes Gentleman’s Club in Aberdeen, first bought the pants, worn by the 46-year-old star in her 1993 film Body of Evidence, from a costume shop in Hollywood six years ago.

» See Also:

» Madonna's Panties Go for £1,000 - Scotsman

» Madonna's undies fetch thousands at auction

In various interviews in May and June 2005 with Ladies Home Journal magazine and a televised interview with American television station NBC's Matt Lauer (among others), Madonna would on the one hand say that she does not regret having been a slut.

In other interviews, however, Madonna would say she regrets having been raunchy and having behaved like a slut, albeit not always using the word "regret."

Examples:

» Despite living quiet life, Madonna has a lot to say - Boston Globe

June 9, 2005

[Journalist's Question:] It's hard to talk about your children's books without at least mentioning your rather notorious first book (1992's picture book ''Sex"). You've said it was a different time. Does that imply regret?

[Madonna's Answer:] No, no. You know me better than that. I don't regret it. What's the point of regretting anything you've done? If I didn't do everything I did, I wouldn't be who I am now.

» Madonna Regrets Sexy Past - from Contact Music

June 13, 2005

Pop superstar MADONNA regrets letting her ego get the better of her during the 1980s and early 1990s - because she now wishes she hadn't been so raunchy.

The MATERIAL GIRL became famous for pushing the boundaries of what was sexually acceptable behaviour in a mainstream pop star.

But the 46-year-old, who now has two children and is married to film-maker GUY RICHIE, admits she was courting publicity for all the wrong reasons.

She says, "Sometimes I was being overtly sexual for the sake of showing off when I didn't need to be. I think I hurt myself.

"Ultimately none of us wants to be judged, or approved of, or loved because of the way we look, or how sexy we are.

"One minute I was saying believe in yourself and the next minute I was saying just be sexually provocative for the sake of being sexually provocative.

"I was letting it pump my ego, thinking aren't I great, they're writing about me, my picture's on the cover of every magazine, I'm so fabulous."

» Was Madonna Too Sexy? - Sky News

» Madonna Regrets being Sexy - Digital Spy

» Madonna says she was too sexual - Teentoday.co.uk

» Madonna: Was She Too Sexy?- Gigwise

From Digital Spy:

Madonna regrets being sexy
Monday, June 13 2005, 14:24 BST -- by Daniel Saney

Pop icon Madonna has admitted that she created a misleading image in the early stages of her career for the sake of publicity.

Looking back on her career, filled with sexual imagery in her videos, lyrics, and her 1992 book 'Sex,' she told Ladies' Home Journal: ."Sometimes I was being overtly sexy for the sake of showing off when I didn't need to be. I think I hurt myself.

"Ultimately none of us wants to be judged, or approved of, or loved because of the way we look, or how sexy we are.

"One minute I was saying 'believe in yourself' and the next minute I was saying 'just be sexually provocative.'

"I was letting it pump up my ego, thinking 'aren't I great, they're writing about me, my picture's on the cover of every magazine, I'm so fabulous.'"

From Gigwise:

Madonna: Was She Too Sexy?
by Lowri Williams on 6/13/2005

After having kids and settling down in the country with hubby Guy Ritchie, Madonna is now reconsidering the sexy image that led her to fame and fortune…

At 46 Madge feels that she may have been showing off just a leeetle bit with her provocative performances and the release of her book ‘SEX’ in 1992.

She said to US magazine Ladies' Home Journal: “Sometimes I was being overtly sexy for the sake of showing off when I didn't need to be. I think I hurt myself.

"Ultimately none of us wants to be judged, or approved of, or loved because of the way we look, or how sexy we are.”

"One minute I was saying 'believe in yourself' and the next minute I was saying 'just be sexually provocative'.

"I was letting it pump up my ego, thinking 'aren't I great, they're writing about me, my picture's on the cover of every magazine, I'm so fabulous'.”

» Madonna Tells of Sex Shame - Source: This is London

Madonna tells of sex shame
By Clemmie Moodie, Daily Mail / 13 June 2005

Throughout years of reinvention, she has steadfastly stuck to one mantra - sex sells.

But now, after making a career as a controversial, no-holds-barred sex siren, Madonna has admitted that she pushed her explicit image too far.

At 46, she has spoken out against her early, headline-grabbing years, claiming that they may have misled her legion of young fans.

'Sometimes I was being overtly sexual for the sake of showing off when I didn't need to be. I think I hurt myself,' the singer told the American magazine, Ladies' Home Journal.

'Ultimately none of us wants to be judged, or approved of, or loved because of the way we look, or how sexy we are.

'One minute I was saying believe in yourself and the next minute I was saying just be sexually provocative for the sake of being sexually provocative.

'I was letting it pump up my ego, thinking aren't I great, they're writing about me, my picture's on the cover of every magazine, I'm so fabulous.'

The Like A Virgin singer's admission comes just days after the publication of her fifth children's book, Lotsa De Casha, which she hopes will complete her makeover from raunchy star to demure mother of two.

It is not known whether Madonna's devotion to Kabbalah, a mystical offshoot of Judaism, has anything to do with her newfound bashfulness.

But it seems the queen of pop - who has a 1992 picture book called Sex to her name - has something of a hazy, and indeed short-term, memory.

Just last year she completed her Reinvention tour which, as well as netting her £65million, involved a number of flesh-baring costumes.

And earlier this year Madonna, who married the film director Guy Ritchie in December 2000, fronted a £ 5million advertising campaign for Versace posing as a vampish businesswoman.

But that is tame compared to some of her previous incarnations - such as her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour when she cavorted on stage in a coneshaped bra and fishnet stockings.

^ click here to view larger version. From 'In Touch' magazine

» Madonna Claims To Have Found Humility - Washington Times

Madonna claims to have found humility
New York, NY, Jun. 14 (UPI) -- Mother-of-two Madonna says at age 46 she realizes she might have pushed herself and her sexuality too far onto young fans in the past.

In an interview with Ladies Home Journal, the singer remembered for appearing naked in a book called "Sex," and passionately kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards, said she went too far.

"Sometimes I was being overtly sexual for the sake of showing off when I didn't need to be," she said. "I think I hurt myself.

"One minute I was saying believe in yourself, and the next minute I was saying just be sexually provocative for the sake of being sexually provocative."

Her regret for her previous raunchiness seems to be a recent development, the New York Daily News said, pointing out just last year, her "Reinvention" tour involved a series of ultra-skimpy costumes.

» Ladies Home Journal excerpts:

On regrets:
"There were times I [Madonna] really had an altruistic goal, I really did want to help people. And then other times, I just wanted to show off -- let's call a spade a spade. And I knew I could get away with it, and I knew I could get people to pay attention to me. Do I think I helped people? Yeah, I do.

Do I think I hindered people? Yes I do. I wasn't really clear on what I was doing yet, my point of view. I wasn't thinking responsibility. I wasn't thinking everything I say and do has an effect on the world around me. Sometimes now I sit back and say, What was I thinking before I was thinking, you know?"

Excerpts from Contact Music:

She [Madonna] says, "I moved (to London) for love. I never thought in a million years I'd live in London. I quite disliked the place. Then I met my husband. I realised that if I didn't live here I wouldn't get to see him very much.

And some of her supporters like to go on about what a "feminist" she is; read this -

My Guy Always Comes First - Sky News

June 10, 2005

It doesn't seem five minutes since Madonna was cavorting around in a conicle bra, telling the world that she was as strong - and powerful - as any man on the planet.

But clearly marriage and motherhood has mellowed her, as she now claims putting your fella first is the way to get on in life.

Madge has taken a more traditional outlook since getting hitched to Brit movie director Guy Ritchie.

And according to The Sun, she believes her first marriage to actor Sean Penn was doomed because they were both selfish.

"Until you get married, you get your own way," she is quoted as saying.

"Then you suddenly have to think of somebody else before you make decisions. That's putting your ego in check."

Madonna said she moved to London from Los Angeles to make sure her marriage to Guy worked.

"We had a long-distance relationship for a year. I thought, somebody has to compromise, which I did."

She was talking in New York at the launch of her fifth children's book Lotsa De Casha.

Last Updated: 10:36 UK, Friday June 10, 2005

» From Madonna fan site "Drowned Madonna,"

from BBC Radio1

Madonna's denied tabloid reports she's pregnant.
She also said she had no plans to have a baby in the future.

Media speculation might come from the fact she's dressing a bit motherly lately - US TV recently described her as "frumpy" and "too old".

Madonna says she's not bothered her new mature look isn't going down well:

"The way I dress and the way I look is just a natural evolution that happens, I don't think that much about it really to tell you the truth."

June 11, 2005

Brawn Star

Beefy Madonna had a couple of burly bodyguards in tow as she took to the mean streets of Manhattan - but she really needn't have bothered with hired muscle looking a her brawny bod.

The 46-year-old mother-of-two wore a girlie pink dress as she headed out for dinner with her alleged former lover Ingrid Casares and actress Rosie O'Donnell. But the effect was rather spoiled by her rippling bicpes and chunky shoulders which made her look more like a drag queen than the queen of pop.

As usual she sported one of her red Kabbalah bands, symbolising her devotion to the cult. The singer looked happy and relaxed on her way to the plush Tribeca Grill. Hope they had mussels on the menu!

Note: please read my comments about this article here, in a post on the anti-Madonna discussion board.

This is one of those anti-Madonna articles that I cite with a caveat; the author is unhappy with Madonna, but for all the wrong reasons.

June 26, 2005

[by] FIONA LEITH

AFTER a loving relationship of 22 years with someone, it would be nigh impossible to avoid the searing sense of pain and betrayal were they to turn round and tell you that it had all been just a ruse, perpetuated solely for their benefit, and now it was over; that they had done it for all the wrong reasons and none of it actually meant anything in the end. A sham, a scam, thank you mam.

You would be entitled to feel pretty gutted. But gutted doesn't even come close to encapsulating my emotions upon hearing that Madonna has decided to renounce her 'sexy' past. One of, if not the, most important female figures in popular culture for the past three decades has decided that the game is up and she wants to wipe the slate clean.

No, there won't be an amnesty on all your old Madge memorabilia, don't worry - picture the scene as people from all walks of life trudge down to their local polis station trailing fingerless lace gloves, gold conic bras and riding whips, depending on which Madonna they fell head over heels for in the wardrobe department - but, as ever, the power of her words have a distinctly era-defining ring to them.

Yes, we have been here before in part, hanging on the singer's every word like baby birds at feeding time. Madonna is, after all, the postmodern world's mother of reinvention and we've been grateful for even just a sliver of her latest sensational declaration at every turn, whether it was the one about being virginal, or being bisexual, or who can forget the raging dominatrix one.

And for all her bluster, she has not only seen the persona through in image but in rhetoric too. The 18-year-old girl from Michigan who arrived in New York with $35 in her pocket and went on to sell more than 85 million albums worldwide hasn't embodied an age of rocketing materialism without knowing what sells and how to sell it.

There is so much more to this than the iconography, you see. Like so many women in their late twenties, I have grown up with Madonna.

Not just in the sense that her songs accompanied momentous times in my life - from the first youth club disco to getting clubbed out in Ibiza a decade later - but in that what she stood for, sang about and spoke about had a massively empowering effect on my understanding of the possibilities of being a woman.

For better or worse, few of us can deny her influence in these matters. Madonna came along and asserted herself sexually from the first moment she writhed around in that wedding dress on the canals of Venice for the video of 'Like A Virgin' 20 years ago.

From then on she consistently challenged and redefined the status quo of how women presented and thought of themselves in the workplace, in relationships and in the media, whether it was through the power-dressing call to arms of songs like 'Express Yourself' or the gender-bending possibilities of 'Justify My Love'.

So to backtrack now by saying in an interview for Ladies Home Journal: "Ultimately none of us wants to be judged, or approved of, or loved because of how sexy we are," is frankly quite hard to stomach. Madonna used sex to sell herself to a generation of women, not just as a disposable product but as a cultural, in the broadest sense, state of mind.

Choosing to now dismiss all those overtly sexual performances does so much more than just conveniently wipe the slate clean for a woman now intent on redefining herself once again in order to feel accepted as an author/ mother/ wife/ fortysomething.

It forces one to question so many aspects of her achievements and just how much substance they actually have. Forget the sacrilege, it could be argued that her attempts to erase or dilute some of the pages from her career scrapbook is quite possibly one of the most genuinely harmful things Madonna has done for her career.

Backtracking is a dangerous game to play. We don't like it when politicians change their minds or try to reinterpret previous actions or statements according to what suits the current social climate.

It reeks of opportunism and a shallowness that then throws any future grandstanding under a harsher light that all too often shows up copious unseen imperfections. And it can be equally affecting when artists of such an influential nature as Madge decide to do the same thing.

I have to admit that something inside me churned in horror the day I saw eco-warrior extraordinaire Sting advertising cars on the television. His bare-footed, rainforest-saving strumming suddenly fell hollow in a puff of exhaust fumes.

Mrs Ritchie has exhibited a similarly naked ambition in her attempts to be taken seriously as she publishes her fifth children's book. Maybe it really was all just a performance, but isn't it sad that in the end what Madonna might become is a fairly immaterial woman?

June 2005

Madonna says her family ridicule her for not being glamorous. The beautiful singer also admits her movie director Guy Ritchie makes fun of her sense of style when she dons some of her more outlandish outfits. She said: "He will sometimes laugh at what I wear. "I'll put something on and he'll look at me and say 'Who are you going as then?'"

Meanwhile, the pop queen's daughter begs her to make more of an effort with her appearance. The 46-year-old star confessed seven-year-old Lourdes begs her to dress up like the other smart mothers at the school gate when she arrives in a tracksuit.

She added in an interview with Britain's Grazia magazine: "I am perfectly happy to muck around in a pair of drawstring pants and wellies. "Sometimes my daughter gets angry because I go to school with her wearing my tracksuit and she says, 'Can't you just wear normal clothes?' "I think she wants me to be a Yummy Mummy, but that's not me."

Dennis Rodman says that despite Madonna's saucy sex talents, she didn't rock his world.

Speaking as a guest on today's TRL, the legendary basketball player turned movie star, reflected on his year relationship with Madonna many moons ago, singing her praises in terms of the bedroom, but not so in other departments.

"I've had my share of sleeping with beautiful women," Rodman announced proudly to fellow lady-thriller Dave Berry. "Madonna was alright. It was back in 1993 – 94, we were together for about a year.

"It was alright man, she wasn't all that. We had some good times, but I don't think we were on a level.

"I told her that her music sucked, but as far as in bed… she's good at that."