Today in Madonna History: September 2, 1993

September 2, 2026 By Jay in 1993, September Tags: Bye Bye Baby, Erotica (Single), Marlene Dietrich, Morocco, MTV Video Music Awards, The Girlie Show World Tour 1 Comment

On September 2 1993, Madonna opened the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards performing Bye Bye Baby. She cavorted on stage with three scantily clad women in a brothel-style setting, dressed in tuxedos and top hats, in a choreographed, highly sexual routine. According to choreographer Alex Magno, he wanted to do Justify My Love or The Beast Within on MTV, but Madonna decided that they might be too controversial for live television and abandoned the idea. Nevertheless, Bye Bye Baby was chosen and performed with the choreography they had been practicing for The Girlie Show World Tour, since it represented the whole idea behind the tour. Louis Virtel from The Backlot ranked the performance at number eight on a list for Madonna’s 11 Greatest VMA Moments. He praised Madonna’s rendition of the song at the Video Music Awards, calling it “a hell of a VMA performance” and a “killer cinematic throwback”.

Today in Madonna History: September 1, 1990

September 1, 2026 By Jay in 1990, September Tags: Blond Ambition World Tour, Carlton Wilborn, Charts, Donna De Lory, Gabriel Trupin, Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea, Live Videos, Luis Camacho, Niki Haris, Oliver Crumes, Rehearsal footage, Salim Gauwloos, Single Sales, Vogue 1 Comment

On September 1 1990, Madonna’s Vogue spent its final week on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart at #40. The massive hit was present on the U.S. sales chart for a total of twenty weeks, including two weeks at #1 in May of 1990.

Vogue has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA for physical sales of over two million units. In terms of physical sales alone, it remains Madonna’s best-selling single in the U.S.

Today in Madonna History: August 31, 2006

August 31, 2026 By Jay in 2006, August Tags: I Love New York, Lenny Kravitz, The Confessions Tour 1 Comment

On August 31 2006, Madonna was joined on stage by Lenny Kravitz during a performance of I Love New York at a concert in Paris, France. Kravitz had previously been spotted in the audience at several stops on The Confessions Tour and was clearly a fan of the show.

The appearance followed the pair’s 1990 songwriting collaboration, Justify My Love, and its pseudo-remix, The Beast Within. They also shared the stage during a performance of Ray Of Light at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

Today in Madonna History: August 30, 2012

August 30, 2026 By Jay in 2012, August Tags: Martin Solveig, MDNA World Tour, Montreal 1 Comment

On August 30 2012, Madonna’s MDNA World Tour enjoyed a sold-out crowd of 17,000 fans at Montreal’s Bell Centre, generating $3.4-million in ticket sales. Martin Solveig performed as the opening act.

Prior to the show, Madonna’s fan club issued this helpful statement:

Madonna’s MDNA Tour is to stop at Montreal’s Bell Centre tonight. While tickets state that the show starts at 8pm, please note that Madonna won’t be on stage before 10pm, her support act’s performance is on first. Thank you and have a great show!

Today in Madonna History: August 29, 1987

August 29, 2026 By Jay in 1987, August Tags: Canadian Singles Chart, Remix Videos, Who's That Girl (Single), Who's That Girl (Soundtrack) 1 Comment

On August 29 1987, Madonna’s Who’s That Girl single reached #1 on the Canadian Top 100 Singles chart by RPM magazine.

Today in Madonna History: August 28, 2003

August 28, 2026 By Jay in 2003, August Tags: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Hollywood, Into the Hollywood Groove, Kiss, Like A Virgin (Single), MTV Video Music Awards, Radio City Music Hall, TV Performance, VMA's 1 Comment

On August 28 2003, Madonna performed Hollywood with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera as the opening number for the 20th annual MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY and upstaged everyone at the ceremony when she shares a passionate open-mouth kiss with them. Missy Elliott also joined the ladies on stage – post-kiss.

Madonna commented on the uproar surrounding the infamous kiss during an appearance on Oprah several weeks later. “I don’t know why people are making such a big deal about it,” she said. “Hasn’t anyone seen two girls kiss before? It was a friendly kiss – it really was. If Britney looks as though she is kissing me in an aggressive way it was a surprise to me.” She added, “I’m a showgirl. After 20 years in the business, we learn to roll with the punches. If someone’s coming at you with lips slightly parted, you kiss them.”