Today in Madonna History: April 16, 2016

On April 16 2016, Madonna’s 1985 Japanese mini-album, Like A Virgin & Other Big Hits, was re-issued on pink vinyl for Record Store Day.

The four track collection included the following:

  • Like A Virgin (Extended Dance Remix)
  • Holiday (Original Version)
  • Lucky Star (Extended Dance Remix)
  • Borderline (Extended Dance Remix)

Were you in the line-ups like I was? How festive was it to see so many vinyl fans? Did you score a copy of Like A Virgin & Other Big Hits on Record Store Day, or did you have to order through eBay? – Jay

Today in Madonna History: April 15, 1991

On April 15 1991, Madonna and Michael Jackson were featured on the cover of People magazine as The Oddest Couple.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

It may have been just a one-night stand, but when Pop’s Billion Dollar Boy and the Queen of Steam strutted their stuff at the Oscars, they were, for one brief moment, the brightest star couple of all.

As anyone burdened with stardom knows, finding a date for the Oscars can be an enormo pain. After all, really famous folk simply can’t be seen with some sweet nobody who waves “Hi Mom” at the camera and spends the evening worrying about credit-card approval at Spago.

And so it was, when Madonna and Michael Jackson, Earth’s top pop stars, faced the who-is-famous-enough-to-be-seen-with-me quandary, they hit on the perfect solution. Since they were already planning a duet for Michael’s upcoming album, Dangerous, and since they both happened to be on all Hollywood’s collagen-enhanced lips anyway—he for his ballyhooed “billion-dollar” contract with Sony, she for her upcoming, already controversial self-ploitation film, Truth or Dare-why not date…each other?

Big dates can also become big disasters, however. So a week before the Oscars, the couple met at L.A.’s Ivy restaurant to plan and, perhaps, trade makeup tips. By Oscar night, all was ready. Michael looked positively legendary in gold-tipped cowboy boots, a blinding diamond brooch and—in a dramatic sartorial departure—two gloves. Madonna, awash in peroxide and pluck, diverted at least some of the attention from her low-cut, pearl-encrusted Bob Mackie gown with $20 million in diamonds, on loan from jeweler Harry Winston. They entered L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium and promptly collected their well-deserved Best Seat honors—front row, two on the aisle.

Today in Madonna History: April 14, 2015

On April 14 2015, USA Today published an article to clear up the controversy swirling around the Drake/Madonna kiss that took place at Coachella:

We all know the story at this point: Madonna showed up at Drake’s headlining performance at Coachella Sunday to perform a few songs, Drake ended up in a chair, and the rest is history.

Drake shared his thoughts on Instagram, claiming that he was totally into the kiss and that we’re all “[misinterpreting] his shock.”

Today in Madonna History: April 13, 1996

On April 13 1996, Madonna’s future manager, Caresse Norman called gossip columnist, Liz Smith, and confirmed the news that Madonna was pregnant with her first child.

Liz Smith’s article was published in newspapers around the world the next day.

“Surprise, surprise, the stork couldn’t wait. The happy news from Budapest has just arrived — that Madonna is indeed pregnant.”

Madonna’s publicist, Liz Rosenberg, told Liz Smith in a follow-up call:

“Madonna doesn’t want this to be a big thing, though I don’t know how she thinks it won’t be a big deal. But she is deliriously happy, and so is everybody close to her. I hate to resort to a cliche, especially about Madonna, but she is just radiant!”

Today in Madonna History: April 12, 2008

On April 12 2008, Madonna’s 4 Minutes spent the first of nine (non-consecutive) weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100 Singles chart.

Today in Madonna History: April 11, 1998

On April 11 1998, Madonna appeared on the cover of TV Guide.

In the issue, Madonna explains the relationship she had with Lourdes’ father, Carlos Leon:

“I was in love with him. A lot of people think I walked out on the street and looked at him and said, `You’re going to be my sperm donor. I had a relationship with him. I still have a relationship with him. We are really good friends. . . . the last thing I want my daughter to do is grow up without a father. I grew up without a parent.”

Today in Madonna History: April 10, 2017

On April 10 2017, TMZ reported that Shep Pettibone is taking legal action against WB Music Corp. for withholding his royalties (since 2012) for Madonna’s hit single, Vogue.

Here’s what TMZ reported:

The famed producer behind Madonna’s Vogue says he’s getting the short end of the stick — to the tune of half a million bucks — because the record label’s out for payback.

Shep Pettibone, producer extraordinaire — who’s worked with Madge, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul and a ton of other artists — says WB Music Corp owes him a ton of back royalties for the 1990 mega hit.

It appears everything was fine up until 2012 … when Shep and WB were sued for allegedly jacking Vogue from someone else. In his lawsuit, Shep says they both came out victorious in that case, but the label spent a ton on lawyers — more than $700k, according to docs.

The mega producer says WB’s been withholding royalties since then to cover that massive legal bill. Translation: we forked out the dough to defend your song … now you owe us.

Shep ain’t buyin’ that theory though, and says his contract with the label doesn’t give them the right to hold back his Vogue dollars.

He believes he’s been screwed out of as much as $500k, and wants a judge to force WB Music to hand over the loot.