Today in Madonna History: May 5, 2021

On May 5 2021, Madonna paid tribute to singer and Model Nick Kamen on social media after his death was announced. Nick (real name Ivor Neville Kamen) was 59, and died following a battle with bone marrow cancer.

“It’s heart breaking to know you are gone. You were always such a kind sweet human and you suffered too much. Hope you are happier wherever you are Nick Kamen.”

From Billboard.com:

Madonna was smitten by Kamen’s “charisma” and “beautiful voice.” They inspired her to reach out and ask him to record the leftover from her 1986 True Blue album, as well as provide backing vocals on the bouncy synth-pop ditty that climbed to No. 5 on the U.K. singles charts. The “Each Time You Break My Heart” remix also peaked at No. 5 on Billboard‘s Dance Club Songs chart in May 1987. It spent 11 weeks on the chart.

Today in Madonna History: May 4, 2016

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On May 4 2016, Madonna tweeted about her long-time friend and Like A Prayer collaborator, Prince:

“It’s been 7 hours and 13 days since you took your love away……….all the flowers you planted died when you went away……….Nothing Compares 2 U.”

Today in Madonna History: May 3, 2012

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On May 3 2012, the May 9th issue of Vanity Fair Italy started to hit newsstands.

The issue included an 8-page article and featured photos taken during the making of the Truth or Dare fragrance campaign.

Today in Madonna History: May 2, 2008

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On May 2 2008,  Madonna sat down with Steven “Cojo” Cojocaru at Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York to discuss her Hard Candy album.

When asked to describe what or who she is, Madonna replied:

“I think I’m many things. I think I’m a lady, I think I’m a brat, I think I’m a nerd, I think I’m a pimp, I think I’m a mother, I think I’m a kid. It was fun being a brat. I’ve got my cheeky side.”

Today in Madonna History: May 1, 1999

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On May 1 1999, the music video for Madonna’s Beautiful Stranger was shot at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.

Beautiful Stranger was directed by Brett Ratner, and went on to win an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.

Today in Madonna History: April 30, 1983

On April 30 1983, Madonna’s second single – the double A-side Burning Up/Physical Attraction – moved into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Dance/Disco Top 80 chart (now known as Hot Dance/Club Play), leaping from #18 to #9.

Interestingly, the release charted as Physical Attraction/Burning Up throughout its run on the Dance chart. When two songs are promoted together to dance clubs, Billboard will generally position the track that earns the higher number of spins first in its Dance chart entry.

The same Billboard issue also saw some early radio support for Madonna, as New York City’s WKTU-FM featured Physical Attraction among their top playlist adds for the week.

Today In Madonna History: April 28, 2013

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On April 28, 2013, Sir Elton John told Extra that his decade-long feud with Madonna had ended.

“We were in a restaurant in France in the summertime,” he explained. “She came in, and I sent over a note. She was very gracious. I apologized profusely because what I said should never have appeared in public.”

Their altercation began in 2002 when John had choice words over Madonna’s song for the James Bond Die Another Day film. He remarked that it was “the worst Bond tune ever.”

If that weren’t enough, the “Candle in the Wind” singer accused Madonna of lip syncing during her Re-Invention Tour in 2004 and deepened that speculation when he said, “Make sure you lip-sync good” before her Super Bowl performance.

Even John’s husband David Furnish insulted the Queen of Pop when he said “I like Madonna’s music, but not her movies,” while attending the 2012 Golden Globe Awards. Even more, Furnish said “she should stick to what she is good at,” when Madonna beat John for the Best Original Song (Masterpiece).

Now the couple’s attempt to extinguish the drama seems to have been well received by M.

“She accepted our apology, and then we bought her dinner,” John said. “That’s over and done with. She was fantastic. She was just like, ‘Okay, let’s get a move on.’”

Furnish added, “We don’t believe in putting negativity out in the world, both of us were embarrassed when all that stuff came out. But you’ve got to put all that behind you and just go forward with the positivity.”