On February 26 1989, Madonna participated in an AIDS Dance-A-Thon benefit at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
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Today in Madonna History: February 25, 1987
On February 25 1987, Madonna’s La Isla Bonita was released as the fifth and final single from the True Blue album.
An instrumental version of the song, written by Bruce Gaitsch, was first offered to Michael Jackson for his Bad album, but Jackson declined to use the track.
While working with Patrick Leonard on the True Blue album, Madonna accepted the instrumental track and then wrote the lyrics and melody, giving her a co-writing credit with Leonard and Gaitsch. The track was also produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard.
Today in Madonna History: February 24, 1999
On February 24 1999, Madonna performed Nothing Really Matters at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. Madonna also took home 4 Grammies:
- Best Pop Album – David Reitzas, Jon Ingoldsby, Pat McCarthy (engineers/mixers), William Orbit (producer) and Madonna (producer & artist) for Ray Of Light
- Best Dance Recording – Pat McCarthy (mixer), William Orbit (producer) and Madonna (producer & artist) for Ray of Light
- Best Short Form Music Video – Jonas Åkerlund (video director) and Madonna for Ray of Light
- Best Recording Package – Kevin Reagan (art director) for Ray of Light performed by Madonna
Today in Madonna History: February 21, 2016
On February 21 2016, Madonna performed the second of two sold out shows during her Rebel Heart World Tour at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, China.
The undisputed ‘Queen of Pop’ is set to excite and delight Asia’s music fans at Studio City’s awe-inspiring Studio City Event Center when she brings her ‘Rebel Heart Tour’ to Macau.
The ‘Rebel Heart Tour’, which lands in Macau on February 20 and 21, 2016, is supporting Madonna’s 13th studio album ‘Rebel Heart’ which includes the Billboard Hot 100 hit, ‘Bitch, I’m Madonna’. The hit single features star-studded cameos by Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West as well as appearances by Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Rita Ora.
The ‘Rebel Heart’ Tour follows the spring release of Madonna’s Rebel Heart album on Interscope Records. Rave reviews of the album include: ROLLING STONE: ‘Rebel Heart is a long, passionate, self-referential meditation on losing love and finding purpose in chilling time.’ LA TIMES: ‘Rebel Heart like its creator pushes through the pain and more often than not lands solidly and with great grace on its feet.’ NOISEY: ‘Madonna continues to keep us on our toes, like no other performer in the history of modern music. NY DAILY TIMES ‘Rebel Heart’s best moments boast some of the most finely structured pop melodies of Madonna’s 32-year career.’
Along with extraordinary critical acclaim as an artist, songwriter and producer who has sold a record breaking 300 million records, Madonna’s reputation as one of the most successful, provocative and enduring live performers of all time speaks for itself. The 2008/2009 Sticky & Sweet tour is the highest grossing tour of all time for a solo artist and the 20123 MDNA tour was the most successful tour of that year.
Today in Madonna History: February 20, 1986
On February 20 1986, Madonna and Sean Penn attended the premiere of his film At Close Range at the Berlin Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.
Madonna contributed Live To Tell to the At Close Range soundtrack. Live To Tell was written by Patrick Leonard and Madonna, and was released as the first single from her True Blue album in March 1986.
Today In Madonna History: February 19, 2013
On February 19 2013, Beyonce mentioned Madonna as being a maverick in Gentlewoman magazine:
“I think about Madonna and how she took all of the great things she achieved and started the label and developed other artists. But there are not enough of those women.”
Today in Madonna History: February 18, 2006
On February 18 2006, Shaun Woodford spoke to the BBC about how he was challenged to transform the back of an everyday van into a ’70s nightclub on wheels for Madonna’s Sorry music video.
Shaun said that when his customized car firm in Wales first received the request to pimp out the van with pink neon lights, lilac shag carpet and mirror disco balls, he thought it was a joke.
“We weren’t sure what to think at first! And it was only when we got the go ahead, that we knew it was for Madonna’s video.”
Shaun’s team at AB Styling Ltd were given one week to complete the job.
“Everything we needed had to be ordered in and there was a couple of moments where I thought it was going to be touch and go, but we did manage it.”
Shaun delivered the van on time and spent the week on set.
“It was a brilliant experience and by far the biggest job we’ve ever done – you can’t get bigger than Madonna.”
MTV documented and aired the makeover of the van in an episode of Pimp My Ride.
