Today in Madonna History: October 5, 2015

On October 5 2015, Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour stopped in Toronto for the first of two sold-out shows. Canadian singer, Nelly Furtado, was brought on stage during the show as Madonna’s Unapologetic Bitch.

Madonna had this to say on Twitter after the show:

“Thank you Nelly for being my b**ch tonight!! Hope you put that banana to good use!… #unapologeticbitch in Toronto! #rebelhearttour.”

Today in Madonna History: October 4, 1989

On October 4 1989, Madonna was featured on the cover of People magazine, with the headline, “20 Who Defined A Decade.

We’re taking this opportunity to show off some adorable photos from 1983 of Madonna, taken by Deborah Feingold in New York.

Today in Madonna History: October 3, 1987

On October 3 1987, Madonna’s second single from the Who’s That Girl film soundtrack, Causing A Commotion, debuted at #24 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the USA.

This is what Camille Paglia had to say about the song:

“I recall my stunned admiration as I sat in the theatre in 1987 and first experienced the crashing, descending chords of Madonna’s Causing a Commotion, which opened her dreadful movie Who’s That Girl. If you want to hear the essence of modernity, listen to those chords, infernal, apocalyptic, and grossly sensual. This is the authentic voice of fin de siècle.”

Today in Madonna History: October 2, 1986

On October 2 1986, Madonna’s True Blue music video premiered on BBC1-TV’s Top Of The Pops. The video was directed by James Foley and shot in early September (1986) in New York.

Two of Madonna’s closest friends (at the time), Erika Belle and Debi Mazar, appeared in the video.

A second video for True Blue (which does not include Madonna) was shown on MTV in the USA. The second video was the winner of Madonna’s ‘Make My Video’ Contest. The winners (Angel Gracia and Cliff Guest) were flown to MTV’s New York studio where Madonna presented them a $25,000 check live on MTV.

 

Today in Madonna History: October 1, 2015

On October 1 2015, Madonna shared a behind-the-scenes photo of her “quick-change” costume station in Detroit, during The Rebel Heart Tour.

Madonna’s caption for the photo:

“Quick Change in the Motor City! ………….Get Ready Detroit!”

Madonna performed for a sold-out crowd of 12,852 fans at the Joe Louis Arena.

Today in Madonna History: September 30, 2006

On September 30 2006, Madonna appeared on the cover of Madame Figaro (France) magazine. Madonna was dressed in Jean-Paul Gautier, with photos by Jean-Baptiste Mondino. You’ll recognize that she wore the costume for Future Lovers, from The Confessions Tour, for this photo shoot.

Today in Madonna History: September 29, 1992

Erotica US CD Single 550Erotica US CD Single Back Sleeve 550Erotica US CD Single Disc 550

On September 29 1992, Madonna’s Erotica single was released to radio. Originally credited to Madonna & Shep Pettibone, Pettibone’s partner Tony Shimkin was later granted co-writing credit for nearly all of the Pettibone collaborations on the album, including Erotica. The debut release to feature the imprint of Maverick Records, the song was produced by Madonna & Pettibone.

As several leaked demo versions of the song can now attest, the track had gone through numerous incarnations before Madonna settled on lyrics that positioned her in the perspective of Dita – the alter-ego she had created for her Sex book. The song’s original chorus (“You thrill me…”) was reincorporated into the song when Madonna performed it during her 2006 Confessions Tour. Alternate verses were also used to create the track Erotic, which was included with the Sex book – these lyrics were also featured in a William Orbit remix that was included on the Erotica maxi-single.

French art director and photographer Fabien Baron designed the artwork for the single, the album and the Sex book. He also directed the Erotica music video, which included footage he had shot on Super 8mm during the making of the book. Baron recalled his first meeting with Madonna to discuss their potential collaboration in a 2009 interview with Hint Fashion Magazine:

“I met Madonna at her home on Central Park West to talk about working on her Sex book. It was very comfortable but very uncomfortable at the same time, which is a very interesting feeling. She’s very imposing and knows what she wants. She’s very informed and opinionated, which makes her genius. She takes you in and swallows you up — and you don’t mind it –  you actually enjoy it. There’s an unspoken seduction that goes on. I was young…she was young, too – and beautiful. That was an unforgettable era. She put that book out at the best moment. She timed it very well…she knows what she’s doing. And such drive. Some people want to lift stones to see what’s under them. She’ll be on a beach with millions of stones and want to lift every one of them.”