On March 25 2012, borderline MUSIC held the official MDNA release party in Chicago.
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Today in Madonna History: March 22, 2001
On March 22 2001, Madonna’s What It Feels Like For A Girl music video premiered.
The video was directed by Madonna’s then-husband, Guy Ritchie, and was deemed to be “Too Hot for TV” by MTV and VH1 because the video depicted gunplay, assault and suicide.
MTV released this statement about the video and their decision to ban it:
It’s been some time since Madonna ruffled the feathers of MTV or VH1 execs with a controversial video — perhaps not since 1992’s Erotica clip — so just under a decade later, the first lady of shock pop is out to prove she can still make ’em sweat.
Unlike the steamy segments of Erotica, 1990’s Justify My Love, and the one that started it all, Like a Prayer, it’s not the sexual content of What It Feels Like for a Girl that raises the red flag, it’s the violence — a concerted no-no in the post-Columbine, and more recently post-Santana, decision-making process.
The music in the video, it should be noted, is a dance remix of the version found on Madonna’s latest album, Music. The album cut will serve as the LP’s third single.
Directed by her husband, British filmmaker Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), the clip depicts gunplay, violent assault and suicide — elements MTV and VH1 prohibit in any videos they air. In it, the pop diva portrays a self-described “nihilistic pissed-off chick” who cruises around town inflicting damage on any man that crosses her path.
After picking up Grandma at the “Ol Kuntz Guest Home,” Madonna crashes into a car full of men who wink at her, threatens male police officers with a squirt gun before sideswiping their vehicle, and mugs a man at an ATM with a stun gun before wrapping her stolen car around a lamppost in what appears to be an intentional act.
The video “shows my character acting out a fantasy and doing things girls are not allowed to do,” Madonna said in a written statement distributed by her record label, Warner Bros. “This is an angry song and I wanted a matching visual with an edgy dance mix.”
Although What It Feels Like for a Girl won’t be added to the music channel’s regular rotation, MTV and VH1 will air the clip just once.
Today in Madonna History: March 21, 2008
On March 21 2008, Billboard magazine reviewed the lead single for Madonna’s Hard Candy album, 4 Minutes:
It doesn’t take anywhere close to 4 Minutes to realize that Madonna is poised to score her first top 10 hit since 2005’s Hung Up. The launch single from upcoming Hard Candy – her 11th and final studio album for Warner Bros. – co – stars Justin Timberlake, with production props from Timbaland. There’s an awful lot going on in the busy dance track: sing – song verses, insistent foghorns, cowbells, chants of “tick – tock” and “Madonna, Madonna,” and a rap from Timbaland – but the trade – off chorus between Madge and Justin of “We’ve only got four minutes to save the world” is hooky enough unto itself to sell the song. “4” qualifies as an event record between superpowers who not only share equal billing, but sound gangbusters together. Expect instantaneous penetration for this spring break ’08 anthem.
Today in Madonna History: March 21, 2016
March 21 2016 marks the 27th Anniversary of Madonna’s fourth studio album, Like a Prayer.
To celebrate this anniversary, we invite you to follow this link and explore the many exciting releases and controversies that came with this epic release: https://todayinmadonnahistory.com/tag/like-a-prayer/
Today in Madonna History: March 20, 1990
On March 20 1990, the lead single from Madonna’s I’m Breathless album, Vogue, was released.
Vogue was written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone in December 1989. The song was recorded with the intention of being the b-side to the upcoming (and last single for the Like A Prayer album), Keep It Together (released on January 30 1990).
The finished product was too good to be a single b-side, so it was decided that Vogue would be a stand-alone single on Madonna’s forthcoming album, I’m Breathless (even though the song had nothing to do with Dick Tracy).
Today in Madonna History: March 17, 1998
On March 17 1998, the maxi-single for Madonna’s Frozen single was released in North America.
The maxi-single included:
- Album Version
- Stereo MC’s Remix
- Extended Club Mix
- Meltdown Mix
Today in Madonna History: March 15, 1994
On March 15 1994, Madonna attended the 8th annual Soul Train Awards with Rosie Perez at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California.
Today In Madonna History 