Today in Madonna History: December 25, 1989

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In the December 25, 1989 issue of People magazine, Madonna was named one of the 25 Most Intriguing People In The World.

Madonna and Warren. Madonna and Sean. Madonna and Sandra. Madonna and Pepsi. The Material Girl, the Boy Toy, Papa Don’t Preach, the stigmata debacle, a used bustier that sold at Sotheby’s for $3,750…   So what is it about this 31-year-old woman with a mole on her upper lip that aroused such curiosity, even among, for example, Belgians, who bought 62,656 copies of her Like a Prayer LP this year? Only one person can approach that question with both the authority and seriousness that it deserves, and that person, of course, is Dr. Joyce Brothers. “Madonna is a sexy person for our time,” says Brothers. “She’s independent and on her own two feet. Women like her because they don’t feel she’s a victim. Men like her because she’s sexy, but not straight out, like in Penthouse. She is childlike and innocent but at the same time naughty. Madonna,” concludes the good doctor, “is walking that line very successfully.”   Thank you, Dr. Brothers. And thank you, Madonna Louise Ciccone.

Today in Madonna History: December 23, 2001

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On December 23 2001, a report by Amusement Business reported that Madonna’s Drowned World Tour generated $74 million worldwide from only 47 shows, landing her at #4 for top grossing tour in 2001. U2’s Elevation Tour took the top spot, selling $143 million in tickets from 113 arena shows worldwide.

Today in Madonna History: December 22, 1984

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On December 22 1984, Madonna’s Like A Virgin single reached #1 in the USA on the Billboard Hot 100 and it stayed at #1 for 6 weeks.

A promotional ad for the hit single read:

WHO ELSE COULD BE NO. 1 THIS CHRISTMAS?

Today in Madonna History: December 21, 2006

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On December 21 2006, the official sell sheet for Madonna’s Confessions Tour DVD/CD release was distributed to retailers. The street date for the release: January 30, 2007.

“The pop spectacle of the year—a politically charged combination of Cirque du Soleil, performance-art commentary and dance-party explosion that more or less sums up everything she has been striving to say and show this decade … it’s quite possibly the best production she’s ever concocted.” – Orange County Register

Today in Madonna History: December 20, 1994

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On December 20 1994, Madonna attended the premiere of Ready to Wear (Pret-A-Porter).

Today in Madonna History: December 19, 1996

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On Madonna December 19 1996, Madonna attended the premiere of EVITA at the Empire Theatre, in Leicester Square, London, England.

Madonna wore Versace to the event.

Today in Madonna History: December 17, 1990

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On December 17 1990, Madonna’s Justify My Love video was the subject of a feature by Steve Dougherty, in People magazine: Madonna Exposes, MTV Opposes: Is her new, naughty video art or just a Boy Toy marketing ploy? 

How does Justify My Love differ from other skin-with-a-beat videos? Let us count the ways. Here’s Madonna, in black bra, stockings and stiletto heels, putting the moves on her real-life boyfriend, model Tony Ward. Moments later she’s lip-synching with Parisian model Amanda Cazalet, 25, who is dressed like a Nazi hooker with suspenders that barely cover her nipples. Now Madonna, Cazalet and Ward are offering free instruction in a certain Kama Sutra technique while two very androgynous gents pat each other more affectionately than football players after a big play. All of which has left fans hot, censors bothered and fearless news programmers lined up to air the forbidden footage. The video single will be on sale before holiday shopping malls close; could it have been teed up better?