Today in Madonna History: March 12, 2003

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On March 12 2003, Warner Bros. issued a press release for Madonna’s American Life album:

A new Madonna album, American Life, has been set for a worldwide release on April 22nd.

The enduring icon’s first new collection of original material since 2000’s multi-platinum smash Music, American Life is being hailed as Madonna’s most accomplished, original and intensely personal album to date; a resonant and revealing emotional journey that marks a new highpoint in a career that has for all time redefined the expressive potential of contemporary music.

Recorded over a full year in London and Los Angeles, American Life, the artist’s tenth studio album, features eleven new Madonna compositions, including the title track and debut single, which ships to radio March 25th.

“All of these songs reflect my current state of mind. I feel like I have just woken up out of a dream. They range from dismay and anger to joy and certainty. Hopefully, I have taken the personal and made it universal,” stated Madonna regarding her new album which she wrote and produced with Mirwais Ahmadzai with whom she also collaborated on her previous release Music.

The American Life CD includes the title track, as well as the following songs: Hollywood, I’m So Stupid, Love Profusion, Nobody Knows Me, Nothing Fails, Intervention, X-Static Process, Mother & Father, Easy Ride, and Die Another Day, the hit theme song from the James Bond film of the same name.

The American Life single is also the subject of a brilliant new video from the pioneering multi-media visionary, an artist who single handedly invented the short music film medium. In a stunning collaboration with director Jonas Akerlund, American Life expresses a panoramic view of our culture and looming war through the view of a female superhero portrayed by Madonna set against a backdrop of current cultural obsessions. It’s a penetrating examination of our national psyche. The video is scheduled to air the first week in April.

Remixes of the American Life single by, among others, mega-hot hip hop diva Missy Elliott, Peter Rauhofer, Felix da Housecat and Maverick Records artist Paul Oakenfold will be available in various configurations over the next several months.

An extensive schedule of appearances, performances and special events has been set in conjunction with the release of American Life including an appearance on an episode of the hit NBC-TV comedy Will And Grace.

One of the most original and innovative artists of the modern era, Madonna has sold hundreds of millions of albums, topped charts across two decades, created an enormously influential body of work in video and film and stood at the forefront of socially conscious artists worldwide. With American Life, Madonna has once again reached deeply into her own life as the source and substance of her extraordinary artistry.

Today in Madonna History: March 11, 1986

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On March 11 1986, Madonna was named Favorite Female Musical Performer at the 12th annual People’s Choice Awards.  Madonna accepted her award from the set of Shanghai Surprise in London, England.

Today in Madonna History: March 10, 2015

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On March 10 2015, Madonna’s thirteenth studio album, Rebel Heart, was released in North America and select other countries. The album was released in Australia and Germany on March 6; in France, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK on March 9; and in Japan on March 11.

The standard edition of the album included the following tracks:

  1. Living for Love
  2. Devil Pray
  3. Ghosttown
  4. Unapologetic Bitch
  5. Illuminati
  6. Bitch I’m Madonna (featuring Nicki Minaj)
  7. Hold Tight
  8. Joan of Arc
  9. Iconic (featuring Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson)
  10. HeartBreakCity
  11. Body Shop
  12. Holy Water
  13. Inside Out
  14. Wash All Over Me

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The deluxe edition included these additional tracks:

  1. Best Night
  2. Veni Vidi Vici (featuring Nas)
  3. S.E.X.
  4. Messiah
  5. Rebel Heart

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The super deluxe edition included the 19 tracks included in the standard and deluxe editions, but also included these tracks:

  1. Beautiful Scars
  2. Borrowed Time
  3. Addicted
  4. Graffiti Heart
  5. Living for Love (Paulo & Jackinsky Full Vocal Mix)
  6. Living for Love (Funk Generation & H3drush Dub)

Additional versions with exclusive bonus tracks were also released.

Today in Madonna History: March 8, 2007

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On March 8 2007, fashion store H&M started the online promotion for the M by Madonna clothing line.

The campaign was photographed by Steven Klein.

The H&M commercial that promoted the M by Madonna line featured Madonna, and was directed by Madonna.

M by Madonna became available in H&M stores in Hong Kong on March 10, and around the world on March 22, 2007.

Watch the commercial:

Today in Madonna History: March 7, 1996

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On March 7 1996, Madonna’s One More Chance single was released as the second single in Australia and Japan, and the third single in several European countries, from her ballads collection, Something to Remember.

One More Chance was written and produced by Madonna and David Foster. Foster initially did not expect Madonna would collaborate with him, as he believed that his music was not “really hip enough for her.” Madonna and Foster worked on the song during the writing and recording session for Something to Remember, in the third weekend of September 1995.

The song received positive response from music critics, who praised its musical simplicity and Madonna’s vocal delivery.  Since Madonna was busy filming the Evita, the song received little promotion and no accompanying music video.

The Spanish version of You’ll See, titled Verás, appeared as the B-side of the single release.

Today in Madonna History: March 5, 1992

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On March 5 1992, Madonna won the title of Best-Dressed Female Artist in Rolling Stone magazine’s 16th annual Readers Poll.

Today in Madonna History: March 4, 1996

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On March 4 1996, Madonna’s Love Don’t Live Here Anymore music video was shot at the Confitería El Molino in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during her day off from filming Evita.

The music video was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who worked with Madonna on her videos for Open Your Heart, Justify My Love and Human Nature.

Love Don’t Live Here Anymore was released as the fourth single from the Something to Remember ballads collection.

In her Evita diaries, published by Vanity Fair magazine in 1996, Madonna made reference to the video shoot:

“There are no words to describe the weariness I feel today. I have not slept well in days, and when I do, there is no comfort. My dreams are violent and full of betrayal. Like my life, there’s no escape. I feel the responsibility of this film. I cannot talk about Evita and her life without defending myself … Dear God, what have I gotten myself into? What is happening to me? Today we went to shoot a music video for my next song. But I kept forgetting the lyrics, and felt like crying each and every time I did it. It was so frustrating. It’s my own song!”